Olympus E-420

Bookmark

Features

Although the E-420 is an entry-level unit, it still has a host of features that distinguish it from the rest of the pack. First-time dSLR users will find some functions handy in helping them operate a dSLR.

A trend for recent dSLRs is Live View, which allows you to view the scene on the LCD like a point-and-shoot camera. While some people may find it amateurish or unprofessional, we think this is a nice implementation and a good tool for beginners to start getting some great shots. The Live View feature in the E-420 is coupled with autofocus so you can make adjustments in real time. Another advantage we discovered using Live View is that you won't have to plaster your nose against the LCD and leave unsightly stains on it.

Like most compact cameras, this shooter also has face detection which kicks in when you switch to Live View mode. Olympus states that it can detect up to eight faces. But in our tests, the E-420 had some difficulty recognizing beyond four faces. However, we think the lighting situation has an effect on this as well.

Spotted on the mode dial is a Scene mode function, which is what you'll find on most compact shooters. There are the usual Portrait, Landscape, Low-light and Fireworks mode, among others. Although it does lend a hand in helping beginners to snap, we think that overrelying on this feature may defeat the purpose of using a dSLR, which is about being creative with the manual controls.

The three autofocus points may seem a tad stingy, but we think it should be able to handle most holiday snaps or portraits with ease. But if you are considering using the E-420 for action shots, you might find the lack of autofocus points limiting your creativity.

The 2.7-inch LCD is clear and easy to view even under direct sunlight. Although the trend is moving toward larger displays, we think the screen's size is just right for the shooter's petite size. The scene through the viewfinder is bright and we found it easy to frame the shots.

What is lacking on the E-420 is an image stabilization (IS) system. While most of its siblings are coupled with sensor-shift IS, this model doesn't sport any. It doesn't help that Olympus doesn't manufacture any lenses that are equipped with optical IS, so this means the E-420 will not be really suitable for handheld shooting at slow shutter speeds (unless you have really steady hands). Our advice? Use a flash or tripod. But if you think an image stabilizer is important, its brother, the E-520, comes with sensor-shift IS.

Olympus pioneered the Super Sonic Wave Filter (SSWF) which shakes dusts off the sensor with high frequency vibrations. We are glad this feature is present in the E-420. Everytime you power up the camera, a blue light near the shutter will flicker to indicate that sensor cleaning is in progress. It takes less than 1 second for it to complete the operation.

The 25mm F2.8 lens has five glass elements set in four groups, and the minimum focusing distance is 20cm. Like any typical 50mm prime lens, it makes use of seven aperture blades which ensure a relatively nice "bokeh" effect in the background.

Bokeh

Bokeh is the blurred effect on the background when you use a larger aperture opening, causing shallow depth of field. A lens with 10 aperture blades will form a smooth circle and you get a nicely blurred background which is pleasing visually.

The E-420 is powered by a Lithium-ion battery and it accepts both CompactFlash and xD-Picture Card. We think this dual-expansion slot is a nice touch, but unlike some high-end systems that allow you to shoot to two cards at once, this Olympus is capable of recording on only one media at a time.

« Design | Performance »