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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax 645Z

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax 645Z front
Portability
49
Imaging
80
Features
74
Overall
77

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax 645Z Key Specs

Olympus E-520
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Released August 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax 645Z
(Full Review)
  • 51MP - Medium format Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax 645AF2 Mount
  • 1550g - 156 x 117 x 123mm
  • Released April 2014
  • Older Model is Pentax 645D
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax 645Z Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax 645Z, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Pro DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and 645Z (51MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and 645Z (Medium format) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The E-520 was unveiled 6 years before the 645Z and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax 645Z being a Large SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-520 scores vs the 645Z in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax 645Z

 E-520 645Z 

Reasons to pick Pentax 645Z over the Olympus E-520

 645Z E-520 
ReleasedApril 2014August 2008Fresher by 68 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax 645Z

 E-520 645Z 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax 645Z Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 offers exterior measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Pentax 645Z has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8") having a weight of 1550 grams (3.42 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax 645Z in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-520 compared to the 645Z.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax 645Z size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and 645Z is 68 and 49 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax 645Z top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax 645Z Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading through technical specs. The photograph here will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and 645Z.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-520 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax 645Z will resolve extra detail having an extra 41MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax 645Z sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax 645Z Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Pentax 645Z
59
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
88
focusing manually
resolution is fantastic (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Street photography camera
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
63
tilting screen
big sensor size (Medium format)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
great ISO range (204,800)
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (1,550g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax 645Z as a Sports photography camera
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great battery power (650 CIPA)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow fps (4.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (10MP)
71
resolution is fantastic (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
not so great battery (650 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography factors
Pentax 645Z Travel photography factors
52
great battery power (650 CIPA)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
resolution not great (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
51
weather sealing
resolution is fantastic (51 megapixels)
not so great battery (650 shots)
heavier than competition in class (1,550 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Pentax 645Z
58
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (650 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
resolution not great (10MP)
missing Timelapse mode
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax 645AF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inches)
resolution is fantastic (51MP)
big sensor size (Medium format)
no anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (204,800)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
2 card slots
no image stabilization
not so great battery (650 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax 645Z as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
27
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic support
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (1,550g)
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax 645Z Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax 645Z
 Olympus E-520Pentax 645Z
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax 645Z
Category Entry-Level DSLR Pro DSLR
Released 2008-08-20 2014-04-15
Physical type Compact SLR Large SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - PRIME III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Medium format
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 44 x 33mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 1,452.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 51 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 8256 x 6192
Max native ISO 1600 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 27
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax 645AF2
Amount of lenses 45 6
Crop factor 2.1 0.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7" 3.2"
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 98 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.85x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Flash On, Flash On+Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync+Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, contrast-control-sync, high-speed sync, wireless sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/125 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p,24p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 pounds) 1550 grams (3.42 pounds)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 156 x 117 x 123mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 101
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 14.7
DXO Low light rating 548 4505
Other
Battery life 650 shots 650 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots
Card slots Single Two
Pricing at launch $400 $5,024