Olympus E-510 vs Pentax Q-S1

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-510 vs Pentax Q-S1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-510 (10MP) and the Q-S1 (12MP) is pretty close but the E-510 (Four Thirds) and Q-S1 (1/1.7") have different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-510 was introduced 7 years earlier than the Q-S1 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-510 grades vs the Q-S1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-510 and Pentax Q-S1. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-510 Gallery and Pentax Q-S1 Gallery.

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-510 provides external measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) while the Pentax Q-S1 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-510 vs Pentax Q-S1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-510 vs the Q-S1.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-510 and Q-S1 is 69 and 92 respectively.

In many cases, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions simply by viewing technical specs. The pic here should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-510 and Q-S1.

As you can tell, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-510 using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Pentax Q-S1 will result in more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-510 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.