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Olympus E-520 vs Sony G3

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-520 vs Sony G3 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
  • Released August 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-510
Sony G3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-10.0) lens
  • 185g - 97 x 59 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony G3 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-520 vs Sony G3, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the G3 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and G3 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was brought out 4 months earlier than the G3 and they are of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony G3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-520 grades vs the G3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony G3

 E-520 G3 

Reasons to pick Sony G3 over the Olympus E-520

 G3 E-520 
Screen dimension3.5"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.8")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony G3

 E-520 G3 
AnnouncedAugust 2008January 2009Same generation
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-520 vs Sony G3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 comes with external 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) and the Sony G3 has proportions of 97mm x 59mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") having a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs).

See the Olympus E-520 vs Sony G3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-520 versus the G3.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony G3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and G3 is 68 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony G3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony G3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions just by seeing technical specs. The image below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and G3.

As you have seen, both of those cameras posses the exact same MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-520 uses the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallow DOF easier.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony G3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography details
Sony G3 Portrait photography details
59
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
resolution not great (10MP)
26
has manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography information
Sony G3 Street photography information
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography highlights
Sony G3 Sports photography highlights
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
better than average battery (650 shots)
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
23
has image stabilization (Optical)
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography details
Sony G3 Travel photography details
52
better than average battery (650 CIPA)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
50
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
megapixel count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography features
Sony G3 Landscape photography features
58
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
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")
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
36
has manual focus
lovely big screen (3.5 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging highlights
Sony G3 Vlogging highlights
9
no video recording
27
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony G3
 Olympus E-520Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-520 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2008-08-20 2009-01-08
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-10.0
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 3.5"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 1 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 640x480
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lbs) 185 gr (0.41 lbs)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 97 x 59 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $400 $200