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Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX1

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX1 Key Specs

Olympus E-520
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Launched February 2013
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and RX1 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-520 was announced 5 years before the RX1 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-520 grades vs the RX1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony RX1

 E-520 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Olympus E-520

 RX1 E-520 
LaunchedFebruary 2013August 2008Fresher by 54 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kClearer screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony RX1

 E-520 RX1 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 features physical dimensions 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 RX1 has dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") along with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-520 vs the RX1.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and RX1 is 68 and 79 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to see the difference between sensor sizing only by looking at specifications. The graphic underneath should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and RX1.

To sum up, each of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-520 with its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh trickier and the Sony RX1 will resolve greater detail with its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Portrait photography camera
59
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
82
manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/4,000 seconds)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography features
Sony RX1 Street photography features
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
66
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
great ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (482g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Sony RX1
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
better than average battery life (650 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
53
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
can't change focal length (35mm)
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (270 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography information
Sony RX1 Travel photography information
52
better than average battery life (650 shots)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
62
good MP (24MP)
flash built-in
great max aperture (f2.0)
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (270 CIPA)
more heavy than competition (482 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Sony RX1
58
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (650 shots)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
no Timelapse recording
65
manual focus
great max aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (270 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging advice
Sony RX1 Vlogging advice
9
lack of video recording
34
great max aperture (f2.0)
comes with face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone support
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (482g)
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony RX1
 Olympus E-520Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-520 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Class Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-08-20 2013-02-19
Physical type Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/4000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lbs) 482 gr (1.06 lbs)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 93
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 25.1
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 14.3
DXO Low light score 548 2534
Other
Battery life 650 images 270 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $400 $2,798