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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-12 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Introduced January 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Below is a comprehensive review of the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus SZ-12, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are designed by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and SZ-12 (14MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and SZ-12 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The E-520 was launched 4 years earlier than the SZ-12 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a short view of how the E-520 scores vs the SZ-12 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus SZ-12

 E-520 SZ-12 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Olympus E-520

 SZ-12 E-520 
IntroducedJanuary 2012August 2008More recent by 41 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus SZ-12

 E-520 SZ-12 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 features exterior measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-12 has sizing of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-520 versus Olympus SZ-12 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the E-520 versus the SZ-12.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and SZ-12 is 68 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements purely by going through specifications. The photograph here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and SZ-12.

Plainly, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-520 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus SZ-12 will provide more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older E-520 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus SZ-12 Portrait photography highlights
59
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW files
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
33
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
features face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography features
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography features
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography factors
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography factors
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery power (650 CIPA)
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
40
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
52
good battery power (650 per charge)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-12
58
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
good battery power (650 CIPA)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
40
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery power (220 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging info
Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging info
9
can't record video
31
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic jack
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus SZ-12
 Olympus E-520Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-520 Olympus SZ-12
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2008-08-20 2012-01-10
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lbs) 226 grams (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos 220 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $400 $350