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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Olympus E-420 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Old Model is Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Here, we are looking at the Olympus E-420 versus Pentax K-5 IIs, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-420 was revealed 6 years prior to the K-5 IIs which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-420 grades versus the K-5 IIs in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 E-420 K-5 IIs 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Olympus E-420

 K-5 IIs E-420 
RevealedJune 2013June 2008More modern by 60 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 E-420 K-5 IIs 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 provides external 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) while the Pentax K-5 IIs has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-420 versus Pentax K-5 IIs in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-420 against the K-5 IIs.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and K-5 IIs is 77 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes purely by looking at a spec sheet. The pic here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and K-5 IIs.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-420 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Pentax K-5 IIs will give extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged E-420 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-420
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
57
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
74
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Street photography camera
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition (426g)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
39
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
low battery (500 per charge)
79
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-420
Travel photography with Pentax K-5 IIs
53
lighter than competition (426 grams)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery (500 shots)
low megapixels (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
65
environment proofing
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Landscape photography camera
47
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
low battery (500 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
exports RAW files
environment proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging information
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging information
9
no video shooting
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Olympus E-420Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-420 Pentax K-5 IIs
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2008-06-23 2013-06-04
Physical type Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
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 focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - Motion JPEG
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 Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426g (0.94 lb) 760g (1.68 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 82
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 14.1
DXO Low light score 527 1208
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 980 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $999 $749