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Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX5

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX5 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
  • Launched August 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-510
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2010
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX5 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-520 and Sony HX5, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the HX5 (10MP) is very well matched but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and HX5 (1/2.4") offer totally different sensor size.

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The E-520 was manufactured 22 months prior to the HX5 making them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-520 scores against the HX5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony HX5

 E-520 HX5 
Manually focus More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Olympus E-520

 HX5 E-520 
LaunchedJune 2010August 2008Newer by 22 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony HX5

 E-520 HX5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 enjoys exterior dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Sony HX5 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Olympus E-520 and Sony HX5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-520 against the HX5.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and HX5 is 68 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading through specifications. The image below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and HX5.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have the same megapixels but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-520 has the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower depth of field less difficult. The more aged E-520 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Portrait photography camera
59
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
19
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography info
Sony HX5 Street photography info
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX5 Sports photography highlights
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
better than average battery (650 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography info
Sony HX5 Travel photography info
52
better than average battery (650 shots)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
60
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Landscape photography camera
58
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (650 per charge)
small screen (2.7")
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
37
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging details
Sony HX5 Vlogging details
9
can't shoot video
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony HX5
 Olympus E-520Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-520 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2008-08-20 2010-06-16
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lbs) 200 grams (0.44 lbs)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $400 $275