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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Announced February 2015
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-S1
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-S2, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by brands Olympus and Pentax. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and K-S2 (20MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and K-S2 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was revealed 7 years before the K-S2 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-520 grades against the K-S2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax K-S2

 E-520 K-S2 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Olympus E-520

 K-S2 E-520 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015August 2008Fresher by 78 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-S2

 E-520 K-S2 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 features outside dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-S2 has dimensions of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") having a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-S2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the E-520 compared to the K-S2.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and K-S2 is 68 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing purely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and K-S2.

Clearly, each of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-520 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-S2 will render greater detail because of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The older E-520 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography details
59
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
78
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-S2 as a Street photography camera
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
72
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
good high ISO (51,200)
heavier than others in class (678g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography details
Pentax K-S2 Sports photography details
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery (650 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (4.0 fps)
megapixel count low (10MP)
70
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames/s)
not so great battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography info
Pentax K-S2 Travel photography info
52
good battery (650 CIPA)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
65
weather proof
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery (410 shots)
heavier than others in class (678 grams)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography highlights
58
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
good battery (650 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
77
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
not so great battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging information
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging information
9
no video shooting
71
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic jack
heavier than others in class (678g)
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax K-S2
 Olympus E-520Pentax K-S2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax K-S2
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2008-08-20 2015-02-10
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 1600 51200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
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, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552g (1.22 lb) 678g (1.49 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 photos 410 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $400 $581