Olympus E-520 vs Pentax MX-1

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.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-520 & Pentax MX-1. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-520 Gallery & Pentax MX-1 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.