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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus PEN-F

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus PEN-F front
Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus PEN-F 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-510
Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Announced January 2016
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus PEN-F Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-520 and Olympus PEN-F, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both produced by Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and PEN-F (20MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was introduced 8 years before the PEN-F which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-520 grades against the PEN-F in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus PEN-F

 E-520 PEN-F 

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Olympus E-520

 PEN-F E-520 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016August 2008More modern by 90 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus PEN-F

 E-520 PEN-F 
Focus manually Very accurate focus

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus PEN-F Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 offers exterior measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Olympus PEN-F has proportions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-520 and Olympus PEN-F in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-520 vs the PEN-F.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus PEN-F size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and PEN-F is 68 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus PEN-F top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus PEN-F Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes merely by looking through technical specs. The image underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and PEN-F.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Olympus PEN-F to provide you with extra detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus PEN-F sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus PEN-F Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Olympus PEN-F
59
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
75
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography features
Olympus PEN-F Street photography features
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
84
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography info
Olympus PEN-F Sports photography info
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery life (650 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
67
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
not so great battery (330 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus PEN-F as a Travel photography camera
52
good battery life (650 per charge)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
75
has focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery (330 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography factors
Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography factors
58
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (650 CIPA)
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
76
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
not so great battery (330 CIPA)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging factors
Olympus PEN-F Vlogging factors
9
lack of video recording
78
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus PEN-F Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus PEN-F
 Olympus E-520Olympus PEN-F
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-520 Olympus PEN-F
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2008-08-20 2016-01-27
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VII
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 10 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 81
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.62x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
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 Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 pounds) 427 grams (0.94 pounds)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 74
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 23.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.4
DXO Low light rating 548 894
Other
Battery life 650 shots 330 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $400 $1,000