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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 490g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed November 2007
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-510
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-520
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced December 2010
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-7
  • Renewed by Pentax K-5 IIs
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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

The following is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-510 versus Pentax K-5, both Advanced DSLR cameras by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and K-5 (16MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and K-5 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-510 was manufactured 4 years before the K-5 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-510 grades against the K-5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Pentax K-5

 E-510 K-5 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Olympus E-510

 K-5 E-510 
AnnouncedDecember 2010November 2007Newer by 37 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Pentax K-5

 E-510 K-5 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-510 enjoys physical dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) while the Pentax K-5 has sizing of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-510 versus Pentax K-5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-510 versus the K-5.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and K-5 is 69 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by going through specifications. The picture underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-510 and K-5.

Plainly, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-510 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-5 will show greater detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged E-510 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-510
Portrait photography with Pentax K-5
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
73
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography advice
Pentax K-5 Street photography advice
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (490g)
no moving screen
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Sports photography camera
52
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-5 Travel photography advice
52
lighter than competition (490 grams)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
65
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Landscape photography camera
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
78
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-5 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone jack
screen is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Pentax K-5
 Olympus E-510Pentax K-5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-510 Pentax K-5
Also referred to as EVOLT E-510 -
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2007-11-23 2010-12-18
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490g (1.08 lb) 740g (1.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 82
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 14.1
DXO Low light rating 442 1162
Other
Battery life - 980 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $550 $800