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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K20D

Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Olympus E-420 front
 
Pentax K20D front
Portability
59
Imaging
54
Features
52
Overall
53

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K20D 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
  • Released June 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-410
Pentax K20D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Launched June 2008
  • Superseded the Pentax K10D
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K20D Overview

Following is a thorough overview of the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K20D, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and K20D (15MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and K20D (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-420 was introduced very close to the K20D which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K20D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-420 scores against the K20D in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Pentax K20D

 E-420 K20D 

Reasons to pick Pentax K20D over the Olympus E-420

 K20D E-420 

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K20D

 E-420 K20D 
LaunchedJune 2008June 2008Same age
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K20D Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 provides physical measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Pentax K20D has sizing of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-420 and Pentax K20D in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-420 vs the K20D.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K20D size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and K20D is 77 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K20D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K20D Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to see the gap in sensor sizes only by going through a spec sheet. The image below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-420 and K20D.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-420 having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax K20D will produce greater detail using its extra 5MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a little more aggressively.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K20D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K20D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K20D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-420
Portrait photography with Pentax K20D
57
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
72
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography highlights
Pentax K20D Street photography highlights
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (426g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proof
fixed screen
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K20D as a Sports photography camera
39
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
low battery pack (500 CIPA)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
environment proof
has phase detect auto focus
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography details
Pentax K20D Travel photography details
53
lighter than competitors in class (426 grams)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (500 per charge)
low megapixels (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
64
environment proof
megapixel count decent (15MP)
flash built-in
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography details
Pentax K20D Landscape photography details
47
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
low battery pack (500 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
71
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proof
screen is small (2.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging info
Pentax K20D Vlogging info
9
no video recording
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax K20D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Pentax K20D
 Olympus E-420Pentax K20D
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-420 Pentax K20D
Type Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2008-06-23 2008-06-25
Body design Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4672 x 3104
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426g (0.94 lb) 800g (1.76 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 65
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 11.1
DXO Low light score 527 639
Other
Battery life 500 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - D-LI50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $999 $700