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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL7

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL7 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
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2014
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL6
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL8
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL7 Overview

Here is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus E-PL7, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are built by Olympus. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and E-PL7 (16MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was brought out 7 years before the E-PL7 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-520 matches up versus the E-PL7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus E-PL7

 E-520 E-PL7 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Olympus E-520

 E-PL7 E-520 
RevealedSeptember 2014August 2008Fresher by 73 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-PL7

 E-520 E-PL7 
Manually focus More accurate focusing

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-520 features outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL7 has measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

See the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus E-PL7 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-520 against the E-PL7.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL7 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and E-PL7 is 68 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL7 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing merely by looking through technical specs. The photograph here might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and E-PL7.

As you have seen, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Olympus E-PL7 to provide you with more detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older E-520 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography factors
59
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW files
low resolution (10MP)
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL7 as a Street photography camera
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-PL7 Sports photography highlights
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good battery (650 per charge)
sensor has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
low resolution (10MP)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography information
Olympus E-PL7 Travel photography information
52
good battery (650 CIPA)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
low resolution (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
85
offers focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL7 as a Landscape photography camera
58
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
good battery (650 CIPA)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low resolution (10 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging factors
Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging factors
9
no video recording
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have microphone port
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-PL7
 Olympus E-520Olympus PEN E-PL7
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-520 Olympus PEN E-PL7
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2008-08-20 2014-09-01
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 81
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 Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye no built-in flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 pounds) 357 gr (0.79 pounds)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 72
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 12.4
DXO Low light score 548 873
Other
Battery life 650 photos 350 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - BLS-50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $400 $499