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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-01 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
  • Released June 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-410
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Released May 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-420 versus Pentax K-01, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and K-01 (16MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and K-01 (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The E-420 was announced 4 years before the K-01 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-420 grades vs the K-01 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Pentax K-01

 E-420 K-01 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Olympus E-420

 K-01 E-420 
ReleasedMay 2012June 2008Newer by 47 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-01

 E-420 K-01 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 has got external measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Pentax K-01 has sizing of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-420 versus Pentax K-01 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-420 compared to the K-01.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and K-01 is 77 and 76 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by looking at technical specs. The image below will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and K-01.

As you can tell, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-420 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-01 will resolve greater detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images far more aggressively. The more aged E-420 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-01 Portrait photography advice
56
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
74
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography details
Pentax K-01 Street photography details
64
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (426g)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
more heavy than competitors in class (561g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Pentax K-01
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps low (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
61
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery power (540 per charge)
max fps very slow (6.0 frames/s)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography details
Pentax K-01 Travel photography details
52
lighter than competitors in class (426g)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery (500 shots)
megapixel count low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
65
good battery power (540 shots)
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
more heavy than competitors in class (561 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Pentax K-01
47
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
terrible battery (500 shots)
no Time Lapse function
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (540 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-420
Vlogging with Pentax K-01
9
can't record video
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone jack
screen is not selfie friendly
more heavy than competitors in class (561g)
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-01
 Olympus E-420Pentax K-01
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-420 Pentax K-01
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2008-06-23 2012-05-30
Body design Compact SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
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 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426 gr (0.94 lbs) 561 gr (1.24 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.9
DXO Low light rating 527 1135
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 540 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $999 $899