Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-30
68 Imaging
44 Features
45 Overall
44


63 Imaging
57 Features
66 Overall
60
Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-30 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
- Launched August 2008
- Older Model is Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/6000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Pentax KAF2 Mount
- 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
- Introduced October 2012
- Renewed by Pentax K-50

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-30 Overview
Below is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-30, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and K-30 (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

The E-520 was unveiled 5 years earlier than the K-30 and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.
Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-520 matches up against the K-30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-30 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-30. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-520 Gallery and Pentax K-30 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax K-30
E-520 | K-30 |
---|
Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Olympus E-520
K-30 | E-520 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | October 2012 | ![]() | August 2008 | More recent by 51 months |
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Screen resolution | 921k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer screen (+691k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-30
E-520 | K-30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More accurate focus | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Absent selfie screen | ||
Touch screen | ![]() | Neither provides Touch screen |
Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison
If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 provides outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).
Check the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the E-520 compared to the K-30.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and K-30 is 68 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it is very tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements purely by going over specifications. The graphic below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and K-30.
Plainly, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-520 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh harder and the Pentax K-30 will offer greater detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications
Olympus E-520 | Pentax K-30 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Olympus | Pentax |
Model type | Olympus E-520 | Pentax K-30 |
Type | Entry-Level DSLR | Advanced DSLR |
Launched | 2008-08-20 | 2012-10-29 |
Physical type | Compact SLR | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | Prime M |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.7 x 15.7mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 372.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10MP | 16MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 3:2 |
Full resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4928 x 3264 |
Max native ISO | 1600 | 12800 |
Max boosted ISO | - | 25600 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Total focus points | 3 | 11 |
Cross type focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Micro Four Thirds | Pentax KAF2 |
Amount of lenses | 45 | 151 |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 2.7" | 3" |
Resolution of screen | 230 thousand dots | 921 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Screen tech | - | TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentamirror) | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | 95% | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.46x | 0.61x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Highest shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds | 1/6000 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | 4.0fps | 6.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) |
Flash options | Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
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 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps) |
Max video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | - | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | Optional |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 552g (1.22 lbs) | 650g (1.43 lbs) |
Dimensions | 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") | 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | 55 | 79 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 21.4 | 23.7 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.4 | 13.0 |
DXO Low light rating | 548 | 1129 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 650 pictures | 410 pictures |
Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | D-LI109,4 x AA |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage type | Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Cost at launch | $400 | $525 |