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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q10

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax Q10 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
56
Overall
44

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q10 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-510
Pentax Q10
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Earlier Model is Pentax Q
  • Newer Model is Pentax Q7
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q10 Overview

Below is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax Q10, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Pentax. The resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the Q10 (12MP) is relatively similar but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and Q10 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-520 was released 5 years before the Q10 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax Q10 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-520 matches up vs the Q10 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax Q10

 E-520 Q10 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q10 over the Olympus E-520

 Q10 E-520 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012August 2008More recent by 49 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax Q10

 E-520 Q10 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q10 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 has got physical measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Pentax Q10 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-520 versus Pentax Q10 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-520 vs the Q10.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q10 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-520 and Q10 is 68 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q10 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements just by reviewing specifications. The graphic underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-520 and Q10.

Plainly, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-520 due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Pentax Q10 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older E-520 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 Portrait photography details
Pentax Q10 Portrait photography details
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
resolution not great (10MP)
48
has manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Street photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Street photography camera
65
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
lighter than average (200 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-520
Sports photography with Pentax Q10
55
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good battery pack (650 per charge)
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
36
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography information
Pentax Q10 Travel photography information
52
good battery pack (650 shots)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
resolution not great (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
60
lighter than average (200 grams)
has built in flash
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax Q10 as a Landscape photography camera
58
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (650 CIPA)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
resolution not great (10MP)
missing Timelapse mode
54
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax Q mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (270 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-520
Vlogging with Pentax Q10
9
can't shoot video
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (200g)
screen is not selfie friendly
no microphone support
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax Q10
 Olympus E-520Pentax Q10
General Information
Company Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus E-520 Pentax Q10
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2008-08-20 2012-09-10
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Available lenses 45 8
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video 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 552 gr (1.22 pounds) 200 gr (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 49
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 21.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.9
DXO Low light rating 548 183
Other
Battery life 650 images 270 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $400 $350