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Olympus E-420 vs Zeiss ZX1

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Olympus E-420 front
 
Zeiss ZX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
78
Features
62
Overall
71

Olympus E-420 vs Zeiss ZX1 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
  • Introduced June 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-410
Zeiss ZX1
(Full Review)
  • 37MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 4.34" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 51200
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 35mm (F2-22) lens
  • 800g - 142 x 93 x 46mm
  • Introduced September 2018
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-420 vs Zeiss ZX1 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus E-420 vs Zeiss ZX1, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Zeiss. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the E-420 (10MP) and ZX1 (37MP) and the E-420 (Four Thirds) and ZX1 (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-420 was launched 11 years before the ZX1 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Zeiss ZX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-420 matches up vs the ZX1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Zeiss ZX1

 E-420 ZX1 

Reasons to pick Zeiss ZX1 over the Olympus E-420

 ZX1 E-420 
IntroducedSeptember 2018June 2008More recent by 124 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension4.34"2.7"Larger display (+1.64")
Display resolution2765k230kSharper display (+2535k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Zeiss ZX1

 E-420 ZX1 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-420 vs Zeiss ZX1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-420 has 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) whilst the Zeiss ZX1 has measurements of 142mm x 93mm x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-420 vs Zeiss ZX1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-420 versus the ZX1.

Olympus E-420 vs Zeiss ZX1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-420 and ZX1 is 77 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Zeiss ZX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Zeiss ZX1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements merely by reviewing technical specs. The visual below might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and ZX1.

As you can tell, both of those cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-420 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh trickier and the Zeiss ZX1 will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 27 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older E-420 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-420 vs Zeiss ZX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 Portrait photography info
Zeiss ZX1 Portrait photography info
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
86
focusing manually
resolution is great (37MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-420
Street photography with Zeiss ZX1
64
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors (426g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
70
screen can move to multiple angles
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
provides focus via touch
very good high ISO (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
heavier than average (800g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Sports photography camera
Zeiss ZX1 as a Sports photography camera
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
low battery life (500 CIPA)
64
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
resolution is great (37MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
focal length is fixed (35mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography advice
Zeiss ZX1 Travel photography advice
52
lighter than competitors (426g)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery life (500 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
connects via bluetooth
provides focus via touch
resolution is great (37MP)
very good maximum aperture (f2)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (800g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography factors
Zeiss ZX1 Landscape photography factors
47
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
low battery life (500 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
69
focusing manually
very good maximum aperture (f2)
lovely big screen (4.34 inch)
resolution is great (37MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
very good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-420
Vlogging with Zeiss ZX1
9
no video shooting
31
very good maximum aperture (f2)
touchscreen enabled
comes with face detect focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic port
heavier than average (800g)
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Olympus E-420 vs Zeiss ZX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Zeiss ZX1
 Olympus E-420Zeiss ZX1
General Information
Brand Olympus Zeiss
Model Olympus E-420 Zeiss ZX1
Type Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-06-23 2018-09-27
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 37MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 7488 x 4992
Max native ISO 1600 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 255
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Highest aperture - f/2-22
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 4.34 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 2,765 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 6,221 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 426 gr (0.94 lbs) 800 gr (1.76 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 142 x 93 x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 527 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card 512GB internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $999 -