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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS100

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
Portability
87
Imaging
53
Features
65
Overall
57

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS100 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
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Announced January 2016
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS200
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS100 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS100, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and ZS100 (20MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and ZS100 (1") provide different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was announced 8 years earlier than the ZS100 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-520 grades versus the ZS100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic ZS100

 E-520 ZS100 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Olympus E-520

 ZS100 E-520 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016August 2008Newer by 89 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS100

 E-520 ZS100 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS100 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 enjoys outer 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 ZS100 has dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-520 vs the ZS100.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS100 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and ZS100 is 68 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS100 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The image below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and ZS100.

Clearly, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-520 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic ZS100 will deliver extra detail with its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-520 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS100
59
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
65
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS100 Street photography info
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
78
image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
features touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (312 grams)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS100 Sports photography advice
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great battery (650 shots)
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
68
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
includes tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS100 Travel photography info
52
great battery (650 shots)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
75
lighter than competitors in class (312g)
features touch to focus
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS100 as a Landscape photography camera
58
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
great battery (650 shots)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
68
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS100 as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
36
decently wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (312g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS100
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ100
Category Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-08-20 2016-01-05
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS MOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 49
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.46x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 9.9 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 8.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 @ 60p/60i/30p/24p, 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 552g (1.22 pounds) 312g (0.69 pounds)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 111 x 65 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 70
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.5
DXO Low light rating 548 559
Other
Battery life 650 photos 300 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $400 $700