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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A100

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
38
Overall
44

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A100 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Announced July 2006
  • Old Model is Konica Minolta 5D
  • Successor is Sony A550
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A100 Overview

Following is a complete assessment of the Olympus E-520 and Sony A100, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the A100 (10MP) is very comparable but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and A100 (APS-C) use different sensor measurements.

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The E-520 was released 2 years after the A100 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a short view of how the E-520 grades versus the A100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony A100

 E-520 A100 
AnnouncedAugust 2008July 2006More modern by 26 months
Display dimension2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Olympus E-520

 A100 E-520 

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony A100

 E-520 A100 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A100 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-520 offers physical dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Sony A100 has measurements of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") and a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-520 and Sony A100 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-520 versus the A100.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A100 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and A100 is 68 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A100 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizes only by seeing a spec sheet. The pic below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and A100.

Clearly, both cameras posses the exact same megapixel count but different sensor sizes. The E-520 uses the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallow depth of field tougher. The younger E-520 should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography information
Sony A100 Portrait photography information
59
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
53
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography information
Sony A100 Street photography information
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography details
Sony A100 Sports photography details
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery (650 CIPA)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (4.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10MP)
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography highlights
Sony A100 Travel photography highlights
52
good battery (650 CIPA)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
45
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A100 as a Landscape photography camera
58
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
good battery (650 per charge)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
MP count low (10MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
53
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging factors
Sony A100 Vlogging factors
9
lack of video recording
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony A100
 Olympus E-520Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-520 Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2008-08-20 2006-07-31
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 45 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.5 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.55x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lbs) 638 gr (1.41 lbs)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 61
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 22.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 11.2
DXO Low light score 548 476
Other
Battery life 650 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - NP-FM55H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $400 $1,000