Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic TS1

Following is a extended analysis of the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic TS1, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the TS1 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and TS1 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-520 was manufactured 5 months before the TS1 so they are of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic TS1 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-520 scores versus the TS1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-520 Gallery and Panasonic TS1 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 enjoys outside dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Panasonic TS1 has proportions of 98mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 0.9") and a weight of 189 grams (0.42 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic TS1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-520 against the TS1.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and TS1 is 68 and 93 respectively.

Typically, it can be difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes merely by going through specifications. The picture here will give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and TS1.

To sum up, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-520 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic TS1 will produce greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots far more aggressively.