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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ8 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
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Introduced January 2014
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic SZ8, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and SZ8 (16MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and SZ8 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The E-420 was announced 6 years before the SZ8 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-420 matches up versus the SZ8 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic SZ8

 E-420 SZ8 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus E-420

 SZ8 E-420 
IntroducedJanuary 2014June 2008More recent by 67 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic SZ8

 E-420 SZ8 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 enjoys outside dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ8 has specifications of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic SZ8 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-420 and the SZ8.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and SZ8 is 77 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements just by checking out specifications. The photograph here might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and SZ8.

Plainly, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-420 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic SZ8 will provide more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older E-420 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography advice
56
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low MP (10MP)
35
good resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography features
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography features
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (426g)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (159 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography info
Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography info
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (500 CIPA)
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery (200 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-420
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ8
52
lighter than competitors (426 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery power (500 shots)
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
67
lighter than average in class (159g)
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
great zoom (288mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery (200 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Landscape photography camera
47
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (500 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
42
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery (200 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-420
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ8
9
no video shooting
32
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (159 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2008-06-23 2014-01-06
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Venus Engine
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 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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) 159 gr (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 527 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 shots 200 shots
Battery format 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 Single Single
Retail price $999 $275