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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A330

Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
45
Overall
44
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 front
Portability
67
Imaging
50
Features
50
Overall
50

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A330 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
  • Announced August 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-510
Sony A330
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 529g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched May 2009
  • Replaced the Sony A300
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A330 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-520 and Sony A330, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the A330 (10MP) is fairly close but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and A330 (APS-C) have totally different sensor size.

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The E-520 was unveiled 9 months prior to the A330 and they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-520 matches up vs the A330 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony A330

 E-520 A330 

Reasons to pick Sony A330 over the Olympus E-520

 A330 E-520 
LaunchedMay 2009August 2008More modern by 9 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony A330

 E-520 A330 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display size2.7"2.7"Same display size
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A330 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 features physical measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Sony A330 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 529 grams (1.17 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-520 and Sony A330 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-520 versus the A330.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A330 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and A330 is 68 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A330 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A330 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes only by researching technical specs. The picture here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and A330.

As you can tell, both of those cameras feature the identical resolution but not the same sensor sizes. The E-520 has got the smaller sensor which is going to make achieving shallower depth of field tougher. The more aged E-520 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A330 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A330 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A330 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography advice
Sony A330 Portrait photography advice
58
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
low MP (10 megapixels)
62
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-520
Street photography with Sony A330
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
75
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A330 as a Sports photography camera
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
better than average battery (650 per charge)
supports phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
low MP (10MP)
50
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (10MP)
low battery (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography highlights
Sony A330 Travel photography highlights
52
better than average battery (650 per charge)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
low MP (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
44
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
low battery (230 per charge)
resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A330 as a Landscape photography camera
57
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (650 per charge)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low MP (10MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
54
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
resolution not great (10MP)
low battery (230 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging features
Sony A330 Vlogging features
9
lack of video recording
9
can't record video
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A330 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony A330
 Olympus E-520Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-520 Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2008-08-20 2009-05-18
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 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
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lb) 529 gr (1.17 lb)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 64
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 22.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 11.5
DXO Low light score 548 535
Other
Battery life 650 shots 230 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
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, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $400 $545