Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FZ200

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FZ200, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the FZ200 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and FZ200 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-520 was revealed 4 years earlier than the FZ200 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FZ200 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-520 matches up vs the FZ200 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-520 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-520 Gallery & Panasonic FZ200 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 enjoys outside dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ200 has dimensions of 125mm x 87mm x 110mm (4.9" x 3.4" x 4.3") along with a weight of 588 grams (1.30 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FZ200 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. Below is the front view scale comparison of the E-520 against the FZ200.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and FZ200 is 68 and 65 respectively.

Normally, its tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes simply by researching technical specs. The pic underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and FZ200.

As you have seen, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-520 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic FZ200 will render more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.