Basic Specifications
Resolution:	10.00 Megapixels
Kit Lens:	3.00x zoom 14-42mm (28-84mm eq.)
Viewfinder:	Optical / LCD
LCD Size:	2.7 inch
ISO:	100-1600
Shutter:	60-1/4000
Max Aperture:	3.5
Mem Type:	CF1 / CF2 / Microdrive / xD
Battery:	Custom LiIon
Dimensions:	5.1x3.6x2.1in (130x91x53mm)
Weight:	13.4 oz (380 g)
MSRP:	$600
Availability:	05/2008

Olympus E-420 Overview

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. The new Olympus E-420 will replace last year's E-410 in the market. As is generally the case with new digital camera models, the E-420 sports a number of enhancements relative to the previous model. Here's a brief list of notable improvements found in the new Olympus E-420:

• Auto Focus in Live View by depressing the shutter release button halfway
  (Contrast-Detect autofocus)
• New grip on the front of the body for a more secure hold
• Face Detection Technology
  (Taking advantage of contrast-detect AF)
• Shadow Adjustment Technology for greater detail in the shadows
• Larger 2.7" HyperCrystal II LCD Display - Twice the contrast for better viewing in extreme lighting conditions, broader color gamut displays a greater range of color detail, wider view up to 176 degrees off center
• Perfect Shot Preview - Live exposure effects displayed in a thumbnail view on the LCD for easy selection/adjustment prior to capturing the image
• 10MP Live MOS sensor with improved dynamic range - more detailed images
• Improved Auto WB (white balance) performance with a new algorithm for more accurate color - Similar color reproduction to the Flagship E-3 model
• Increased sequence shooting speed up to 3.5fps
• Wireless flash capability with the FL-36R or FL-56R

 

Olympus E-420 Dimensions

We mentioned at the outset that the Four-Thirds lens mount/sensor standard has allowed Olympus to produce unusually compact DLSRs. Last year's E-410 was the smallest DSLR we'd encountered when it was first introduced; now Olympus is claiming that the E-420 is the world's smallest and lightest DSLR. With dimensions of only 5.1 x 3.6 x 2.1 inches (129.5 x 91 x 53 mm) and weighing in at 13.4 ounces (380 g), it's hard to dispute the claim.

 

Olympus E-420 Grip

While we enjoyed the exceptional compactness of the E-410's body, it always seemed a little hard to hold onto in our large hands: Its body was quite svelte, lacking the bulging handgrip of larger DSLR's we've used. Olympus appears to have remedied this in the E-420, by bumping the grip out slightly, in what they call a "double crescent line" design. We'll have to wait until we can hold one, but even a little more grip than the E-410 sported would be very welcome.

 

Olympus E-420 Autofocus

Arguably the biggest advance in the Olympus E-420's design comes in its autofocus system. Olympus pioneered the development of "Live View" in digital SLRs, which has since become a must-have feature for many users upgrading from conventional digicams. While the attraction of an SLR (Single-Lens Reflex) is that the optical viewfinder lets you look through the same lens the camera will take the picture with, digicam users are loathe to give up their big rear-panel LCD viewfinders. Conventional SLR design precludes this, but various manufacturers have found various ways around the issue.

A limitation of Live View in digital SLRs is that the reflex mirror must be raised to expose the main image sensor for viewfinder use. The problem is that this disables the SLR's normal autofocus system, which relies on a secondary mirror and a sensor in the bottom of the mirror box. (It must be noted that Olympus' original Live View DSLR (the E-330) and Sony's most recent Live View models use a secondary image sensor inside the viewfinder optics to avoid this necessity.) As a result, Live View DSLRs have tended to have very sluggish shutter response, because the mirror must be dropped before the exposure in order for the lens to focus. While Live View is an attractive from a convenience and familiarity standpoint, the sluggish shutter response eliminated one of the most important features of SLRs; namely, low shutter lag.

In the E-420 though, Olympus has included an option for contrast-detect autofocus, the same type of autofocus system used in digicams. This may be slower than the phase-detect system the E-420 and other SLRs use for normal focusing, but is likely to be a good bit faster than the conventional Live View system.

Live view in the Olympus E-420 should perhaps come as no surprise: Olympus and Panasonic are partners in subsystem design for Four-Thirds SLRs, and the Panasonic DMC-L10 offered a contrast-detect AF option when it was announced a little while ago. Nikon also introduced contrast-detect AF in their D300, announced last summer. On the D300 though, contrast-detect AF can only shift the lens position rather slowly, leading Nikon to refer to it as "tripod" AF mode.

In fact, via a menu option, the Olympus E-420 offers three different AF options: Phase Detection (the conventional SLR AF technique), Contrast Detection (the normal digicam method), and Hybrid AF (a combination of the two).

The illustration above (click on the image to see a slightly larger view) shows Phase-Detect operation while in Live View mode. Note that the mirror must be dropped every time the focus is adjusted: Once whenever you press the AEL button, and again when you fully press the shutter button to snap the picture.

This set of diagrams illustrates what happens when the E-420 uses contrast-detect autofocus. The lens can be focused without dropping the mirror, so Live Viewing isn't interrupted to achieve focus: Just half-press the shutter button, and the lens focuses, using signals coming straight from the main image sensor. When you finally do fully press the shutter, the mirror will drop and raise again, but there's no additional time required for focus operation.

Finally, this last set of drawings illustrates Hybrid AF operation: You can focus the lens by half-pressing the shutter button in Live View mode, but when the shot is actually taken, the phase-detection AF sensor will be used.

We'll have to see how these different AF options play out in the lab, whenever we can get our hands on a test sample of the E-420. We do think the addition of contrast-detect AF to Live View cameras makes sense, and expect to see it appearing in more DSLRs in the future.

One benefit of contrast-detect autofocus on DSLRs may not be apparent in the above diagrams: When you're using the main image sensor for focus determination, suddenly you can autofocus on subjects anywhere in the frame, not just where the AF sensors are located. Even more dramatically, main-sensor AF opens the possibility of more intelligent AF modes, such as Face Detection -- which is exactly what Olympus has implemented in the E-420.

 

Olympus E-420 Wireless Flash

Wireless remote flash operation has generally been the province of professional photographers, but is now coming decidedly down-market. And it should, as it can dramatically simplify multi-flash shooting and make it accessible to the interested amateur.

Canon, Nikon, and Sony all make wireless flash systems, with Nikon's arguably being the most flexible of the three. With their FL-36R and FL-56R flash units, Olympus has joined the wireless-flash club, taking a page from Nikon's playbook in the mode of operation and considerable flexibility of their system. A full discussion is really beyond the scope of this brief overview article, but since Olympus provided us with such great illustrations, we'll take a quick swing at it anyway.

The central idea behind all of these wireless flash systems is to use very rapid pulses of the flash tube to convey digital data between the camera and the various flash units. The illustration above (click to see a slightly larger view) shows the steps in the process, all of which happen in a surprisingly short period of time, well under a second. The sequence begins with camera's flash sending out a series of pulses to wake up the remote units, tell them what exposure mode they'll be operating in, and configure them for the upcoming exposure. It then triggers a pre-flash from all the remote units, measuring the light coming back from each group (there can be as many flashes as you like, configured in up to three control groups). The camera's CPU performs some exposure calculations, then uses its own flash head to transmit power-level commands back to each flash group. Finally, a last pulse from the camera's head triggers all the remotes to fire at their assigned power levels.

The beauty of this system is that the power and operating modes of each of the groups of remote flashes can be controlled from the camera itself. This can come in very handy when one of the flash groups is mounted up in a tree, behind a window on a set, or in some other inaccessible location. Even when the flashes are readily accessible, the ability to adjust settings without running around the room each time is far more pleasant than the alternative.

The screen shot above shows the different modes the various groups can be operated in: TTL (Through The Lens metering), Manual, or Auto. The column of figures to the right of the flash modes shows the exposure compensation adjustments (in the case of TTL and Auto modes) or power level (in the case of Manual mode) selected. The next two columns show the options for flash sync speed (x-sync or Focal Plane sync), the intensity of the AF-assist illumination cast by the flash units, and the channel they're operating on. Four separate control channels are provided, to allow multiple photographers to work in the same area without interfering with each other.

The screenshots above show the flash group mode setting options, and the exposure compensation or power level settings available in each mode. (It's noteworthy that manual power level settings can be made in 1/3 stop increments as well.)

 

New "Normal" Lens

Along with the E-420, Olympus has announced a new lens, the Zuiko 25mm f/2.8. Traditionalists will likely rejoice at this lens, which offers angular coverage equivalent to the 50mm "normal" (neither telephoto nor wide angle) lens so common in the 35mm film era. As you can see from the illustration shot above, the new lens is very slim, making for a uniquely compact DSLR setup for street photography and just walking around. The combination of the E-420's diminutive body with this new "pancake" lens means we finally have a DSLR that can truly be said to be pocket-sized. As with the camera itself, we can't wait to get this new lens into the lab, to test and post on SLRgear. (The lab guys are drooling already.) In our testing to date, we've found Olympus' Zuiko lenses to be of unusually high optical quality, supporting Olympus' claims for their "digital specific" optical design.

 

Olympus E-420 Summary

We'll just call this a "summary" for the moment, as no conclusions can be drawn until we can put an Olympus E-420 through its paces in our lab and in field shooting. It certainly looks like Olympus did their homework though, and came up with a number of really nice enhancements over the already very capable E-410. Stay tuned for a full review as soon as we get an E-420 to work with; this is a great time to be alive for SLR shooters!

 

---

For a bit more info, here's a copy of the press release announcing the E-420:

OLYMPUS E-420: WORLD'S SMALLEST AND LIGHTEST CONSUMER DIGITAL SLR DELIVERS ENHANCED AUTOFOCUS LIVE VIEW

Compact Size Makes It the Ultimate DSLR to Take Anywhere, Next-Generation Live View Ensures It Performs Better When You Get There

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.

U.S. Pricing / Product Configurations
E-420 body Estimated Street Price: $499.99
E-420 with ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens Estimated Street Price: $599.99
E-420 with ED 25mm f2.8 Zuiko Digital Lens Estimated Street Price: $699.99