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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic F5

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic F5 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
  • Announced August 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Panasonic F5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic F5 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic F5, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and F5 (14MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and F5 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was unveiled 5 years prior to the F5 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic F5 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-520 grades vs the F5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic F5

 E-520 F5 
Focus manually More precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic F5 over the Olympus E-520

 F5 E-520 
LaunchedJanuary 2013August 2008More recent by 53 months

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic F5

 E-520 F5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic F5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 provides exterior measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Panasonic F5 has proportions of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic F5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-520 and the F5.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic F5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and F5 is 68 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic F5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic F5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to see the difference in sensor measurements purely by researching technical specs. The graphic below will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and F5.

As you have seen, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-520 with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic F5 will provide you with extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older E-520 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic F5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic F5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic F5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography information
Panasonic F5 Portrait photography information
59
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
29
good resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography details
Panasonic F5 Street photography details
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
56
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Panasonic F5
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great battery power (650 CIPA)
supports phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
33
good resolution (14MP)
provides tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography factors
Panasonic F5 Travel photography factors
52
great battery power (650 CIPA)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
good resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography information
Panasonic F5 Landscape photography information
58
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
great battery power (650 shots)
small screen (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (10MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
33
quite wide (28mm)
good resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging advice
Panasonic F5 Vlogging advice
9
can't shoot video
28
quite wide (28mm)
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic F5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic F5
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2008-08-20 2013-01-07
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.2-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.70 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lbs) 121 grams (0.27 lbs)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 97 x 58 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 photographs 250 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $400 $100