Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3
68 Imaging
44 Features
45 Overall
44
59 Imaging
64 Features
85 Overall
72
Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 1600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 552g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
- Introduced August 2008
- Older Model is Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3.2" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 51200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
- Released April 2014
- Renewed by Pentax K-3 II
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 Overview
Here is a extensive review of the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-3, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and K-3 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsThe E-520 was unveiled 6 years earlier than the K-3 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before delving into a thorough comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-520 grades versus the K-3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-520 & Pentax K-3. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-520 Gallery & Pentax K-3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax K-3
| E-520 | K-3 |
|---|
Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus E-520
| K-3 | E-520 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Released | April 2014 | August 2008 | Fresher by 68 months | |
| Display size | 3.2" | 2.7" | Larger display (+0.5") | |
| Display resolution | 1037k | 230k | Crisper display (+807k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-3
| E-520 | K-3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual focus | Very precise focus | |||
| Display type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed display | |
| Selfie screen | Neither has selfie screen | |||
| Touch friendly display | Lacking Touch friendly display |
Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison
In case you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 has outer measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has sizing of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).
Check the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-520 against the K-3.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and K-3 is 68 and 59 respectively.
Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison
Normally, its hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual here might provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and K-3.
As you can see, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-520 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-3 will offer greater detail having an extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.
Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesStreet Comparison
Photography GlossarySports Comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banTravel Comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoLandscape Comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesVlogging Comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 Specifications
| Olympus E-520 | Pentax K-3 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Company | Olympus | Pentax |
| Model type | Olympus E-520 | Pentax K-3 |
| Type | Entry-Level DSLR | Advanced DSLR |
| Introduced | 2008-08-20 | 2014-04-10 |
| Physical type | Compact SLR | Mid-size SLR |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor | - | Prime III |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
| Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
| Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 366.6mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 10 megapixel | 24 megapixel |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 3:2 |
| Highest resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 6016 x 4000 |
| Highest native ISO | 1600 | 51200 |
| Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
| RAW images | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| Autofocus touch | ||
| Autofocus continuous | ||
| Single autofocus | ||
| Autofocus tracking | ||
| Autofocus selectice | ||
| Center weighted autofocus | ||
| Multi area autofocus | ||
| Live view autofocus | ||
| Face detection focus | ||
| Contract detection focus | ||
| Phase detection focus | ||
| Total focus points | 3 | 27 |
| Cross type focus points | - | 25 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens support | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax KAF2 |
| Available lenses | 45 | 151 |
| Crop factor | 2.1 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Type of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Screen size | 2.7" | 3.2" |
| Resolution of screen | 230k dots | 1,037k dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch functionality | ||
| Screen tech | - | TFT LCD monitor |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | Optical (pentamirror) | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 95 percent | 100 percent |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.46x | 0.64x |
| Features | ||
| Lowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Highest shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
| Continuous shooting rate | 4.0fps | 8.0fps |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual mode | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Change white balance | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Built-in flash | ||
| Flash distance | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) | 13.00 m (at ISO 100) |
| Flash settings | Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye | Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual |
| Hot shoe | ||
| Auto exposure bracketing | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Highest flash synchronize | 1/180 seconds | 1/180 seconds |
| 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, 30p, 25p, 24p) |
| Highest video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
| Video file format | - | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Microphone port | ||
| Headphone port | ||
| 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 | 552g (1.22 lbs) | 800g (1.76 lbs) |
| Physical dimensions | 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") | 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around rating | 55 | 80 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 21.4 | 23.7 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.4 | 13.4 |
| DXO Low light rating | 548 | 1216 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 650 photographs | 560 photographs |
| Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | - | D-LI90 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Type of storage | Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Card slots | One | 2 |
| Cost at launch | $400 | $639 |