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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS10

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 front
Portability
91
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS10 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 ZS10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 219g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced January 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ20 / Lumix DMC-TZ22
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS10 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic ZS10, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and ZS10 (14MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and ZS10 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The E-520 was revealed 3 years earlier than the ZS10 which 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 ZS10 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-520 matches up against the ZS10 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic ZS10

 E-520 ZS10 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS10 over the Olympus E-520

 ZS10 E-520 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011August 2008Newer by 29 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS10

 E-520 ZS10 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS10 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-520 offers external dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS10 has measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 219 grams (0.48 lbs).

See the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic ZS10 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the E-520 and the ZS10.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS10 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and ZS10 is 68 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS10 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions purely by going over a spec sheet. The picture underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and ZS10.

Clearly, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-520 with its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic ZS10 will deliver greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged E-520 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS10 Portrait photography highlights
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
30
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS10 Street photography factors
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has focus via touch
lighter than average in class (219 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS10 Sports photography highlights
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good battery (650 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
includes tracking focus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-520
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS10
52
good battery (650 per charge)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
lighter than average in class (219 grams)
has focus via touch
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (260 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS10 Landscape photography details
58
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
good battery (650 shots)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
42
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
not so great battery life (260 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS10 Vlogging advice
9
lack of video recording
34
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (219 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone support
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS10
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-TZ20 / Lumix DMC-TZ22
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2008-08-20 2011-01-25
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
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 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lb) 219 gr (0.48 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 images 260 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $400 $350