Olympus E-520 vs Pentax P70

Below, we will be comparing the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax P70, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the P70 (12MP) is relatively similar but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and P70 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was revealed 6 months before the P70 so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-520 grades versus the P70 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-520 and Pentax Optio P70. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-520 Gallery and Pentax P70 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 features outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Pentax P70 has proportions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax P70 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the E-520 against the P70.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and P70 is 68 and 95 respectively.

Generally, it's hard to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading a spec sheet. The pic here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and P70.

As you can see, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-520 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Pentax P70 will offer more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively.