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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
45
Overall
44
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S3 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 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
  • Launched January 2011
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S3, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and S3 (14MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was brought out 3 years earlier than the S3 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-520 matches up vs the S3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic S3

 E-520 S3 
Focus manually More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Olympus E-520

 S3 E-520 
LaunchedJanuary 2011August 2008Fresher by 28 months

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic S3

 E-520 S3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-520 comes with external dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S3 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-520 and the S3.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and S3 is 68 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to see the difference between sensor sizing purely by checking technical specs. The graphic underneath might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and S3.

As you can tell, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-520 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic S3 will give extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images much more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography details
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography details
58
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
28
good MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography features
Panasonic S3 Street photography features
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography advice
Panasonic S3 Sports photography advice
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
better than average battery life (650 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography factors
Panasonic S3 Travel photography factors
52
better than average battery life (650 shots)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than average (117g)
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography advice
57
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (650 shots)
small screen (2.7")
low megapixels (10MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
38
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-520
Vlogging with Panasonic S3
9
can't shoot video
31
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone port
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic S3
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2008-08-20 2011-01-05
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lbs) 117 gr (0.26 lbs)
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 All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 pictures 250 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $400 $110