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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-r 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-410
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Released March 2011
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-r, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the K-r (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and K-r (APS-C) use different sensor dimensions.

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The E-420 was introduced 3 years before the K-r which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-420 matches up vs the K-r with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 E-420 K-r 

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

 K-r E-420 
ReleasedMarch 2011June 2008Newer by 33 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

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

 E-420 K-r 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 enjoys outer measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Pentax K-r has specifications of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") having a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

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

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-420 and the K-r.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and K-r is 77 and 67 respectively.

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

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading through specifications. The picture here might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-420 and K-r.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-420 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax K-r will give you more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged E-420 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Portrait photography camera
56
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
63
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
low resolution (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-r Street photography highlights
64
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than others (426 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Pentax K-r
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
terrible battery power (500 shots)
55
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (6.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery power (470 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-r Travel photography highlights
52
lighter than others (426g)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
terrible battery power (500 shots)
low megapixels (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
47
built-in flash
low battery power (470 per charge)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Pentax K-r
47
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
terrible battery power (500 shots)
no Timelapse function
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
low battery power (470 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-420
Vlogging with Pentax K-r
9
can't record video
26
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-r
 Olympus E-420Pentax K-r
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-420 Pentax K-r
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2008-06-23 2011-03-11
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set 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 options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
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 Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426 gr (0.94 lbs) 598 gr (1.32 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 72
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.4
DXO Low light rating 527 755
Other
Battery life 500 photographs 470 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $999 $1,100