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Olympus E-420 vs E-PM2

The Olympus E-420 and the Olympus PEN E-PM2 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in March 2008 and September 2012. The E-420 is a DSLR, while the E-PM2 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Both cameras are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. The E-420 has a resolution of 10 megapixels, whereas the E-PM2 provides 15.9 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Olympus E-420
versus
Olympus E-PM2
Olympus E-420   Olympus E-PM2
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
10 MP – Four Thirds sensor 15.9 MP – Four Thirds sensor
no Video 1080/30p Video
ISO 100-1,600 ISO 100-25,600
Optical viewfinder Viewfinder optional
2.7" LCD – 215k dots 3.0" LCD – 460k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed touchscreen
3.5 shutter flaps per second 8 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
500 shots per battery charge360 shots per battery charge
130 x 91 x 53 mm, 440 g 110 x 64 x 34 mm, 269 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus E-420 and the Olympus PEN E-PM2? 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

The physical size and weight of the Olympus E-420 and the Olympus E-PM2 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-PM2 can be obtained in four different colors (black, silver, red, white), while the E-420 is only available in black.

Size Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2
Compare E-420 versus E-PM2 top
Comparison E-420 or E-PM2 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-PM2 is considerably smaller (40 percent) than the Olympus E-420. Moreover, the E-PM2 is substantially lighter (39 percent) than the E-420. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the E-420 nor the E-PM2 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. Both cameras have similarly sized sensors, but DSLRs have a larger flange-to-focal plane distance than mirrorless cameras, which imposes contraints on the optical engineering process and generally leads to bigger and heavier lenses. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-420) and the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-PM2). Mirrorless cameras, such as the E-PM2, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the E-420 gets 500 shots out of its Olympus BLS-1 battery, while the E-PM2 can take 360 images on a single charge of its Olympus BLS-5 power pack.

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.
 
Olympus E-420 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 440 g 500 n Mar 2008 US$ 599ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-PM2 110 mm 64 mm 34 mm 269 g 360 n Sep 2012 US$ 499ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon D40X 124 mm 94 mm 64 mm 522 g 520 n Mar 2007 US$ 729ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D60 126 mm 94 mm 64 mm 522 g 500 n Jan 2008 US$ 629ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D3000 126 mm 97 mm 64 mm 536 g 500 n Jul 2009 US$ 599ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-400 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Sep 2006 US$ 699ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-410 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Mar 2007 US$ 699ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-450 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 440 g 500 n Mar 2009 US$ 499ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-520 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 535 g 750 n May 2008 US$ 699ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-600 130 mm 94 mm 60 mm 535 g 500 n Aug 2009 US$ 449ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-620 130 mm 94 mm 60 mm 521 g 500 n Feb 2009 US$ 699ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-M10 II 120 mm 83 mm 47 mm 390 g 320 n Aug 2015 US$ 649ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-P5 122 mm 69 mm 37 mm 420 g 330 n May 2013 US$ 999ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus E-PL5 111 mm 64 mm 38 mm 325 g 360 n Sep 2012 US$ 599ebay.com
15.
 
Olympus E-PL6 111 mm 64 mm 38 mm 325 g 360 n May 2013 US$ 599ebay.com
16.
 
Olympus E-PM1 110 mm 64 mm 34 mm 265 g 330 n Jun 2011 US$ 499ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic L10 135 mm 96 mm 78 mm 556 g 450 n Aug 2007 US$ 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-PM2 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 17 percent) than the E-420, 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 size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Technology-wise, the E-PM2 uses a more advanced image processing engine (TruePic VI) than the E-420 (TruePic III), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Olympus E-420 and Olympus E-PM2 sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the E-PM2 offers a higher resolution of 15.9 megapixels, compared with 10 MP of the E-420. This megapixels advantage translates into a 26 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the E-PM2 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.76μm versus 4.74μm for the E-420). However, it should be noted that the E-PM2 is much more recent (by 4 years and 6 months) than the E-420, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The resolution advantage of the Olympus E-PM2 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the E-PM2 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 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 Olympus E-420 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus PEN E-PM2 are ISO 100 to ISO 25600 (no boost).

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.

E-420 versus E-PM2 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the E-PM2 offers substantially better image quality than the E-420 (overall score 16 points higher). The advantage is based on 1.2 bits higher color depth, 1.8 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.8 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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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.
 
Olympus E-420 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.510.452756
2.
 
Olympus E-PM2 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.712.293272
3.
 
Nikon D40X APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.411.451663
4.
 
Nikon D60 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.511.456265
5.
 
Nikon D3000 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.311.156362
6.
 
Olympus E-400 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.010.612753
7.
 
Olympus E-410 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.110.049451
8.
 
Olympus E-450 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.510.551256
9.
 
Olympus E-520 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.410.454855
10.
 
Olympus E-600 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.510.354155
11.
 
Olympus E-620 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.310.353655
12.
 
Olympus E-M10 II Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p23.112.584273
13.
 
Olympus E-P5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.489572
14.
 
Olympus E-PL5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.388972
15.
 
Olympus E-PL6 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.512.071768
16.
 
Olympus E-PM1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i21.010.349952
17.
 
Panasonic L10 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.310.842955
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The E-PM2 indeed provides for movie recording, while the E-420 does not. The highest resolution format that the E-PM2 can use is 1080/30p.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the E-420 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the E-PM2 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the E-PM2 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the VF-4. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus E-420, the Olympus E-PM2, and comparable 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.
 
Olympus E-420optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
2.
 
Olympus E-PM2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 8.0/s n Y
3.
 
Nikon D40Xoptical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
4.
 
Nikon D60optical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
5.
 
Nikon D3000optical n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
6.
 
Olympus E-400optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
7.
 
Olympus E-410optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
8.
 
Olympus E-450optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
9.
 
Olympus E-520optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y Y
10.
 
Olympus E-600optical n2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Olympus E-620optical n2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Olympus E-M10 II2360 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Olympus E-P5optional n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/8000s 9.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Olympus E-PL5optional n3.0 / 460 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s n Y
15.
 
Olympus E-PL6optional n3.0 / 460 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s n Y
16.
 
Olympus E-PM1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 5.5/s n Y
17.
 
Panasonic L10optical n2.5 / 207 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The E-420 has one, while the E-PM2 does not. While the built-in flash of the E-420 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The E-420 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards, while the E-PM2 uses SDXC cards. The E-420 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the E-PM2 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 Olympus E-420 and Olympus PEN E-PM2 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.
 
Olympus E-420Y- / ----2.0---
2.
 
Olympus E-PM2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
3.
 
Nikon D40XY- / ----2.0---
4.
 
Nikon D60Y- / ----2.0---
5.
 
Nikon D3000Y- / ----2.0---
6.
 
Olympus E-400Y- / ----2.0---
7.
 
Olympus E-410Y- / ----2.0---
8.
 
Olympus E-450Y- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Olympus E-520Y- / ----2.0---
10.
 
Olympus E-600Y- / ----2.0---
11.
 
Olympus E-620Y- / ----2.0---
12.
 
Olympus E-M10 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
13.
 
Olympus E-P5Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
14.
 
Olympus E-PL5Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
15.
 
Olympus E-PL6Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
16.
 
Olympus E-PM1Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
17.
 
Panasonic L10Y- / ----2.0---

Both the E-420 and the E-PM2 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. Neither of the two has a direct successor, so they represent the end of the respective camera lines from Olympus. Further information on the features and operation of the E-420 and E-PM2 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-420 Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-PM2 Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Olympus E-420 or the Olympus E-PM2 – 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.


Arguments in favor of the Olympus E-420:

  • Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (500 versus 360) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in March 2008).


Reasons to prefer the Olympus PEN E-PM2:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (15.9 vs 10MP), which boosts linear resolution by 26%.
  • Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (16 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (1.2 bits more color depth).
  • More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (1.8 EV of extra DR).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (0.8 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (TruePic VI vs TruePic III).
  • Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 1080/30p video.
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.7") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (460k vs 215k dots).
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8 vs 3.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More compact: Is smaller (110x64mm vs 130x91mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 171g or 39 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (17 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 4 years and 6 months of technical progress since the E-420 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-PM2 is the clear winner of the contest (17 : 5 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.

E-420 05:17 E-PM2

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-420 and the Olympus E-PM2 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-420 or the E-PM2. 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 where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera 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.
 
Olympus E-420..85/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2008 US$ 599ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-PM23/5....77/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 US$ 499ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon D40X..79/100..+ +4/54/5 Mar 2007 US$ 729ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D60..80/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Jan 2008 US$ 629ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D3000..+..72/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2009 US$ 599ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-400..85/100....4/54/5 Sep 2006 US$ 699ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-410..86/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2007 US$ 699ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-450........4/54/5 Mar 2009 US$ 499ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-520..87/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 May 2008 US$ 699ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-600..........4.5/5 Aug 2009 US$ 449ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-6203/588/100..72/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2009 US$ 699ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-M10 II4.5/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 Aug 2015 US$ 649ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-P55/5+ +..78/1004.5/55/5 May 2013 US$ 999ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus E-PL53/5+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 US$ 599ebay.com
15.
 
Olympus E-PL6............ May 2013 US$ 599ebay.com
16.
 
Olympus E-PM1..86/100..71/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2011 US$ 499ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic L10..85/100..+3.5/54/5 Aug 2007 US$ 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, 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? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, 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: Olympus E-420 vs Olympus E-PM2

    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 Olympus E-420 Olympus E-PM2
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date March 2008 September 2012
    Launch Price USD 599 USD 499
    Sensor Specs Olympus E-420 Olympus E-PM2
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 10 Megapixels 15.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3648 x 2736 pixels 4608 x 3456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.74 μm 3.76 μm
    Pixel Density 4.44 MP/cm2 7.08 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video 1080/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor TruePic III TruePic VI
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 56 72
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.5 22.7
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.4 12.2
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 527 932
    Screen Specs Olympus E-420 Olympus E-PM2
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Viewfinder optional
    Viewfinder Field of View 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.46x
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 2.7inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 215k dots 460k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Olympus E-420 Olympus E-PM2
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3.5 shutter flaps/s 8 shutter flaps/s
    Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium CF or XD cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Single card slot
    Connectivity Specs Olympus E-420 Olympus E-PM2
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI mini HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Olympus E-420 Olympus E-PM2
    Battery Type Olympus BLS-1 Olympus BLS-5
    Battery Life (CIPA)500 shots per charge360 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53 mm
    (5.1 x 3.6 x 2.1 in)
    110 x 64 x 34 mm
    (4.3 x 2.5 x 1.3 in)
    Camera Weight 440 g (15.5 oz) 269 g (9.5 oz)
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