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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-5

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-5 front
Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
51
Overall
43

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-5 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-510
Olympus TG-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 12800)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 250g - 113 x 66 x 32mm
  • Introduced May 2017
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-4
  • Updated by Olympus TG-6
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-5 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus E-520 and Olympus TG-5, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Waterproof and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. The resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the TG-5 (12MP) is fairly similar but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and TG-5 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was announced 9 years earlier than the TG-5 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Olympus TG-5 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-520 grades vs the TG-5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Olympus TG-5

 E-520 TG-5 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-5 over the Olympus E-520

 TG-5 E-520 
IntroducedMay 2017August 2008Newer by 106 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Olympus TG-5

 E-520 TG-5 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-5 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 offers physical measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Olympus TG-5 has specifications of 113mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-520 and Olympus TG-5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-520 against the TG-5.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and TG-5 is 68 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to see the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading specs. The picture here may offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and TG-5.

All in all, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-520 having a larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus TG-5 will offer greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged E-520 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography factors
Olympus TG-5 Portrait photography factors
59
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
39
you can focus manually
has face detect focusing
saves RAW files
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-5 as a Street photography camera
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than average in class (250 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography features
Olympus TG-5 Sports photography features
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good battery (650 CIPA)
supports phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
46
fast continuous shooting (20.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
better than average battery (340 shots)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography information
Olympus TG-5 Travel photography information
52
good battery (650 CIPA)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
68
better than average battery (340 shots)
environment sealing
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than average in class (250 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography information
Olympus TG-5 Landscape photography information
58
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
good battery (650 shots)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
57
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
better than average battery (340 per charge)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging advice
Olympus TG-5 Vlogging advice
9
can't record video
34
rather wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have mic socket
heavier than average in class (250 grams)
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Olympus E-520 vs Olympus TG-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Olympus TG-5
 Olympus E-520Olympus Tough TG-5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-520 Olympus Tough TG-5
Category Entry-Level DSLR Waterproof
Introduced 2008-08-20 2017-05-17
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic VIII
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max boosted ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 20.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill, manual, off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552g (1.22 lb) 250g (0.55 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 113 x 66 x 32mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
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 340 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible)
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $400 $449