Olympus E-420
Launched in March 2008 as the smallest and lightest digital SLR ever, the 10 megapixel E-420 improves on the “carry me everywhere, every day” appeal of the E-410. Pair it with the “pancake” Zuiko 25mm f/2.8 lens for an SLR that rivals rangefinders for compactness. American Photo magazine named the E-420 a “Best Buy” for 2008.
Due to a new image processor, the TruPic III, this little camera also delivers greater dynamic range than its predecessor, better color fidelity, and less noise than the E-410. Other improvements include a larger screen with higher contrast, Live View previews both your next shot and, if you like, effects and adjustments. Supersonic dust removal minimizes the need to ever clean the sensor. Minor complaints include a small optical viewfinder, limited battery life when using Live View, and slightly less dynamic range than competing brands.
The E-420 is a four-thirds camera. This means that its viewfinder and the resulting photos are squarer, like a traditional television screen, than the aspect ratio seen in 35mm and most digital photography. It accepts lenses from a number of manufacturers, including Olympus and Leica.
I personally found the camera a bit small for my hands, and the placement of the strap attachment eyelet and ring near the shutter button rubbed my middle finger the wrong way
Basing its digital SLR offerings on the Four-Thirds System, Olympus has produced a whole line of unusually compact digital SLRs suited to entry-level users.
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
This camera runs the risk of being confused as a point-and-shoot, in both good and bad ways. Fortunately, many pictures turn out great. High ISO shots, up to 1600, look fantastic, without any noticeable noise.
The Olympus E-420 DSLR camera follows the recent trend of updating an existing design with a smattering of new features. Successor to the E-410, the new E420 model takes over the mantle as the World’s most compact DSLR
hey include a 10 Megapixel “Live MOS” sensor, live view, full manual controls, dust reduction, dual memory card slots, and more. And did I mention that it’s the smallest digital SLR in the world?
When Olympus launched the original E-400 to the European market in September 2006, it was a breath of fresh air. Inspired by classic 35mm film SLRs of the Eighties, the E-400 could boast the tag of World’s smallest and lightest DSLR.
The Olympus E420 SLR is clearly based on the E410, which was introduced last year, but has undergone some changes when it comes to the inner parts of the camera.
The E-420’s far from being a cute little toy, though. There’s more here for keen photographers than you’d expect on an entry-level camera.
At the same time as Olympus announced this model, it also launched a 25mm f/2.8 pancake lens, which, with the camera’s 2x magnification ratio equates to 50mm in 35mm terms.