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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q-S1

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax Q-S1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
54
Overall
44

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q-S1 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
  • Announced August 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-510
Pentax Q-S1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 203g - 105 x 58 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2014
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q-S1 Overview

Following is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax Q-S1, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the Q-S1 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and Q-S1 (1/1.7") enjoy different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-520 was released 7 years earlier than the Q-S1 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax Q-S1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-520 matches up versus the Q-S1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax Q-S1

 E-520 Q-S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q-S1 over the Olympus E-520

 Q-S1 E-520 
RevealedAugust 2014August 2008More modern by 72 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax Q-S1

 E-520 Q-S1 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q-S1 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 comes with external measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Pentax Q-S1 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 203 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax Q-S1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-520 against the Q-S1.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q-S1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and Q-S1 is 68 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q-S1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q-S1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes merely by looking at specs. The pic underneath should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and Q-S1.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-520 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Pentax Q-S1 will give more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged E-520 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q-S1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q-S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography info
Pentax Q-S1 Portrait photography info
59
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
46
focusing manually
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Street photography camera
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (203 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax Q-S1 as a Sports photography camera
55
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great battery (650 CIPA)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (4.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
37
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers tracking autofocus
slow fps (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
bad battery power (250 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography information
Pentax Q-S1 Travel photography information
52
great battery (650 CIPA)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
60
lighter than competition in class (203g)
has built in flash
bad battery power (250 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography details
Pentax Q-S1 Landscape photography details
58
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
great battery (650 shots)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
exports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
bad battery power (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging features
Pentax Q-S1 Vlogging features
9
lack of video recording
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (203g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q-S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax Q-S1
 Olympus E-520Pentax Q-S1
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax Q-S1
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2008-08-20 2014-08-04
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Q Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Amount of lenses 45 8
Crop factor 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.90 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30, 25, 24p), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552g (1.22 lb) 203g (0.45 lb)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 105 x 58 x 34mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 images 250 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Price at launch $400 $250