Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FZ80

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FZ80, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and FZ80 (18MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and FZ80 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-520 was announced 9 years prior to the FZ80 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FZ80 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-520 scores versus the FZ80 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-520 Gallery and Panasonic FZ80 Gallery.

When you are intending to carry your camera, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 enjoys external dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ80 has dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") along with a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FZ80 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-520 vs the FZ80.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and FZ80 is 68 and 63 respectively.

Generally, it is tough to envision the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and FZ80.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-520 using its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic FZ80 will offer greater detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.