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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K100D

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax K100D front
Portability
64
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K100D 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
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax K100D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 660g - 129 x 93 x 70mm
  • Released December 2006
  • Successor is Pentax K100D S
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K100D Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K100D, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and K100D (6MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and K100D (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-520 was unveiled 21 months after the K100D which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-520 matches up versus the K100D with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax K100D

 E-520 K100D 
ReleasedAugust 2008December 2006More modern by 21 months
Screen dimension2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k210kCrisper screen (+20k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D over the Olympus E-520

 K100D E-520 

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K100D

 E-520 K100D 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K100D Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. 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 K100D has sizing of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K100D in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-520 versus the K100D.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K100D size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and K100D is 68 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K100D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K100D Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes merely by viewing specifications. The image here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and K100D.

To sum up, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-520 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Olympus E-520 will result in greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more recent E-520 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K100D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K100D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K100D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K100D as a Portrait photography camera
59
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (10MP)
51
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography factors
Pentax K100D Street photography factors
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
58
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
heavier than average (660 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Pentax K100D
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great battery life (650 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (10MP)
47
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography factors
Pentax K100D Travel photography factors
52
great battery life (650 per charge)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
42
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
heavier than average (660g)
sensor resolution not great (6 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K100D Landscape photography advice
58
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (650 per charge)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
52
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution not great (6MP)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-520
Vlogging with Pentax K100D
9
no video recording
9
no video recording
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K100D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax K100D
 Olympus E-520Pentax K100D
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-520 Pentax K100D
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2008-08-20 2006-12-03
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 6MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 3008 x 2008
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF
Available lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 210 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 gr (1.22 pounds) 660 gr (1.46 pounds)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 129 x 93 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC card
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $400 $0