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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax S1

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax S1 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
  • Revealed November 2007
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-510
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-520
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax S1 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-510 versus Pentax S1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and S1 (14MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.

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The E-510 was launched 4 years earlier than the S1 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-510 scores vs the S1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Pentax S1

 E-510 S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Olympus E-510

 S1 E-510 
IntroducedMarch 2011November 2007Fresher by 39 months
Display sizing2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Pentax S1

 E-510 S1 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-510 enjoys outside dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) while the Pentax S1 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-510 versus Pentax S1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-510 and the S1.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and S1 is 69 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing only by viewing specs. The photograph here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-510 and S1.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-510 because of its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax S1 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older E-510 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax S1 as a Portrait photography camera
56
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
35
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography details
Pentax S1 Street photography details
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors (490g)
no moving screen
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-510
Sports photography with Pentax S1
52
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
39
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-510
Travel photography with Pentax S1
52
lighter than competitors (490g)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
64
MP count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 Landscape photography factors
Pentax S1 Landscape photography factors
55
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
42
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging information
Pentax S1 Vlogging information
9
can't record video
28
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone support
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Olympus E-510 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Pentax S1
 Olympus E-510Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-510 Pentax Optio S1
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-510 -
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2007-11-23 2011-03-02
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490 grams (1.08 lb) 157 grams (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 life - 260 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $550 $174