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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH3

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH3 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
  • Released August 2008
  • Old Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic FH3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 165g - 98 x 55 x 24mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS11
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH3 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic FH3, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and FH3 (14MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and FH3 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-520 was brought out 16 months prior to the FH3 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-520 scores vs the FH3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic FH3

 E-520 FH3 
Focus manually Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Olympus E-520

 FH3 E-520 
AnnouncedJanuary 2010August 2008More recent by 16 months

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FH3

 E-520 FH3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH3 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 offers outer 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 FH3 has dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic FH3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-520 compared to the FH3.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and FH3 is 68 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements only by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph below should give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and FH3.

Clearly, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-520 featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic FH3 will give you more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FH3 Portrait photography advice
59
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (10MP)
28
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography factors
Panasonic FH3 Street photography factors
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography information
Panasonic FH3 Sports photography information
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great battery (650 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
34
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-520
Travel photography with Panasonic FH3
52
great battery (650 per charge)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
64
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH3
58
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
great battery (650 shots)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
37
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging features
Panasonic FH3 Vlogging features
9
no video
29
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FH3
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FS11
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 measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface 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
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-6.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552g (1.22 lb) 165g (0.36 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" 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 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $400 $160