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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Olympus E-520
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed August 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-510
Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Below is a detailed assessment of the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-30MR, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are created by Olympus. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and SZ-30MR (16MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and SZ-30MR (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-520 was brought out 3 years prior to the SZ-30MR and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-520 scores against the SZ-30MR in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-520 SZ-30MR 
Manually focus Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Olympus E-520

 SZ-30MR E-520 
LaunchedMarch 2011August 2008More recent by 30 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-520 SZ-30MR 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 has got 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 SZ-30MR has dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-30MR in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-520 vs the SZ-30MR.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and SZ-30MR is 68 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to picture the difference between sensor measurements just by reading through specifications. The graphic underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and SZ-30MR.

To sum up, both of those cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-520 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus SZ-30MR will give you extra detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography highlights
59
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
34
good MP (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography factors
Olympus SZ-30MR Street photography factors
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography advice
Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography advice
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great battery (650 per charge)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-520
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
52
great battery (650 shots)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (220 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Landscape photography camera
58
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
great battery (650 shots)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging features
Olympus SZ-30MR Vlogging features
9
can't record video
34
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have mic port
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Olympus E-520Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-520 Olympus SZ-30MR
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2008-08-20 2011-03-02
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lbs) 226 gr (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 Overall 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 images 220 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $400 $279