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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH7

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH7 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
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic FH7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 19mm
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS22
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH7 Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FH7, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and FH7 (16MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and FH7 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-520 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the FH7 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FH7 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-520 matches up versus the FH7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic FH7

 E-520 FH7 
Manually focus More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH7 over the Olympus E-520

 FH7 E-520 
IntroducedSeptember 2011August 2008More recent by 37 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FH7

 E-520 FH7 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-520 comes with 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) while the Panasonic FH7 has measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FH7 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-520 compared to the FH7.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH7 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and FH7 is 68 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements only by looking at specifications. The graphic underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and FH7.

To sum up, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-520 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic FH7 will resolve more detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FH7 Portrait photography information
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (10MP)
34
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
features face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FH7 as a Street photography camera
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
67
image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch focus
lighter than others in class (126g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH7 as a Sports photography camera
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
better than average battery power (650 per charge)
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
40
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (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 FH7
52
better than average battery power (650 CIPA)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
lighter than others in class (126g)
provides touch focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FH7 as a Landscape photography camera
58
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (650 per charge)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
43
really wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging information
Panasonic FH7 Vlogging information
9
no video
34
really wide (28mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
lighter than others in class (126 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone jack
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FH7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FH7
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7
Also called - Lumix DMC-FS22
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-08-20 2011-09-07
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 grams (1.22 pounds) 126 grams (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 95 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 260 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $400 $149