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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-3
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 II, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and K-3 II (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was announced 7 years before the K-3 II and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-520 matches up vs the K-3 II in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax K-3 II

 E-520 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Olympus E-520

 K-3 II E-520 
IntroducedApril 2015August 2008Fresher by 81 months
Screen dimensions3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-3 II

 E-520 K-3 II 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 comes with outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 II has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

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Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-520 vs the K-3 II.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and K-3 II is 68 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizing merely by going through specs. The photograph here may give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and K-3 II.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-520 with its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-3 II will show extra detail with its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older E-520 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography advice
59
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10MP)
79
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography information
Pentax K-3 II Street photography information
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
great high ISO (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography info
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography info
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good battery power (650 per charge)
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
low battery power (720 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-520
Travel photography with Pentax K-3 II
52
good battery power (650 CIPA)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
56
environment sealing
good resolution (24 megapixels)
low battery power (720 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Pentax K-3 II
58
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (650 shots)
small screen (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
2 card slots
low battery power (720 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging factors
9
can't record video
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic support
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-3 II
 Olympus E-520Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax K-3 II
Type Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2008-08-20 2015-04-23
Physical type Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 1600 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
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 4.0 frames per second 8.3 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 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 (available with dedicated external flash)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
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, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lbs) 800 grams (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 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 13.6
DXO Low light rating 548 1106
Other
Battery life 650 shots 720 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One 2
Retail cost $400 $829