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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus Tough-3000

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
26
Overall
31

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus Tough-3000 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
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-510
Olympus Tough-3000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.5-5.1) lens
  • 159g - 96 x 65 x 23mm
  • Launched January 2010
  • Also referred to as mju Tough 3000
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Overview

The following is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus Tough-3000, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Waterproof and both are offered by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the Tough-3000 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and Tough-3000 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizing.

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The E-520 was unveiled 16 months before the Tough-3000 making them a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus Tough-3000 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-520 grades vs the Tough-3000 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus Tough-3000

 E-520 Tough-3000 
Manually focus Dial precise focus

Reasons to pick Olympus Tough-3000 over the Olympus E-520

 Tough-3000 E-520 
LaunchedJanuary 2010August 2008Newer by 16 months

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus Tough-3000

 E-520 Tough-3000 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal display measurement
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 offers external dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Olympus Tough-3000 has sizing of 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") along with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Olympus E-520 vs Olympus Tough-3000 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-520 vs the Tough-3000.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus Tough-3000 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and Tough-3000 is 68 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus Tough-3000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions just by looking at a spec sheet. The image underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and Tough-3000.

Clearly, each of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-520 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus Tough-3000 will give extra detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-520 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus Tough-3000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus Tough-3000 as a Portrait photography camera
59
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
21
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-520
Street photography with Olympus Tough-3000
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
62
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography features
Olympus Tough-3000 Sports photography features
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
better than average battery power (650 per charge)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
36
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography information
Olympus Tough-3000 Travel photography information
52
better than average battery power (650 CIPA)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
61
environment sealing
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Olympus Tough-3000
58
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (650 CIPA)
screen is small (2.7")
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
35
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
lack of manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging features
Olympus Tough-3000 Vlogging features
9
no video shooting
28
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone jack
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus Tough-3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus Tough-3000
 Olympus E-520Olympus Stylus Tough-3000
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-520 Olympus Stylus Tough-3000
Also referred to as - mju Tough 3000
Class Entry-Level DSLR Waterproof
Introduced 2008-08-20 2010-01-07
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic III
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-102mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.1
Macro focus distance - 2cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552g (1.22 lbs) 159g (0.35 lbs)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 96 x 65 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9")
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 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $400 $0