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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 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
  • Released August 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-510
Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 II
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and both are built by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and E-M5 (16MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was manufactured 4 years before the E-M5 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-520 scores against the E-M5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus E-M5

 E-520 E-M5 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-520

 E-M5 E-520 
IntroducedApril 2012August 2008More recent by 44 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution610k230kCrisper screen (+380k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-M5

 E-520 E-M5 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-520 enjoys outer measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Olympus E-M5 has measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-520 and the E-M5.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and E-M5 is 68 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements merely by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and E-M5.

As you can see, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can count on the Olympus E-M5 to resolve more detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-M5 as a Portrait photography camera
59
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
low resolution sensor (10MP)
71
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-M5 as a Street photography camera
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
82
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
environment sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery power (650 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-520
Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
52
good battery power (650 per charge)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
66
environment sealing
boasts touch to focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
58
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
good battery power (650 per charge)
tiny screen (2.7")
low resolution sensor (10MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
missing Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging advice
Olympus E-M5 Vlogging advice
9
can't record video
34
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
missing external mic port
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-M5
 Olympus E-520Olympus OM-D E-M5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-520 Olympus OM-D E-M5
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2008-08-20 2012-04-30
Body design Compact SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS 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 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 35
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 610k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.58x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 pounds) 425 grams (0.94 pounds)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 71
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.3
DXO Low light rating 548 826
Other
Battery life 650 photos 360 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $400 $799