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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX580

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
29
Overall
32

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX580 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
  • Launched August 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Panasonic FX580
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX550
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX580 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX580, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the FX580 (12MP) is fairly similar but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and FX580 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The E-520 was launched 5 months prior to the FX580 which means that they are of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FX580 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the E-520 matches up against the FX580 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic FX580

 E-520 FX580 
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX580 over the Olympus E-520

 FX580 E-520 
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FX580

 E-520 FX580 
IntroducedAugust 2008January 2009Similar generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX580 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 provides exterior dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Panasonic FX580 has proportions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX580 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-520 versus the FX580.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX580 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and FX580 is 68 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX580 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading specs. The picture underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and FX580.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-520 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic FX580 will deliver more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics more aggressively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX580 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FX580 Portrait photography advice
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
26
includes face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FX580 Street photography highlights
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography details
Panasonic FX580 Sports photography details
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good battery life (650 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
27
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography information
Panasonic FX580 Travel photography information
52
good battery life (650 per charge)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
58
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse function
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Panasonic FX580
58
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (650 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7")
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
36
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging info
Panasonic FX580 Vlogging info
9
no video
30
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone port
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FX580
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
Also called - Lumix DMC-FX550
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2008-08-20 2009-01-27
Body design 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 area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder 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 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" 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 pictures -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $400 $499