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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FP1

Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
45
Overall
44
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
13
Overall
26

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FP1 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
  • Revealed August 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic FP1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FP1 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic FP1, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the FP1 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and FP1 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-520 was unveiled 16 months before the FP1 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FP1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-520 scores versus the FP1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic FP1

 E-520 FP1 
Manual focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP1 over the Olympus E-520

 FP1 E-520 
RevealedJanuary 2010August 2008Newer by 16 months

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FP1

 E-520 FP1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen sizing
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FP1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 provides exterior dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Panasonic FP1 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic FP1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-520 and the FP1.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FP1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and FP1 is 68 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FP1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FP1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading through a spec sheet. The picture underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and FP1.

As you can see, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-520 using its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic FP1 will give greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-520 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FP1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FP1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FP1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FP1 as a Portrait photography camera
58
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
21
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography info
Panasonic FP1 Street photography info
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than others in class (151 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FP1 as a Sports photography camera
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great battery (650 shots)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10MP)
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FP1 as a Travel photography camera
52
great battery (650 per charge)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
low megapixels (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
50
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than others in class (151 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography information
Panasonic FP1 Landscape photography information
57
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
great battery (650 shots)
small screen (2.7 inch)
low megapixels (10MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-520
Vlogging with Panasonic FP1
9
can't record video
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone socket
more heavy than others in class (151g)
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FP1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FP1
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP1
Class Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Revealed 2008-08-20 2010-01-06
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 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 operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.90 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552g (1.22 pounds) 151g (0.33 pounds)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7")
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 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $400 $153