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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Announced June 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-410
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S2, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and S2 (14MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The E-420 was brought out 4 years before the S2 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-420 matches up versus the S2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic S2

 E-420 S2 
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Olympus E-420

 S2 E-420 
ReleasedJanuary 2012June 2008More recent by 43 months

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic S2

 E-420 S2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-420 offers physical dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S2 has dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the E-420 versus the S2.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and S2 is 77 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements just by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and S2.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-420 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic S2 will provide more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The older E-420 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography factors
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
includes face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Street photography camera
64
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than others in class (426g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (112g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography info
Panasonic S2 Sports photography info
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
not so great battery (500 per charge)
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
better than average battery pack (280 per charge)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography features
Panasonic S2 Travel photography features
52
lighter than others in class (426 grams)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (500 shots)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
70
better than average battery pack (280 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (112 grams)
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography advice
47
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
not so great battery (500 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
41
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
better than average battery pack (280 CIPA)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging features
Panasonic S2 Vlogging features
9
no video
32
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (112 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic S2
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2008-06-23 2012-01-09
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
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 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426g (0.94 lbs) 112g (0.25 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures 280 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $999 $109