• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 10.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 819,200

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Differences

Olympus E-420 advantages over Pentax KP

  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 4.74 vs 3.91 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.80 vs 1.4 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 500 vs 390 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Thinner
    53 mm vs 75 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    453g vs 699g
    Lighter weight
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Pentax KP advantages over Olympus E-420

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • High resolution composite
    Yes vs No
    Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • More cross-type AF points
    25 vs 1
    Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
  • Pentaprism viewfinder
    Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
    Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
  • Newer
    7 years vs 16 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    922k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.63x vs 0.46x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    24.3 vs 10.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • More AF points
    27 vs 3
    More AF points improve autofocus
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs Fixed
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    7.1 fps vs 3.5 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    35 vs 13 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/24000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    819200 vs 1600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • HDMI out
    Neither provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Buy the Pentax KP

Review Excerpt

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-620

Olympus E-420
Olympus E-620
  • $400
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen
Pentax KP
Olympus E-620
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Lighter weight

Compared to Olympus E-450

Olympus E-420
Olympus E-450
  • $400
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • $700
  • 4/3
Pentax KP
Olympus E-450
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Bigger pixels
  • Longer stills battery life

Compared to Olympus E-600

Olympus E-420
Olympus E-600
  • $400
  • 4/3
  • $600
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen
Pentax KP
Olympus E-600
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $600
  • 4/3
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Lighter weight

Compared to Nikon D5600

Olympus E-420
Nikon D5600
  • $400
  • 4/3
  • Bigger pixels
  • Thinner
  • $1065
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
Pentax KP
Nikon D5600
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1065
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen

Compared to Canon T7i

Olympus E-420
Canon T7i
  • $400
  • 4/3
  • Bigger pixels
  • Thinner
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection
Pentax KP
Canon T7i
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
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