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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL1s

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL1s 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
  • Announced August 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Launched November 2010
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL2
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL1s Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus E-PL1s, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are sold by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the E-PL1s (12MP) is pretty similar and they enjoy the same exact sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was released 3 years earlier than the E-PL1s and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-520 grades vs the E-PL1s with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 E-520 E-PL1s 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Olympus E-520

 E-PL1s E-520 
LaunchedNovember 2010August 2008More recent by 27 months

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-PL1s

 E-520 E-PL1s 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen sizing
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL1s Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-520 features external 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-PL1s has measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus E-PL1s in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the E-520 versus the E-PL1s.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL1s size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and E-PL1s is 68 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL1s top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL1s Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading a spec sheet. The photograph below will help give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and E-PL1s.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Olympus E-PL1s to offer greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL1s sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL1s Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL1s Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography highlights
59
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
MP count low (10 megapixels)
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography details
Olympus E-PL1s Street photography details
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL1s
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good battery power (650 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (4.0 fps)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (290 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-520
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1s
52
good battery power (650 shots)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1s
58
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (650 CIPA)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
55
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging information
Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging information
9
no video recording
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL1s Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-PL1s
 Olympus E-520Olympus PEN E-PL1s
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-520 Olympus PEN E-PL1s
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2008-08-20 2010-11-16
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Truepic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 grams (1.22 pounds) 334 grams (0.74 pounds)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 pictures 290 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - BLS-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $400 $599