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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Olympus E-520
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-510
Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL2, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while 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-PL2 (12MP) is pretty close and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was announced 3 years prior to the E-PL2 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-520 matches up versus the E-PL2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus E-PL2

 E-520 E-PL2 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Olympus E-520

 E-PL2 E-520 
IntroducedFebruary 2011August 2008More modern by 30 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-PL2

 E-520 E-PL2 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 features outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL2 has proportions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-520 compared to the E-PL2.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and E-PL2 is 68 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to see the difference in sensor sizes just by researching technical specs. The picture below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and E-PL2.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Olympus E-PL2 to result in greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography details
Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography details
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography advice
Olympus E-PL2 Street photography advice
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
73
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great battery (650 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery pack (280 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-520
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL2
52
great battery (650 shots)
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (280 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
58
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
great battery (650 per charge)
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery pack (280 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
does not feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic port
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-PL2
 Olympus E-520Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-520 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2008-08-20 2011-02-11
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Truepic V
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 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
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) 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lb) 362 gr (0.80 lb)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 55
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.2
DXO Low light rating 548 573
Other
Battery life 650 photos 280 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $400 $0