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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q7

Portability
68
Imaging
45
Features
45
Overall
45
Olympus E-520 front
 
Pentax Q7 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
54
Overall
43

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q7 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
  • Launched August 2008
  • Superseded the Olympus E-510
Pentax Q7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Replaced the Pentax Q10
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q7 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q7, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Pentax. The image resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the Q7 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and Q7 (1/1.7") offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-520 was introduced 6 years before the Q7 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Pentax Q7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-520 grades versus the Q7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-520 over the Pentax Q7

 E-520 Q7 

Reasons to pick Pentax Q7 over the Olympus E-520

 Q7 E-520 
RevealedAugust 2013August 2008Newer by 60 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-520 and Pentax Q7

 E-520 Q7 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q7 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-520 offers 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 Q7 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q7 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-520 vs the Q7.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q7 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and Q7 is 68 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by looking at technical specs. The picture below may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-520 and Q7.

As you have seen, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-520 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax Q7 will give extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-520 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-520 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax Q7 as a Portrait photography camera
59
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (10 megapixels)
48
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-520 Street photography advice
Pentax Q7 Street photography advice
65
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition (200 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-520 Sports photography info
Pentax Q7 Sports photography info
55
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good battery life (650 per charge)
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
low MP (10 megapixels)
32
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
bad battery (250 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-520 Travel photography details
Pentax Q7 Travel photography details
52
good battery life (650 shots)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
60
lighter than competition (200g)
has built in flash
bad battery (250 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-520 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax Q7 Landscape photography highlights
58
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (650 shots)
screen is small (2.7")
low MP (10 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
bad battery (250 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-520 Vlogging factors
Pentax Q7 Vlogging factors
9
can't shoot video
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (200 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-520 vs Pentax Q7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-520 and Pentax Q7
 Olympus E-520Pentax Q7
General Information
Make Olympus Pentax
Model Olympus E-520 Pentax Q7
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2008-08-20 2013-08-08
Physical type Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
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 aliasing 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
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Pentax Q
Number of lenses 45 8
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT color LCD monitor, wide angle viewing, AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.90 m (ISO100/m)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye P-TTL, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - FullHD(1920x1080, 30fps/25fps/24fps), HD(1280x720,16:9,30fps/25fps/24fps), VGA(640x480,4:3,30fps/25fps/24fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552g (1.22 pounds) 200g (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 All around score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 548 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 shots 250 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 sec, 2 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD, SDHC, SDXC and Eye-Fi Card
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $400 $480