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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS5 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
  • Revealed August 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ8
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS5, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the ZS5 (12MP) is very well matched but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and ZS5 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-520 was revealed 22 months earlier than the ZS5 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-520 matches up vs the ZS5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Panasonic ZS5

 E-520 ZS5 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Olympus E-520

 ZS5 E-520 
IntroducedJune 2010August 2008Fresher by 22 months

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS5

 E-520 ZS5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display measurement
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 comes with outside dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS5 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the E-520 vs the ZS5.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and ZS5 is 68 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing merely by reading through a spec sheet. The visual here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and ZS5.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-520 having a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS5 will give you more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos much more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS5
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
MP count low (10 megapixels)
27
supports face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Street photography camera
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (214 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography information
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good battery pack (650 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10MP)
31
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
low fps (2.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography factors
52
good battery pack (650 per charge)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
63
lighter than average (214g)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
missing Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography factors
58
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (650 shots)
tiny screen (2.7")
MP count low (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
33
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging features
9
lack of video recording
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than average (214g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic socket
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Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic ZS5
 Olympus E-520Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-520 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2008-08-20 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lb) 214 grams (0.47 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $400 $300