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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 II

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
Portability
55
Imaging
78
Features
82
Overall
79

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 II 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
  • Revealed August 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Superseded the Pentax K-1
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 II Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax K-1 II, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and K-1 II (36MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and K-1 II (Full frame) boast different sensor size.

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The E-520 was introduced 10 years earlier than the K-1 II and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-1 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short view of how the E-520 matches up against the K-1 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 E-520 K-1 II 

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

 K-1 II E-520 
LaunchedFebruary 2018August 2008More recent by 115 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)

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

 E-520 K-1 II 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 II Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 comes with outside dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-1 II has sizing of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax K-1 II in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-520 vs the K-1 II.

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

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and K-1 II is 68 and 55 respectively.

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

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 II Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to picture the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and K-1 II.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-520 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-1 II will offer you greater detail using its extra 26MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-1 II as a Portrait photography camera
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (10MP)
86
has manual focus
MP count great (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-520
Street photography with Pentax K-1 II
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
70
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
above average ISO range (819,200)
heavier than competitors (1,010 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography information
Pentax K-1 II Sports photography information
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good battery life (650 CIPA)
supports phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
77
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count great (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (4.4 frames/s)
low battery life (670 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography features
Pentax K-1 II Travel photography features
52
good battery life (650 CIPA)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
53
weather proofing
MP count great (36 megapixels)
low battery life (670 shots)
heavier than competitors (1,010 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Pentax K-1 II
58
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (650 CIPA)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
82
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count great (36 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (819,200)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
two card slots
low battery life (670 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging info
Pentax K-1 II Vlogging info
9
lack of video recording
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
heavier than competitors (1,010g)
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-1 II
 Olympus E-520Pentax K-1 Mark II
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-520 Pentax K-1 Mark II
Class Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2008-08-20 2018-02-22
Physical type Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 36MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 1600 819200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 33
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF4
Available lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 3.2 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 4.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings 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
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Built-in
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lb) 1010 gr (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 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 photographs 670 photographs
Style 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
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots One 2
Cost at release $400 $1,737