Compared to...
Studio scene comparison (JPEG)
This is our standard studio scene comparison shot taken from exactly the same tripod position. Lighting: daylight simulation, >98% CRI. Crops are 100%. Ambient temperature was approximately 22°C (~72°F).Olympus E-420 (NF Off) vs. Olympus E-410 (NF Off)
- Olympus E-420: Olympus 50 mm F2.0 lens, Aperture Priority, ISO 100
JPEG Large/SHQ, Manual WB, Noise Filter Off, Anti-shock 2 sec
- Olympus E-410: Olympus 50 mm F2.0 lens, Aperture Priority, ISO 100
JPEG Large/SHQ, Manual WB, Noise Filter Off, Sharpness -2, Anti-shock 2 sec
Olympus E-420 |
Olympus E-410
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| 6,199 KB JPEG (3648 x 2736) |
6,810 KB JPEG (3648 x 2736) |
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The crops show that using our optimized settings the E-410 produces visibly sharper and crisper images than its successor, though this is partly down to the higher sharpening applied to the E-410's image (if you sharpen the E-420 ouput the difference is a lot less obvious). Although the differences won't make a difference at normal viewing magnifications they will limit the E-420's ability to produce large prints of very finely detailed scenes. On a more positive note the E-420 has a more attractive highlight roll-off with less harsh clipping of specular highlights.
The differences seen here hint that there is a physical difference between the E-410 and E-420 sensor units. With the E-420 Olympus would appear to have chosen to go down the same route as with its flagship DSLR, the E3, and has installed a slightly stronger AA filter in front of the sensor. This results in clean images, but images that are a bit soft viewed up close.
