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Canon 450D vs Olympus E-420

The Canon EOS 450D (called Canon XSi in some regions) and the Olympus E-420 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in January 2008 and March 2008. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-C (450D) and a Four Thirds (E-420) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 12.2 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 10 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon 450D
versus
Olympus E-420
Canon 450D   Olympus E-420
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses Four Thirds lenses
12.2 MP – APS-C sensor 10 MP – Four Thirds sensor
no Video no Video
ISO 100-1,600 ISO 100-1,600
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 230k dots 2.7" LCD – 215k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3.5 shutter flaps per second 3.5 shutter flaps per second
500 shots per battery charge500 shots per battery charge
129 x 98 x 62 mm, 524 g 130 x 91 x 53 mm, 440 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 450D and the Olympus E-420? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 450D and the Olympus E-420 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Canon 450D vs Olympus E-420
Compare 450D versus E-420 top
Comparison 450D or E-420 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-420 is notably smaller (6 percent) than the Canon 450D. Moreover, the E-420 is markedly lighter (16 percent) than the 450D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 450D nor the E-420 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (450D) and the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-420).

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 450D 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 524 g 500 n Jan 2008 EUR 699ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-420 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 440 g 500 n Mar 2008 EUR 499ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 400D 127 mm 84 mm 65 mm 556 g 370 n Aug 2006 EUR 799ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 500D 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 520 g 400 n Mar 2009 EUR 699ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 650D 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 575 g 440 n Jun 2012 EUR 799ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 750D 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 555 g 440 n Feb 2015 EUR 699ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 760D 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 565 g 440 n Feb 2015 EUR 749ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 1000D 126 mm 98 mm 65 mm 502 g 500 n Jun 2008 EUR 399ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 1100D 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 495 g 700 n Feb 2011 EUR 399ebay.com
10.
 
Canon G1 X 117 mm 81 mm 65 mm 534 g 250 n Jan 2012 EUR 749ebay.com
11.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II 116 mm 74 mm 66 mm 553 g 240 n Feb 2014 EUR 849ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D5000 127 mm 104 mm 80 mm 590 g 510 n Apr 2009 EUR 699ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-400 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Sep 2006 EUR 699ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus E-410 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Mar 2007 EUR 699ebay.com
15.
 
Olympus E-450 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 440 g 500 n Mar 2009 EUR 449ebay.com
16.
 
Olympus E-520 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 535 g 750 n May 2008 EUR 599ebay.com
17.
 
Olympus E-620 130 mm 94 mm 60 mm 521 g 500 n Feb 2009 EUR 599ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The E-420 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 25 percent) than the 450D, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 450D features an APS-C sensor and the Olympus E-420 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the E-420 is 32 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 2.0. The sensor in the 450D has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the E-420 offers a 4:3 aspect.

Canon 450D and Olympus E-420 sensor measures

With 12.2MP, the 450D offers a higher resolution than the E-420 (10MP), but the 450D nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.19μm versus 4.74μm for the E-420) due to its larger sensor. It is noteworthy in this context that the two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are from the same technological generation.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 450D implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 450D for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 21.4 x 14.2 inches or 54.3 x 36.2 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 17.1 x 11.4 inches or 43.4 x 28.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 14.2 x 9.5 inches or 36.2 x 24.1 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-420 are 18.2 x 13.7 inches or 46.3 x 34.7 cm for good quality, 14.6 x 10.9 inches or 37.1 x 27.8 cm for very good quality, and 12.2 x 9.1 inches or 30.9 x 23.2 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS 450D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The Olympus E-420 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

450D versus E-420 MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. Of the two cameras under review, the 450D has a notably higher overall DXO score than the E-420 (overall score 5 points higher), which gives it an advantage in terms of imaging quality. This advantage is based on 0.4 bits higher color depth, 0.4 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.4 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon 450D APS-C 12.2 4272 2848none21.910.869261
2.
 
Olympus E-420 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.510.452756
3.
 
Canon 400D APS-C 10.1 3888 2592none22.111.066462
4.
 
Canon 500D APS-C 15.1 4752 31681080/20p21.711.566363
5.
 
Canon 650D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.272262
6.
 
Canon 750D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.712.091971
7.
 
Canon 760D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.612.091570
8.
 
Canon 1000D APS-C 10.1 3888 2592none22.010.971962
9.
 
Canon 1100D APS-C 12.2 4272 2848720/30p21.911.075562
10.
 
Canon G1 X 1.5-inch 14.2 4352 32641080/24p21.710.864460
11.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II 1.5-inch 13.0 4160 31201080/30p21.510.858158
12.
 
Nikon D5000 APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.712.586872
13.
 
Olympus E-400 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.010.612753
14.
 
Olympus E-410 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.110.049451
15.
 
Olympus E-450 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.510.551256
16.
 
Olympus E-520 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.410.454855
17.
 
Olympus E-620 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.310.353655
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
Both the 450D and the E-420 offer Live View, so that they make it possible to use the rear screen for framing. Both cameras are still-image focused and cannot record videos.
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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 450D and the E-420 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (95%), but the viewfinder of the 450D has a higher magnification than the one of the E-420 (0.54x vs 0.46x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 450D and Olympus E-420 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon 450Doptical n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
2.
 
Olympus E-420optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
3.
 
Canon 400Doptical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
4.
 
Canon 500Doptical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.4/s Y n
5.
 
Canon 650Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon 750Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon 760Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
8.
 
Canon 1000Doptical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
9.
 
Canon 1100Doptical n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
10.
 
Canon G1 Xoptical n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/4000s 1.9/s Y Y
11.
 
Canon G1 X Mark IIoptional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 5.2/s Y Y
12.
 
Nikon D5000optical n2.7 / 230 full-flex n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
13.
 
Olympus E-400optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
14.
 
Olympus E-410optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
15.
 
Olympus E-450optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
16.
 
Olympus E-520optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y Y
17.
 
Olympus E-620optical n2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The 450D writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the E-420 uses Compact Flash or xD Picture cards. The E-420 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the 450D only has one slot.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 450D and Olympus E-420 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon 450DY- / ---mini2.0---
2.
 
Olympus E-420Y- / ----2.0---
3.
 
Canon 400DY- / ----2.0---
4.
 
Canon 500DYmono / mono--mini2.0---
5.
 
Canon 650DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
6.
 
Canon 750DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon 760DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
8.
 
Canon 1000DY- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Canon 1100DYstereo / mono--mini2.0---
10.
 
Canon G1 XYstereo / mono--mini2.0---
11.
 
Canon G1 X Mark IIYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
12.
 
Nikon D5000Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
13.
 
Olympus E-400Y- / ----2.0---
14.
 
Olympus E-410Y- / ----2.0---
15.
 
Olympus E-450Y- / ----2.0---
16.
 
Olympus E-520Y- / ----2.0---
17.
 
Olympus E-620Y- / ----2.0---

Both the 450D and the E-420 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 450D was replaced by the Canon 500D, while the E-420 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the 450D and E-420 can be found, respectively, in the Canon 450D Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-420 Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 450D or the Olympus E-420 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 450D:

  • More detail: Offers more megapixels (12.2 vs 10MP) with a 13% higher linear resolution.
  • Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (5 points) in the DXO overall assessment.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Requires less light for good images (0.4 stops ISO advantage).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.54x vs 0.46x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.7") for image review and settings control.

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Advantages of the Olympus E-420:

  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 84g or 16 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (25 percent cheaper at launch).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the 450D emerges as the winner of the contest (5 : 3 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

450D 05:03 E-420

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 450D and the Olympus E-420 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the 450D and the E-420 in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 450D..+ +..+ +4/54.5/5 Jan 2008 EUR 699ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-420..85/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2008 EUR 499ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 400D..+ +..+ +o4/5 Aug 2006 EUR 799ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 500D..+ +..74/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 EUR 699ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 650D4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2012 EUR 799ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 750D5/5....75/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 EUR 699ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 760D5/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 EUR 749ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 1000D..82/100..+ +3.5/54.5/5 Jun 2008 EUR 399ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 1100D..80/100..69/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2011 EUR 399ebay.com
10.
 
Canon G1 X5/5+..76/1004/54.5/5 Jan 2012 EUR 749ebay.com
11.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II3/5+..77/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2014 EUR 849ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D5000..+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Apr 2009 EUR 699ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-400..85/100....4/54/5 Sep 2006 EUR 699ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus E-410..86/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2007 EUR 699ebay.com
15.
 
Olympus E-450........4/54/5 Mar 2009 EUR 449ebay.com
16.
 
Olympus E-520..87/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 May 2008 EUR 599ebay.com
17.
 
Olympus E-6203/588/100..72/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2009 EUR 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Canon 450D vs Olympus E-420

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon 450D Olympus E-420
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date January 2008 March 2008
    Launch Price USD 799 USD 599
    Sensor Specs Canon 450D Olympus E-420
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.2 x 14.8 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 328.56 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 26.7 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12.2 Megapixels 10 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4272 x 2848 pixels 3648 x 2736 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.19 μm 4.74 μm
    Pixel Density 3.70 MP/cm2 4.44 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 100 - 1,600 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 3 TruePic III
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 61 56
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.9 21.5
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.8 10.4
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 692 527
    Screen Specs Canon 450D Olympus E-420
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.54x 0.46x
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 2.7inch
    LCD Resolution 230k dots 215k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Canon 450D Olympus E-420
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3.5 shutter flaps/s 3.5 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDHC cards CF or XD cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    Connectivity Specs Canon 450D Olympus E-420
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI no HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Canon 450D Olympus E-420
    Battery Type Canon LP-E5 Olympus BLS-1
    Battery Life (CIPA)500 shots per charge500 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 129 x 98 x 62 mm
    (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in)
    130 x 91 x 53 mm
    (5.1 x 3.6 x 2.1 in)
    Camera Weight 524 g (18.5 oz) 440 g (15.5 oz)
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