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Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX100

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX100 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
  • Released August 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-510
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Renewed by Sony RX100 II
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX100 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony RX100

 E-520 RX100 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Olympus E-520

 RX100 E-520 
IntroducedAugust 2012August 2008Newer by 48 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony RX100

 E-520 RX100 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

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

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX100 Portrait photography highlights
59
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
64
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography features
Sony RX100 Street photography features
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
79
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than others (240 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography factors
Sony RX100 Sports photography factors
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great battery life (650 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
65
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
has tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Travel photography camera
52
great battery life (650 per charge)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
79
lighter than others (240g)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Sony RX100
58
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (650 CIPA)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
74
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
38
rather wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (240g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone port
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony RX100
 Olympus E-520Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-520 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Type Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Released 2008-08-20 2012-08-28
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lbs) 240 gr (0.53 lbs)
Physical 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 All around score 55 66
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 12.4
DXO Low light score 548 390
Other
Battery life 650 shots 330 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $400 $448