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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WS80

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax Optio WS80 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
20
Overall
27

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WS80 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
  • Introduced August 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Pentax WS80
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-175mm (F3.8-4.7) lens
  • 125g - 92 x 60 x 22mm
  • Revealed August 2009
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WS80 Overview

The following is a thorough overview of the Olympus E-520 and Pentax WS80, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Waterproof by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the WS80 (10MP) is very comparable but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and WS80 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-520 was launched 11 months before the WS80 so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax WS80 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-520 grades against the WS80 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax WS80

 E-520 WS80 

Reasons to pick Pentax WS80 over the Olympus E-520

 WS80 E-520 
RevealedAugust 2009August 2008Newer by 11 months

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax WS80

 E-520 WS80 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display sizing
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WS80 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 has outside dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Pentax WS80 has specifications of 92mm x 60mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-520 and Pentax WS80 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-520 against the WS80.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WS80 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-520 and WS80 is 68 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WS80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WS80 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to see the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by seeing specs. The pic here will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and WS80.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras posses the exact same megapixels but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-520 uses the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult. The more aged E-520 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WS80 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WS80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WS80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography advice
Pentax WS80 Portrait photography advice
59
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
low resolution (10MP)
26
you can focus manually
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography information
Pentax WS80 Street photography information
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
59
weather proof
lighter than others (125 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WS80 as a Sports photography camera
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
better than average battery pack (650 per charge)
comes with phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
low resolution (10MP)
23
weather proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax WS80 as a Travel photography camera
52
better than average battery pack (650 shots)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
61
lighter than others (125g)
weather proof
has built in flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-520
Landscape photography with Pentax WS80
58
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (650 CIPA)
small screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
31
you can focus manually
weather proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WS80 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
25
lighter than others (125g)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.8)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone jack
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax WS80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax WS80
 Olympus E-520Pentax Optio WS80
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax Optio WS80
Type Entry-Level DSLR Waterproof
Introduced 2008-08-20 2009-08-05
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime
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 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-175mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.8-4.7
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum 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 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 552g (1.22 pounds) 125g (0.28 pounds)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 92 x 60 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9")
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 -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $400 $220