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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-500

Portability
68
Imaging
44
Features
45
Overall
44
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax K-500 front
Portability
64
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-520
(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
  • Revealed August 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax K-500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 646g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released November 2013
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-500 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-500, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by companies Olympus and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and K-500 (16MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and K-500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was announced 6 years prior to the K-500 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-520 grades against the K-500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax K-500

 E-520 K-500 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-500 over the Olympus E-520

 K-500 E-520 
ReleasedNovember 2013August 2008More modern by 64 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-500

 E-520 K-500 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-500 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 comes with outer measurements 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-500 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 646 grams (1.42 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-520 and the K-500.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and K-500 is 68 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes purely by viewing a spec sheet. The pic here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and K-500.

Clearly, both of these cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-520 using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Pentax K-500 will result in more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-520 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Pentax K-500
58
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files
low MP (10 megapixels)
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-500 as a Street photography camera
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
above average high ISO (51,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Pentax K-500
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great battery pack (650 per charge)
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
low MP (10MP)
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features tracking focus
great battery (710 per charge)
has phase detect AF
low fps (6.0 fps)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography information
Pentax K-500 Travel photography information
52
great battery pack (650 per charge)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
great battery (710 shots)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-500 Landscape photography advice
57
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (650 shots)
small screen (2.7 inches)
low MP (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,600)
saves RAW formats
great battery (710 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-500 Vlogging factors
9
no video recording
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no mic socket
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-500
 Olympus E-520Pentax K-500
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax K-500
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2008-08-20 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME M
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 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 1600 51600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
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
Available lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - 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
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync+Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
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 grams (1.22 pounds) 646 grams (1.42 pounds)
Physical 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 13.1
DXO Low light rating 548 1087
Other
Battery life 650 shots 710 shots
Battery type Battery Pack AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
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 SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $400 $600