Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P3

Here is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-P3, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are produced by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the E-P3 (12MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was manufactured 4 years before the E-P3 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-P3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-520 matches up against the E-P3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-520 and Olympus PEN E-P3. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-520 Gallery and Olympus E-P3 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry your camera, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 comes with external dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Olympus E-P3 has sizing of 122mm x 69mm x 34mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 369 grams (0.81 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-P3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-520 versus the E-P3.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and E-P3 is 68 and 86 respectively.

Generally, it can be tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing merely by looking at a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and E-P3.

As you can see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Olympus E-P3 to give you extra detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.