The Olympus E-420 is the successor to one of our favourite DSLRs of 2007. The earlier E-410 was a very stylish camera with dimensions which allowed it to squeeze into bags and pockets that would be out of the question for most DSLRs. And despite its retro looks and entry-level price, the E-410 featured Live View before many rivals and came supplied with one of the best kit lenses around.
The new E-420 doesn’t mess too much with a winning formula. Externally, the screen has been slightly enlarged to a 2.7in model with superior colour and tonal reproduction, and the grip made a tad deeper for a more comfortable hold.
Most of the changes however take place internally although sadly there’s still no built-in anti-shake facilities. The resolution also remains 10 Megapixels, although Olympus claims to have improved the dynamic range of the sensor to a level that’s close to the flagship E-3. Read the whole comparison test here.