Editorial Review:Product Description:Olympus EVOLT E-510 digital SLR is a great camera to help you evolve as a photographer. Olympus digital SLRs are engineered to be 100-percent digital. Simply put, this means your pictures will have stunning edge-to-edge sharpness that can't be beat. Olympus' Live View LCD technology is a unique feature that enhances your picture-taking experience. Whatever life brings, whatever you're photographing, you'll capture colorful memories with the E-510's proven Dust Reduction System and powerful, 10 megapixel imager. Creative photography shouldn't necessarily be complicated. Using Zuiko digital lens technology, choose among auto and manual focus modes. You can select exposures manually but there's a wide scope of automatic modes to choose from. 29 exposure modes including 10 advanced modes and 19 Easy to Use Scene Select Modes. Simply select the right mode for your shot. The easy to use Scene Select Modes make you an instant expert, even with the most demanding shots. Choose from any of the 19 selections like Fireworks, Beach or Snow. The E-510 takes care of the rest. It's the digital SLR you've been waiting for. Adjust ISO 100 to 1600 Built-in multimode electronic-flash (external available. Inactivation is available to set) Shutter - Auto mode - 2 - 1/4000 sec. (depends on settings) 2 Mode self-timer Multifunction display menu Up to 650 pictures recordable using optical viewfinder per fully charged battery (with 50% flash light) (with BLM-1 under CIPA testing standard) Unit (body) Dimensions 5.35 in.(W) x 3.6 in. (W) x 2.67in. (D) / 136 mm (W) x 91.5 mm (H) x 68 mm (D) (excluding protrusions); Weight 16.2 oz. / 460 g (body only)
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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Great Camera for the price
This has been a great camera so far. Pictures are sharp and kit lenses perform surprisingly well. I/S is nice as is the relatively compact size. Moved up to DSLR and am thoroughly enjoying it. Compared to all the major brands before buying and checked many customer reviews as well. Universally this camera received the highest marks across the board.
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Great camera, great stop-action shots
It took a long time for me to make the jump from my old 35mm Mamaya/Sekor SLR film camera but I am really glad I did. The Olympus controls are intuitive, even for an old film person like me. The photo quality is excellent, and the sports mode (to freeze action) is great. You can set this camera to be as "manual" as you like, but the auto settings are very good. Even better, I can make adjustments to settings without my reading glasses on - they are large enough and intuitive enough to be able to do that. One word of advice: the camera did not come with storage media so make sure you order that when you order the camera.
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overall satisfaction
This camera has much potential as a powerful photographic tool. However, It will probably not produce exceptional results in the hands of someone who does not desire to take the time to learn its capabilities, or would simply be more comfortable with a point and shoot experience.
My previous camera, a Canon G2 (point and shoot), still produces great output even today, but I never truly "enjoyed" the experience of using it, because it did not handle comfortably and "intuitively" as a "photographic tool". My wife (the non-photographer) uses the G2 now! Myself, I find the E510 is much more enjoyable for me in this regard--to the extent that it has totally rekindled my interest in photography.
Before settling on the E510, I considered the Canon 30D (with a 28-135mm lens), but returned it after a week because I was not happy with the relatively hefty price, quality issues and range of this lens (Actually, the 30D is a superb camera in its own rite... however, harnessing its potential really requires quite an investment in "L" glass.)
For me the E510 with its 2 superb kit lenses, was a perfect fit for what I was looking for, covering an excellent range of effective 28-300mm with quality optics. No regrets buying this.
Incidentally, I also picked up a used E330 camera body soon after, and it perfectly complements the E510.
I know the E520 is now the latest, greatest.... but the E510 is still the best deal going!
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Olympus E-510
I am enjoying this camera and I like how the photos look. I would highly recommend it.
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Best Value in a DSLR Available Today
This camera does all the description says and more. If you are looking for your first DSLR, and are shopping around, stop now and purchase this camera. I considered waiting for the 520, but the only new features I noticed on the mfg. page were "redesigned controls for people with certain types of color blindness" and the ability to remotely control flash units, neither of which I require.
The photos I have taken over the last few weeks with this camera have more than justified the cost, and I am glad I didn't lose those photo opportunities by continuing to shop around and compare cameras.
The 510 takes amazing photos straight out of the box when set to Auto, and Manual shooting can be done with individual features, such as only the aperture setting being controlled manually, while the focus and ISO are controlled automatically, or the exposure can be controlled manually, with the aperture controlled automatically. By working with only one variable at a time, learning to shoot with manual settings is fun and easy.
If you are uncertain about the 4/3rds format, be aware that this format is actually closer to standard print sizes, such as 8x10, than the standard format most digital cameras use. You do not have to worry about having shots with odd looking aspect ratios.
The kit lenses are more than adequate, with the 150mm being great for wildlife photography. Using the image stabilization feature, telephoto shots of the moon in which craters are clearly visible can be taken without a tripod.
Astrophotographers will like the option to leave the shutter open for 60 seconds, or up to 8 minutes with the optional remote control.
I have no negatives to report for this camera. I suggest purchasing a starter filter kit such as this Hoya 58mm Introductory Filter Kit, UV, Circular Polarizer, 81A and Filter Wallet, or at least a U/V filter for each lens if for no other purpose than to protect it. No extra battery should be required. After four weeks and hundreds of photos, I have only charged my battery once.
For some examples of E-500 series photos, check out the Flickr group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/olympus_e500/
