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Megapixels: 10
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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.

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 and 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.

Photos of Camera

Camera Photo Sample

Manufacturer Claims

The E-420 is the world’s smallest digital SLR with all the features you need to take great pictures anywhere you go, every day. The innovative and unique Olympus Autofocus Live View function allows you to frame and focus your photos using the large 2.7-inch LCD as a viewfinder. The E-420’s Scene Select Modes make you an instant expert — or switch to manual mode to expand your creative control. This feature-rich digital SLR also sports Shadow Adjustment Technology and Face Detection, both viewable in real time on the Live View LCD.

WORLD’S SMALLEST.

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.

AUTOFOCUS WITH LIVE VIEW.

Two innovative technologies merge to create a unique digital experience. The E-420’s 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. And the Live View LCD, enables photographers to hold the camera away from their faces and at angles they just cannot reach by using the optical viewfinder alone.

FACE DETECTION.

The E-420’s Face Detection feature distinguishes between people’s faces and the background. This innovative technology tracks up to eight faces within the image area and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures.

SHADOW ADJUSTMENT TECHNOLOGY.

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. This technology works automatically when using Face Detection Mode, Live View and in Scene Select Modes.

DUST REDUCTION.

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.

DIGITAL IMAGE STABILIZATION.

The E-420’s Digital Image Stabilization, activated as a Scene Select Mode, allows high ISO sensitivity and faster shutter speeds so you can freeze the action to capture sharp, blur-free images even if you or your subject is moving.

2.7″ HYPERCRYSTAL II LCD.

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.

10 MEGAPIXEL LIVE MOS.

Get amazingly detailed, colorful and clear images with the 10-megapixel Live-MOS image sensor. This high-resolution sensor captures all the detail needed to make large prints, or even crop without losing detail. The E-420 sensor’s high dynamic range, accurate color rendition and low noise characteristics let you capture great images, even at high ISO settings.

PERFECT SHOT PREVIEW.

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.

WIRELESS FLASH.

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.

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Detailed Specifications

Product type

• Single-lens reflex Live View digital camera with interchangeable lens system
• Memory CompactFlash Type I/II, Microdrive, xD-Picture Card (Dual-Slot)
• Sensor Size 17.3 mm (H) x 13.0 mm (V)
• Lens mount Four Thirds Mount

Effective Pixels number

• 10 million pixels

Image Pickup Unit

• Product type Live MOS Sensor
• Total no. of effective pixels Approx. 11.8 million pixels
• Aspect ratio 1.33 (4:3)
• Filter array Primary color filter (RGB)
• LPF Fixed type
• IR cut filter Hybrid type
• Dust reduction Supersonic Wave Filter (dust reduction system for image sensor)

Recording

• Recording format DCF, DPOF compatible/Exif, PRINT Image Matching III
• File format
  RAW (12-bit), JPEG
  RAW+JPEG
• Recording image size
  [RAW] 3648 x 2736 pixels
  [JPEG] 3648 x 2736 pixels - 640 x 480 pixels
• File size

  RAW: 3648 x 2736 compressed Approx. 11MB
  Large: 3648 x 2736 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 6.8MB
  3648 x 2736 Fine (1/4 compressed) Approx. 4.7MB
  3648 x 2736 Normal (1/8 compressed) Approx. 2.2MB
  3648 x 2736 Basic (1/12 compressed) Approx. 1.5MB

  Middle 3200 x 2400 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 5.3MB
  3200 x 2400 Fine (1/4 compressed) Approx. 3.7MB
  3200 x 2400 Normal (1/8 compressed) Approx. 1.7MB
  3200 x 2400 Basic (1/12 compressed) Approx. 1.1MB
  2560 x 1920 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 3.6MB
  2560 x 1920 Fine (1/4 compressed) Approx. 2.2MB
  2560 x 1920 Normal (1/8 compressed) Approx. 1.1MB
  2560 x 1920 Basic (1/12 compressed) Approx. 0.7MB

  Small 1600 x 1200 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 1.3MB
  1600 x 1200 Fine (1/4 compressed) Approx. 0.8MB
  1600 x 1200 Normal (1/8 compressed) Approx. 0.5MB
  1600 x 1200 Basic (1/12 compressed) Approx. 0.3MB
  1280 x 960 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 0.8MB
  1280 x 960 Fine (1/4 compressed) Approx. 0.5MB
  1280 x 960 Normal (1/8 compressed) Approx. 0.3MB
  1280 x 960 Basic (1/12 compressed) Approx. 0.2MB
  1024 x 768 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 0.5MB
  1024 x 768 Fine (1/4 compressed) Approx. 0.4MB
  1024 x 768 Normal (1/8 compressed) Approx. 0.2MB
  1024 x 768 Basic (1/12 compressed) Approx. 0.1MB
  640 x 480 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 0.2MB
  640 x 480 Fine (1/4 compressed) Approx. 0.2MB
  640 x 480 Normal (1/8 compressed) Approx. 0.1MB
  640 x 480 Basic (1/12 compressed) Approx. 0.1MB

Viewfinder

• Product type Eye-level single-lens reflex viewfinder
• Field of view Approx. 95%
• Viewfinder magnification Approx.0.92x (-1m-1, 50mm lens, infinity)
• Eye point Approx. 14 mm (-1m-1)
• Diopter adjustment range -3.0 - +1m-1
• Focusing screen Fixed (Neo Lumi-Micro Mat screen)
• Eyepiece shutter Eye piece cap EP-4 supplied
• Eye cup Interchangeable type EP-5/6/7, EP-5 supplied (Magnifier Eyecup ME-1 is available)
• Preview Can be checked (when Left arrow pad is set in preview mode), selectable from the optical viewfinder or rear-mounted LCD monitor
• View finder information Aperture value, Shutter speed, Record mode, AF confirmation mark, Flash, WB, AE lock, Number of storable still images, Exposure compensation value, Metering mode, Battery warning, Exposure mode, AF frame (super impose)

Live View

• Live View Live MOS Sensor for still picture shooting is used, 100% field of view, Exposure adjustment pre-view, White balance adjustment pre-view, Gradation setting pre-view, Face detection pre-view, Perfect shot pre-view, Grid line displayable, 7x/10x magnification possible, MF/S-AF, AF frame display, AF point display, Shooting information, Histogram, Heat warning.
• AF Phase -difference detection system, Contrast detection system

Image Stabilizer

• System No

LCD Display

• Product type HyperCrystal II LCD (semi-transmissive TFT color LCD)
• Size 2.7 inches
• Total no. of pixels Approx. 230,000 pixels
• Playback field of view 100%
• Brightness control 15 levels
• Color Balance 15 levels

Focusing

• AF system TTL phase-difference detection system, Contrast detection system (with 25mm f2.8, 14-42mm f3.5-5.6, 40-150mm f4.0-5.6)
• Focus mode Single AF (S-AF) / Continuous AF (C-AF) / Manual Focus (MF) / S-AF + MF / C-AF + MF
• Focusing point 3-point multiple AF (Auto, selectable in option)
• Focusing point selection Auto/Option selectable
• AF luminance range EV 0 to 19 (at 20, ISO 100)
• AF illuminator Built-in flash (external flash available. Inactivation is available to set.)
• AF lock Locked at first position of Shutter button in Single AF mode / AEL button (customizable)
• Focus tracking Interlocked with Continuous AF mode
• Focus aid Available

Exposure Control

• Metering system TTL open-aperture metering system
  (1) Digital ESP metering (49-point multi pattern metering)
  (2) Centre weighted average metering
  (3) Spot metering (approx. 1% for the viewfinder screen)
  (4) Spot with Highlight control
  (5) Spot with Shadow control
• Metering range EV 1 - 20 (Digital ESP metering, Centre weighted average metering, Spot metering)
  (At normal temperature, 50mm f2, ISO 100)
• Exposure mode
  (1) Auto
  (2) P: Program AE (Program shift can be performed)
  (3) A: Aperture priority AE
  (4) S: Shutter priority AE
  (5) M: Manual
  (6) Scene program AE
  (7) Scene select AE
• Scene program AE Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sport, Night + Portrait
• Scene select AE Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Night Scene, Night + Portrait, Children, Sport, High Key, Low Key, Digital Image Stabilization, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Fireworks, Documents, Panorama* (* Available with the Olympus xD-Picture Card), Beach & Snow
• ISO sensitivity AUTO (ISO 100 - 1600) / Manual (ISO 100 - 1600), 1 EV steps
• Exposure compensation ±5 EV in 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps selectable
• AE lock Locked by first position of Shutter button / AEL button (customizable)
• Exposure bracketing 3 frames in 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1EV steps selectable

White Balance

• Auto WB system Advanced detection system with Live MOS sensor
• Preset white balance 8 settings (3000K - 7500K) Lamp (3000K), Fluorescent 1 (4000K), Fluorescent 2 (4500K), Fluorescent 3 (6600K), Daylight (5300K), Cloudy (6000K), Shade (7500K)
• White balance compensation ±7 steps in each A-B/G-M axis (in Auto WB/Preset WB mode)
• Custom white balance 1 setting can be registered at Kelvin temperature (2000K - 14000K)
• One-touch white balance 1 custom setting can be registered

Color Mode

• Color matrix sRGB, Adobe RGB

Picture Mode

• Mode Vivid, Natural, Muted, Portrait, Monotone (default setting: Natural)
• Adjustment parameter Contrast, Sharpness and Saturation level available in 5 steps for Vivid, Natural, Muted and Portrait
  Contrast and Sharpness level available in 5 steps for Monotone
• Filter effect Yellow, Orange, Red or Green filter available for Monotone
• Picture tone Sepia, Blue, Purple or Green tone available for Monotone
• Gradation 4 levels (Auto, high key, normal, low key)

Shutter

• Product type Computerized focal-plane shutter
• Shutter speed Auto mode: 2 - 1/4000 sec. (depends on settings), P(Ps), S, A, M mode: 60 - 1/4000 sec. (Bulb: up to 8 min. with limiter), Scene program/Scene select mode: 4 - 1/4000 sec. (depends on settings) 1/3EV steps
• Self-timer Operation time: 12 sec., 2 sec. (cancel available)
• Remote cable release Available (with optional RM-UC1 Remote cable.)
• Optical remote control Operation time: 2 sec., 0 sec., bulb control available (with optional RM-1 remote control)
• Anti shock mode Available (1 to 30sec selectable)

Drive

• Drive mode Single-frame shooting, Sequential shooting, Self-timer, Remote control
• Sequential shooting speed Approx. 3.5 frames/sec.
• Max. recordable pictures
  RAW mode: Max. 6 frames on sequential shooting
  JPEG mode: Depends on compression ratio and no. of pixels (LN mode: approx. upto card capacity with SanDisk Extreme III TBD)

Integrated Flash

• Built-in flash Retractable flash (Auto pop-up type), GN=12 (ISO 100.m)
• Compatible external flash FL-50R, FL-36R, FL-50, FL-36, FL-20
• Flash control mode TTL Auto (TTL pre-flash mode), Auto, Manual
• Flash mode Auto, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction slow sync., Fill-in, Slow synchronization, Manual, Off.
• Synchronization speed 1/180 sec. or less, Super FP up to 1/4000 sec.
• Flash intensity control Up to ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps
• Synchronization timing 1st curtain synchronization/2nd curtain slow synchronization (selectable)
• Flash bracketing Not available

Wireless flash control

• Compatible external flash FL-50R, FL-36R
• Control method Triggered and controlled by built-in flash light
• Flash control modes TTL Auto (TTL pre-flash mode), Auto, Manual, FP TTL Auto, FP Manual.
• Number of channels 4 channels
• Group setting 3 groups

Super control panel

• Information (Shooting)
  Battery information, Exposure mode, Shutter speed, Aperture value, Exposure compensation value, ISO sensitivity,
  Exposure compensation indicator, Exposure indicator, Flash intensity compensation indicator, Date, BKT warning,
  NR warning, WB, WB compensation value, Picture mode, Flash mode, Record mode, Image size, Card information,
  Drive mode, Flash intensity compensation value, Metering mode, Recordable still image number, Focusing mode, FP warning
  AF frame, AF illuminator, Color mode, Sharpness, Contrast, Saturation, Gradation, Face detection.
• Information (Wireless flash commander)
  Exposure mode, Shutter speed, Aperture value, Exposure compensation value bar, Exposure compensation value
  Flash compensation value bar, Flash compensation value, ALE notification, Flash compensation notification
  NR notification, BKT notification, AF illuminator disactivated notification, Color space
  Wirelss channel setting, Built-in flash intensity, Group setting
• Back light timer Back light lighting time is selectable. (Keep, 8, 30sec, 1min)

Playback

• Playback modes Single-frame, Index (4/9/16/25/49/100 frames), Calendar, Close-up ( 2 - 14X),
  Slideshow, Picture rotation (auto mode available)
• Information display Histogram (independent luminance/RGB available),
  Highlight/Shadow point warning, AF frame, Shooting information

Languages

• English
• French
• Spanish
• Portuguese

Custom setting

• Custom function
  Left arrow button is available to set some functions. (Face detection, Preview, OFF, One touch WB, Live preview, Test picture)
  Drive button is available to set some functions. (Drive, AF target selection, S-AF/C-AF/MF selection, WB mode, Metering mode, ISO setting)
• Custom reset 2 settings are recordable.
• My mode Not available

Image Editing

• Erasing function Single frame, All frames, Selected frames (with protect function)
• Protect function Single frame, Selected frames, Release protect (Single/All selected)
• Copy between media Single frame, All frames, Selected frames
• RAW picture editing RAW development
• JPEG editing Gradation AUTO, Red-eye reduction, Triming, Monotone, Sepia, Saturation (colour depth), Resize (producing another file)

Print function

• Print reservation (DPOF), Direct print (PictBridge compatible)

Input/Output

• PC interface USB 2.0 High Speed for storage and camera control (MTP mode is available)
• USB/Video connector Dedicated multi-connector (Video: NTSC/PAL selectable, Optional Remote cable RM-UC1 is available)
• Flash attachment Hot shoe

Power Requirements

• Battery BLS-1 Li-ion battery (included)
• Sleep mode Available (1, 3, 5, 10 min., off selectable)
• No. of recordable pictures Approx. 500 shots (optical viewfinder)
• (with 50% flash light) (with BLS-1 under CIPA testing standard)

Dimensions

• 5.1 in. (W) x 3.6 in.(H) x 2.1 in. D / 129.5 mm (W) x 91 mm (H) x 53 mm (D) (excluding protrusions)

Weight

• 13.4 oz. / 380 g (body only)

Temperature

• 32-104F / 0 - 40 (operation) / -20 - 60 (storage)

Humidity

• 30 - 90% (operation) / 10 - 90% (storage)

Box contents

• E-420 body
• 14-42mm lens or 25mm f2.8 (kit contents)
• Li-ion battery BLS-1
• Li-ion battery charger BCS-1
• USB cable
• Video cable
• Shoulder strap
• OLYMPUS Master 2 CD-ROM
• Instruction manual
• Warranty card
• Eye-piece cap EP-4