Clicky

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-410
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS25
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-420 versus Panasonic ZS20, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and ZS20 (14MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor dimensions.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The E-420 was revealed 4 years earlier than the ZS20 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-420 scores against the ZS20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic ZS20

 E-420 ZS20 
Focus manually Dial precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus E-420

 ZS20 E-420 
LaunchedApril 2012June 2008Fresher by 46 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic ZS20

 E-420 ZS20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-420 offers exterior dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS20 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-420 versus Panasonic ZS20 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-420 and the ZS20.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and ZS20 is 77 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing only by reviewing specifications. The visual below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and ZS20.

To sum up, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-420 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic ZS20 will deliver greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older E-420 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-420
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
30
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Street photography camera
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than average in class (426 grams)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
lighter than average (206 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS20
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
bad battery life (500 CIPA)
47
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (260 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-420
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS20
52
lighter than average in class (426 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery life (500 shots)
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than average (206g)
supports focus via touch
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (260 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography details
47
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
bad battery life (500 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
42
quite wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery pack (260 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging info
9
no video recording
34
quite wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (206 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have external mic support
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2008-06-23 2012-04-26
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing 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 files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426g (0.94 lbs) 206g (0.45 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 260 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $999 $349