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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

The following is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic ZS20, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and ZS20 (14MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the ZS20 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-520 grades versus the ZS20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic ZS20

 E-520 ZS20 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus E-520

 ZS20 E-520 
IntroducedApril 2012August 2008Newer by 44 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS20

 E-520 ZS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 provides outer 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 ZS20 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

See the Olympus E-520 versus Panasonic ZS20 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the E-520 and the ZS20.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and ZS20 is 68 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions only by viewing specifications. The image below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and ZS20.

To sum up, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-520 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS20 will provide you with more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
59
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
30
good MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography highlights
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has focus by touch
lighter than competitors (206g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS20
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
better than average battery pack (650 CIPA)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
low megapixels (10MP)
47
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-520
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS20
52
better than average battery pack (650 shots)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
68
lighter than competitors (206g)
has focus by touch
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery pack (260 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography details
58
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (650 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (10MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
42
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging information
9
can't record video
34
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (206g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2008-08-20 2012-04-26
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lbs) 206 gr (0.45 lbs)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots 260 shots
Form of battery 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 1 1
Cost at release $400 $349