Clicky

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K10D

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax K10D front
Portability
59
Imaging
49
Features
43
Overall
46

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K10D 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
  • Launched August 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-510
Pentax K10D
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 793g - 142 x 101 x 70mm
  • Released December 2006
  • New Model is Pentax K20D
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K10D Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax K10D, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the K10D (10MP) is pretty close but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and K10D (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The E-520 was brought out 21 months after the K10D which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax K10D being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-520 grades against the K10D in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax K10D

 E-520 K10D 
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 K10D over the Olympus E-520

 K10D E-520 

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax K10D

 E-520 K10D 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K10D Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 comes with outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Pentax K10D has specifications of 142mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8") along with a weight of 793 grams (1.75 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax K10D in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the E-520 against the K10D.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K10D size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and K10D is 68 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K10D top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K10D Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes only by viewing technical specs. The picture here will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-520 and K10D.

As you have seen, both of those cameras posses the exact same megapixels albeit different sensor sizes. The E-520 uses the smaller sensor which is going to make getting bokeh trickier. The newer E-520 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K10D sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K10D Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K10D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Pentax K10D
59
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
low MP (10MP)
53
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview feature
resolution not great (10MP)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography factors
Pentax K10D Street photography factors
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
64
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography info
Pentax K10D Sports photography info
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good battery (650 per charge)
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
low MP (10 megapixels)
53
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10MP)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K10D as a Travel photography camera
52
good battery (650 shots)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low MP (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
49
environment proofing
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K10D Landscape photography advice
58
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
good battery (650 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low MP (10 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview feature
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K10D as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
9
lack of video recording
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax K10D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax K10D
 Olympus E-520Pentax K10D
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax K10D
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2008-08-20 2006-12-15
Physical type Compact SLR Mid-size 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 surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 45 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 2.5"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 210 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Auto Red Eye
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lb) 793 grams (1.75 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 142 x 101 x 70mm (5.6" x 4.0" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 66
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.6
DXO Low light rating 548 522
Other
Battery life 650 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/MMC/SDHC card
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $400 $700