Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX100

The following is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-520 versus Sony RX100, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and RX100 (20MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and RX100 (1") offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-520 was launched 5 years earlier than the RX100 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-520 grades vs the RX100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-520 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-520 Gallery & Sony RX100 Gallery.

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 comes with exterior dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Sony RX100 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-520 versus Sony RX100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-520 versus the RX100.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and RX100 is 68 and 91 respectively.

More often than not, it's tough to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions purely by seeing specs. The image below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and RX100.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-520 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony RX100 will provide greater detail utilizing its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.