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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 II

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
Portability
68
Imaging
60
Features
93
Overall
73

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 II Key Specs

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
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-510
Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 574g - 134 x 91 x 67mm
  • Released September 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M1
  • Successor is Olympus E-M1 III
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 II Overview

Here is a detailed review of the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 II, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless and both of them are offered by Olympus. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and E-M1 II (20MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was introduced 9 years before the E-M1 II and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-520 matches up versus the E-M1 II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 E-520 E-M1 II 

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

 E-M1 II E-520 
ReleasedSeptember 2016August 2008Fresher by 98 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 E-520 E-M1 II 
Manually focus Very exact focus

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 II Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 offers external measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Olympus E-M1 II has dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") along with a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 II in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the E-520 and the E-M1 II.

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

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and E-M1 II is 68 and 68 respectively.

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

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 II Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing merely by checking specs. The photograph below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and E-M1 II.

All in all, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Olympus E-M1 II to give more detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-M1 II Portrait photography factors
59
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
76
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography advice
Olympus E-M1 II Street photography advice
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
78
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch focus
environment sealing
lighter than others in class (574 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography features
Olympus E-M1 II Sports photography features
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great battery (650 per charge)
has phase detect auto focus
max fps low (4.0 fps)
low megapixels (10MP)
75
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (60.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
low battery (350 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography features
Olympus E-M1 II Travel photography features
52
great battery (650 CIPA)
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
low megapixels (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
72
lighter than others in class (574 grams)
environment sealing
boasts touch focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
selfie friendly display
low battery (350 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-M1 II Landscape photography factors
58
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
great battery (650 CIPA)
small screen (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
76
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
no anti-alias filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
has double storage slots
low battery (350 shots)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging information
Olympus E-M1 II Vlogging information
9
no video
79
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes external microphone port
lighter than others in class (574g)
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-M1 II
 Olympus E-520Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-520 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Class Entry-Level DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2008-08-20 2016-09-19
Body design Compact SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - TruePic VIII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.4 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 226.2mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 1600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 121
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 60.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 9.10 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM, 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution None 4096x2160
Video file format - MOV, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lb) 574 gr (1.27 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 80
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.8
DXO Low light rating 548 1312
Other
Battery life 650 shots 350 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLH-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Storage slots One Two
Launch cost $400 $1,700