Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX1

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.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-520 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-520 Gallery & Sony RX1 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.