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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Released July 2013
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Here is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-520 and Pentax MX-1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and MX-1 (1/1.7") offer totally different sensor size.

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The E-520 was launched 5 years earlier than the MX-1 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-520 scores versus the MX-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax MX-1

 E-520 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Olympus E-520

 MX-1 E-520 
ReleasedJuly 2013August 2008Fresher by 59 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax MX-1

 E-520 MX-1 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-520 comes with outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-520 and Pentax MX-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-520 vs the MX-1.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and MX-1 is 68 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing just by looking through specifications. The visual underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and MX-1.

To sum up, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-520 due to its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Pentax MX-1 will result in extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The older E-520 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Pentax MX-1
59
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (10MP)
42
has manual focus
offers face detect focus
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography details
Pentax MX-1 Street photography details
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
65
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors (391g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography info
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography info
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great battery life (650 shots)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
43
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers tracking focus
good battery pack (290 CIPA)
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-520
Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
52
great battery life (650 per charge)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low resolution (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
61
good battery pack (290 shots)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
lack of Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (391 grams)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography details
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography details
58
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (650 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
low resolution (10MP)
no Time Lapse recording
55
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (290 per charge)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-520
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
9
can't shoot video
33
quite wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
more heavy than competitors (391 grams)
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax MX-1
 Olympus E-520Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax MX-1
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-08-20 2013-07-01
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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) 391 grams (0.86 pounds)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 11.3
DXO Low light rating 548 208
Other
Battery life 650 images 290 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $400 $400