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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 Key Specs

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
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-510
Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M1 II
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Pro Mirrorless and both are produced by Olympus. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and E-M1 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was brought out 6 years prior to the E-M1 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-520 grades versus the E-M1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus E-M1

 E-520 E-M1 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus E-520

 E-M1 E-520 
LaunchedOctober 2013August 2008More recent by 63 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-M1

 E-520 E-M1 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 features external measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-M1 has specifications of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-520 versus the E-M1.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and E-M1 is 68 and 71 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading through specifications. The photograph here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and E-M1.

Plainly, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can expect to see the Olympus E-M1 to resolve extra detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-M1 as a Portrait photography camera
59
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
low MP (10MP)
71
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-M1 Street photography highlights
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features touch to focus
environment proof
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-M1 Sports photography highlights
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
better than average battery (650 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
low MP (10MP)
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
low battery power (350 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-M1 Travel photography highlights
52
better than average battery (650 CIPA)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
low MP (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
65
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
environment proof
features touch to focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
low battery power (350 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography advice
58
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (650 per charge)
small screen (2.7 inch)
low MP (10 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
low battery power (350 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging features
Olympus E-M1 Vlogging features
9
no video
36
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic support
lighter than competition in class (497g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-M1
 Olympus E-520Olympus OM-D E-M1
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-520 Olympus OM-D E-M1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2008-08-20 2013-10-28
Physical type Compact SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePIC VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 81
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/320 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 552 gr (1.22 pounds) 497 gr (1.10 pounds)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 73
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.7
DXO Low light rating 548 757
Other
Battery life 650 photos 350 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $400 $799