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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS15 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS20
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS15, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The E-420 was introduced 5 years earlier than the ZS15 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-420 grades versus the ZS15 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-420 ZS15 
Manually focus Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-420

 ZS15 E-420 
AnnouncedJune 2012June 2008More modern by 48 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic ZS15

 E-420 ZS15 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 provides physical dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS15 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS15 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-420 versus the ZS15.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and ZS15 is 77 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes merely by looking through a spec sheet. The picture below may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and ZS15.

Clearly, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-420 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS15 will result in extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography info
56
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
21
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography highlights
64
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than average in class (426 grams)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (208g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography highlights
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (500 shots)
36
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (260 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-420
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS15
52
lighter than average in class (426 grams)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery power (500 per charge)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
lighter than competition in class (208g)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (260 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS15
47
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
bad battery power (500 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
37
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
terrible battery (260 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging features
9
no video shooting
33
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (208g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2008-06-23 2012-06-29
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426 gr (0.94 lb) 208 gr (0.46 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 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 photos 260 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $999 $279