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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS10

Portability
77 Imaging
45 Features
36 Overall
41
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 front
Portability
91 Imaging
37 Features
46 Overall
40

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS10 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
Panasonic ZS10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 219g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Released January 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ20 / Lumix DMC-TZ22
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS10 Overview

Here is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS10, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and ZS10 (14MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and ZS10 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The E-420 was manufactured 3 years prior to the ZS10 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 ZS10 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-420 scores against the ZS10 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic ZS10

		

		

			
 E-420 ZS10 
Manual focus  More precise focusing
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS10 over the Olympus E-420

		

		

			
 ZS10 E-420 
ReleasedJanuary 2011June 2008Fresher by 31 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display  Easily navigate
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic ZS10

		

		

			
 E-420 ZS10 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen  Neither contains selfie screen
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS10 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-420 has got outside dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS10 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 219 grams (0.48 lbs).
Take a look at the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS10 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at the time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the E-420 versus the ZS10.
Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS10 size comparison
Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and ZS10 is 77 and 91 respectively.
Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS10 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS10 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
More often than not, it's difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing simply by viewing a spec sheet. The visual below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and ZS10.
Clearly, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-420 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS10 will provide you with more detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older E-420 will be behind in sensor tech.
	
			Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS10 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS10 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
 Olympus E-420 as a Portrait photography camera
 Panasonic ZS10 as a Portrait photography camera
57
 focusing manually
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 exports RAW formats
 megapixel count low (10MP)
30
 decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
 focusing manually not possible
 no external flash support
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
Photography Glossary
Street Comparison
Olympus E-420 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS10 Street photography highlights
64
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 exports RAW formats
 lighter than competitors (426g)
 screen does not articulate
 no image stabilization
65
 image stabilization (Optical)
 supports focus by touch
 lighter than competitors in class (219g)
 fixed screen
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison
Olympus E-420 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS10 Sports photography info
39
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 comes with phase detect autofocus
 max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
 no image stabilization
 megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
 terrible battery power (500 per charge)
47
 incredible zoom range (24-384mm  16.0 x zoom)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
 offers tracking autofocus
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 bad battery life (260 per charge)
 lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison
Olympus E-420 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS10 Travel photography advice
53
 lighter than competitors (426 grams)
 built-in flash
 no Timelapse mode
 terrible battery power (500 shots)
 megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
 doesn't offer selfie friendly display
67
 lighter than competitors in class (219 grams)
 supports focus by touch
 decent megapixels (14MP)
 flash built-in
 reasonably wide (24mm)
 great reach (384mm)
 lack of Timelapse function
 bad battery life (260 per charge)
 does not have a selfie friendly screen
 slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison
 Olympus E-420 as a Landscape photography camera
 Panasonic ZS10 as a Landscape photography camera
47
 focusing manually
 switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
 exports RAW formats
 tiny screen (2.7")
 no image stabilization
 megapixel count low (10MP)
 terrible battery power (500 CIPA)
 no Timelapse mode
42
 reasonably wide (24mm)
 screen size is good (3")
 image stabilization (Optical)
 decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
 focusing manually not possible
 fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
 slow max aperture (f3.3)
 tiny sensor (1/2.3")
 lack of RAW format
 bad battery life (260 per charge)
 lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-420 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS10 Vlogging info
9
 can't shoot video
34
 reasonably wide (24mm)
 touchscreen capability
 image stabilization (Optical)
 high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 lighter than competitors in class (219g)
 slow max aperture (f3.3)
 does not have a selfie friendly screen
 lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS10 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic ZS10
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ20 / Lumix DMC-TZ22
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2008-06-23 2011-01-25
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
Touch to focus    
AF continuous    
AF single    
AF tracking    
Selective AF    
AF center weighted    
Multi area AF    
AF live view    
Face detection AF    
Contract detection AF    
Phase detection AF    
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch friendly    
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash    
AEB    
WB bracketing    
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering    
Average metering    
Spot metering    
Partial metering    
AF area metering    
Center weighted metering    
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port    
Headphone port    
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 426g (0.94 lb) 219g (0.48 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 260 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature    
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $999 $350