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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax H90

Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Olympus E-420 front
 
Pentax Optio H90 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax H90 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
  • Announced June 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-410
Pentax H90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2010
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax H90 Overview

In this write-up, we will be matching up the Olympus E-420 and Pentax H90, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the H90 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and H90 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-420 was launched 19 months earlier than the H90 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax H90 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-420 matches up against the H90 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Pentax H90

 E-420 H90 

Reasons to pick Pentax H90 over the Olympus E-420

 H90 E-420 
LaunchedJanuary 2010June 2008More recent by 19 months

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Pentax H90

 E-420 H90 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax H90 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-420 enjoys physical measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Pentax H90 has measurements of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs).

See the Olympus E-420 and Pentax H90 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-420 compared to the H90.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax H90 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and H90 is 77 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax H90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax H90 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to visualise the difference between sensor measurements purely by checking a spec sheet. The visual underneath should give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and H90.

Clearly, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-420 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Pentax H90 will give you greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The older E-420 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax H90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax H90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax H90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography information
Pentax H90 Portrait photography information
57
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
27
focusing manually
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography factors
Pentax H90 Street photography factors
64
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (426g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography info
Pentax H90 Sports photography info
39
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
not so great battery power (500 shots)
31
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography highlights
Pentax H90 Travel photography highlights
53
lighter than competition in class (426g)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (500 shots)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
57
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax H90 Landscape photography highlights
47
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inches)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (500 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
36
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax H90 as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
28
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax H90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Pentax H90
 Olympus E-420Pentax Optio H90
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-420 Pentax Optio H90
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2008-06-23 2010-01-25
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426 grams (0.94 pounds) 153 grams (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 527 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $999 $150