Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX580

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.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-520 Gallery and Panasonic FX580 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.