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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 IIs 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
  • Announced November 2007
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-510
  • Superseded the Olympus E-500
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-520
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Here, we will be matching up the Olympus E-510 versus Pentax K-5 IIs, both Advanced DSLR cameras by brands Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and K-5 IIs (16MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The E-510 was launched 6 years earlier than the K-5 IIs and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-510 matches up against the K-5 IIs for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 E-510 K-5 IIs 

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

 K-5 IIs E-510 
RevealedJune 2013November 2007More recent by 67 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

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

 E-510 K-5 IIs 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-510 comes with 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 IIs has measurements of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

See the Olympus E-510 versus Pentax K-5 IIs in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-510 vs the K-5 IIs.

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

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

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

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to visualize the gap in sensor measurements only by researching technical specs. The graphic below may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-510 and K-5 IIs.

As you have seen, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-510 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-5 IIs will provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older E-510 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 IIs as a Portrait photography camera
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
74
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography info
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography info
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors (490g)
fixed screen
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 Sports photography features
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography features
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 Travel photography features
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography features
52
lighter than competitors (490 grams)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
environment sealing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-5 IIs Landscape photography advice
55
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
saves RAW files
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-510
Vlogging with Pentax K-5 IIs
9
can't record video
33
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic port
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Olympus E-510Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-510 Pentax K-5 IIs
Also Known as EVOLT E-510 -
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2007-11-23 2013-06-04
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - 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 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490 grams (1.08 pounds) 760 grams (1.68 pounds)
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 score 52 82
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 14.1
DXO Low light score 442 1208
Other
Battery life - 980 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $550 $749