Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W80

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W80, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the W80 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and W80 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-520 was revealed 10 months before the W80 so they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax W80 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-520 matches up against the W80 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-520 & Pentax Optio W80. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-520 Gallery & Pentax W80 Gallery.

For those who are looking to carry your camera, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-520 enjoys exterior dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Pentax W80 has measurements of 100mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W80 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-520 compared to the W80.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and W80 is 68 and 94 respectively.

Often, it's tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by checking a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and W80.

Clearly, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-520 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Pentax W80 will give more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.