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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-S1

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Pentax K-S1 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
70
Overall
65

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-S1 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
  • Launched June 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-410
Pentax K-S1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 558g - 121 x 93 x 70mm
  • Launched August 2014
  • Updated by Pentax K-S2
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-S1 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-420 versus Pentax K-S1, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and K-S1 (20MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and K-S1 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-420 was manufactured 7 years prior to the K-S1 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-S1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-420 grades vs the K-S1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Pentax K-S1

 E-420 K-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S1 over the Olympus E-420

 K-S1 E-420 
LaunchedAugust 2014June 2008Newer by 75 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-S1

 E-420 K-S1 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-S1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 provides outer 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 Pentax K-S1 has sizing of 121mm x 93mm x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 558 grams (1.23 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-420 versus Pentax K-S1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-420 vs the K-S1.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-S1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and K-S1 is 77 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-S1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading through specs. The pic here will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and K-S1.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-420 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Pentax K-S1 will give extra detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged E-420 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-S1 Portrait photography advice
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
77
focusing manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography advice
Pentax K-S1 Street photography advice
64
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (426 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (558 grams)
good ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Pentax K-S1
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
69
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
comes with phase detect AF
low fps (5.4 fps)
bad battery life (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-S1 Travel photography factors
52
lighter than average in class (426g)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (500 CIPA)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
60
lighter than competition (558 grams)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery life (410 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-S1 as a Landscape photography camera
47
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (500 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
good ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
bad battery life (410 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-S1 Vlogging advice
9
no video shooting
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (558g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
missing mic jack
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-S1
 Olympus E-420Pentax K-S1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-420 Pentax K-S1
Class Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2008-06-23 2014-08-27
Body design Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Prime MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 1600 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 5.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, auto + redeye, on, on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426 grams (0.94 lb) 558 grams (1.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 121 x 93 x 70mm (4.8" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 78
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 23.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 13.0
DXO Low light rating 527 1061
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 410 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $999 $339