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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL5 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-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2012
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus E-PL5, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and E-PL5 (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was launched 5 years earlier than the E-PL5 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-520 grades versus the E-PL5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus E-PL5

 E-520 E-PL5 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus E-520

 E-PL5 E-520 
LaunchedSeptember 2012August 2008More recent by 49 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-PL5

 E-520 E-PL5 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 enjoys exterior measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL5 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus E-PL5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-520 against the E-PL5.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and E-PL5 is 68 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to imagine the gap in sensor measurements simply by looking through specs. The graphic underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and E-PL5.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Olympus E-PL5 to provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older E-520 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
59
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-520
Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Olympus E-PL5
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
better than average battery pack (650 per charge)
has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography details
Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography details
52
better than average battery pack (650 CIPA)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
75
comes with focus by touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Landscape photography camera
58
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (650 shots)
small screen (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging details
Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging details
9
lack of video recording
78
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have external mic support
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-PL5
 Olympus E-520Olympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-520 Olympus PEN E-PL5
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2008-08-20 2012-09-17
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 area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lbs) 325 grams (0.72 lbs)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 72
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.3
DXO Low light rating 548 889
Other
Battery life 650 pictures 360 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $400 $400