Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520
72 Imaging
69 Features
70 Overall
69
![Nikon D3500 front Nikon D3500 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/w300/fronton/Nikon-D3500.jpg)
![Olympus E-520 front Olympus E-520 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Olympus-E-520/Olympus-E-520-front.jpg)
68 Imaging
45 Features
45 Overall
45
Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 25600
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Nikon F Mount
- 365g - 124 x 97 x 70mm
- Revealed August 2018
- Earlier Model is Nikon D3400
(Full Review)
- 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 1600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
- Revealed August 2008
- Superseded the Olympus E-510
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 Overview
The following is a in-depth assessment of the Nikon D3500 and Olympus E-520, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by companies Nikon and Olympus. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the D3500 (24MP) and E-520 (10MP) and the D3500 (APS-C) and E-520 (Four Thirds) offer totally different sensor sizes.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tiktok-218x150.jpg)
The D3500 was released 10 years after the E-520 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).
Before delving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summary of how the D3500 scores versus the E-520 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon D3500 & Olympus E-520. The complete galleries are provided at Nikon D3500 Gallery & Olympus E-520 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon D3500 over the Olympus E-520
D3500 | E-520 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | August 2018 | ![]() | August 2008 | Newer by 123 months |
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer display (+691k dot) |
Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Nikon D3500
E-520 | D3500 |
---|
Common features in the Nikon D3500 and Olympus E-520
D3500 | E-520 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Very exact focusing | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Lack of Touch friendly display |
Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 Physical Comparison
For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon D3500 has physical dimensions of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 365 grams (0.80 lbs) and the Olympus E-520 has measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).
Examine the Nikon D3500 and Olympus E-520 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.![Camera Size Comparison with Lenses Camera Size Comparison with Lenses](https://pxlmag.com/db/assets/camera-size-comparison-animation.gif)
Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the D3500 against the E-520.
![Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 size comparison Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Nikon-D3500-vs-Olympus-E-520-size-comparison.jpg)
Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the D3500 and E-520 is 72 and 68 respectively.
![Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 top view buttons comparison Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Nikon-D3500-vs-Olympus-E-520-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it is hard to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions simply by reading a spec sheet. The image underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the D3500 and E-520.
Clearly, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The D3500 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Nikon D3500 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 14MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images more aggressively. The fresher D3500 is going to have an edge in sensor tech.
![Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 sensor size comparison Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Nikon-D3500-vs-Olympus-E-520-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 Screen and ViewFinder
![Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 Screen and Viewfinder comparison Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Nikon-D3500-vs-Olympus-E-520-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ai-licence-218x150.jpg)
Street Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Sports Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Approach-to-AI-Generated-Content-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 Specifications
Nikon D3500 | Olympus E-520 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Nikon | Olympus |
Model type | Nikon D3500 | Olympus E-520 |
Class | Entry-Level DSLR | Entry-Level DSLR |
Revealed | 2018-08-29 | 2008-08-20 |
Physical type | Compact SLR | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Expeed 4 | - |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | Four Thirds |
Sensor measurements | 23.5 x 15.6mm | 17.3 x 13mm |
Sensor area | 366.6mm² | 224.9mm² |
Sensor resolution | 24 megapixels | 10 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 4:3 |
Peak resolution | 6000 x 4000 | 3648 x 2736 |
Highest native ISO | 25600 | 1600 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Total focus points | 11 | 3 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Nikon F | Micro Four Thirds |
Amount of lenses | 309 | 45 |
Crop factor | 1.5 | 2.1 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 3 inch | 2.7 inch |
Screen resolution | 921k dots | 230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Screen tech | TFT LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentamirror) | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | 95 percent | 95 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.56x | 0.46x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 30 secs | 60 secs |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shutter rate | 5.0 frames/s | 4.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 7.00 m (at ISO 100) | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash settings | Auto, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Off, Rear-curtain sync, Rear-curtain with slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync, Slow sync | Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | - | 1/180 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) | - |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | None |
Video data format | MPEG-4, H.264 | - |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 365g (0.80 lb) | 552g (1.22 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") | 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | not tested | 55 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 21.4 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 10.4 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 548 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 1550 shots | 650 shots |
Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | EN-EL14a | - |
Self timer | Yes (2, 5, 10, 20 secs (1-9 exposures)) | Yes (2 or 12 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card |
Card slots | One | One |
Launch price | $397 | $400 |