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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A99

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
70
Features
88
Overall
77

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A99 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
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-510
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Announced December 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A900
  • Later Model is Sony A99 II
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A99 Overview

Lets look closer at the Olympus E-520 and Sony A99, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and A99 (24MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and A99 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was announced 5 years prior to the A99 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short view of how the E-520 scores versus the A99 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Sony A99

 E-520 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Olympus E-520

 A99 E-520 
AnnouncedDecember 2012August 2008More recent by 52 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Sony A99

 E-520 A99 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 features physical measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Sony A99 has specifications of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") and a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-520 and Sony A99 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-520 against the A99.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and A99 is 68 and 57 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by checking out a spec sheet. The visual here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and A99.

Clearly, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-520 having a smaller sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Sony A99 will show extra detail with its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older E-520 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography information
Sony A99 Portrait photography information
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
82
focusing manually
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography factors
Sony A99 Street photography factors
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no moving screen
75
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography information
Sony A99 Sports photography information
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good battery power (650 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has tracking focus
environment proof
has phase detect auto focus
low battery life (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-520
Travel photography with Sony A99
52
good battery power (650 CIPA)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
60
environment proof
decent MP (24 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery life (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography advice
Sony A99 Landscape photography advice
58
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (650 per charge)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
missing Time Lapse function
75
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
has dual storage slots
low battery life (500 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A99 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video shooting
76
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic jack
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Olympus E-520 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Sony A99
 Olympus E-520Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-520 Sony SLT-A99
Class Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2008-08-20 2012-12-12
Body design Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 3 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lb) 812 gr (1.79 lb)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 89
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 14.0
DXO Low light score 548 1555
Other
Battery life 650 photographs 500 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots Single Dual
Cost at release $400 $1,998