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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH20 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
  • Released August 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS30
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FH20, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and FH20 (14MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and FH20 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-520 was brought out 16 months before the FH20 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-520 matches up against the FH20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic FH20

 E-520 FH20 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Olympus E-520

 FH20 E-520 
LaunchedJanuary 2010August 2008Fresher by 16 months

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FH20

 E-520 FH20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 has outside measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Panasonic FH20 has dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FH20 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 have chosen at the time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-520 and the FH20.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and FH20 is 68 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing merely by checking specifications. The photograph below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and FH20.

To sum up, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-520 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh simpler and the Panasonic FH20 will give extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography factors
59
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
low resolution (10 megapixels)
28
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography info
Panasonic FH20 Street photography info
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Panasonic FH20
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
better than average battery power (650 shots)
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps low (4.0 fps)
low resolution (10MP)
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FH20 Travel photography factors
52
better than average battery power (650 per charge)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
low resolution (10 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
64
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH20
58
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (650 per charge)
screen is small (2.7")
low resolution (10 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
37
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FH20 Vlogging factors
9
can't record video
28
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FH20
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FS30
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2008-08-20 2010-01-06
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 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-224mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lb) 178 gr (0.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
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 style 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 1 1
Pricing at launch $400 $179