Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1
77 Imaging
44 Features
36 Overall
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96 Imaging
35 Features
21 Overall
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 Key Specs
(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
- Released June 2008
- Earlier Model is Olympus E-410
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
- 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
- Released January 2011

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 Overview
In this article, we are evaluating the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic S1, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the S1 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

The E-420 was revealed 3 years earlier than the S1 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic S1 being a Compact camera.
Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-420 scores against the S1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-420 Gallery and Panasonic S1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic S1
E-420 | S1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Very accurate focus |
Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Olympus E-420
S1 | E-420 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | January 2011 | ![]() | June 2008 | More modern by 30 months |
Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic S1
E-420 | S1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display sizing | 2.7" | ![]() | 2.7" | Equivalent display dimensions |
Display resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Exact same display resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Missing selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Neither comes with Touch friendly display |
Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 comes with 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) and the Panasonic S1 has sizing of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).
See the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic S1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-420 versus the S1.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and S1 is 77 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 Sensor Comparison
Usually, its tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes purely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and S1.
As you can see, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-420 with its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic S1 will provide greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S1 Specifications
Olympus E-420 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Olympus | Panasonic |
Model type | Olympus E-420 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 |
Type | Entry-Level DSLR | Small Sensor Compact |
Released | 2008-06-23 | 2011-01-05 |
Body design | Compact SLR | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | TruePic III | Venus Engine IV |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 6.08 x 4.56mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 27.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4000 x 3000 |
Highest native ISO | 1600 | 6400 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Total focus points | 3 | 11 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | - | 28-112mm (4.0x) |
Max aperture | - | f/3.1-5.6 |
Macro focusing distance | - | 5cm |
Total lenses | 45 | - |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen size | 2.7" | 2.7" |
Resolution of screen | 230 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Screen tech | - | TFT LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentamirror) | None |
Viewfinder coverage | 95% | - |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.46x | - |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 60s | 8s |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/1600s |
Continuous shooting speed | 4.0 frames per sec | - |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) | 3.30 m |
Flash options | Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Maximum flash sync | 1/180s | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | - | 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | None | 1280x720 |
Video format | - | Motion JPEG |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 426 gr (0.94 lb) | 117 gr (0.26 lb) |
Dimensions | 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") | 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | 56 | not tested |
DXO Color Depth rating | 21.5 | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.4 | not tested |
DXO Low light rating | 527 | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 500 photographs | 240 photographs |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Storage slots | One | One |
Cost at launch | $999 | $269 |