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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
41
Overall
39

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ7 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
  • Launched June 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-410
Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ7, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and SZ7 (14MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and SZ7 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-420 was launched 4 years before the SZ7 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-420 matches up vs the SZ7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic SZ7

 E-420 SZ7 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Olympus E-420

 SZ7 E-420 
RevealedJanuary 2012June 2008More modern by 43 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic SZ7

 E-420 SZ7 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera often, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-420 has got 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) and the Panasonic SZ7 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ7 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-420 compared to the SZ7.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and SZ7 is 77 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to see the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading specs. The pic here should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and SZ7.

All in all, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-420 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic SZ7 will offer you more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged E-420 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Portrait photography camera
57
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
34
megapixel count good (14MP)
provides face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-420
Street photography with Panasonic SZ7
64
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than average in class (426 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (133 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography factors
Panasonic SZ7 Sports photography factors
39
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (500 shots)
44
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-420
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ7
53
lighter than average in class (426g)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
not so great battery power (500 CIPA)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
70
lighter than average in class (133 grams)
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Landscape photography camera
47
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7")
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (500 shots)
no Timelapse function
42
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging details
Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging details
9
no video
35
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (133 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of microphone support
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic SZ7
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2008-06-23 2012-01-09
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
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 - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426 gr (0.94 lbs) 133 gr (0.29 lbs)
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 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 photographs 220 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $999 $199