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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-7

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax K-7 front
Portability
60
Imaging
55
Features
69
Overall
60

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-7 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
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Pentax K-7
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Increase to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched October 2009
  • New Model is Pentax K-5
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-7 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-7, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and K-7 (15MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and K-7 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was revealed 13 months earlier than the K-7 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K-7 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-520 grades versus the K-7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax K-7

 E-520 K-7 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-7 over the Olympus E-520

 K-7 E-520 
LaunchedOctober 2009August 2008Fresher by 13 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-7

 E-520 K-7 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-7 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 comes with physical measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-7 has dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-7 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-520 against the K-7.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-7 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and K-7 is 68 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-7 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reviewing specifications. The graphic below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and K-7.

Plainly, each of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-520 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Pentax K-7 will offer greater detail because of its extra 5MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Portrait photography camera
59
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
low MP (10 megapixels)
73
manual focus
good MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography features
Pentax K-7 Street photography features
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-7 Sports photography factors
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery (650 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames/s)
low MP (10 megapixels)
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
weather proofing
supports phase detect AF
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-7 as a Travel photography camera
52
good battery (650 CIPA)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
weather proofing
good MP (15 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-7 Landscape photography factors
58
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
good battery (650 per charge)
tiny screen (2.7")
low MP (10MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-520
Vlogging with Pentax K-7
9
no video
25
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
does not contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-7
 Olympus E-520Pentax K-7
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax K-7
Class Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2008-08-20 2009-10-02
Body design Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4672 x 3104
Maximum native ISO 1600 2000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 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 - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 pounds) 750 grams (1.65 pounds)
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 61
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.6
DXO Low light rating 548 536
Other
Battery life 650 images 980 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/MMC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $400 $599