Olympus E-420

Olympus E-420 is a 10 megapixel DSLR and it features a 2.7 inch LCD, dust reduction system, and auto focus with live View. Camera dimensions are 5.1 inches by 3.6 inches by 2.1 inches, and weighs 13.4 ounces.

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Reviewers Conclusions & Verdicts - (updated 18 October’08)

Photography Review
“The world’s smallest digital SLR does not disappoint. The Olympus E-420 packs professional features and performance into a remarkably small, lightweight and comfortable camera body. It’s obvious that Olympus’s designers thought this one through.”


Steves Digicams
“If you decide to venture into the arena of advanced lighting, the E-420 is ready to meet the challenge. The E-420 is compatible with the Olympus FL-50R and FL-36R wireless electronic flashes that are designed exclusively for digital photography. When these flashes are used in combination with the E-420, wireless multi-flash photography is possible.”


CEN
“I especially liked the rear LCD control for making almost every setting easy to find and adjust. For any camera I buy nowadays it must feature controls for setting modes like Vivid, Natural, Muted, and Olympus throws in a very nicely done Portrait mode.”


CNET.uk
“The E-420 is a great little SLR with excellent controls and some smart features. Some may find it too small, though, and the improvements to the live view are underwhelming.”
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Shutterbug
“The designers did not skimp on features, performance, or functions that provide high image quality. The Live View system with its three AF modes is the most versatile in the affordable D-SLR category.”
   Overall, Review was Favorable:

RegHardware
“We weren’t terribly convinced by many of the pre-set modes on offer. Night mode, for instance, produced disappointing results - you’d be better off adjusting the ISO setting than leaving things to the E-420.”
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CNET Asia reviews the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“The E-420 is a no frills dSLR that we think will go well with people who are looking to advance in photography but don’t wish to bust a hole in their pockets. At S$999 with the 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 lens or S$1,199 with the 25mm F2.8 lens, we think it is a steal. While there aren’t many budget dSLRs on the market today, we think the competition will heat up when Canon launches the EOS 1000D.”

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TrustedReviews reviews the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“There’s very little to criticize the overall specification and performance of the E-420. I like it’s size - it’s ideal for traveling and is reminiscent of my old OM4 in some aspects of its handling. Images are generally good too, with excellent sharpness and detail. Color is crisp and hough exposures are slightly underexposed to my taste, they do maintain good tonality throughout the range. The Four-Thirds system is somewhat contentious amongst the more vocal geeks on the forums, but it has many benefits and is definitely worthy of consideration to anyone coming to a DSLR for the first time. The Olympus E-420 is a pleasure to use and it’s simplicity combined with the more advanced features allows the newbie to learn and grow as well as just enjoying taking good images.”

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Professional Photographer reviews the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“While clearly aimed at consumers, the rugged construction of the Olympus E-420 and its extensive list of versatile features have much to recommend it to the working pro as a camera ideally suited as an adjunct to his or her E-3 professional SLR. The E-420 more than makes up for its lack of more upmarket features, such as image stabilization, with its extremely affordable price ($499), compatibility with Olympus’ wireless flash system, and its ability to capture great looking images. I rate it a “best buy.”

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ComputerActive reviews the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“Despite the busy control layout, the E-420 is surprisingly easy to use. Light sensitivity is limited to a maximum of ISO1600, but whereas many rivals would display a destructive amount of image grain at this setting, the E-420 delivers relatively clear shots. Colors are realistic too, with the option to add punch with a Vivid setting.”

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DPReview reviews the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“The E-420 is an ideal walkaround camera with a great feature set and unrivalled customizability. The image quality issues described above very slightly tarnish the positive overall picture but if compact dimensions and pocketability are high up on your list of buying criteria the E-420 should still be one of your favorites. I certainly found myself sticking it into my pocket even on occasions when I would not usually have taken an SLR with me and anything that gets you to take more images can only be a good thing.”

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DPExpert reviews the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“This camera has been created to make the transition from compact to DSLR as easy as possible. If you really like holding a camera at arm’s length (a ridiculous posture) to take photos rather than sensibly bracing it against your face then the E-420 lets you do it. Response in live view is not instantaneous and there are two clunks when the shutter is released, rather than one. Compact users in transition get face detection to make them feel at home. However, the fact is that we enjoyed using this camera. It doesn’t feel like an entry level unit. It does everything a $2000 camera does and it comes with excellent kit lenses. Very impressive.”

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DigicamReview reviews the Olympus E-420 and they write -
” If you want to move into the world of Digital SLRs and don’t know where to start then the Olympus EVOLT E-420 is probably one of the best cameras to choose - despite being Olympus’ “budget” digital SLR - it is not overly limited in any way like some of the other budget Digital SLRs. The camera is available with many excellent Zuiko Digital kit lenses, one’s that don’t need replacing at the first possible opportunity. The camera has a large 2.7″ sceen that works well in bright sunlight, anti-dust sensor, new live view auto focus mode with face detection and an extremely useful manual focus mode, one touch white balance, shadow adjustment technology, and an impressive 3.5fps continuous shooting mode until the card is full (when on the right setting). On top of all of this the camera delivers great images with great colour, saturation, detail, and better than average auto white balance (for a Digital SLR) - the only problem occurs when you need to use ISO1600 - where noise is more obvious than other SLRs. The camera is quick to use, and easy to use providing numerous scene modes. Given the excellent value for money this camera provides, and the extensive features, I’d highly recommend this camera!”

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ePhotozine reviews the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“For the beginner in photography, the Olympus E-420 is a very capable camera that will accept some extremely good lenses made by Olympus, Leica and Sigma as the FourThirds system is used by a number of companies allowing you to interchange between them.”
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PhotographyBlog reviews the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“From close examination of the Olympus E-420 it’s fair to say that owners of the previous E-410 have little to feel threatened by. Doppelganger control layout aside, operationally too the E-420 delivers a performance that’s nigh on identical, though if we’re pushed it’s perhaps one that’s slightly more consistent overall.”
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ImagingResource reviews the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“In all, the E-420 aims big, striving for a digital SLR with mainstream accessibility and the utmost in portability, and to a large extent, it succeeds. However, prosumers and professional shooters hungry for a pocketable digital SLR will be better served by the image-stabilized E-520 and Olympus’s new 25mm pancake lens. But if small’s what you need, the Olympus E-420 is the smallest on the block.”

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LetsGoDigital reviews the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“Although some features, such as the dynamic range could do with some improvement, and we know that the signal / noise ratios at high ISO could do better too, the Olympus E-420 did really well. The extremely compact FourThirds DSLR had some help from its predecessors, however, the improvements carried out in particular to the image sensor, leave behind a positive feeling. FourThirds has proven itself in practice and it is a true joy to shoot with the Olympus E-420. Of course there is still something to desire, for example; a stabilization system, however: the ease of a super compact camera to carry around with you, and the image quality that is solid as a rock make the Olympus E-420 a wonderful camera to work with. “

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GoodGearGuide reviews the Olympus E-420 and they write -
” If you’re after a petite SLR then the Olympus E-420 is a solid performer. It keeps pace with the competition in most areas, while maintaining dimensions that are significantly smaller.”

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DCResource reviews the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“The E-420 is capable of producing excellent quality photos. I found that the camera took well-exposed photos with noticeably vibrant color. Images are just a bit soft, and if you agree, you may want to crank up the in-camera sharpening using the Picture Mode feature. Olympus has done a good job at keeping noise and noise reduction artifacting to a minimum until the highest ISOs. These issues don’t really become problematic until ISO 800 in low light, and at ISO 1600 in good light, though do a little post-processing and the photos are quite usable. I didn’t find redeye or purple fringing to be a problem on the E-420.”

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CameraLabs reviews the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“But the E-420’s real appeal is its size and weight, especially when coupled with the new 25mm pancake lens. The earlier 14-42mm kit zoom was already pretty compact, but fit the E-420 with the 25mm and you have a seriously small DSLR kit. Small enough to appeal to those upgrading from a point and shoot, light enough to take on any hike or day out, and quite able to squeeze into smaller bags or larger coat pockets.”

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PhotoReview has reviewed the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“If you’re looking for the a small digital camera with high performance, the Olympus E-420 knocks the socks off all the compact digicams we’ve reviewed that are of a similar size and resolution. Not only does it have a much larger sensor, it is just as easy to use, while providing more adjustable functions and superior performance across a wide range of shooting conditions.

However, to get the most from this camera, you must be prepared to shoot raw files and work on them with your computer. You will also need Version 2.05 or later of the Olympus Master 2 software. We hope Adobe will soon update its Camera Raw plug in to give buyers of the E-420 access to adjustments that are not currently provided in Master 2.”

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Photoxels has reviewed the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“Overall, the Olympus EVOLT E-420 is a very capable DSLR that you can use just like your P&S digicam. It is also compact and light so you will find it easy to take along anywhere. It provides lots of exposure flexibility for the advanced photographer, while allowing simple point-and-shoot operation for the beginner. More importantly, image quality is excellent. If you have been considering upgrading to a DSLR but have been put off by the extra weight, size and complicated operations of a DSLR, then the Olympus EVOLT E-420 may just be what you have been waiting for.”

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DigitalCameraReview has reviewed the Olympus E-420 and they write -
“The Olympus E-420 is touted as the “world’s smallest digital SLR” and there is no doubt the camera is compact and light – mounting the 25mm lens and ready to shoot with a CF card onboard, my review unit weighed in at just under 18.5 ounces. As DCR.com editor David Rasnake mentioned in his First Thoughts piece on this camera, with the 25mm lens onboard in particular, the E-420 is approaching mid-size ultrazoom territory: 5 x 3.5 x 3.75 inches, versus the Canon S5 IS at 4.6 x 3.15 x 3.06 inches and about 18 ounces. To be fair to the Canon, it does pack a zoom lens featuring a 36-432mm focal length range, while the Olympus is stuck at an equivalent 50mm, but it’s still a fairly dramatic example of just how small a full-featured DSLR can be.”

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PopPhoto - 05 March’08 - reviews the Olympus E-420 and notes it’s the worlds smallest and lightest DSLR. Here’s a summary of their review -
“Talk about small, this camera is tiny. the reviewed points out that the preproduction model they were evaluating was almost shockingly small. In fact, large handed men and women may find it a little too small. Operationally it works a lot like the E-410. And of course it does not come with sensor-shift image stabilization you’ll need to move up the product line for that. Looks like the LCD size has been increased and the 3.5 frames per second burst rate ties it with the Canon EOS Rebel XSi as fastest in this class.”

Rating: Not Rated

Actual Owner Feedback

“It’s small, light and just as easy to tote everyplace. The lenses are also much smaller and lighter, but with the same quality shots. And it takes simply beautiful pictures.”
Portion of user comment on Amazon.com

“I have fallen in love with the Olympus E-420 and the two prime lenses, the 25mm pancake and the 50mm f2.0. After many years of photography, going all the way back to the sixties, my nostalgia for certain elements of the old ways has been satisfied by this camera.”
Portion of user comment on Amazon.com

“I love my E420, but it does have a few issues. My main complaint is that the camera is not small enough to replace my point and shoot. This is not a defect, just a realization on my part that the worlds smallest DSLR is not small enough.”
Portion of user comment on Amazon.com

“I use the Olympus E-3 for my paid work and find it a superb camera. But like many of you, I want a camera with SLR quality to carry around minus the weight of my workhorse E-3.”
Portion of user comment on Amazon.com

“Do your research on the net on this camera and look at many photos. I am sure you will discover many other happy new owners of this camera.”
Portion of user comment on Amazon.com

“The pictures are great. The camera handles well. I like the fact that I can carry it on a shoulder strap all day and not be tried of it. I have large hands, but don’t find the camera to be too small for me to handle. “
Portion of user comment on Amazon.com

Sample Photos

[Sample Photos at Steves Digicams]
[Sample Photos at Photography Review]
[Sample Photos at CEN]
[Sample Photos at RegHardware]
[Sample Photos at CNET Asia]
[Sample Photos at TrustedReviews]
[Sample Photos at DPReview]
[Sample Photos at DigicamReview]
[Sample Photos at PhotographyBlog ]
[Sample Photos at ImagingResource]
[Sample Photos at LetsGoDigital]
[Sample Photos at DCResource]
[Sample Photos at CameraLabs]
[Sample Photos at Photoxels]

Specifications

[Official Olympus Specifications]

Owners Manual

[Owners Manual]

Press Release

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., March 5, 2008 – Olympus today announces the extremely portable E-420 – perfect for everyone who wants to step up to the power and performance of a digital SLR (single lens reflex) yet enjoy the ease of use and ability to compose images on the LCD common to point-and-shoot cameras. Weighing a mere 380 grams (13.4 ounces), the E-420 is 20 to 40 percent lighter than competing DSLRs. Good things come in this small package, including Live View, which enables users to hold the camera away from their faces and interact with their subjects – ideal when capturing photos of children, for example.

This lightweight 10-megapixel DSLR offers heavyweight technologies, including a bigger, more viewable 2.7-inch LCD and consumer-friendly fast On-Screen Autofocus, Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology and Perfect Shot Preview to get the most out of the Live View experience. Additionally, when it comes to Live View, not all LCDs are created equal. At 2.7-inches, the portable E-420 LCD is large enough for users to compose and review images without squinting. The small camera’s LCD is not just larger, it is part of a camera with technologies intelligent enough to take advantage of the Live View photography experience. These innovative technologies include:

• On-Screen Autofocus works as seamlessly as a point-and-shoot to display subjects in focus on the LCD the instant the shutter is pressed half way;

• Face Detection Technology targets and locks on up to eight faces to ensure they are in focus and crystal clear for amazing portraits;

• New and Improved HyperCrystal II™ Technology delivers twice the contrast and better viewing in extreme lighting conditions, a broader range of color detail, and a wider angle of view on the LCD so you and your friends can see it up to 176 degrees off-center;

• Shadow Adjustment Technology captures detail in the bright areas of a frame and opens up detail in the shadows that other cameras would render too dark or underexposed; and

• Perfect Shot Preview enables you to view and select your favorite effect right on the LCD, and see how the image will look before you even capture it, so you know that what you see is what you get.

“The Olympus E-420 delivers the professional-grade image quality of a digital SLR with the simple operation of a point-and-shoot camera,” said John Knaur, senior marketing manager - DSLR, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “Thanks to the camera’s small size and lightweight body, users can take the E-420 everywhere, and they will never miss another shot because the of the camera’s straightforward controls. Additionally, our innovative technologies help consumers get more from Live View.”

World’s Smallest Digital SLR A camera designed to be held away from the face lets you take great photographs without weighing you down. The E-420 is small enough to fit into a purse or a jacket pocket and light enough to shoot with comfortably all day. Measuring 5.1 inches by 3.6 inches by 2.1 inches (excluding protrusions), it is the world’s smallest digital SLR. And at a featherweight 13.4 ounces, only its predecessor (E-410) weighs less. The E-420’s new ergonomic grip on the front of the body allows for easier one-handed operation and ensures a secure hold in the most challenging shooting conditions.

One of the World’s Thinnest Lenses Meets the World’s Most Compact DSLR The world’s smallest DSLR deserves a similarly compact lens, and Olympus has it: the ultra compact Zuiko 25mm f2.8 digital specific lens. This 0.9 inch-thick lens offers a fixed 50mm equivalent angle of view. Together with the E-420, the Zuiko 25mm f2.8 lens will offer the ultimate combination of ease of use and portability.

Photographers can also purchase the E-420 in a kit with a compact, Zuiko Digital 28-84mm equivalent (ED 14-42mm Four Thirds) f3.5-f5.6 lens that perfectly matches the imager so light strikes the sensor directly to ensure rich, accurate colors and edge-to-edge sharpness. Both lenses (Zuiko 25mm f2.8 and 28-84mm f3.5-f5.6) are part Olympus’ expanding line of 100 percent digital lenses – designed specifically for digital photography. Unlike other camera companies, Olympus does not rely on old film lenses, which often result in images with soft edges or other imperfections.

The Live View Experience Olympus was the first to bring Live View to a consumer DSLR (the E-330 in 2006), and Live View has revolutionized DSLR photography. Anyone who has photographed young children knows that you get the best reactions when you hold the camera away from your face and maintain eye contact and an engaging smile. If you have tried to take photos high above the heads in a crowd or low near the ground, you will appreciate that it is easier to use a swivel LCD screen than to climb a ladder or lie on your stomach.

The E-420 solves these problems with its Live View LCD, which enables photographers to hold the camera away from their faces and at angles they just cannot reach by using the optical viewfinder alone. The E-420’s new Live View autofocus functionality now simplifies the process by working just like a point and shoot. By simply pressing the shutter button halfway, your subjects come into focus on the LCD, so when the perfect moment occurs it is easy to capture sharp images.

A viewable LCD is where a great Live View experience begins. Few things are more annoying for a photographer than squinting to see an image on an LCD screen in bright sunlight or a dimly lit room. The E-420 solves this problem with its large, bright 2.7-inch LCD display that incorporates new HyperCrystal II technology. This display offers twice the contrast for better viewing in extreme light conditions (i.e. when the sun is at your back), a broader color gamut that displays a greater range of color detail, and a 176-degree viewing angle.

Always Find a Face in the Crowd A camera this consumer-friendly is perfect for taking portraits of friends and family while out and about. The E-420’s Face Detection feature distinguishes between people’s faces and the background. It tracks up to eight faces within the image area and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Even if your subjects are moving, the camera continuously tracks their faces.

Bright Day or Deep Shadow, Never Miss a Detail Shooting scenes with shadows can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark and bright areas. The E-420 addresses this challenge with Shadow Adjustment Technology that compensates for extreme contrast when shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. Now users can preview and capture images with the same fine contrast they see with their own eyes.

Preview All the Possibilities With 18 pre-set scene-select modes for every imaginable shooting scenario and full manual controls, the E-420 offers a world of possibilities to photographers. Additionally, Perfect Shot Preview enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-window screen on the LCD before snapping the shot. This feature shows photographers what their images will look like beforehand under various settings, ensuring that they capture exactly what they want. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as exposure compensation, white balance and metering.

Enlarge Your Photos Capturing, enlarging and displaying amazing images on your wall is a snap thanks to the E-420’s 10 million pixels for high-resolution photos. The 10-megapixel sensor gives users the flexibility to enlarge prints to the sizes supported by many of today’s printers, or crop the image to print only a part of the image that is important to them. The high-performance Live MOS image sensor in the E-420 delivers excellent dynamic range for accurate color fidelity and a new state-of-the-art amplifier circuit dramatically reduces noise and captures fine image details in the highlight and shadow areas.

Improved Auto White Balance Many digital SLR users want to focus their attention on things other than white balance while they are on the move. As a result, the E-420 features an improved automatic white balance performance with a new algorithm for more accurate color.

TruePic III for Image Clarity & Speed Olympus’ TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to provide the best digital images possible for every photo with accurate color, true-to-life flesh tones, brilliant blue skies and precise tonal representation in between. TruePic III also lowers image noise by one step to reduce graininess in images shot at higher ISO settings, enabling great results in low-light situations.

Worried about missing the winning goal at the soccer game? The image processor on the E-420 enables it to shoot up to 3.5 frames per second in sequenced shooting mode, which means that photographers will be able to capture fast-paced action as it happens.

Dust Reduction System for Spot-Free Images Life moves too fast to spend time worrying about dust ruining your images. Olympus’ proven Dust Reduction System produces spot-free photos with the exclusive Supersonic Wave Filter™. The patented ultrasonic technology vibrates to remove dust and other particles from the front of the image sensor and captures it on a special adhesive membrane every time the camera is turned on. These spot-free photos liberate users from hours spent retouching photographs at the computer or sending their cameras back to the manufacturer to remove dust trapped inside.

Media Versatility

Accepting both CompactFlash Type I & II, Microdrives, and xD-Picture Cards, the E-420 provides a choice of data storage options for enhanced flexibility, and it is possible to transfer image files from one card to the other right inside the camera.

Wireless Flash Capability If you decide to venture into the arena of advanced lighting, the E-420 is ready to meet the challenge. The E-420 is compatible with the Olympus FL-50R and FL-36R wireless electronic flashes that are designed exclusively for digital photography. When these flashes are used in combination with the E-420, wireless multi-flash photography is possible. The E-420 can control up to three wireless flash groups independently, with several flash units per group.

Availability The Olympus E-420 Digital SLR will be available in May 2008. It includes: E-420 Body, USB Cable, Video Cable, Li-Ion Battery Pack (BLS-1), Li-Ion Battery Charger (BCS-1), Shoulder Strap, OLYMPUS Master Software CD-ROM, Manuals and Warranty Card.