Today’s announcement of the Olympus ED 25mm f2.8 Zuiko Lens continues to decrease the gap in size between high end compact cameras and DSLRs.
While the Olympus E-420’s size and weight remains virtually unchanged from its predecessor, the new Olympus ED 25mm f2.8 Zuiko pancake lens is much more compact than any previous 4/3 lens. Mounted on the E-420, the new, 23.5mm deep, 95g lens creates a very compact and light DSLR. Weighing only 535g, this combination further shrinks the gap in size between small DSLRs and high end compact cameras.
An E-420 with a 25mm lens restricts you to a single focal length, in this case an equivalent focal length of 50mm. It’s the same compromise that Sigma’s DP1 forces the photographer to make: to keep the lens compact, the larger sensor and resulting improvement in image quality force you to sacrifice the versatility of a zoom lens that is possible with a small sensor.
Whether you choose the DP1 or an Olympus E-420 + 25mm lens, both systems have a fixed focal length. The choice is between a relatively wide 28mm on the DP1 or a normal 50mm with the new Zuiko lens (both 35mm equivalents).
Focusing primarily on each camera’s size and weight, the DP1 is of course still considerably lighter than the E-420 with the new 25mm lens: 270g versus 535g.
But 535g may be light enough for some to keep an E-420 in their coat pocket; to have it with them all the time.
Unlike the DP1, the E-420 allows you to add a more versatile zoom lens for those times when you don’t mind a little extra bulk.
Of course there are a lot of other differences between the DP1 and the E-420. But in terms of size and weight, the new lens offers the perspective of the smallest DSLR + lens combination yet.
The scaled photos in this post compare the relative size of the E-420 with the new pancake lens to that of the Sigma DP1 and the Canon G9. Although no camera with a large DSLR sensor is as compact as the DP1 yet - the gap is shrinking.
Exciting times for those of us who are photography enthusiasts and don't always want to lug a heavy kit around!
Hi Björn, thank you for this comparison - I'd like to see the Ricoh GX100 in there too - and add the OVF to the DP1 and GX100.
The E-420 certainly wins this comparison for me, although I think the Ricoh GX100 still holds its niche.
Kind Regards
Brian
Thank you for the comparison photos!
I think I will keep my pre-order for the DP-1 because of the nice wide-angle lens.
But I would definitely like to pickup the new pancake lens to use with my old E-410 at some point though :-)
Keep up the great postings!
JD's comment makes me realise... the new E-420 would be capable of shooting up to ISO3200 and could equally be used with the 14-42mm lens which starting at f3.5 is faster than the Sigma DP1's fixed 24mm f4.
I know that the DP1 has had lots of publicity for its' colour, but it's worth considering the 'Olympus colour' that many people rave about.
Kind Regards
Brian
Glad you found the scaled comparison photos useful.
Brian, I'll try to update the post tomorrow with a another image that includes the Ricoh GX100 with EVF, as well as the DP1 with EVF. Is a front view OK?
Yes, the E-420 could also be used with the 14-42mm lens. That certainly makes it more versatile than the DP1 (although less pocketable). But what interested me was the most compact option with the new 25mm lens.
For the first time there's a DSLR with lens that is (almost) small enough to bring along wherever I go.
But like JD, I would also prefer a wide prime over a normal lens. Maybe Olympus is working on that as well.
Hi Brian, I've just uploaded a scaled size comparison that includes the Ricoh GX100 with the EVF. I couldn't find a similar image of the DP1 with its OVF attached.
http://www.pbase.com/viztyger/image/93827730/original
Björn
Thanks Björn,
you can imagine what the Sigma will look like with OVF added in the hotshoe... all of these are very close, but this is a surprisingly difficult comparison - I'm seeing some stunning base ISO colour from the DP1 so I'm going to keep an open mind... let's see the reports come in from real world users over the next couple of months.
Kind Regards
Brian
Now just imagine Olympus produced the E-420 with the Porro-prism viewing as they with the E-300 - imagine how much sleeker it would look without the pentaprism hump - and probably even lighter! And then stick the pancake on that - it would really challenge the rangefinder form factor!