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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX7

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 front
Portability
86
Imaging
35
Features
61
Overall
45

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX7 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-410
Panasonic LX7
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-90mm (F1.4-2.3) lens
  • 298g - 111 x 68 x 46mm
  • Released October 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic LX5
  • Updated by Panasonic LX10
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX7 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX7, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the LX7 (10MP) is very well matched but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and LX7 (1/1.7") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-420 was announced 5 years prior to the LX7 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic LX7 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short view of how the E-420 scores vs the LX7 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic LX7

 E-420 LX7 

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX7 over the Olympus E-420

 LX7 E-420 
ReleasedOctober 2012June 2008More recent by 52 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic LX7

 E-420 LX7 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 features outer measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LX7 has specifications of 111mm x 68mm x 46mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.8") and a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX7 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the E-420 vs the LX7.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX7 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and LX7 is 77 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX7 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-420 and LX7.

As you can see, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The E-420 features the larger sensor which will make obtaining bokeh easier. The older E-420 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic LX7 Portrait photography factors
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
45
you can focus manually
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-420
Street photography with Panasonic LX7
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition (426g)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
58
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than competitors (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LX7 as a Sports photography camera
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
low battery pack (500 shots)
42
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery power (330 per charge)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography factors
Panasonic LX7 Travel photography factors
52
lighter than competition (426g)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
low battery pack (500 per charge)
MP count low (10MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
64
great battery power (330 per charge)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.4)
heavier than competitors (298 grams)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic LX7 Landscape photography advice
47
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
low battery pack (500 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
57
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.4)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
great battery power (330 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging info
Panasonic LX7 Vlogging info
9
can't shoot video
33
really wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.4)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than competitors (298g)
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic LX7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic LX7
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2008-06-23 2012-10-15
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Maximum boosted ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-90mm (3.8x)
Largest aperture - f/1.4-2.3
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec 11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 8.50 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426 gr (0.94 pounds) 298 gr (0.66 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 111 x 68 x 46mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 50
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 20.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 11.7
DXO Low light score 527 147
Other
Battery life 500 photos 330 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $999 $400