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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A500

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A500 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
  • Announced August 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-510
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Successor is Sony A560
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A500 Overview

Following is a complete overview of the Olympus E-520 versus Sony A500, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very close but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and A500 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-520 was launched 12 months prior to the A500 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-520 scores versus the A500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony A500

 E-520 A500 

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus E-520

 A500 E-520 
LaunchedAugust 2009August 2008More modern by 12 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony A500

 E-520 A500 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 offers external measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Sony A500 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-520 versus Sony A500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-520 versus the A500.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and A500 is 68 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching technical specs. The pic here might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and A500.

As you can tell, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-520 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Sony A500 will render more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
59
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
low MP (10 megapixels)
63
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-520
Street photography with Sony A500
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography highlights
Sony A500 Sports photography highlights
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great battery power (650 per charge)
has phase detect AF
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
low MP (10MP)
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery power (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography factors
Sony A500 Travel photography factors
52
great battery power (650 shots)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
43
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (520 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Sony A500
58
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
great battery power (650 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7")
low MP (10MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
60
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (520 shots)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging features
Sony A500 Vlogging features
9
lack of video recording
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony A500
 Olympus E-520Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-520 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2008-08-20 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lbs) 630 gr (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 64
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.6
DXO Low light rating 548 772
Other
Battery life 650 photos 520 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $400 $638