Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-12
68 Imaging
44 Features
45 Overall
44
89 Imaging
37 Features
36 Overall
36
Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-12 Key Specs
(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
(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
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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.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsThe 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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The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-520 & Olympus SZ-12. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-520 Gallery & Olympus SZ-12 Gallery.
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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduced | January 2012 | August 2008 | More recent by 41 months | |
| Screen size | 3" | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") | |
| Screen resolution | 460k | 230k | Crisper screen (+230k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus SZ-12
| E-520 | SZ-12 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen type | Fixed | 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.
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.

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