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Olympus E-520 vs Sony TX1

Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
45
Overall
44
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
21
Overall
28

Olympus E-520 vs Sony TX1 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
  • Announced August 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Sony TX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 58 x 17mm
  • Announced August 2009
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony TX1 Overview

In this article, we will be matching up the Olympus E-520 and Sony TX1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the TX1 (10MP) is relatively comparable but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and TX1 (1/2.4") come with totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-520 was unveiled 11 months before the TX1 so they are both of a similar age. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony TX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-520 scores vs the TX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony TX1

 E-520 TX1 
Manual focus More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Sony TX1 over the Olympus E-520

 TX1 E-520 
AnnouncedAugust 2009August 2008Fresher by 11 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony TX1

 E-520 TX1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-520 vs Sony TX1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 enjoys outside dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Sony TX1 has proportions of 94mm x 58mm x 17mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

See the Olympus E-520 and Sony TX1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-520 vs the TX1.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony TX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and TX1 is 68 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony TX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony TX1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing only by going through a spec sheet. The photograph here should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and TX1.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-520 features the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving bokeh simpler. The older E-520 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony TX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony TX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony TX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Sony TX1
58
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
19
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Sony TX1 as a Street photography camera
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography info
Sony TX1 Sports photography info
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great battery (650 per charge)
has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,250s)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Travel photography camera
Sony TX1 as a Travel photography camera
52
great battery (650 CIPA)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Sony TX1
57
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
great battery (650 CIPA)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
31
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging factors
Sony TX1 Vlogging factors
9
no video
28
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony TX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony TX1
 Olympus E-520Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-520 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1
Class Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2008-08-20 2009-08-06
Physical type Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
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 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-4.6
Macro focus distance - 8cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1250 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 lb) 142 gr (0.31 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 94 x 58 x 17mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7")
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 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $400 $350