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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 III

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 III 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-510
Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Introduced October 2019
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • New Model is OM System OM-5
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 III Overview

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus E-M5 III, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both built by Olympus. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and E-M5 III (20MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was manufactured 12 years before the E-M5 III and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-520 scores versus the E-M5 III with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 E-520 E-M5 III 

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

 E-M5 III E-520 
IntroducedOctober 2019August 2008Fresher by 135 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 E-520 E-M5 III 
Manually focus More precise focusing

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 III Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 has got outside measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-M5 III has sizing of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") with a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus E-M5 III in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the E-520 compared to the E-M5 III.

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

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and E-M5 III is 68 and 80 respectively.

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

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 III Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing only by researching specs. The visual underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and E-M5 III.

All in all, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You can expect to see the Olympus E-M5 III to provide you with greater detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older E-520 will be behind in sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography factors
59
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
77
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography features
Olympus E-M5 III Street photography features
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
83
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
environment sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 III
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
better than average battery pack (650 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (4.0 fps)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
max fps high (30.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect auto focus
low battery pack (310 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography features
Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography features
52
better than average battery pack (650 per charge)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
low megapixels (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
77
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
includes focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
low battery pack (310 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography factors
58
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (650 shots)
small screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
77
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
low battery pack (310 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-520
Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 III
9
no video
84
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
has external mic socket
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-M5 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-M5 III
 Olympus E-520Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-520 Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Class Entry-Level DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2008-08-20 2019-10-17
Physical type Compact SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VIII
Sensor type CMOS MOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.4 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 226.2mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 121
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.68x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Max silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 30.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
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, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 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 - 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution None 4096x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 552g (1.22 lb) 414g (0.91 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 photographs 310 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported)
Card slots One One
Launch cost $400 $1,199