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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax E90

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Pentax Optio E90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax E90 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
  • Announced November 2007
  • Alternate Name is EVOLT E-510
  • Superseded the Olympus E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-520
Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Introduced January 2010
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax E90 Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Olympus E-510 vs Pentax E90, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-510 (10MP) and the E90 (10MP) is pretty close but the E-510 (Four Thirds) and E90 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-510 was launched 3 years before the E90 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax E90 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-510 grades vs the E90 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Pentax E90

 E-510 E90 
Manually focus More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Olympus E-510

 E90 E-510 
IntroducedJanuary 2010November 2007More recent by 26 months
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Pentax E90

 E-510 E90 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-510 offers physical dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Pentax E90 has proportions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-510 vs Pentax E90 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-510 compared to the E90.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax E90 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-510 and E90 is 69 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax E90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by viewing specifications. The visual here will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-510 and E90.

Plainly, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact MP albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-510 uses the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF easier. The older E-510 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax E90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax E90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-510
Portrait photography with Pentax E90
56
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
19
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography info
Pentax E90 Street photography info
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (490 grams)
no moving screen
47
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax E90 as a Sports photography camera
52
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
16
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-510
Travel photography with Pentax E90
52
lighter than competition (490 grams)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
50
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low resolution (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax E90 as a Landscape photography camera
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5")
resolution not great (10MP)
no Time Lapse mode
22
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax E90 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
22
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax E90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Pentax E90
 Olympus E-510Pentax Optio E90
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-510 Pentax Optio E90
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-510 -
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2007-11-23 2010-01-25
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 3
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 32-95mm (3.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 6cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490g (1.08 lb) 145g (0.32 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 442 not tested
Other
Battery ID - 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $550 $100