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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL9

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL9 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-510
Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Announced February 2018
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL8
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL9 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus E-PL9, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are created by Olympus. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and E-PL9 (16MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was released 10 years prior to the E-PL9 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-520 matches up versus the E-PL9 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus E-PL9

 E-520 E-PL9 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus E-520

 E-PL9 E-520 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018August 2008More recent by 115 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-PL9

 E-520 E-PL9 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL9 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-520 has got physical dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL9 has measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus E-PL9 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-520 and the E-PL9.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL9 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and E-PL9 is 68 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL9 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements merely by checking specifications. The photograph underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and E-PL9.

To sum up, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can count on the Olympus E-PL9 to give greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PL9 as a Portrait photography camera
59
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
73
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL9 as a Street photography camera
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
features focus by touch
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography information
Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography information
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great battery power (650 per charge)
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10MP)
69
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-520
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL9
52
great battery power (650 per charge)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
77
connects via bluetooth
features focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography info
Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography info
58
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
great battery power (650 per charge)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (10MP)
missing Timelapse function
80
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-520
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
9
no video recording
35
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic jack
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PL9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-PL9
 Olympus E-520Olympus PEN E-PL9
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-520 Olympus PEN E-PL9
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2008-08-20 2018-02-08
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic VIII
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 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing 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 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 121
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
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 1/4000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 8.6 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 lbs) 380 gr (0.84 lbs)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5")
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 shots 350 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $400 $599