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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W90

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W90 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
  • Launched August 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Revealed February 2010
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W90, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Waterproof by companies Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the W90 (12MP) is pretty close but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and W90 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-520 was introduced 18 months before the W90 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax W90 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-520 scores versus the W90 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax W90

 E-520 W90 

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Olympus E-520

 W90 E-520 
RevealedFebruary 2010August 2008Fresher by 18 months

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax W90

 E-520 W90 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-520 has got outside measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Pentax W90 has dimensions of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") with a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W90 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-520 versus the W90.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and W90 is 68 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing simply by viewing specs. The graphic below should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and W90.

All in all, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-520 with its bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Pentax W90 will result in extra detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older E-520 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography factors
Pentax W90 Portrait photography factors
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (10MP)
27
manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography highlights
Pentax W90 Street photography highlights
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
54
weather proofing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography advice
Pentax W90 Sports photography advice
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great battery life (650 CIPA)
supports phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (10MP)
24
weather proofing
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography details
Pentax W90 Travel photography details
52
great battery life (650 CIPA)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
64
weather proofing
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Landscape photography camera
58
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (650 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
37
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
weather proofing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging factors
Pentax W90 Vlogging factors
9
lack of video recording
25
fairly wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic jack
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax W90
 Olympus E-520Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax Optio W90
Category Entry-Level DSLR Waterproof
Launched 2008-08-20 2010-02-24
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 gr (1.22 lbs) 164 gr (0.36 lbs)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $400 $120