Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX20V

Following is a complete review of the Olympus E-520 and Sony HX20V, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and HX20V (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

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The E-520 was announced 4 years before the HX20V which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-520 grades versus the HX20V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-520 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-520 Gallery and Sony HX20V Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 enjoys outer 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) while the Sony HX20V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-520 and Sony HX20V in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-520 compared to the HX20V.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and HX20V is 68 and 90 respectively.

Typically, it can be difficult to imagine the gap in sensor sizes purely by going through technical specs. The image below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and HX20V.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-520 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony HX20V will produce extra detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.