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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-410
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus E-420 and Pentax MX-1, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") posses different sensor sizing.

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The E-420 was released 6 years before the MX-1 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-420 grades versus the MX-1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Pentax MX-1

 E-420 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-420

 MX-1 E-420 
LaunchedJuly 2013June 2008Fresher by 61 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Pentax MX-1

 E-420 MX-1 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-420 offers external measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-420 and Pentax MX-1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-420 vs the MX-1.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and MX-1 is 77 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing purely by looking at technical specs. The graphic underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and MX-1.

As you have seen, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-420 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax MX-1 will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images way more aggressively. The older E-420 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography info
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography info
56
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
42
you can focus manually
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
external flash not possible
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Street photography highlights
64
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (426 grams)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
65
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-420
Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
38
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (500 shots)
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
good battery life (290 per charge)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography info
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography info
52
lighter than competition (426g)
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (500 shots)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
61
good battery life (290 per charge)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (391g)
MP count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography advice
47
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
terrible battery pack (500 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
55
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (290 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/1.7")
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging advice
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging advice
9
no video shooting
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
more heavy than competition (391g)
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus E-420Pentax MX-1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-420 Pentax MX-1
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2008-06-23 2013-07-01
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426g (0.94 lb) 391g (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.3
DXO Low light rating 527 208
Other
Battery life 500 shots 290 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $999 $400