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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WG-1 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
  • Revealed August 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-510
Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released February 2011
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WG-1, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Waterproof by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the E-520 (10MP) and WG-1 (14MP) and the E-520 (Four Thirds) and WG-1 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-520 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the WG-1 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-520 grades against the WG-1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax WG-1

 E-520 WG-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Olympus E-520

 WG-1 E-520 
ReleasedFebruary 2011August 2008Fresher by 30 months

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax WG-1

 E-520 WG-1 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display measurements
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-520 provides outer dimensions 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 WG-1 has proportions of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WG-1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the E-520 vs the WG-1.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and WG-1 is 68 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizing merely by researching specs. The graphic here should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and WG-1.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-520 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Pentax WG-1 will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The older E-520 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography details
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography details
59
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
35
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography features
Pentax WG-1 Street photography features
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
54
environment proofing
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Pentax WG-1
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
better than average battery life (650 per charge)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
37
megapixel count decent (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Travel photography camera
52
better than average battery life (650 CIPA)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography highlights
58
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (650 shots)
small screen (2.7")
MP count low (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
42
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging advice
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging advice
9
can't shoot video
25
pretty wide (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax WG-1
 Olympus E-520Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax Optio WG-1
Type Entry-Level DSLR Waterproof
Revealed 2008-08-20 2011-02-07
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
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 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 gr (1.22 pounds) 157 gr (0.35 pounds)
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 photographs 260 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch cost $400 $350