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Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX1

Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Olympus E-420 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX1 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
  • Introduced June 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-410
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Revealed February 2013
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Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus E-420 and Sony RX1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and RX1 (Full frame) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-420 was launched 5 years prior to the RX1 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-420 grades against the RX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Sony RX1

 E-420 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Olympus E-420

 RX1 E-420 
RevealedFebruary 2013June 2008Fresher by 56 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kClearer display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Sony RX1

 E-420 RX1 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-420 enjoys outer measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony RX1 has specifications of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") along with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-420 and Sony RX1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the E-420 against the RX1.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and RX1 is 77 and 79 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to picture the difference in sensor sizing only by researching a spec sheet. The graphic here should offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and RX1.

Clearly, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-420 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Sony RX1 will result in more detail utilizing its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The older E-420 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX1 Portrait photography highlights
57
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low MP (10 megapixels)
82
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/4,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography highlights
Sony RX1 Street photography highlights
64
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than average (426 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
66
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
good ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others in class (482 grams)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography features
Sony RX1 Sports photography features
39
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
bad battery (500 shots)
53
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
can't change focal length (35mm)
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (270 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography factors
Sony RX1 Travel photography factors
53
lighter than average (426g)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery (500 CIPA)
low MP (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
62
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
built-in flash
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (270 per charge)
heavier than others in class (482 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography details
Sony RX1 Landscape photography details
47
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
bad battery (500 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
65
focusing manually
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (270 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX1 as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
34
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others in class (482g)
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Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Sony RX1
 Olympus E-420Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-420 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-06-23 2013-02-19
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426g (0.94 lbs) 482g (1.06 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 93
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 25.1
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 14.3
DXO Low light score 527 2534
Other
Battery life 500 images 270 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $999 $2,798