• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 10.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 24.6 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 3200

Buy From

Differences

Olympus E-520 advantages over Sony A850

  • Less expensive
    $700 vs $2000 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Lighter weight
    550g vs 850g
    Lighter weight
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    3.5 fps vs 3.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Sony A850 advantages over Olympus E-520

  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.94 vs 4.74 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.50 vs 1.4 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Better color depth
    23.8 vs 21.4 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,415 vs 548 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    12.2 vs 10.4 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 880 vs 650 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Pentaprism viewfinder
    Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
    Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
  • HDMI out
    HDMI out vs None
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • More dots on screen
    922k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.74x vs 0.46x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    24.6 vs 10.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • More AF points
    9 vs 3
    More AF points improve autofocus
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    23 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
    6400 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
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • 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
  • 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
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Your purchases support this site

Review Excerpt

The Competition

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
Sony A850
Olympus E-420
  • $2219
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $400
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Internal flash

Compared to Sony A900

Olympus E-520
Sony A900
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Internal flash
  • $3000
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
Sony A850
Sony A900
  • $2219
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • $3000
  • 35mm
  • Faster JPEG shooting

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
Sony A850
Olympus E-620
  • $2219
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $800
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • 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
Sony A850
Olympus E-600
  • $2219
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $600
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Tiltable Screen

Compared to Canon 5D Mark III

Olympus E-520
Canon 5D Mark III
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Internal flash
  • $2079
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
Sony A850
Canon 5D Mark III
  • $2219
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $2079
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Higher effective ISO
Compare Other Cameras?