Testseek.com have collected 66 expert reviews of the Olympus E-420 and the average rating is 78%. Scroll down and see all reviews for Olympus E-420.
May 2008
Experts 78% 66 Reviews
Average score from experts who have reviewed this product.
Users - 0 Reviews
Average score from owners of the product.
The editors liked
Small and light without compromising comfort
Very effective anti-dust system
Live View with contrast AF and face detection
Quick handling and broad customisation.
Light weight and small size make it far more portable than most DSLRs. Live view lets you compose onscreen instead of peering through the viewfinder. Speedy autofocus. No discernible shutter lag. Paging all photo geeks
RAW format support.
Pocketable size (particularly with 25mm pancake lens)
great walk-around camera
11-point contrast-detect autofocus in Live View (but slow
and works with only a few lenses)
Digital-specific lens line offers advantage in edge-to-edge sharpness
Supers...
Improved grip over the earlier E-410 and £170 cheaper on launch
Faster operation
while larger LCD screen aids visibility
More consistent white balance performance from shot to shot
Realistic colours
with a vivid option to increase saturation still...
Very compact and lightweight digital SLR
especially when combined with the 25mm pancake lens
Comfortable to hold despite the lack of a real grip
Control panel display allows quick access to most important shooting parameters
Generally snappy performan...
Very good photo quality
Good value starts at $500
body only
Worlds smallest DSLR
excellent build quality
Dust reduction system
Live view with contrast detect AF and face detection (with some lenses) on a 2.7"
LCD display
Full manual contro...
Little effort to carry
dust reduction
excellent value for money
consistent AWB
Small form factor
Live View with autofocus
scene modes to help beginners get started
Super Sonic Wave Filter.
Compact size
light weight
Good image and color quality
Handy
intuitive controls (once you get familiar with the Super Control Panel
Live View is great for taking shots at difficult angles
good dynamic range
dust reduction system.
Sharp
detailed close-up pictures. Pleasant colors in average light. Live-view mode allows odd-angle shots. Speedy
responsive action. Advanced manual controls.
The editors didn't like
Very limited anti-shake options
Small viewfinder with basic 3-point AF
Body may be too small for bigger hands
E-520 a tempting alternative with anti-shake.
Fewer buttons means it takes more menusurfing to adjust basic settings like ISO and white balance. Facedetection feature can be slow. Four Thirds lens compatibility is largely moot
as no manufacturers beside Olympus and pricey Sigma support the standard...
Small grip can make it difficult to comfortably handle camera
becomes much more pronounced when long lenses are applied
Shutter lag in Live View (can reach at much as 2.6 seconds)
LCD show odd metallic-like sheen in bright daylight
can be distracti...
Functional improvements over the earlier E-410 are relatively minor ones
Two of the E-410’s scene modes have sunk without a trace
LCD could be a little brighter for outdoor shooting with live view and is prone to smearing
LCD turns monochrome and noisy in low light
Auto white balance and presets not brilliant (but there is a white balance fine tune option)
Image parameters only o...
Photos are slightly soft
noise reduction a bit heavy at ISO 1600 (shoot RAW to avoid)
Slow contrast detect AF
unimpressive face detection in live view mode
both features only available with a select few lenses
Low light focusing could be better in...
Handling
position of right eyelet
highlight control
slow AF system with standard lenses
No image stabilization system
autofocus sluggish in dim environment
no dedicated focusing mode switch.
No image stabilization
Small size may prove problematic for large hands
2x sensor crop factor detracts from wide angle lens width
Lack of a grip
Poor ISO performance
slow focusing in Live View mode.
Photos get noisy at 800 ISO and higher. Viewfinder feels small. LCD stays lit even when sighting camera.
StowedOlympus has delivered a remarkable product in the E-420 and the 25mm Zuiko. I hope that they’re considering releasing other pancake lenses. A 12 or 14mm prime AF f/2.8 pancake lens would be a very welcome addition.In the meantime, I’m en...
There is no doubt that I really like the Olympus E-420 but I would have loved it even more if some of the negatives I listed hadn’t been present (like the bad AF Assist Lamp implementation, being a little noisy in low light, Live View being slow)...
Abstract: The Olympus E-420 is well worth the amateur photographer’s consideration. If there is only one feature that should drive the purchase of your next camera (or even your first camera, for that matter), it would have to be ability to interchange lenses, ...
Abstract: The Olympus E-420 is currently the world’s smallest digital SLR. Offering professional performance and features in a compact, lightweight body, the 10-megapixel E-420 includes Live View, a 2.7-inch LCD and Face Detection. It can capture both RAW...
Abstract: The Olympus E-420 is the successor to the very popular E-410 from last year. Olympus designed this portable model for those who are ready to step up to the power and performance of a digital SLR, yet still expect the ease of use and ability to compose ...
Abstract: Founded in 1919, Olympus has been one of the Big 5 camera manufacturers in the US since the late 50s introduction of its very popular half frame film camera the Olympus Pen. Some of its other well known film cameras were the Olympus RC (one of my fa...
Compact and lightweight design; Live View is great for taking shots at difficult angles; good dynamic range; dust reduction system.
Poor ISO performance; slow focusing in Live View mode.
All in all, the main advantage the E-420 over other entry-level DSLR is its size and weight. It is compact and light enough to be carried around for every day use, making it ideal for amateur photographers looking to practise their skills. The Live Vi...
Abstract: Hybrid AF: When this mode is selected, the camera first employs contrast-detection AF to set approximate focus so the image looks quite sharp on the LCD monitor. There’s no interruption of the live preview display. Press the shutter button to t...
Abstract: Price: $1,199 (With 25mm lens)Claim to fame: Lightest DSLRMade for: The discreet street shooterDL low-down: Even with a 25mm (effectively 50mm) lens, this baby weighs only 539g. The pancake lens makes it one of the least obtrusive DSLR combinations aro...
