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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax MX-1 Key Specs

Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 490g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Launched November 2007
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-510
  • Replaced the Olympus E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-520
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Launched July 2013
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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus E-510 versus Pentax MX-1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-510 (10MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is very well matched but the E-510 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-510 was announced 6 years earlier than the MX-1 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a full comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-510 grades versus the MX-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Pentax MX-1

 E-510 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-510

 MX-1 E-510 
LaunchedJuly 2013November 2007More recent by 68 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Pentax MX-1

 E-510 MX-1 
Manual focus More exact focus
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-510 has got outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has specifications of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") having a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-510 versus Pentax MX-1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-510 versus the MX-1.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and MX-1 is 69 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by checking a spec sheet. The graphic below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-510 and MX-1.

As you can see, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-510 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Pentax MX-1 will give greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older E-510 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Portrait photography camera
56
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (10MP)
42
has manual focus
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Street photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (490g)
screen does not articulate
65
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10MP)
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery power (290 CIPA)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-510
Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
52
lighter than competition in class (490 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
61
great battery power (290 shots)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (391g)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 Landscape photography information
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography information
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
55
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (290 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging features
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging features
9
lack of video recording
33
quite wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone support
more heavy than competition (391g)
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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus E-510Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-510 Pentax MX-1
Also referred to as EVOLT E-510 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2007-11-23 2013-07-01
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490g (1.08 lb) 391g (0.86 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 11.3
DXO Low light rating 442 208
Other
Battery life - 290 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail cost $550 $400