• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 10.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 18.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400

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Differences

Olympus E-520 advantages over Canon 7D

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Wider angle kit lens
    28 mm vs 45 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Canon 7D advantages over Olympus E-520

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Fast startup
    ~0.40 vs 1.4 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Higher effective ISO
    854 vs 548 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    11.7 vs 10.4 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 800 vs 650 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    216 mm vs 84 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • More cross-type AF points
    19 vs 1
    Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
  • Pentaprism viewfinder
    Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
    Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
  • HDMI out
    HDMI out vs None
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    922k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.63x vs 0.46x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    18.0 vs 10.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • More AF points
    19 vs 3
    More AF points improve autofocus
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    8.0 fps vs 3.5 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    22 vs 12 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    12800 vs 1600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

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Review Excerpt

  • Excellent 18-megapixel sensor with impressively low noise and superb detail; Very good high ISO performance, especially for 18-megapixel subframe sensor; Rugged construction with magnesium body and weather sealing; Fast autofocus and fast burst rate of 8 fps; Full HD (1920x1080) movies at 30/25/24p, 60/50p at 1280x720.

  • No dedicated AF-assist lamp (flash is used), and AF-assist adjustment is buried in the Flash Settings menu; Kit lens (28-135mm) isn't quite up to the resolving power of the 18-megapixel sensor, odd focal length for subframe DSLR; No continuous autofocus in Movie mode.

The Competition

Compared to Canon 7D Mark II

Olympus E-520
Canon 7D Mark II
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Bigger pixels
  • $1597
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
Canon 7D
Canon 7D Mark II
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Less shutter lag
  • $1597
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Built-in GPS

Compared to Olympus E-420

Olympus E-520
Olympus E-420
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $400
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
Canon 7D
Olympus E-420
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
  • $400
  • 4/3
  • Thinner
  • Wider angle kit lens

Compared to Olympus E-620

Olympus E-520
Olympus E-620
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Less shutter lag
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • Tiltable Screen
  • More cross-type AF points
Canon 7D
Olympus E-620
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen

Compared to Olympus E-600

Olympus E-520
Olympus E-600
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $600
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Tiltable Screen
Canon 7D
Olympus E-600
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
  • $600
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen

Compared to Canon 60D

Olympus E-520
Canon 60D
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Less shutter lag
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
Canon 7D
Canon 60D
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • More cross-type AF points
  • Less shutter lag
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
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