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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S1

Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
45
Overall
44
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S1 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
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S1 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic S1, 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 S1 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") come with different sensor size.

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The E-520 was launched 3 years earlier than the S1 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic S1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-520 matches up versus the S1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic S1

 E-520 S1 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Olympus E-520

 S1 E-520 
RevealedJanuary 2011August 2008More recent by 28 months

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic S1

 E-520 S1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display size
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-520 enjoys exterior 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 S1 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic S1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-520 and the S1.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and S1 is 68 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements simply by checking specs. The graphic underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and S1.

All in all, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-520 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Panasonic S1 will give more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic S1 as a Portrait photography camera
58
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
low resolution (10MP)
21
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography details
Panasonic S1 Street photography details
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (117g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography features
Panasonic S1 Sports photography features
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good battery power (650 per charge)
has phase detect auto focus
max fps low (4.0 fps)
low resolution (10MP)
27
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography advice
Panasonic S1 Travel photography advice
52
good battery power (650 shots)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
low resolution (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
62
lighter than others in class (117g)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography features
Panasonic S1 Landscape photography features
57
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (650 shots)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low resolution (10MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
32
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic S1 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
31
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (117g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic S1
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-08-20 2011-01-05
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552g (1.22 lb) 117g (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 photos 240 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $400 $269