Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GF5

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).

Photography Glossary

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.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-520 Gallery and Panasonic GF5 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.