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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF1

Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
45
Overall
44
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF1 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
  • Released August 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-510
Panasonic GF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 119 x 71 x 36mm
  • Revealed October 2009
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF2
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF1 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF1, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the GF1 (12MP) is fairly well matched and they come with the same exact sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was launched 14 months prior to the GF1 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic GF1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-520 matches up versus the GF1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic GF1

 E-520 GF1 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Olympus E-520

 GF1 E-520 
RevealedOctober 2009August 2008Newer by 14 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic GF1

 E-520 GF1 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF1 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 features outside measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Panasonic GF1 has sizing of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") having a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the E-520 versus the GF1.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and GF1 is 68 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading through specs. The pic underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and GF1.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Panasonic GF1 to resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The more aged E-520 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic GF1 Portrait photography advice
58
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-520
Street photography with Panasonic GF1
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
64
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Panasonic GF1
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery pack (650 shots)
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second low (4.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10MP)
44
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery pack (380 per charge)
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GF1 as a Travel photography camera
52
good battery pack (650 shots)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
59
great battery pack (380 per charge)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low MP (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GF1 as a Landscape photography camera
57
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (650 per charge)
tiny screen (2.7")
MP count low (10MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (380 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging details
Panasonic GF1 Vlogging details
9
lack of video recording
25
supports face detection autofocus
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic GF1
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2008-08-20 2009-10-14
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - AVCHD Lite
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552g (1.22 pounds) 385g (0.85 pounds)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 54
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.3
DXO Low light rating 548 513
Other
Battery life 650 photos 380 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/MMC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $400 $400