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Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520

Portability
72
Imaging
69
Features
70
Overall
69
Nikon D3500 front
 
Olympus E-520 front
Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45

Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 Key Specs

Nikon D3500
(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
Olympus E-520
(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  • Superseded the Olympus E-510
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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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3500 over the Olympus E-520

 D3500 E-520 
RevealedAugust 2018August 2008Newer by 123 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer 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 typeFixed 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

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

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D3500
Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
81
focusing manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
59
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D3500
Street photography with Olympus E-520
69
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than average in class (365g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D3500
Sports photography with Olympus E-520
70
MP count good (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery life (1,550 shots)
comes with phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good battery life (650 per charge)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
low MP (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D3500
Travel photography with Olympus E-520
71
better than average battery life (1,550 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (365 grams)
connects via bluetooth
MP count good (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly display
52
good battery life (650 shots)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
low MP (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3500 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-520 Landscape photography advice
75
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (1,550 CIPA)
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
58
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (650 shots)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low MP (10MP)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3500 Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-520 Vlogging highlights
31
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (365g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
does not have microphone socket
9
can't record video
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Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-520 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3500 and Olympus E-520
 Nikon D3500Olympus 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