Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-r
77 Imaging
44 Features
36 Overall
40
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67 Imaging
53 Features
52 Overall
52
Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-r 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
- Launched June 2008
- Earlier Model is Olympus E-410
(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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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-r Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-420 & Pentax K-r. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-420 Gallery & Pentax K-r Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Pentax K-r
E-420 | K-r |
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Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Olympus E-420
K-r | E-420 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | March 2011 | ![]() | June 2008 | Newer by 33 months |
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Screen resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper screen (+691k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K-r
E-420 | K-r | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | More precise focus | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | 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.
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.
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Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and K-r is 77 and 67 respectively.
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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.
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder
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Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
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Landscape Comparison
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Vlogging Comparison
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K-r Specifications
Olympus E-420 | Pentax 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 |