Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic LX3

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic LX3, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the LX3 (10MP) is fairly close but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and LX3 (1/1.63") use different sensor measurements.

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The E-520 was released 2 months prior to the LX3 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic LX3 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-520 matches up versus the LX3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-520 Gallery and Panasonic LX3 Gallery.

When you are going to lug around your camera often, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 features outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Panasonic LX3 has sizing of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs).

See the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic LX3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-520 compared to the LX3.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and LX3 is 68 and 91 respectively.

Usually, it is very hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and LX3.

As you can see, both of the cameras posses the exact same resolution but different sensor measurements. The E-520 has got the larger sensor which will make getting shallower DOF easier.