Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P1

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are produced by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the E-P1 (12MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras boast the identical sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was released 11 months prior to the E-P1 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-520 matches up versus the E-P1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-520 & Olympus PEN E-P1. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-520 Gallery & Olympus E-P1 Gallery.

When you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 enjoys physical measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Olympus E-P1 has specifications of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") and a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the E-520 compared to the E-P1.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and E-P1 is 68 and 86 respectively.

Oftentimes, its tough to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by checking specifications. The visual underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and E-P1.

Plainly, each of the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Olympus E-P1 to resolve extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.