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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PM1

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PM1 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  • Superseded the Olympus E-510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-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced November 2011
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PM2
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PM1 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PM1, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both manufactured by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the E-PM1 (12MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-520 was manufactured 4 years before the E-PM1 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-520 matches up versus the E-PM1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus E-PM1

 E-520 E-PM1 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Olympus E-520

 E-PM1 E-520 
IntroducedNovember 2011August 2008More recent by 39 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-PM1

 E-520 E-PM1 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PM1 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 features outside 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-PM1 has dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PM1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-520 compared to the E-PM1.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PM1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and E-PM1 is 68 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PM1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PM1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading through specifications. The photograph underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and E-PM1.

Plainly, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Olympus E-PM1 to give more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PM1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PM1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PM1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography features
Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography features
59
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-520
Street photography with Olympus E-PM1
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PM1 as a Sports photography camera
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery (650 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10MP)
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography features
Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography features
52
good battery (650 per charge)
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
45
missing Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography information
Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography information
58
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
good battery (650 CIPA)
small screen (2.7 inch)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PM1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus E-PM1
 Olympus E-520Olympus PEN E-PM1
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-520 Olympus PEN E-PM1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2008-08-20 2011-11-23
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - TruePic VI
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 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 pounds) 265 grams (0.58 pounds)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 52
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 21.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.3
DXO Low light rating 548 499
Other
Battery life 650 pictures 330 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $400 $499