Editorial Review:Product Description:Featuring a 2.0-megapixel CCD, 3x optical/2.5x seamless digital zoom lens, and a host of innovative automatic features, the stylish and compact D-520 Zoom lets you take crisp, colorful pictures at the touch of a button. Even shooting a short movie is simple with QuickTime mode. And with USB Auto-Connect, the D-520 will be automatically recognized by almost any USB-equipped computer, so downloading files from the camera is virtually effortless. Nothing's impossible.
Amazon.com Product Description:Seeking a digital camera to replace your 35mm film point-and-shoot? A 3x optical zoom lens, 2-megapixel sensor, and familiar film camera style and operation make the Olympus D-520 a great all-around performer for your family snapshots and vacation memories.
Optics and Resolution This successor to the bestselling D-510 comes with a 2-megapixel sensor that captures enough detail for crisp 8-by-10-inch prints. For the typical family photographer, 2 megapixels is a great balance between price and performance. If you want a camera with even more resolution you'll probably also want more manual controls than the D-520 offers--consider the Olympus C-3020 instead.
The all-glass autofocus Olympus lens has a 3x zoom range that's equivalent to a 35-105mm zoom lens on a 35mm camera. For technophiles, it's an eight-element lens that includes an aspheric element, and the aperture ranges from f2.8 to f7.5 at its wide-angle setting. There's also a 2.5x digital zoom, but remember that digital zoom tends to reduce the sharpness and detail of your image, so it's best used sparingly.
To compose your images, either use the traditional camera viewfinder or the 1.5-inch LCD display (which is also used to review the shots you've taken). Having both types of viewfinders offers the best of both worlds: if you're used to using a film camera or want to conserve battery life, use the viewfinder. If you want to see exactly the picture you'll be capturing, use the LCD display.
More Features The D-520 is substantially smaller than its predecessor (the D-510), but its general design is still very similar. A sliding clamshell lens cover simultaneously protects the lens and provides a simple way to turn the camera on and off, and the all-plastic body feels both lightweight and durable. While the D-520 is clearly designed for point-and-shooters and beginning photographers, there are several manual features for more adventurous photographers, including macro mode, adjustable white-balance settings, exposure compensation, and the ability to shoot black-and-white and sepia images.
Power Power is provided by two AA batteries or one LB-01 disposable lithium battery--a pair of AA alkaline batteries is included. The LB-01 batteries essentially look like two attached AA batteries, and they have a surprisingly long lifespan. However, they aren't rechargeable, so when they finally die, they go into the trash. If you use the camera once a month or less, the lithium battery pack is a logical idea, since it will hold its charge for years when sitting in an unused camera. If you use the camera more often, then the lithium packs don't make economic or environmental sense--we recommend getting a set or two of rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries and a charger. A digital camera will kill a set of alkaline batteries extremely quickly, especially if you're using the camera's LCD display, so they aren't recommended except in a pinch. To ensure you'll always be ready for action, we recommend having two sets of rechargeables so you can always have one set in the camera and the other set in the charger.
Movie Mode In movie mode, the camera captures silent video clips at resolutions of up to 320 x 240 pixels. The limited duration and resolution of your movies guarantees that this feature won't replace your camcorder, but it's perfect for when you just want to capture a quick movie and e-mail it to a friend or relative.
Storage and Transfer Images are stored on SmartMedia memory cards. The included 16 MB card holds approximately 32 images at the camera's default settings. SmartMedia cards are reusable, but if you tend to take more than 32 images per outing (or plan to use the video feature frequently), then you'll want a bigger card. A 64 MB card will store well over 100 pictures. With most cameras, the brand of memory card you use is irrelevant, but genuine Olympus cards have a panorama feature not found on cards from other manufacturers. This feature makes it easier to stitch together a series of pictures you take into a single panoramic photo, and may justify the slightly higher price of the card if it's a feature you plan to use frequently.
To transfer images to your computer, simply attach the included USB cable between your PC and your camera. Your computer should automatically recognize your camera and let you move the pictures to your hard drive.
Size At 4.4 by 2.4 by 1.4 inches and 6.3 ounces, the D-520 is extremely slim and compact, making it easy to bring along on outings.
Contents and Recommended Accessories The package includes the camera, 16 MB SmartMedia card, two AA alkaline batteries, USB cable, video cable, carrying strap, and software on CD.
Everything you need to get started is included in the box, but we recommend these accessories to make the most of your camera: a carrying case, a set of NiMH rechargeable size AA batteries, and a higher-capacity SmartMedia memory card. Compatible accessories for this camera are listed near the top of this page.
--Shane Burnett Pros: - Familiar film point-and-shoot look and operation
- Smaller and lighter than its predecessor
Cons:
Accessories:
see more
Accessories:
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
-
One of the best investments i've ever made
I've had this bad boy for over 4 years and have taken it all around the world with me, and its worked like a champ; a true workhorse. For being 2 megapixel, it sure takes sharp pictures. only gripe I have with it is it goes through AA batteries like no other. But besides that, it's great. I love this camera with all my heart and would recommend it to anyone. The
Rating: -
Wonderful for its time!
I awoke on Christmas Day three years ago to find this sitting "under the tree." Actually, it was inside on the kitchen table. Anyway, I was truly delighted! Digital cameras were the new thing and the 35mm cameras were being tossed out the door. I felt like I was up-to-date with technology. This camera has taken many pictures so far. It has gone everywhere from the redwood forests in California, to the sunny beaches of Florida. I find it to be really fun. Unfortunatly, as I continued to take pictures, I slowly realized how limited this camera was. I was dissapointed to find that I cannot control the shutter exposure. Also, I am dissaponted that I cannot switch lenses. So, simply, I find that this camera is not for me. Though, what did I know when I chose it! Though I am saddened by its many limitations, this camera never failed to serve me well. It is wonderfully portable, and the battery life is better than many other cameras I have used. Also, it is very user-friendly. Usage is very simple; from choosing picture resolution, to drive swapping, to alternating exposure. I am a big fan of Olympus, and I believe that for it's time, this was a fabulous camera!
Rating: 
-
Aggravating
I bought this some time ago and have pretty much regretted it. The Olympus D-520 is fine if you're a e-bayer who takes occasional pictures of junk you sell but I wouldn't recommend it for pictures of real life and certainly not as a tool to document an expensive vacation. You're kids will hate you for not getting their precious moments on stage.
Reaction time is slow. It has a red-eye reduction flash. The delay between that and the real photo is so long half my pictures were of everyone walking away.
The battery also kills me. It's fine for about five photos and then blinks out in a few seconds if you don't take a photo fast enough. "OK, everyone smile. Ready? Oh, sorry, the camera turned itself off. Stay right where you're at..." Argh
Rating: -
Simple and Functional
Ironically, I got a digital camera because I took so few pictures with a film camera, and now I take far more pictures since the costs of film and developing are gone. I no longer need to wait two years to see what 24 pictures I took, I can see them instantly with the handy little screen. I have had focus issues taking pictures quickly or in dim light, but for simple point and shoot photography this is an easy-to-use camera. So, if you're someone who wouldn't describe yourself as any kind of photographer, but wants to take pictures from time to time, and you're just looking for an inexpensive digital camera that works as you'd expect but also has a few bells and whistles for when you're feeling adventurous, then the D-520 is a good choice.
Rating: -
I hate this camera with a passion
If I could give this camera 0 stars I would!
As a teenager I'm not looking for anything too snazzy in a camera. I had a pretty cheap digital olympus that lasted me about 3 years and I loved it. No fancy modes, no high-tec fancy smancy mumbo jumbo... not that I wouldn't like a high-tec camera, just that I don't particularly need it. I just want a camera that allows me to take a few hundred pictures at a time, for trips with friends and the family, for soccer games, for concerts, the beach...ect... My old reliable camera broke last summer after I got thousands of great pictures out of it, and so for the last x-mas my mother (who didn't do much research, but with good intentions) bought me this PIECE OF CRAP...
If you like all the fancy ways to take pictures- there is a tiny possibility you might like this camera... It has all that...somewhat... no wait... not at all...
It maintains a pretense that its high-tec, but it's really just a piece of crap.
When I first got it I brought it with me on my trip to Paris and I was highly dissapointed that after I shot a picture it took literally 15-20 seconds for the flash to re-whatever and let me take another one. I missed about 70% of the pictures I wanted to take, and whenever people posed in my pictures- it took about 5 minutes for my camera to "let" me take the picture. NO CANDID SHOTS here.
Then halfway through the trip, I'd turn on the camera, the screen would pop up, I'd try to take a picture, the orange and green lights would flash and then it would simply turn off... I looked through the manuel and it says that this is simply a problem with the batteries (although the battery symbol came up as full) and so I bought a fresh pack and re-loaded them. And of course it continued to flash and turn off..
I'm not done- I took it to a camera shop, and the guy had no idea what was wrong- I missed pictures of half my Paris trip, a concert , and a beach trip with my friends all because of this horrible joke-of-a-camera.- I also spent the equivolent of the price of this piece of crap on disposable cameras that gave me horrible pictures.
BIG TIP- If you have a son or daughter and you're buying them a camera DO NOT buy this one just-because it's cheap(in case I haven't made myself clear), because they will hate it and resent you for not researching or caring about it...
