The E-400 our E-400 we tested a 10-mp CCD and a comparatively poor noise compensation, which led to visibly unfavorable image impresses already from the middle ISO level. In autumn 2007 Olympus laid the E-410, now with one "Livemos" Baptized MOS sensor and apparently significantly improved image processing routines. Also a live view function has been integrated, but with auto-focusing only after mirror strike on the AF sensors of the camera. The sensor cleaning by ultrasound was a pioneering performance of Olympus anyway.
Now the manufacturer has delivered the E-420, with live view AF function also on the image transducer, which even brings face recognition. Olympus Easy with the lean equipment with only three AF measuring fields, but conventional focusing has been greatly accelerated, as well as the device start and the series image function.
The 2.7"-Display works partially, which allows the data control and the menuviation also in strong sunlight – given the menu liability is very pleasant. The very pracers and prominent 4-way buttons or the thumbwheel contribute to the right to use. The main menu shows itself as a rider system with partly very long menulists and not always spontaneously rear sorting. Two user stores are available for permanent individual presets.
Fallow the 400 series with their compact but still classic and well manageable housing. The far above metal gurtoses, however, are still storing in the E-420 during the E-420. The glass fiber-rolled plastic housing is well processed, the structured surface leaves a valuable impression.
Unlike the larger sisters of the 500 series, the 400er bodys have no built-in image stabilization via sensorshift. Also objectives with anti-shake unit does not offer Olympus, so that option only the use of stabilized foreign objectives remains.
The flats of the Fourthirds sensors is around 40 percent smaller than the ranging APS-C sensors of the competition. The significantly smaller and less photosensitive pixels considerably smaller and less photosensitive pixels, which are the stronger problems with the image noise and the achievable maximum contrast of the small sensors. Also the search picture falls much smaller than the competitors; The viewfinder gives a conscience "Tunnel effect".
Her autofocus is only slightly slower than that of the Canon EOS450D, with the E-420 protruding against the Canon for rapid focusing on better lighting conditions. In the live view focus via image transducer, the Olympus has in good lighting the nose on the other hand. The relatively slow contrast focus can be replaced in hybrid mode at any time with printers of the decomposition by a conventional AF-MENG with mirror strike. The Olympus also masters variant automatations for exposure, focus and female adjustment – the latter can also be manually measured manually, extensively fine, or predetermined over Kelvin values.
For data storage, the Olympus represents a CF / XD double lot, which is noteworthy in view of the thus compact walking format. Data storage takes place, and a copying between the two memory cards is possible on the key diagram. If the card drop is opened during data storage, an optical warning message appears, and the memory operation continues after the clipping of the card compartment.
In the measuring laboratory, the Olympus showed a low ISO-100 noise and a high profile with a particularly low edge waste. A maby maximum contrast has already noticed from ISO 100 and a clear noise already incurred at ISO 400.