Olympus E-420 vs Pentax I-10

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus E-420 vs Pentax I-10, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the I-10 (12MP) is pretty similar but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and I-10 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-420 was launched 19 months prior to the I-10 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax I-10 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-420 scores versus the I-10 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-420 and Pentax Optio I-10. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-420 Gallery and Pentax I-10 Gallery.

If you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 comes with exterior 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 I-10 has specifications of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-420 vs Pentax I-10 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-420 vs the I-10.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and I-10 is 77 and 93 respectively.

Typically, it's hard to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading specs. The graphic underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and I-10.

All in all, both of those cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-420 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Pentax I-10 will offer greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The older E-420 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.