Olympus E-520 vs Olympus E-PM2

Following is a complete review of the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus E-PM2, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both produced by Olympus. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and E-PM2 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-520 was unveiled 5 years prior to the E-PM2 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-520 scores vs the E-PM2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-520 and Olympus PEN E-PM2. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-520 Gallery and Olympus E-PM2 Gallery.

For those who are going to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 provides exterior measurements 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-PM2 has dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus E-PM2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the E-520 vs the E-PM2.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and E-PM2 is 68 and 89 respectively.

Generally, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor sizes purely by looking at specifications. The image below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and E-PM2.

Plainly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Olympus E-PM2 to give you more detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged E-520 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.