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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ3 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
  • Launched June 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-410
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic SZ3, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and SZ3 (16MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and SZ3 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

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The E-420 was released 5 years earlier than the SZ3 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-420 scores vs the SZ3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic SZ3

 E-420 SZ3 
Focus manually More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus E-420

 SZ3 E-420 
IntroducedJanuary 2013June 2008More modern by 55 months

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic SZ3

 E-420 SZ3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size2.7"2.7"Same display size
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 features exterior dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ3 has specifications of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic SZ3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-420 against the SZ3.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and SZ3 is 77 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to see the difference between sensor sizes merely by going over technical specs. The picture underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and SZ3.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-420 featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic SZ3 will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged E-420 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography highlights
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
30
decent MP (16MP)
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Street photography camera
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition (426g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (126g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography highlights
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
terrible battery (500 shots)
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography features
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography features
52
lighter than competition (426g)
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery (500 shots)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
71
lighter than competitors in class (126 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography info
47
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
terrible battery (500 shots)
no Timelapse recording
39
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-420
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ3
9
no video
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (126 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2008-06-23 2013-01-07
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.10 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data 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 426 grams (0.94 lb) 126 grams (0.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 250 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $999 $150