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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL8

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL8 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
  • Launched August 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-510
Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL7
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL9
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL8 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus E-PL8, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both manufactured by Olympus. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and E-PL8 (16MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was unveiled 9 years earlier than the E-PL8 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the E-520 grades vs the E-PL8 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus E-PL8

 E-520 E-PL8 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Olympus E-520

 E-PL8 E-520 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016August 2008Newer by 98 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-PL8

 E-520 E-PL8 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL8 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-520 has physical dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL8 has measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus E-PL8 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 vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the E-520 and the E-PL8.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL8 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and E-PL8 is 68 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL8 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions purely by checking a spec sheet. The pic below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and E-PL8.

Clearly, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should count on the Olympus E-PL8 to give you extra detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged E-520 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography advice
Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography advice
59
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
72
has manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Street photography camera
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Sports photography camera
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great battery (650 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
low megapixels (10MP)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography highlights
Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography highlights
52
great battery (650 shots)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
features focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography info
Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography info
58
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
great battery (650 shots)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-520
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL8
9
no video
35
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-PL8
 Olympus E-520Olympus PEN E-PL8
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-520 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2008-08-20 2016-09-19
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - TruePic VII
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 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
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)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 grams (1.22 lb) 357 grams (0.79 lb)
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 Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 shots 350 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
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
Card slots One One
Price at release $400 $500