Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FZ47

Here is a thorough analysis of the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FZ47, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the FZ47 (12MP) is fairly similar but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and FZ47 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-520 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the FZ47 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FZ47 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-520 scores against the FZ47 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-520 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-520 Gallery & Panasonic FZ47 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 enjoys physical dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ47 has specifications of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") along with a weight of 498 grams (1.10 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FZ47 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the E-520 against the FZ47.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and FZ47 is 68 and 68 respectively.

Often, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizing simply by going over specs. The photograph underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and FZ47.

All in all, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-520 because of its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic FZ47 will offer greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.