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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-01

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax K-01 front
Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-01 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
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Released May 2012
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-01 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-01, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and K-01 (16MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and K-01 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-520 was introduced 4 years before the K-01 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-520 scores vs the K-01 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax K-01

 E-520 K-01 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Olympus E-520

 K-01 E-520 
ReleasedMay 2012August 2008Newer by 45 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-01

 E-520 K-01 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-01 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 comes with outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Pentax K-01 has proportions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") with a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-01 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the E-520 against the K-01.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-01 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and K-01 is 68 and 76 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-01 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-01 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by viewing specifications. The picture here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and K-01.

Plainly, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-520 having a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-01 will result in more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-01 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-01 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Pentax K-01
59
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW formats
low MP (10MP)
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-520
Street photography with Pentax K-01
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
more heavy than others in class (561g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Pentax K-01
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great battery power (650 per charge)
has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
low MP (10MP)
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good battery (540 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-520
Travel photography with Pentax K-01
52
great battery power (650 CIPA)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
65
good battery (540 shots)
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
more heavy than others in class (561g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-01 as a Landscape photography camera
58
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (650 shots)
tiny screen (2.7")
low MP (10MP)
missing Timelapse mode
80
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
good battery (540 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-01 Vlogging advice
9
no video shooting
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone jack
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
more heavy than others in class (561 grams)
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-01 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-01
 Olympus E-520Pentax K-01
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax K-01
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2008-08-20 2012-05-30
Body design Compact SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lb) 561 gr (1.24 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 12.9
DXO Low light rating 548 1135
Other
Battery life 650 photos 540 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $400 $899