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The perfect moment doesnt wait. Thats why serious photographers need serious equipment so that they are ready for whatever comes. With its pro features and top image quality, the new Olympus E-520 D-SLR fits the bill perfectly. The next evolution to the EISA Award-winning E-500 series incorporates a built-in image stabiliser to ensure blur-free shots irrespective of the lens attached - no matter if wide-angle or ultra-tele and without the need for a tripod. Matched with the Supersonic Wave Filter dust protection system and improved Live View capabilities, the freedom to frame and take great, crystal-clear photos is virtually limitless. Based upon the forward-looking designed for digital Four Thirds Standard, the 10.0 Megapixel E-520 with Live View ensures uncompromising D-SLR quality.
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Technical Details
- E 520 (Body) + 14-42 mm- E 520 Body + 14-42 mm
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By C. Watts (UK)
Main Features
Built-in image stabilizer for all lenses
Autofocus Live View
Dust-reduction system
Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology
2.7" HyperCrystal II LCD
10 Megapixel Live MOS sensor
3.5fps with up to 8 images in RAW buffer
Built-in flash and wireless flash control
32 shooting modes
Bracketing functions
ISO 100-1600
AF/ AE lock functionality
Depth of field preview
Anti-shock (mirror lock) function
One-touch white balance
Perfect Shot Preview
100% field of view via LCD
TruePic III image processor
Detailed playback information with histogram
Hi-Speed USB 2.0
Introduction
The Olympus E-520 was announced on May 13, 2008. Rather than providing a comparison to the camera it updates, the E-510, this review looks at the E-520 in it's own right.
Getting Started
This is not a camera you just take out of the box and start shooting with. The manual says it takes 5 hours to charge the battery. And, indeed, it took 4 hours before the battery was fully charged. It is worth taking a little time to become familiar with the layout and controls. Knowing which functions the menu controls is also important before you embark on a serious project.
Build Quality and Button Layout
I immediately enjoyed holding this camera, being impressed by the ample space around the grip. I have spoken with a variety of users of this camera and they all comment that they find the size comfortable. What I am most impressed with is that I am able to access ALL of the following by external button control: Drive mode, Flash up/Flash mode, Exposure Compensation, Auto Exposure/Auto Focus Lock, Auto focus point, Live View, White Balance, Focus mode, ISO Sensitivity, Image Stabilization, and Metering mode. Thus, no delving into menus to change any of these key settings. There is a single control dial, located on the right of the body. Although not built to the E-1 and E-3 standards, the E-520 is still a solid camera.
Live View
This is becoming the de facto standard for more and more digital SLR cameras. I must say I really enjoy using Live View on a DSLR. It is a totally different experience compared with composing a photograph through the viewfinder. What it allows is for the photographer to view his composition and also the context of the composition. This is a different way of thinking from traditional composition methods using only the viewfinder. I find it liberating and an enhancement to the whole process of composition. The E-520 implementation of this feature works very well. I found I was not having to think about "how" it works but just getting on and using this method.
Image Quality
My standard file format for digital photography is RAW. I normally use Phase One Capture One to process RAW images and thus did not use the included Olympus Master and Studio software for processing the RAW captures I made for this review. The attached image samples were all shot in RAW mode and had no, or minimal, adjustments made before processing as JPEG files. I am very impressed with the Olympus ORF RAW files. I find they have wide latitude of adjustment before I see any degradation or obvious processing artifacts. The legendary rich Olympus colours and fantastic optics produce beautiful images. The only caveat would be that from ISO 800 onwards noise is evident. If you are a JPEG Shooter. . . Perhaps your preferred file format is JPEG. You will then be pleased with some of the in-camera image parameters. They are: Picture Mode: Vivid, Natural, Muted, Portrait, Monotone. Gradation/Dynamic Range enhancement: Auto, Low Key, Normal, High Key. Image adjustments: Contrast, Saturation, Sharpness B&W filter: Neutral, Yellow, Orange, Red, Green. Picture tone: Neutral, Sepia, Blue, Purple, Green.
Conclusion
Of course, there is much more to this camera than what is covered in this review. However, focusing on the key features important to a photographer reveal that the E-520 is a solid photographic tool.
Pros. Live View, excellent kit lens, compact and ergonomic design
Cons. Noise at ISO 800 and higher
By M. Anderson (Lincolnshire, UK)
An excellent camera with many features, that are on other cameras but at a much higher price.
The Olympus is for beginner and professional alike at a price that won't leave you out of pocket.
By Quiverbow (Kent, England)
I'm new to the DSLR market having just upgraded from a compact digital. My problem was deciding which camera to go for; all the photography magazines gave similar ratings for the entry level cameras I could afford. Narrowing it down to two models, I plumped for the e520 and am I pleased I did.
I'm not in a position to compare this with anything else because I simply don't know. What I do know is that it's light and accessible, with all the buttons, switches and knobs falling easily to hand. I like the live view for the ability it gives to compose your scene beforehand and the pictures it takes are excellent. The ability to take photos in monochrome and other assorted modes is good. (Other, more experienced photographers, may mention things like 'noise' and 'RAW' but the market this camera is aimed at won't really be that bothered about such things - and, like me, I doubt they'd be able to tell the difference unless it's pointed out?) Yes, the number of extra lenses available is nowhere near that of other manufacturers, but again, the supplied kit lens and maybe another two would be ample for those whom buy this.
Not only is this a great DSLR, but I shopped around and found it in Curry's for £320 and got a 4GB CF card and camera case thrown in, but not literally, which brings the price below £300 in effect. (It's being discontinued in that chain, so you'll get a good deal.)
By trevorc
My first DSLR following on from an FZ50 that I have had for 3 years. I weighed up my options and for my specific needs and bang for buck, Olympus was the obvious choice.
I'm a birder and the main reasons for wanting to upgrade was to increase my chances of taking successful bird in flight pictures. I have much to learn but first impressions are very good. I am getting better results on the birds and there is a definite improvement in image quality and most notable speedier everything. Birds in flight are difficult with any camera but I believe that I will see a real benefit as my technique gets better. Not everything is an improvement. I also like to take insects and being used to small sensor/large depth of field, a DSLR is very challenging but that's a DSLR issue not anything to do with the camera. When I get it right, the IQ is very good. The ergonomics of the camera are excellent for me it feels like it was made to measure and while the menu system is fairly heavy, the convenient info screen makes it very east to change settings quickly. I bought it with the 14-42 and 70-300 and for just over £600 this has to be a bargain. There won't be many left, I'd encourage anybody to snap one up.
By Cosmo (UK)
Most people like to rave about the kit they buy. Cognitive dissonance! Let's be impartial. I've used the E520 for a month after buying through Amazon. It's a competitive camera in its price range. The compromises are all about the Four Thirds standard. Shorter focal lengths (half those of 35mm film cameras) go towards lighter weight and very good zoom range effectively 28mm - 300mm in 35mm equivalent with the two kit lenses. But also a smaller sensor for the megapixels with consequent noise problems to manage. You have to study the manual to get the best out of the E520. The most useful online review is of its immediate predecessor the E510, in dpreview.com. Olympus' compromise has been to add strong automatic noise reduction which makes for softer, more blurry image definition and then to counteract that by a high default level of sharpening. Frankly, that doesn't work very well. For clearer images with more detail comparable to the Canon EOS 400 series and the Nikon D80 you will want to use Program mode with noise reduction off, sharpening reduced and ISO in the range 100 - 400. This is not the best camera for good image quality with low available light and higher ISOs (it goes up to 1600) although you still get usable images with noise reduction at auto then. Strong points are light weight, practical handling, battery performance, good kit lenses, good image stabilisation, acclaimed dust control, very good white balance, lovely natural colours, a good range of features including live view (with enlargement for fine focus adjustment), bracketing, scope to customise. Weak points are low light performance, soft images on auto, three point autofocus, small tunnel-like view through the finder (a Four-Thirds problem), lowish dynamic range with a tendency to clip highlights, diffraction blur at small apertures. Olympus have made the most of the Four Thirds system's potential advantages and have tried to compensate for its deficiencies by in-camera processing. Lastly, Olympus trumpet their shadow adjustment and gradation features but I haven't found them worth writing about. All up, a good camera if you want light weight, practical features, good handling at the expense of some image quality especially in lower light. Next time I'd save more money and go up a league or two...Olympus E-520 DSLR with ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 & ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm 1:4.0-5.6 lenses
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