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Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX5

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Introduced June 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-410
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2010
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Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX5 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Olympus E-420 versus Sony HX5, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the HX5 (10MP) is pretty close but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and HX5 (1/2.4") possess different sensor size.

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The E-420 was revealed 24 months before the HX5 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-420 matches up versus the HX5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Sony HX5

 E-420 HX5 
Manually focus Very exact focus

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Olympus E-420

 HX5 E-420 
LaunchedJune 2010June 2008Newer by 24 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Sony HX5

 E-420 HX5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-420 has got exterior measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Sony HX5 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Olympus E-420 versus Sony HX5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-420 against the HX5.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and HX5 is 77 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by viewing a spec sheet. The pic here may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-420 and HX5.

Clearly, each of these cameras offer the same exact megapixels albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-420 features the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field simpler. The more aged E-420 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX5 Portrait photography highlights
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low MP (10MP)
19
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography features
Sony HX5 Street photography features
64
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (426 grams)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX5 Sports photography highlights
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
slow fps (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
terrible battery life (500 per charge)
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.4")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography factors
Sony HX5 Travel photography factors
52
lighter than competitors in class (426g)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (500 per charge)
low MP (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
60
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX5 Landscape photography advice
47
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
terrible battery life (500 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
37
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging details
Sony HX5 Vlogging details
9
can't shoot video
31
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus E-420 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Sony HX5
 Olympus E-420Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-420 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-06-23 2010-06-16
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.4"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
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
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426g (0.94 lb) 200g (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" 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 - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $999 $275