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Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX10

Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Olympus E-420 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 front
Portability
58
Imaging
51
Features
76
Overall
61

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX10 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
  • Released June 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-410
Sony RX10
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8) lens
  • 813g - 129 x 88 x 102mm
  • Launched March 2014
  • Replacement is Sony RX10 II
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Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX10 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus E-420 and Sony RX10, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and RX10 (20MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and RX10 (1") possess totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-420 was announced 6 years prior to the RX10 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX10 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-420 scores vs the RX10 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Sony RX10

 E-420 RX10 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 over the Olympus E-420

 RX10 E-420 
LaunchedMarch 2014June 2008More recent by 69 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1290k230kClearer display (+1060k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Sony RX10

 E-420 RX10 
Manually focus More precise focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX10 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-420 comes with physical dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Sony RX10 has dimensions of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") and a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-420 and Sony RX10 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-420 against the RX10.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX10 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and RX10 is 77 and 58 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX10 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements just by checking out specs. The visual underneath may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and RX10.

All in all, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-420 having a larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony RX10 will show greater detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older E-420 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography factors
Sony RX10 Portrait photography factors
57
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
70
has manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography advice
Sony RX10 Street photography advice
64
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than average (426 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
72
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography highlights
Sony RX10 Sports photography highlights
39
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
not so great battery (500 CIPA)
67
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
environment proofing
good battery power (420 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography advice
Sony RX10 Travel photography advice
53
lighter than average (426 grams)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (500 CIPA)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
58
good battery power (420 CIPA)
environment proofing
megapixel count good (20MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography factors
Sony RX10 Landscape photography factors
47
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
not so great battery (500 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
63
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
good battery power (420 per charge)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging information
Sony RX10 Vlogging information
9
no video recording
30
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone jack
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-420 vs Sony RX10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Sony RX10
 Olympus E-420Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-420 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
Type Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Superzoom
Released 2008-06-23 2014-03-20
Body design Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-200mm (8.3x)
Max aperture - f/2.8
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,290 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - WhiteMagic
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/3200 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.20 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 lb) 813 grams (1.79 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 129 x 88 x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 69
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.6
DXO Low light rating 527 474
Other
Battery life 500 images 420 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail price $999 $698