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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic TS5

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic TS5 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
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic TS5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 110 x 67 x 29mm
  • Revealed July 2013
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FT5
  • Old Model is Panasonic TS4
  • Replacement is Panasonic TS6
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic TS5 Overview

Following is a thorough comparison of the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic TS5, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Waterproof by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and TS5 (16MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and TS5 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-520 was brought out 5 years prior to the TS5 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic TS5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-520 scores versus the TS5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic TS5

 E-520 TS5 
Manual focus More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS5 over the Olympus E-520

 TS5 E-520 
RevealedJuly 2013August 2008More modern by 59 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic TS5

 E-520 TS5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic TS5 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 comes with external 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 TS5 has proportions of 110mm x 67mm x 29mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic TS5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the E-520 and the TS5.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic TS5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and TS5 is 68 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic TS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic TS5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes purely by going through a spec sheet. The picture below will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and TS5.

Clearly, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-520 because of its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic TS5 will produce extra detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic TS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic TS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic TS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic TS5 Portrait photography highlights
59
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
32
good megapixels (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography highlights
Panasonic TS5 Street photography highlights
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
61
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proofing
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography information
Panasonic TS5 Sports photography information
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
better than average battery power (650 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
47
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
better than average battery life (370 per charge)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300 seconds)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography information
Panasonic TS5 Travel photography information
52
better than average battery power (650 per charge)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
72
better than average battery life (370 shots)
weather proofing
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Panasonic TS5
58
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (650 per charge)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
52
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
weather proofing
better than average battery life (370 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-520
Vlogging with Panasonic TS5
9
lack of video recording
32
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic TS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic TS5
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FT5
Type Entry-Level DSLR Waterproof
Revealed 2008-08-20 2013-07-12
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-128mm (4.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1300s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lb) 214 gr (0.47 lb)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 110 x 67 x 29mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1")
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 shots 370 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - DMW-BCM13
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
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $400 $350