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Olympus E-420 vs Sony WX1

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
18
Overall
27

Olympus E-420 vs Sony WX1 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
  • Released June 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-410
Sony WX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 91 x 52 x 20mm
  • Launched August 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-420 vs Sony WX1 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-420 vs Sony WX1, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the WX1 (10MP) is relatively close but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and WX1 (1/2.4") posses different sensor sizing.

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The E-420 was announced 13 months before the WX1 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony WX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-420 grades against the WX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Sony WX1

 E-420 WX1 
Manually focus More precise focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX1 over the Olympus E-420

 WX1 E-420 
LaunchedAugust 2009June 2008Fresher by 13 months

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Sony WX1

 E-420 WX1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-420 vs Sony WX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-420 comes with outer 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) whilst the Sony WX1 has dimensions of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") having a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

See the Olympus E-420 vs Sony WX1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-420 against the WX1.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony WX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and WX1 is 77 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony WX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Sony WX1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing merely by viewing a spec sheet. The visual below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and WX1.

As you can see, the two cameras have the same resolution albeit different sensor sizing. The E-420 comes with the bigger sensor which will make getting shallow depth of field easier. The older E-420 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony WX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Sony WX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Sony WX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography factors
Sony WX1 Portrait photography factors
56
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX1 as a Street photography camera
64
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than competitors in class (149 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography factors
Sony WX1 Sports photography factors
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
terrible battery (500 shots)
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX1 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery (500 shots)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
56
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (149g)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX1 as a Landscape photography camera
47
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
terrible battery (500 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
31
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX1 as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
28
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than competitors in class (149 grams)
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Olympus E-420 vs Sony WX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Sony WX1
 Olympus E-420Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-420 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Released 2008-06-23 2009-08-06
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
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 10 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 160
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426 gr (0.94 pounds) 149 gr (0.33 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 91 x 52 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $999 $149