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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax Q10

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Pentax Q10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax Q10 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
Pentax Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Older Model is Pentax Q
  • Updated by Pentax Q7
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax Q10 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Olympus E-420 vs Pentax Q10, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the Q10 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and Q10 (1/2.3") feature different sensor measurements.

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The E-420 was revealed 5 years earlier than the Q10 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax Q10 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-420 scores versus the Q10 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Pentax Q10

 E-420 Q10 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Olympus E-420

 Q10 E-420 
IntroducedSeptember 2012June 2008Fresher by 51 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Pentax Q10

 E-420 Q10 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax Q10 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 has got external dimensions 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 Q10 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-420 vs Pentax Q10 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-420 vs the Q10.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax Q10 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and Q10 is 77 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax Q10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax Q10 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizing merely by viewing specs. The photograph here might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and Q10.

All in all, the two cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-420 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Pentax Q10 will result in extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older E-420 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax Q10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Portrait photography camera
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low resolution (10MP)
48
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Street photography camera
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than others in class (426g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
lighter than average in class (200 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography factors
Pentax Q10 Sports photography factors
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
terrible battery power (500 per charge)
36
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has tracking autofocus
slow fps (5.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery (270 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography advice
Pentax Q10 Travel photography advice
52
lighter than others in class (426g)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (500 CIPA)
low resolution (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
60
lighter than average in class (200 grams)
flash built-in
bad battery (270 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography information
Pentax Q10 Landscape photography information
47
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (10 megapixels)
terrible battery power (500 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
54
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery (270 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-420
Vlogging with Pentax Q10
9
can't record video
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (200 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-420 vs Pentax Q10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Pentax Q10
 Olympus E-420Pentax Q10
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-420 Pentax Q10
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2008-06-23 2012-09-10
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Number of lenses 45 8
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426g (0.94 pounds) 200g (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 21.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.9
DXO Low light rating 527 183
Other
Battery life 500 shots 270 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $999 $350