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Olympus E-520 vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Olympus E-520 vs Sony NEX-F3 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
  • Old Model is Olympus E-510
Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-C3
  • Replacement is Sony NEX-3N
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-520 and Sony NEX-F3, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and NEX-F3 (16MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and NEX-F3 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-520 was manufactured 5 years prior to the NEX-F3 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-520 matches up vs the NEX-F3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony NEX-F3

 E-520 NEX-F3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Olympus E-520

 NEX-F3 E-520 
ReleasedAugust 2012August 2008More modern by 48 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony NEX-F3

 E-520 NEX-F3 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-520 vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 enjoys outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-F3 has proportions of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-520 and Sony NEX-F3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the E-520 compared to the NEX-F3.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and NEX-F3 is 68 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to envision the difference in sensor sizes simply by researching a spec sheet. The pic here should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and NEX-F3.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-520 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-F3 will render extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-F3 Portrait photography highlights
59
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (10MP)
74
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-F3 Street photography factors
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
76
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography highlights
Sony NEX-F3 Sports photography highlights
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good battery (650 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
53
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (470 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography features
Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography features
52
good battery (650 CIPA)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
69
better than average battery pack (470 per charge)
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-F3 Landscape photography details
58
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
good battery (650 per charge)
screen is small (2.7")
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
70
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (470 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-F3 Vlogging features
9
can't shoot video
27
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no microphone port
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony NEX-F3
 Olympus E-520Sony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-520 Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Class Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2008-08-20 2012-08-16
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
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 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 45 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 6.0fps
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 settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 grams (1.22 pounds) 314 grams (0.69 pounds)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 73
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 12.3
DXO Low light score 548 1114
Other
Battery life 650 photos 470 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $400 $470