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Olympus E-420 vs Sony A55

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A55 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
  • Launched June 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-410
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Released August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A57
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Olympus E-420 vs Sony A55 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Sony A55

 E-420 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Olympus E-420

 A55 E-420 
ReleasedAugust 2010June 2008More recent by 26 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Sony A55

 E-420 A55 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A55 size comparison

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

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography details
Sony A55 Portrait photography details
56
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
low resolution (10 megapixels)
73
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-420
Street photography with Sony A55
64
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (426 grams)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
77
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography advice
Sony A55 Sports photography advice
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
not so great battery power (500 CIPA)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery (380 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A55 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition in class (426g)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (500 shots)
low resolution (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
62
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography information
Sony A55 Landscape photography information
47
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7")
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (10 megapixels)
not so great battery power (500 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
67
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
low battery (380 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging advice
Sony A55 Vlogging advice
9
can't record video
78
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic port
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Olympus E-420 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Sony A55
 Olympus E-420Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-420 Sony SLT-A55
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2008-06-23 2010-08-24
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 45 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426 grams (0.94 lbs) 500 grams (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 73
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.4
DXO Low light rating 527 816
Other
Battery life 500 pictures 380 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $999 $800