Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic GX85

Here is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic GX85, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and GX85 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-520 was brought out 8 years prior to the GX85 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic GX85 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-520 grades vs the GX85 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-520 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85. The entire galleries are available at Olympus E-520 Gallery & Panasonic GX85 Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 has external measurements 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 GX85 has dimensions of 122mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic GX85 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-520 against the GX85.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and GX85 is 68 and 83 respectively.

Typically, it can be hard to envision the difference between sensor sizing just by reading through technical specs. The visual here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and GX85.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Panasonic GX85 to give you greater detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind in sensor technology.