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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX90

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX90 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 FX90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 102 x 56 x 22mm
  • Launched August 2011
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX90 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX90, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the FX90 (12MP) is very similar but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and FX90 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizing.

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The E-520 was introduced 4 years earlier than the FX90 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FX90 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-520 grades vs the FX90 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic FX90

 E-520 FX90 
Manually focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX90 over the Olympus E-520

 FX90 E-520 
LaunchedAugust 2011August 2008Fresher by 36 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FX90

 E-520 FX90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX90 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 comes with external 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 FX90 has dimensions of 102mm x 56mm x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX90 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-520 and the FX90.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX90 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and FX90 is 68 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX90 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to picture the gap between sensor sizing just by reading a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and FX90.

Clearly, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-520 using its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic FX90 will offer you extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics way more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FX90 Portrait photography features
59
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
21
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FX90 as a Street photography camera
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch focus
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FX90 as a Sports photography camera
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
better than average battery life (650 CIPA)
has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
low megapixels (10MP)
30
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery (200 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography info
Panasonic FX90 Travel photography info
52
better than average battery life (650 CIPA)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
60
includes touch focus
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery (200 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FX90 as a Landscape photography camera
58
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (650 per charge)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
36
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
lack of manual mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging features
Panasonic FX90 Vlogging features
9
can't shoot video
33
really wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone port
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FX90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FX90
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-08-20 2011-08-26
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 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.5-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.90 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lb) 149 gr (0.33 lb)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 102 x 56 x 22mm (4.0" 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 200 pictures
Form of battery 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 1 1
Pricing at launch $400 $227