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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-5 II

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax K-5 II front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
82
Overall
67

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-5 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
  • Released August 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-5 II Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax K-5 II, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and K-5 II (16MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and K-5 II (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The E-520 was introduced 5 years earlier than the K-5 II and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-5 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-520 matches up vs the K-5 II in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax K-5 II

 E-520 K-5 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Olympus E-520

 K-5 II E-520 
RevealedJune 2013August 2008More recent by 58 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-5 II

 E-520 K-5 II 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-5 II Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 offers outer dimensions 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-5 II has proportions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") having a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax K-5 II in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-520 compared to the K-5 II.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-5 II size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and K-5 II is 68 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-5 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-5 II Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements purely by researching specs. The photograph here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and K-5 II.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-520 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax K-5 II will result in more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older E-520 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-5 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography advice
59
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
74
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography factors
Pentax K-5 II Street photography factors
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography information
Pentax K-5 II Sports photography information
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good battery pack (650 per charge)
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (4.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
79
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography information
Pentax K-5 II Travel photography information
52
good battery pack (650 shots)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
65
environment sealing
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Pentax K-5 II
58
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (650 CIPA)
small screen (2.7 inch)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
no Time Lapse function
79
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging information
Pentax K-5 II Vlogging information
9
can't shoot video
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-5 II
 Olympus E-520Pentax K-5 II
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax K-5 II
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2008-08-20 2013-06-04
Physical type Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
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
Total focus points 3 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lb) 760 gr (1.68 lb)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 82
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 14.1
DXO Low light rating 548 1235
Other
Battery life 650 shots 980 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $400 $830