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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax K-1 front
Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Announced February 2016
  • Replacement is Pentax K-1 II
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 Overview

Below is a in depth assessment of the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax K-1, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and K-1 (36MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and K-1 (Full frame) offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-520 was announced 8 years before the K-1 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-520 matches up against the K-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax K-1

 E-520 K-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Olympus E-520

 K-1 E-520 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016August 2008More recent by 91 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3.2"2.7"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-1

 E-520 K-1 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 features physical dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Pentax K-1 has specifications of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") along with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

See the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax K-1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-520 against the K-1.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and K-1 is 68 and 55 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by reviewing specifications. The visual here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and K-1.

Plainly, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-520 with its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-1 will deliver more detail with its extra 26MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-1 Portrait photography advice
59
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low resolution sensor (10MP)
85
manual focus
MP count fantastic (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography details
Pentax K-1 Street photography details
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
70
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
good high ISO (204,800)
heavier than competitors (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography details
Pentax K-1 Sports photography details
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
better than average battery life (650 per charge)
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count fantastic (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow fps (4.4 frames per second)
terrible battery life (760 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography info
Pentax K-1 Travel photography info
52
better than average battery life (650 shots)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
53
environment proofing
MP count fantastic (36MP)
terrible battery life (760 CIPA)
heavier than competitors (1,010 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-1 Landscape photography advice
58
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (650 per charge)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
81
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count fantastic (36MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (204,800)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery life (760 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-1 Vlogging highlights
9
no video
31
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic jack
does not feature selfie friendly display
heavier than competitors (1,010 grams)
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-1
 Olympus E-520Pentax K-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-520 Pentax K-1
Type Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2008-08-20 2016-02-17
Body design Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 1600 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 4.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552g (1.22 lb) 1010g (2.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 96
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 14.6
DXO Low light score 548 3280
Other
Battery life 650 photos 760 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots Single Two
Retail cost $400 $1,499