• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 10.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 35mm 855.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • Detailed specifications
  • Olympus E-520
  • Sony Alpha SLT-A99
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Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor:   Sony A99 II
A99 vs A99 II
General
Model Number: E-520 A99
Alternate Model Number(s):   SLT-A99V
Camera Format: SLR SLR
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $699.99 $2799.99
Street Price:   $1,998.00
Date Available: 2008-07-15 2012-10-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 19.4 oz (550 g)
includes batteries
29.2 oz (828 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.4 x 3.6 x 2.7 in.
(136 x 91 x 68 mm)
5.8 x 4.4 x 3.1 in.
(147 x 111 x 78 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: Live MOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:   Sony
Effective Megapixels: 10.0 24.3
Sensor Format: 4/3 35mm
Sensor size: 224.9mm2 (17.3mm x 13mm) 855.62mm2 (35.80mm x 23.90mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 4.74 microns 5.97 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 2.0x 1.0x
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Fixed
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 55 89
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 21.4 25.0
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 10.4 14.0
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 548 1,555
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 3648 x 2736 (10.0 MP, 4:3),
3200 x 2400 (7.7 MP, 4:3),
2560 x 1920 (4.9 MP, 4:3),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
1280 x 960 (1.2 MP, 4:3),
1024 x 768 (0.8 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
6000 x 4000 (24.0 MP, 3:2),
6000 x 3376 (20.3 MP, 16:9),
3936 x 2624 (10.3 MP, 3:2),
3936 x 2216 (8.7 MP, 16:9),
2640 x 1760 (4.6 MP, 3:2),
2640 x 1488 (3.9 MP, Other),
1728 x 1152 (2.0 MP, 3:2),
1728 x 976 (1.7 MP, Other),
12416 x 1856 (23.0 MP, Other),
8192 x 1856 (15.2 MP, Other),
2160 x 5536 (12.0 MP, Other),
2160 x 3872 (8.4 MP, Other)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2), 12-bit RAW (.ORF) JPEG (EXIF 2.3), 14-bit RAW (ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 3.5 5.9
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (60p/​28Mbps/​PS or 60i/​24Mbps/​FX or 60i/​17Mbps/​FH or 24p/​24Mbps/​FX or 24p/​17Mbps/​FH)
1440x1080 (30p/​12Mbps)
640x480 (30p/​3Mbps)
Movie File Format:   AVCHD 2.0 / MP4; Audio :Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC
Composite Video Out: Yes No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a
HD Video Out: Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Four Thirds Sony Alpha (Minolta A)
Lens: Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 28 - 84mm  
Focal Length (actual): 14 - 42mm  
Zoom Ratio: 3.00x  
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - f/22 (W), f/5.6 - ?? (T)  
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
 
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 58.0mm n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: No Yes
Digital Zoom Values: n/a 1.4x / 2x
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 3-point TTL Phase Difference Detection, 11-point Contrast Detect in Live View mode Dual Phase-detection: 19 points (11 points cross type) CCD line sensors, 102 assist points focal plane phase-detection sensors; Wide (auto, 19 points), Zone, Spot, Local selectable
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD EVF / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; fixed eye-level pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.92x mag., 14mm eyepoint, -3.0 to +1.0 diopt. EVF type; 1.3cm (0.5-inch) 2,359K-dot XGA OLED, ~100% coverage, 0.71x magnification, 22mm eyepoint at -1 diopter (CIPA standard), -4 to +3 diopter, eye sensor.
Focus Peaking: No Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a 2,359,000 dots
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.46x 0.71x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.92x 0.71x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 2.7 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 230,000 dots 1,228,800 dots (307,200 px)
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No Yes
Selfie Screen: No Yes
Max Playback Zoom: 14.0x 16.7x
Top Deck Display: No Yes
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 1600 25600
Minimum ISO (native): 100 100
ISO Settings: Auto, 100 - 1600 (1/3EV steps) Auto (100-6400 with selectable limits), 100-25600 in 1/3 EV steps, extendable down to ISO 50; Multi-frame NR up to ISO 51200
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Lamp, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Fluorescent 3, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Flash, Custom, One-Touch Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (Warm white/Cool white/Day white/Daylight), Flash, C. Temp 2500 to 9900K, C Filter G7 to M7 (15-step), Custom, AWB micro adjustment
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 60 sec 1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 49-zone Digital ESP, Center Weighted Average, Spot / Highlight Spot / Shadow Spot (Spot Approx. 2%) 1200-zone Evaluative, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Night Scene, Night + Portrait, Children, Sport, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Fireworks, Documents, Panorama* (* Available with the Olympus xD-Picture Card), Beach & Snow, Underwater Wide, Underwater Macro Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports Action, Sunset, Night Portrait, Night Scene, Hand-held Twilight, Sweep Panorama, Telezoom Continuous Priority AE
Self Timer: 2 or 12 seconds 2, 10; 3 or 5 frames after 10s seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: Auto, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction slow sync., Slow sync at 1st curtain, Slow sync at 2nd curtain, Fill-in, Manual (1/4, 1/16, 1/64), Off. Auto, Off, Fill-flash, Rear sync, Wireless, High-Speed sync, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction: On/Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 12.0 m / 39.4 ft. n/a
Flash Range Description: Depends on lens aperture n/a
Max Flash Sync: 1/180 1/250
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe, Wireless Multi Interface Shoe, PC-Sync terminal
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: CF1 / CF2 / Microdrive / xD MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: 12-bit RAW (.ORF) 14-bit RAW (ARW 2.3), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format:   AVCHD 2.0 / MP4; Audio :Dolby Digital (AC-3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No Yes
Microphone Jack: No Yes
Headphone Jack: No Yes
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: RM-UC1 cable or RM-1 IR Optional Wireless or Wired
Connections (extended): Dedicated multi-connector (Video: NTSC/PAL, Optional Remote cable RM-UC1 is available Type-C HDMI Mini Connector (BRAVIA Sync, PhotoTV H); Wired Remote Terminal, External Stereo Micophone Jack, External Stereo Headphone Jack, DC Input, Vertical Grip connector, Sync Terminal, Multi Interface Shoe, Built-in GPS
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.51 0.50
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.51 0.56
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 14 Unlimited
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   0.58
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 3.5 5.9
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 12 17
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   5.9
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   18
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   5.9
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   13
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.14 seconds 0.13 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele): 0.13 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.115 seconds 0.081 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.19 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.080 seconds 0.055 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Live View Full Autofocus: Imager AF = 2.548s AF Sensor = 0.718s Hybrid AF = 1.256s Live View Prefocused: Imager AF = 0.566s AF Sensor = 0.548s Hybrid AF = 0.551s Full AF lag, Wide-area AF mode = 0.125s Prefocused shutter lag with Electronic First Curtain Off = 0.108s
Startup Time: 1.4 seconds 0.7 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.3 seconds 1.1 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 3.4 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   500 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 650 shots 410 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary BLM-1 Proprietary NP-FM500H
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary BLM-1 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary NP-FM500H Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No
Software
Included Software: OLYMPUS Master Software CD-ROM Software CD-ROM (includes Picture Motion Browser, Image Data Converter 4, Remote Camera Control 3)
OS Compatibility: MS Windows, Mac OS Windows XP SP3/Vista SP2/7, Mac OS X (v.10.5 +); PMB is Windows only
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Enhanced 3-mode In-Body Image Stabilization, Live View, New and Improved HyperCrystal II LCD, Face Detection Technology, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Perfect Shot Preview, Wireless Flash support. 24.3MP full-frame image sensor, SteadyShot INSIDE image stabilization, dual phase-detect AF, 200K shutter, AVCHD 2.0 video, hi-res OLED EVF, articulating 1.3M-dot LCD, 6 fps bursts at full resolution, up to 10 fps Tele-zoom mode, two card slots (SD/MS, SD), real-time Full HD video out via HDMI, built-in GPS.