First of all, this is a compact and lightweight DSLR, even in combination with 25mm f/2.8 lens, comfortable and the most important thing, it is a good value for money. If you want a truly pocketable camera without losing DSLR image quality the E-420 should be right at the top of your shortlist. This is true, that Olympus claims this camera is the smallest and lightest DSLR on the market.
Amazingly, the spec sheet looks more like something we'd expect from a mid-range SLR. Apart from live view you get bracketing, customizable mirror lock-up, wireless flash control, a dust reduction system, control over high ISO noise reduction and a highly customizable user interface - an awful lot of camera for your money. But, even more so when considering its price point. You won't find live view and the E-420's level of customization on other manufacturers' entry level offerings (at least not if they're in the same price bracket).
The camera's TruePic III processor does a good job and the E-420's performance is snappy and responsive in most situations. The shutter lag is short and focus is quick, only the start-up time could be a little faster (the SSWF system cleans the sensor first each time you switch the camera on) and - as mentioned above - contrast detect AF is pretty slow.
Unfortunately the first thing that springs to mind here is image quality. The E-420 appears to use a stronger anti-alias filter than its predecessor, and while this results in admirably 'clean' images, it also robs the resultant images of fine detail. Other cameras in this class will no doubt produce output with more per pixel detail. And since this softness is created by the E-420's hardware and not by in-camera software, reverting to raw-shooting won't improve the issue. Of course this comment has to be taken in context; you need to be regularly printing at large sizes or zooming in to a pixel level to see the difference once you've added a bit of sharpening.
High ISO performance is far from class-leading, but for most users producing normal prints it won't be an issue. Dynamic range, however, is worth mentioning. The E-420's DR is not quite up to par with the competition which can offer up to a whole stop more highlight range. So you'll find a washed out sky or unattractively blown highlights in your images a little more often when shooting with the Olympus. Admittedly when talking about the E-420's image quality issues we are - to a certain degree - nitpicking. The camera's output is not bad at all (in fact contrast and colors in the default settings are very appealing), but it's not quite up at the same level as some of the competitors.
Overall, the Olympus E-420 is an ideal walkaround camera with a great feature set and unrivalled customizability. The image quality issues described above very slightly tarnish the positive overall picture but if compact dimensions and pocketability are high up on your list of buying criteria the E-420 should still be one of your favorites.
Body material
Plastic
Sensor
• 4/3 type Live MOS sensor
• Fixed low pass filter (anti-alias filter)
Image processor
TruePic III
Lenses
• 4/3 standard lens mount
• Range of ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses available
Auto focus
• 3-point TTL phase difference detection
• Contrast detection system (selectable in Live View)
• Detection range: 0 to 19 EV (ISO 100)
Sensitivity
• Auto (ISO 100 - 1600)
Metering modes
• Digital ESP
• Center-Weighted Average
• Spot
• Highlight based spot
• Shadow based spot
Shutter speed
• 60 - 1/4000 sec
• Bulb: up to 8 min. with limiter
Drive modes
• Single
• Continuous
External flash
Hot shoe
Viewfinder
• Eye-level optical single-lens
• Field of view 95%
• Magnification 0.92x with a 50mm lens and -1 dioptre
• Eye point 14 mm at -1 dioptre
• Dioptre adjustment -3 to +1 dioptre
• Focusing screen: Fixed type (Neo Lumi-Micron Mat Screen)
LCD monitor
• 2.7" TFT LCD monitor (wide viewing angle)
• 230,000 pixels
• Live View available
Storage
• Compact Flash (Type I and II)
• xD Picture card
Connectivity
• USB 2.0 (Hi Speed)
• Video Out (NTSC / PAL)
Power
BLS-1 Li-ion battery (rechargeable)
Dimensions
129.5 x 91 x 53 mm (5.1 x 3.6 x 2.1 in)
Weight (inc batt)
445 g (15.7 oz)
Olympus E-420
Nikon D3X - The latest high-resolution DSLR
The D3X supports a broad ISO range from ISO 100-1600, extendable down to ISO 50 and up to 6400 equivalent with up to 5 fps continuous shooting at full resolution, or 7 fps in the 10MP DX-crop mode. The acclaimed Multi-CAM3500FX 51-point autofocus system enables extremely accurate single-point accuracy with outstanding dynamic tracking for fast moving subjects in low light.
Nikon has recently announced its latest high-end professional DSLR : Nikon D3X. It is fantastically sets a new standard for Professional DSLR. The D3X boasts a specially-developed FX-format CMOS image sensor with 12-channel readout, gapless micro lens array and on-chip noise reduction. It delivers class-leading levels of continuous shooting speed and noise management at higher sensitivities without sacrificing detail.
You can view Nikon D3X pictures example here
Nikon D3X specifications :
Sensor
• 35.9 x 24 mm CMOS sensor
• FX format
• RGB Color Filter Array
• Built-in fixed low-pass filter
• 25.72 million total pixels
• 24.5 million effective pixels
• 3:2 aspect ratio
Image processor
Nikon EXPEED
File formats
• NEF (12-bit or 14-bit, compressed or lossless compressed RAW)
• NEF + JPEG
• TIFF
• JPEG (EXIF 2.21)
Lens mount
• Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts
• No field of view crop (full-frame)
• When using DX lenses / DX mode 1.5x FOV crop
Usable lenses
• Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All functions supported
• DX AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except FX-format (36x24)/5:4 (30x24) image size
• AF NIKKOR other than type G or D: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering II
• AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II
• Non-CPU AI NIKKOR: Can be used in exposure modes A and M; electronic rangefinder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster; Color Matrix Metering and aperture value display supported if user provides lens data
* IX NIKKOR lenses cannot be used
* Excluding lenses for F3AF
Auto Focus
• 51 focus points (15 cross-type sensors)
• Multi-CAM 3500FX
• AF working range: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100, normal temperature)
• Contrast Detect in Live View (Tripod) mode
AF Area Mode
• Single point AF
• Dynamic Area AF [9 points, 21 points, 51 points, 51 points (3D-tracking)]
• Automatic-area AF
Metering
TTL full-aperture exposure metering using 1005-pixel RGB sensor
• 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); color matrix metering (non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data; metering performed)
• Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8, 15, or 20 mm dia. circle in center of frame or weighting based on average of entire frame (default 12 mm)
• Spot: Meters approx. 4 mm dia. circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)
Sensitivity • Default: ISO 100 - 1600 in 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps
• Boost: 50 - 6400 in 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps, HI2 = ISO 6400
Shutter
• Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter
• 30 to 1/8000 sec (1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps)
• Flash X-Sync: 1/250 sec
• Bulb
White balance
• Auto (1005-pixel CCD, image sensor)
• Presets (seven) with fine tuning
• Manual presets (four)
• Color temperature in Kelvin (2500 - 10000 K, 31 steps)
• White balance bracketing (2 to 9 frames, 10,20,30 MIRED steps)
Picture Control
• Standard
• Neutral
• Vivid
• Monochrome
Image parameters
• Sharpening: Auto, 7 levels
• Contrast: Auto, 5 levels, Custom tone curve
• Brightness: 3 levels
• Saturation: Auto, 5 levels
• Hue: 5 levels
Viewfinder
• Optical-type fixed eye-level pentaprism
• Built-in diopter adjustment (-3 to +1m-1)
• Eyepoint: 18 mm (at -1.0m-1)
• Focusing screen: Type B BriteView Clear Matte VI screen
• Frame coverage 100%
• Viewfinder magnification approx 0.7x with 50 mm f/1.4 lens
LCD monitor
• 3.0 " TFT LCD
• 922,000 pixels (VGA; 640 x 480 x 3 colors)
• 170° viewing angle
• Brightness adjustment
Shooting modes
• Single frame
• Continuous Low [CL]: 1 - 5 fps
• Continuous High [CH]: 5 fps (5-7 fps with DX format)
• Liveview [LV]
• Self-Timer (programmable)
• Mirror-up mode
Storage
• Dual Compact Flash Type I or II
• UDMA, Microdrive and FAT32 supported
• 36 characters of text can be input and stored in EXIF header
Power
• Lithium-Ion EN-EL4a/EL4
• Included dual battery charger MH-22
• Optional AC adapter EH-6
Dimensions
160 x 157 x 88 mm (6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 in)
Weight
(no batt) 1220 g (2.11 lb)
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