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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-520

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Olympus E-520 front
Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
45
Overall
44

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-520 Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Released October 2019
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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-510
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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-520 Overview

The following is a in depth review of the Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-520, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Nikon and Olympus. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the Z50 (21MP) and E-520 (10MP) and the Z50 (APS-C) and E-520 (Four Thirds) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The Z50 was revealed 11 years after the E-520 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the Z50 matches up against the E-520 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Olympus E-520

 Z50 E-520 
RevealedOctober 2019August 2008Newer by 136 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Nikon Z50

 E-520 Z50 

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-520

 Z50 E-520 
Manual focus Very exact focus

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-520 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon Z50 comes with external measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") having a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) while the Olympus E-520 has dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-520 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the Z50 and the E-520.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-520 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the Z50 and E-520 is 74 and 68 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-520 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-520 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions just by viewing a spec sheet. The pic here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the Z50 and E-520.

As you can see, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The Z50 using its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Nikon Z50 will provide you with extra detail because of its extra 11 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more recent Z50 will have an edge in sensor tech.

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-520 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-520 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-520 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon Z50
Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
80
manual focus
decent MP (21 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
58
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon Z50
Street photography with Olympus E-520
73
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
supports touch to focus
environment sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
no image stabilization
heavier than others (397 grams)
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z50 Sports photography factors
Olympus E-520 Sports photography factors
75
decent MP (21MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
no image stabilization
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery power (650 per charge)
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z50 Travel photography advice
Olympus E-520 Travel photography advice
77
environment sealing
has bluetooth
supports touch to focus
decent MP (21 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
heavier than others (397 grams)
52
good battery power (650 shots)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-520 Landscape photography highlights
79
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon Z mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
decent MP (21MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
no image stabilization
57
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
good battery power (650 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7")
MP count low (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-520 Vlogging highlights
71
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
features face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with mic support
no image stabilization
heavier than others (397 grams)
9
no video
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Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-520 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Olympus E-520
 Nikon Z50Olympus E-520
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon Z50 Olympus E-520
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2019-10-10 2008-08-20
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 5568 x 3712 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 51200 1600
Max boosted ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 209 3
Lens
Lens mount Nikon Z Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 15 45
Crop factor 1.5 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 11.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options - Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 397 gr (0.88 lbs) 552 gr (1.22 lbs)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 55
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.4
DXO Low light score not tested 548
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 650 pictures
Type of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL25 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $857 $400