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Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX80

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX80 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Sony HX80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced March 2016
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX80 Overview

Following is a extensive review of the Olympus E-520 and Sony HX80, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and HX80 (18MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and HX80 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was launched 8 years before the HX80 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX80 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-520 grades versus the HX80 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony HX80

 E-520 HX80 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Sony HX80 over the Olympus E-520

 HX80 E-520 
IntroducedMarch 2016August 2008More modern by 91 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony HX80

 E-520 HX80 
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX80 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 features exterior 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) whilst the Sony HX80 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-520 and Sony HX80 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the E-520 vs the HX80.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX80 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and HX80 is 68 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX80 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizes just by checking a spec sheet. The pic underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and HX80.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-520 because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony HX80 will give more detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged E-520 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX80 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography info
Sony HX80 Portrait photography info
59
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
low MP (10MP)
39
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography features
Sony HX80 Street photography features
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
70
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (245g)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography info
Sony HX80 Sports photography info
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
better than average battery power (650 CIPA)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
low MP (10MP)
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (390 CIPA)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX80 Travel photography highlights
52
better than average battery power (650 shots)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
76
better than average battery life (390 shots)
lighter than others in class (245 grams)
decent megapixels (18MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
no Timelapse recording
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX80 Landscape photography advice
58
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (650 shots)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
49
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
better than average battery life (390 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging information
Sony HX80 Vlogging information
9
lack of video recording
75
really wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (245 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no external microphone socket
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony HX80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony HX80
 Olympus E-520Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-520 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2008-08-20 2016-03-07
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, on, slow sync, off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552g (1.22 pounds) 245g (0.54 pounds)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 390 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $400 $368