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Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX7V

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX7V 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-510
Sony HX7V
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 208g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched July 2011
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX7V Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX7V, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and HX7V (16MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and HX7V (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor size.

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The E-520 was released 3 years prior to the HX7V and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX7V being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-520 scores vs the HX7V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony HX7V

 E-520 HX7V 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Sony HX7V over the Olympus E-520

 HX7V E-520 
LaunchedJuly 2011August 2008Fresher by 35 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony HX7V

 E-520 HX7V 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX7V Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 provides physical dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Sony HX7V has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX7V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-520 versus the HX7V.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX7V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and HX7V is 68 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX7V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX7V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to envision the difference between sensor sizing purely by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and HX7V.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-520 because of its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Sony HX7V will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos way more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX7V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX7V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX7V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography details
Sony HX7V Portrait photography details
59
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
30
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography information
Sony HX7V Street photography information
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX7V as a Sports photography camera
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery life (650 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography advice
Sony HX7V Travel photography advice
52
good battery life (650 per charge)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
67
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Sony HX7V
58
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (650 per charge)
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
42
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-520
Vlogging with Sony HX7V
9
can't record video
32
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX7V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony HX7V
 Olympus E-520Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-520 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-08-20 2011-07-19
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - XtraFine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.80 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, 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 - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552g (1.22 pounds) 208g (0.46 pounds)
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 -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $400 $499