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Olympus E-520 vs Sony WX1

Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
45
Overall
44
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 front
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
18
Overall
27

Olympus E-520 vs Sony WX1 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
  • Superseded the Olympus E-510
Sony WX1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 91 x 52 x 20mm
  • Announced August 2009
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony WX1 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-520 versus Sony WX1, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the WX1 (10MP) is fairly well matched but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and WX1 (1/2.4") possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-520 was launched 11 months prior to the WX1 and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony WX1 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-520 matches up versus the WX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony WX1

 E-520 WX1 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX1 over the Olympus E-520

 WX1 E-520 
AnnouncedAugust 2009August 2008Fresher by 11 months

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony WX1

 E-520 WX1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display size
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-520 vs Sony WX1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 features exterior 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 WX1 has sizing of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") having a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-520 versus Sony WX1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the E-520 vs the WX1.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony WX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and WX1 is 68 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony WX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony WX1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizing only by checking specifications. The photograph below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and WX1.

Plainly, both the cameras offer the same exact resolution but not the same sensor sizing. The E-520 includes the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler. The older E-520 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony WX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony WX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony WX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography highlights
Sony WX1 Portrait photography highlights
58
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
19
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX1 as a Street photography camera
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
heavier than others (149g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Sony WX1
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
better than average battery life (650 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography information
Sony WX1 Travel photography information
52
better than average battery life (650 CIPA)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
56
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (149g)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography advice
Sony WX1 Landscape photography advice
57
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (650 shots)
small screen (2.7")
sensor resolution low (10MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
31
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging highlights
Sony WX1 Vlogging highlights
9
no video shooting
28
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
does not have selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic jack
heavier than others (149 grams)
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony WX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony WX1
 Olympus E-520Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-520 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
Class Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2008-08-20 2009-08-06
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.4-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552g (1.22 lbs) 149g (0.33 lbs)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 91 x 52 x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $400 $149