Compared to...
Looking at the specification table below you will find that the E-420 compares quite favorably to its main competitors, even more so when considering its price. Yes, the Canon 450D offers a higher resolution and has a bigger screen but these 'nice-to-haves' come at a $300 premium. Nikon's D60 is still over $100 more expensive than the E-420 and comes with the same resolution but a smaller screen and no live-view.
Other important features are the E-420's comprehensive customizability and Mirror lock-up. The E-420's only real weakness is its smaller and darker viewfinder.
Olympus E-420 advantages
- Highly customizable user interface
- User controllable ISO noise reduction
- Flexible RAW+JPEG modes
- Customizable Mirror lock-up (1 - 30 seconds)
- Center and highlight / shadow spot metering
- Lightweight and compact
- Very competitive pricing
![]() Olympus E-420 |
![]() Canon EOS 450D |
![]() Nikon D60 |
|
Price (body only) |
US: $499 [check price] | US: $799 [check price] | US: $629 [check price] |
Price (kit) | US $599 (non IS) IS lens not available (E-520 kit around $699) |
US $899 (IS lens) | US $740 (VR lens) US $699 (non VR lens) |
Body material | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic |
Sensor | • 17.3 x 13.0 mm LiveMOS • 10 million pixels |
• 22.2 x 14.8 mm CMOS • 12.2 million pixels |
• 23.7 x 15.6 mm CCD (DX) • 10 million pixels |
Dust reduction | • Supersonic Wave Filter | • Anti-dust materials • Low pass filter vibration • Dust reference image |
• Low pass filter vibration • Airflow Control System • Dust reference image |
Native image size | 3648 x 2736 (4:3 ratio) |
4272 x 2848 (3:2 ratio) |
3872 x 2592 (3:2 ratio) |
Lens support | • Olympus and third party 4/3 • 4/3 standard lens mount |
• Canon EF mount • Including EF-S lenses |
• Nikon F-mount • Includes DX lenses • AF only AF-S or AF-I lenses |
FOV crop | 2.0x | 1.6x | 1.5x |
Body shake reduction | No | No | No |
Live view | Yes, Contrast detect or Phase detect AF | Yes, Contrast detect or Phase detect AF | No |
File formats | • RAW (comp. lossless) • JPEG (3 levels) |
• RAW (comp. lossless, 14-bit) • JPEG (2 levels) |
• RAW (compressed) • JPEG (3 levels) |
RAW+JPEG | RAW + JPEG (any quality) | RAW + JPEG Fine | RAW + JPEG Basic |
Auto focus | • 3 area TTL • Range: 0 to +19 EV • 11 point AF (contrast detect in Live View) |
• 9 area TTL • Cross-type F2.8 at center • Range: -0.5 to +18 EV • Contrast detect AF (approx 950 selectable areas) |
• 3 area TTL • Range: -1 to +19 EV |
AF illuminator | Flash strobe, must be raised | Flash strobe, must be raised | Built-in lamp |
Color space | • sRGB • Adobe RGB |
• sRGB • Adobe RGB |
• sRGB (2 modes) • Adobe RGB |
Metering sensor | • 49 zone sensor • 1 - 20 EV working range |
• 35 zone sensor • 1 - 20 EV working range |
• 420 pixel RGB sensor • 0 - 20 EV working range |
Metering | • Digital ESP • Center-weighted average • Spot • Highlight based spot • Shadow based spot |
• Evaluative • Partial • Center-weighted average • 4% spot |
• 3D Color Matrix Metering II • Center-weighted average • Spot |
Exp. comp. | +/- 5.0 EV | +/- 2.0 EV | +/- 5.0 EV |
EV steps | 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV | 1/3 or 1/2 EV | 1/3 EV |
Sensitivity | • ISO 100 - 1600 | • ISO 100 - 1600 | • ISO 100 - 1600 • ISO 3200 with boost |
Auto ISO | Auto (100 - 1600) | Auto (100 - 800) | User definable maximum ISO and minimum shutter speed |
Custom ISO NR | Yes (4 levels) | Yes (on or off) | No |
Shutter speed | • 60 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/180 sec Flash sync |
• 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/200 sec Flash sync |
• 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/200 sec Flash sync |
Continuous shooting |
• 3.5 fps • Unlimited JPEG/HQ frames • 7 RAW frames |
• 3.5 fps |
• 3 fps • Unlimited JPEG/Fine frames • 7 RAW frames |
White balance | • Auto • Seven presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable |
• Auto • Six presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable |
• Auto • Six presets • Manual preset • Fine tunable |
Image params | • Four preset looks • Sharpening: 5 levels • Contrast: 5 levels • Saturation: 5 levels • Monochrome: 5/4 levels • Gradation: 3 levels |
• Six preset picture styles • Three user sets • Sharpening: 8 levels • Contrast: 9 levels • Saturation: 9 levels • Color tone: 9 levels • B&W filter/tone: 5 of each |
• Six preset looks • Sharpening: Auto, 6 levels • Tone: Auto, 5 levels, cust. • Color: 3 modes • Saturation: Auto, 3 levels • Hue: -9° to +9° |
Embed comment | No | Owner name set via software | Comment set in-camera |
Flash | Electronic release pop-up | Electronic release pop-up | Electronic release pop-up |
Viewfinder | • Pentamirror • Eyepoint 16 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.92x • Lumi-Micron Matte screen |
• Pentamirror • Eyepoint 19 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.87x • Precision matte screen |
• Pentamirror • Eyepoint 18 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.8x • B-type Bright View Clear Matte Mark V |
LCD monitor | • 2.7 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels |
• 3.0 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels |
• 2.5 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels |
Status LCD | No, utilizes main LCD | No, utilizes main LCD | No, utilizes main LCD |
Mirror-lockup | Yes, custom 1 - 30 sec | Custom function | No |
Other features | • JPEG edit (inc. shadow adj.) • Wireless flash control • RAW development |
• Multi-shot self-timer • Image verification data • Auto Lighting Optimizer • Highlight Tone Priority • Remote Live view shooting (via USB) • Eye sensor • DOF preview |
• Wireless flash control • In-camera retouching • Active D-Lighting • RAW Development • Eye sensor • Stop motion movies |
Custom settings | 12 | 13 | 19 |
Storage | • Compact Flash card • xD Picture card |
SD/SDHC card | SD/SDHC card |
Battery | PS-BLS1 (7.2 V, 1150 mAh) | LP-E5 (7.4 V, 1050 mAh) | EN-EL9 (7.4 V, 1000 mAh) |
Battery status | Battery life (3 stage) | Battery life (3 stage) | Battery life (4 stage) |
USB | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed |
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed |
Vertical grip | No | BG-E5 (option) | No |
Software | • Olympus Master 2.0 • Olympus Studio 2.0 (trial) |
• Canon DPP • Canon PhotoStitch • Canon ZoomBrowser EX • EOS Utility (Remote Capt.) |
• Nikon Transfer • ViewNX • Nikon Capture NX (trial) |
Dimensions | 129.5 x 91 x 53 mm (5.1 x 3.6 x 2.1 in) |
129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in) |
126 x 94 x 64 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 in) |
Weight (no batt) | 380 g (0.8 lb) | 475 g (1.0 lb) | 471 g (1.0 lb) |
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