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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Launched August 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced March 2011
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-520 and Pentax RS1500, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and RS1500 (14MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and RS1500 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-520 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the RS1500 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-520 grades vs the RS1500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax RS1500

 E-520 RS1500 

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Olympus E-520

 RS1500 E-520 
IntroducedMarch 2011August 2008More recent by 31 months

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax RS1500

 E-520 RS1500 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-520 has got physical measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Pentax RS1500 has measurements of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-520 and Pentax RS1500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-520 vs the RS1500.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and RS1500 is 68 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing specs. The visual underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and RS1500.

All in all, the two cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-520 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax RS1500 will render extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older E-520 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-520
Portrait photography with Pentax RS1500
59
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
35
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Street photography camera
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
54
environment proof
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography advice
Pentax RS1500 Sports photography advice
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery (650 per charge)
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10MP)
37
megapixel count decent (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Travel photography camera
52
good battery (650 CIPA)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
67
environment proof
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Pentax RS1500
58
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
good battery (650 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
40
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
environment proof
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging advice
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging advice
9
lack of video recording
25
reasonably wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone port
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax RS1500
 Olympus E-520Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax Optio RS1500
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2008-08-20 2011-03-16
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lb) 157 grams (0.35 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 pictures 260 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $400 $150