Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S1R

Following is a thorough assessment of the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic S1R, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and S1R (47MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and S1R (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-520 was released 11 years prior to the S1R which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic S1R being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-520 grades versus the S1R in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-520 & Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-520 Gallery & Panasonic S1R Gallery.

If you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-520 provides outer 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) while the Panasonic S1R has measurements of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") and a weight of 1020 grams (2.25 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic S1R in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the E-520 compared to the S1R.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and S1R is 68 and 54 respectively.

In many cases, it is difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes merely by viewing specifications. The pic below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and S1R.

Plainly, the two cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-520 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Panasonic S1R will render extra detail as a result of its extra 37 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.