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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS10

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
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  • Superseded the Olympus E-410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
56
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
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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
38
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
52
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