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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic G3

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic G3 Key Specs

Olympus E-520
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Launched August 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic G3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 336g - 115 x 84 x 47mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic G2
  • Newer Model is Panasonic G5
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic G3 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic G3, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and G3 (16MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was revealed 3 years earlier than the G3 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-520 scores vs the G3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic G3

 E-520 G3 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Olympus E-520

 G3 E-520 
ReleasedJuly 2011August 2008Fresher by 35 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic G3

 E-520 G3 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic G3 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 offers physical measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Panasonic G3 has proportions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") along with a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic G3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-520 vs the G3.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic G3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and G3 is 68 and 83 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic G3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic G3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing only by looking at specifications. The visual below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and G3.

Plainly, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic G3 to give extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic G3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography information
Panasonic G3 Portrait photography information
59
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
70
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography advice
Panasonic G3 Street photography advice
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
75
screen articulates fully
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
has touch focus
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Panasonic G3
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great battery power (650 per charge)
supports phase detect AF
low frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
46
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (270 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography details
Panasonic G3 Travel photography details
52
great battery power (650 per charge)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
70
has touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (270 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic G3 Landscape photography factors
58
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (650 CIPA)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
missing Time Lapse function
62
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (270 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic G3 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
70
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic G3
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2008-08-20 2011-07-11
Body design Compact SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 160
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 11.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps))
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 552g (1.22 lbs) 336g (0.74 lbs)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 56
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 21.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 10.6
DXO Low light score 548 667
Other
Battery life 650 pictures 270 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $400 $500