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Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX300

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
51
Overall
47

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX300 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
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-510
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Introduced February 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony HX200V
  • Replacement is Sony HX400V
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX300 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-520 versus Sony HX300, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and HX300 (20MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and HX300 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

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The E-520 was revealed 5 years before the HX300 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-520 scores against the HX300 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony HX300

 E-520 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Olympus E-520

 HX300 E-520 
IntroducedFebruary 2013August 2008Newer by 54 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony HX300

 E-520 HX300 
Manually focus More exact focus
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 has got exterior 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 HX300 has sizing of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

See the Olympus E-520 versus Sony HX300 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-520 vs the HX300.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and HX300 is 68 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to see the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by looking at specifications. The image underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and HX300.

Plainly, both of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-520 using its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony HX300 will give you extra detail because of its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos more aggressively. The more aged E-520 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Sony HX300
59
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
43
you can focus manually
decent MP (20 megapixels)
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography factors
Sony HX300 Street photography factors
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
50
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than competition (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography advice
Sony HX300 Sports photography advice
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
better than average battery life (650 per charge)
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10MP)
55
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography info
Sony HX300 Travel photography info
52
better than average battery life (650 CIPA)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
54
decent MP (20MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (623 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Sony HX300
58
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (650 shots)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (10MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
49
you can focus manually
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging factors
Sony HX300 Vlogging factors
9
no video shooting
25
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than competition (623g)
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony HX300
 Olympus E-520Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-520 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2008-08-20 2013-02-20
Physical type Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lb) 623 grams (1.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card -
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $400 $339