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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF5 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
  • Revealed August 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-510
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GF6
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

The following is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic GF5, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the GF5 (12MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras have the identical sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-520 was released 4 years before the GF5 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-520 matches up against the GF5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic GF5

 E-520 GF5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus E-520

 GF5 E-520 
RevealedApril 2012August 2008Newer by 44 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic GF5

 E-520 GF5 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 offers physical measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Panasonic GF5 has dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic GF5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-520 compared to the GF5.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and GF5 is 68 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to see the difference between sensor dimensions just by checking technical specs. The pic below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and GF5.

As you have seen, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Panasonic GF5 to resolve extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged E-520 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF5
59
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
55
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
MP count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Street photography camera
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes focus by touch
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GF5 Sports photography highlights
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great battery life (650 shots)
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10MP)
40
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max fps very slow (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Travel photography camera
52
great battery life (650 CIPA)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
includes focus by touch
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
58
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (650 per charge)
small screen (2.7")
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
59
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging features
Panasonic GF5 Vlogging features
9
lack of video recording
32
has touchscreen
includes face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
does not have mic support
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2008-08-20 2012-04-05
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor 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
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lb) 267 grams (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 50
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 20.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.0
DXO Low light rating 548 573
Other
Battery life 650 images 360 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $400 $600