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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P5

Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
45
Overall
44
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P5 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-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Introduced October 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P3
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P5 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-P5, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are sold by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and E-P5 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was launched 6 years earlier than the E-P5 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-520 grades versus the E-P5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus E-P5

 E-520 E-P5 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Olympus E-520

 E-P5 E-520 
IntroducedOctober 2013August 2008More recent by 62 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-P5

 E-520 E-P5 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 provides outer measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-P5 has specifications of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-P5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-520 compared to the E-P5.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and E-P5 is 68 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements just by reading through a spec sheet. The visual underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and E-P5.

As you can see, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Olympus E-P5 to give greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Olympus E-P5
58
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
71
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/320s)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-P5 Street photography highlights
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
78
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
has focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
heavier than competitors (420g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Olympus E-P5
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good battery pack (650 shots)
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
68
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography details
Olympus E-P5 Travel photography details
52
good battery pack (650 CIPA)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
68
has focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
heavier than competitors (420 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Olympus E-P5
57
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (650 shots)
small screen (2.7 inches)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging details
Olympus E-P5 Vlogging details
9
can't record video
33
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
missing mic support
heavier than competitors (420 grams)
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-P5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-P5
 Olympus E-520Olympus PEN E-P5
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-520 Olympus PEN E-P5
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2008-08-20 2013-10-03
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 3 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.00 m (ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/320s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 552 gr (1.22 lbs) 420 gr (0.93 lbs)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 72
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.4
DXO Low light rating 548 895
Other
Battery life 650 shots 330 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $400 $389