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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-520

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus E-520 front
Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-520 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Boost to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Introduced October 2005
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-500
  • New Model is Olympus E-510
Olympus E-520
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Launched August 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-510
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-520 Overview

The following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-520, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. The resolution of the E-500 (8MP) and the E-520 (10MP) is relatively similar and both cameras offer the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-500 was brought out 3 years prior to the E-520 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-500 grades against the E-520 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus E-520

 E-500 E-520 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus E-500

 E-520 E-500 
LaunchedAugust 2008October 2005Newer by 34 months
Screen dimensions2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k215kClearer screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus E-520

 E-500 E-520 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-520 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-500 comes with outside measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Olympus E-520 has measurements 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 Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-520 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-500 vs the E-520.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-520 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and E-520 is 70 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-520 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-520 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by going over technical specs. The pic here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-500 and E-520.

As you can tell, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can count on the Olympus E-520 to deliver extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-520 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-520 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-520 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-520 Portrait photography factors
49
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low MP (8MP)
59
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW formats
resolution not great (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography information
Olympus E-520 Street photography information
57
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (479 grams)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good battery pack (650 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography features
Olympus E-520 Travel photography features
52
lighter than competition in class (479 grams)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
low MP (8MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
52
good battery pack (650 CIPA)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography information
Olympus E-520 Landscape photography information
43
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
no Timelapse mode
58
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (650 shots)
small screen (2.7 inches)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging info
Olympus E-520 Vlogging info
9
lack of video recording
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-520 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus E-520
 Olympus E-500Olympus E-520
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-500 Olympus E-520
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2005-10-21 2008-08-20
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 3264 x 2448 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 400 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 3
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 45
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution of display 215 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.46x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479 grams (1.06 pounds) 552 grams (1.22 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 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 - 650 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $600 $400