Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-520
65 Imaging
51 Features
50 Overall
50


68 Imaging
44 Features
45 Overall
44
Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-520 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - APS-C Sensor
- 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 200 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
- 1280 x 720 video
- Nikon F Mount
- 590g - 127 x 104 x 80mm
- Launched June 2009
- Older Model is Nikon D60
- New Model is Nikon D5100
(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
- Announced August 2008
- Previous Model is Olympus E-510

Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-520 Overview
Lets take a closer look at the Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-520, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by brands Nikon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the D5000 (12MP) and the E-520 (10MP) is very similar but the D5000 (APS-C) and E-520 (Four Thirds) come with totally different sensor measurements.

The D5000 was introduced 10 months after the E-520 so they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).
Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the D5000 scores versus the E-520 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-520 Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon D5000 & Olympus E-520. The whole galleries are provided at Nikon D5000 Gallery & Olympus E-520 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon D5000 over the Olympus E-520
D5000 | E-520 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | June 2009 | ![]() | August 2008 | Newer by 10 months |
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Easy selfies |
Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Nikon D5000
E-520 | D5000 |
---|
Common features in the Nikon D5000 and Olympus E-520
D5000 | E-520 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial precise focus | ||
Display dimension | 2.7" | ![]() | 2.7" | Identical display measurements |
Display resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Exact same display resolution |
Touch display | ![]() | Neither contains Touch display |
Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-520 Physical Comparison
If you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Nikon D5000 has got outer dimensions of 127mm x 104mm x 80mm (5.0" x 4.1" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 590 grams (1.30 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).
Analyze the Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-520 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is the front view size comparison of the D5000 compared to the E-520.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D5000 and E-520 is 65 and 68 respectively.

Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-520 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it can be hard to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by going over specifications. The image here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the D5000 and E-520.
Plainly, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The D5000 having a larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Nikon D5000 will offer more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics much more aggressively. The more recent D5000 will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-520 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-520 Specifications
Nikon D5000 | Olympus E-520 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Nikon | Olympus |
Model type | Nikon D5000 | Olympus E-520 |
Category | Entry-Level DSLR | Entry-Level DSLR |
Launched | 2009-06-12 | 2008-08-20 |
Physical type | Compact SLR | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Expeed | - |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | Four Thirds |
Sensor measurements | 23.6 x 15.8mm | 17.3 x 13mm |
Sensor area | 372.9mm² | 224.9mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 10 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 4:3 |
Maximum resolution | 4288 x 2848 | 3648 x 2736 |
Maximum native ISO | 3200 | 1600 |
Maximum boosted ISO | 6400 | - |
Min native ISO | 200 | 100 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | 11 | 3 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Nikon F | Micro Four Thirds |
Number of lenses | 309 | 45 |
Crop factor | 1.5 | 2.1 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 2.7 inches | 2.7 inches |
Resolution of display | 230k dots | 230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentamirror) | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | 95 percent | 95 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.52x | 0.46x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 30 secs | 60 secs |
Highest shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shooting rate | 4.0fps | 4.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 17.00 m (at ISO 100) | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain | Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Highest flash synchronize | 1/200 secs | 1/180 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps) | - |
Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | None |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | - |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | Optional | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 590 gr (1.30 lb) | 552 gr (1.22 lb) |
Dimensions | 127 x 104 x 80mm (5.0" x 4.1" x 3.1") | 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | 72 | 55 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 22.7 | 21.4 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 12.5 | 10.4 |
DXO Low light rating | 868 | 548 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 510 images | 650 images |
Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | EN-EL9a | - |
Self timer | Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC card | Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Cost at launch | $630 | $400 |