Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-7
77 Imaging
44 Features
36 Overall
40
60 Imaging
54 Features
69 Overall
60
Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-7 Key Specs
(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
- Announced June 2008
- Earlier Model is Olympus E-410
(Full Review)
- 15MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 2000 (Boost to 6400)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1280 x 720 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
- Revealed October 2009
- Newer Model is Pentax K-5
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-7 Overview
Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-7, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and K-7 (15MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and K-7 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneThe E-420 was released 15 months prior to the K-7 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-420 grades versus the K-7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
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Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-420 & Pentax K-7. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-420 Gallery & Pentax K-7 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Pentax K-7
| E-420 | K-7 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Olympus E-420
| K-7 | E-420 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revealed | October 2009 | June 2008 | More recent by 15 months | |
| Screen dimensions | 3" | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") | |
| Screen resolution | 921k | 230k | Crisper screen (+691k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-7
| E-420 | K-7 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual focus | Very accurate focusing | |||
| Screen type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed screen | |
| Selfie screen | Missing selfie screen | |||
| Touch friendly screen | Missing Touch friendly screen |
Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-420 has 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) while the Pentax K-7 has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).
Check the Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-7 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-420 vs the K-7.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and K-7 is 77 and 60 respectively.
Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, it can be difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements just by viewing specs. The photograph here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and K-7.
All in all, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-420 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-7 will render more detail as a result of its extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The older E-420 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.
Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications
| Olympus E-420 | Pentax K-7 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand Name | Olympus | Pentax |
| Model type | Olympus E-420 | Pentax K-7 |
| Type | Entry-Level DSLR | Advanced DSLR |
| Announced | 2008-06-23 | 2009-10-02 |
| Physical type | Compact SLR | Mid-size SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor | TruePic III | Prime II |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
| Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
| Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 365.0mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 10 megapixel | 15 megapixel |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 3:2 |
| Maximum resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4672 x 3104 |
| Maximum native ISO | 1600 | 2000 |
| Maximum boosted ISO | - | 6400 |
| Lowest native ISO | 100 | 100 |
| RAW files | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| Touch focus | ||
| AF continuous | ||
| Single AF | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| AF selectice | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| Multi area AF | ||
| Live view AF | ||
| Face detect focusing | ||
| Contract detect focusing | ||
| Phase detect focusing | ||
| Total focus points | 3 | 11 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax KAF2 |
| Available lenses | 45 | 151 |
| Crop factor | 2.1 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Display sizing | 2.7" | 3" |
| Resolution of display | 230k dots | 921k dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch screen | ||
| Display tech | - | TFT color LCD with AR coating |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Optical (pentamirror) | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 95 percent | 100 percent |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.46x | 0.61x |
| Features | ||
| Slowest shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/8000s |
| Continuous shooting rate | 4.0 frames per second | 5.0 frames per second |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual mode | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Set WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Integrated flash | ||
| Flash distance | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) | 13.00 m |
| Flash options | Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless |
| Hot shoe | ||
| Auto exposure bracketing | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Maximum flash synchronize | 1/180s | 1/180s |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment | ||
| Average | ||
| Spot | ||
| Partial | ||
| AF area | ||
| Center weighted | ||
| Video features | ||
| Video resolutions | - | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) |
| Maximum video resolution | None | 1280x720 |
| Video format | - | Motion JPEG |
| Microphone 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 | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environment sealing | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 426 grams (0.94 lb) | 750 grams (1.65 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 rating | 56 | 61 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 21.5 | 22.6 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| DXO Low light rating | 527 | 536 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 500 pictures | 980 pictures |
| Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | - | D-LI90 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Type of storage | Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card | SD/SDHC/MMC |
| Card slots | Single | Single |
| Pricing at launch | $999 | $599 |