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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A390

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A390 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
  • Launched August 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-510
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Announced July 2010
  • Previous Model is Sony A380
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A390 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-520 and Sony A390, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and A390 (14MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and A390 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-520 was released 23 months prior to the A390 which makes them a generation away from one another. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-520 grades versus the A390 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony A390

 E-520 A390 

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Olympus E-520

 A390 E-520 
AnnouncedJuly 2010August 2008Newer by 23 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony A390

 E-520 A390 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen size
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 features exterior dimensions 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 A390 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Olympus E-520 and Sony A390 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-520 versus the A390.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and A390 is 68 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions simply by going through specs. The picture below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and A390.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-520 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A390 will provide extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Sony A390
59
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
exports RAW files
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
72
you can focus manually
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography features
Sony A390 Street photography features
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
76
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A390 as a Sports photography camera
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good battery power (650 CIPA)
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
60
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
not so great battery (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A390 as a Travel photography camera
52
good battery power (650 shots)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
53
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (230 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography info
Sony A390 Landscape photography info
58
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
good battery power (650 per charge)
small screen (2.7")
resolution not great (10MP)
no Time Lapse function
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
not so great battery (230 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A390 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
9
no video recording
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony A390
 Olympus E-520Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-520 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2008-08-20 2010-07-28
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
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 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
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) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 pounds) 549 grams (1.21 pounds)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 66
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.5
DXO Low light rating 548 607
Other
Battery life 650 shots 230 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FH50
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, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $400 $500