Olympus E-420 vs Sony A55

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Olympus E-420 and Sony A55, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and A55 (16MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and A55 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-420 was manufactured 3 years before the A55 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-420 matches up vs the A55 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-420 & Sony SLT-A55. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-420 Gallery & Sony A55 Gallery.

If you are looking to lug around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-420 has got exterior dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony A55 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-420 and Sony A55 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-420 compared to the A55.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-420 and A55 is 77 and 67 respectively.

Quite often, it is difficult to envision the difference between sensor measurements simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-420 and A55.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-420 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Sony A55 will deliver greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images a little more aggressively. The older E-420 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.