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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS15 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS15, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is very similar but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The E-520 was released 4 years prior to the ZS15 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-520 grades versus the ZS15 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-520 ZS15 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-520

 ZS15 E-520 
LaunchedJune 2012August 2008More recent by 46 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS15

 E-520 ZS15 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 has got outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS15 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS15 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-520 compared to the ZS15.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and ZS15 is 68 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and ZS15.

Clearly, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-520 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic ZS15 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a little more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS15
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (10 megapixels)
21
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography details
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (208 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography information
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great battery (650 per charge)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow fps (4.0 fps)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
36
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (260 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography factors
52
great battery (650 per charge)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
MP count low (10MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
61
lighter than others in class (208g)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery (260 shots)
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography factors
58
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
great battery (650 shots)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
37
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
low battery (260 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
33
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (208 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic support
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2008-08-20 2012-06-29
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lbs) 208 grams (0.46 lbs)
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 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 images 260 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $400 $279