Nikon D3100 vs Olympus E-520

Below is a extended review of the Nikon D3100 and Olympus E-520, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Olympus. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the D3100 (14MP) and E-520 (10MP) and the D3100 (APS-C) and E-520 (Four Thirds) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The D3100 was introduced 2 years later than the E-520 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the D3100 scores vs the E-520 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon D3100 and Olympus E-520. The whole galleries are provided at Nikon D3100 Gallery and Olympus E-520 Gallery.

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and size. The Nikon D3100 offers exterior dimensions of 124mm x 96mm x 75mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 3.0") and a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs) and the Olympus E-520 has specifications of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon D3100 and Olympus E-520 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the D3100 against the E-520.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D3100 and E-520 is 68 and 68 respectively.

Sometimes, it's tough to see the gap in sensor measurements purely by researching a spec sheet. The visual below may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D3100 and E-520.

As you can see, the two cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The D3100 with its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Nikon D3100 will render extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The younger D3100 will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.