Editorial Review:Product Description:Your life is full of priceless, fleeting moments that you want to keep just the way you see and feel them. Preserve each moment with the E-520. With the E-520's Live View, you can shoot your subject while viewing it on the LCD monitor, so it's just like shooting with a compact camera. In addition to phase-difference detection AF, the E-520 incorporates a high speed Imager AF that offers easy 11-point multi-area autofocusing with Live View simply by half-pressing the shutter button. Face Detection AF automatically detects up to 8 faces at a time and adjusts focus appropriately. Accurate composition is assured by the monitor's 100% field of view. The E-520 is equipped with a 2.7' HyperCrystal II LCD monitor with high-definition 230,000-dot resolution, improved contrast ratio, and enhanced color reproduction capability. While shooting with Live View, framing-assist patterns or a histogram can be displayed on the LCD monitor to improve your picture composition and check exposure condition. The E-520 incorporates a Live MOS sensor with 10-Megapixels, Olympus' original TruePic III image processing engine delivers improved imaging, gradation expression and color reproduction capabilities as well as minimized noise at high ISO setting. Olympus' highly acclaimed dust reduction system employs a Supersonic Wave Filter in front of the image sensor, which vibrates at such high speed and with such great power that it removes even the most stubborn dust; dust that cannot be removed by just shaking the image sensor or by discharging the static electricity. Weight - 475 grams (body only)
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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Surprisingly good pictures at this price level
I looked at several camera models from Olympus, Nikon, and Canon. While a lot of folks go with Canon or Nikon, I found the values and quality of the Olympus 510 or 520 to be much better.
I considered for a long time whether to pay less for the 510 or get the latest 520 for a little bit more money. I decided to go with 520 eventually and I am very happy with my decision. I also bought another 40 to 150 mm lens
The focus is very sharp, colors are very good. Picture quality is much better than I expected. At first, I used the Auto mode like many other DSLR beginners. Later, I tried different modes including P, A, S and could really create many different type of pictures. AE Bracket is very useful. I found image stabilization very useful. Occasionally, the pictures under expose a bit particularly indoors. But fear not, just set the exposure to overexpose by 0.3 or 0.7 and viola, the quality is great.
Some complained that 510/520 only has 3 AF points but other brands provide more. I think that is a good thing. That makes focusing so much easier when you only need to think about using 1 of the 3 points. If you use Live View, you can many more focus points. But so far I use view finder most of the time. Battery lasts forever. I have taken hundreds of pictures and haven't had the need to recharge.
All in all, this is an awesome camera.
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very much worth the purchase
The E-520 from Olympus is my first DSLR purchase and I must say that it is an excellent camera. I've taken some great shots with it outside and I'm very impressed. The kit lens (Zuiko 14-42mm) i find to be a great starter lens although in low light situations the auto focus takes much time and can be inaccurate. i plan to get the Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm lens to go with this camera as it handles lower light situations much better. the auto white balance can generally be accurate but i do suggest using either one of the presets or making manual tweaks. while live view is one of the big features in this dslr, as it has been with almost all of their dslr cameras, i find myself having more fun using the viewfinder, which hasn't really given me any problems. the anti-dust system is great, i still encourage cleaning the camera every once in a while as well just as a precaution. I encourage anybody in the market for an entry level dslr to look @ and try the e-520.
Rating: -
Olympus E-520, an excellent choice
I was shopping from my first DSLR and finally settled for the Oly E520 after shortlisting it with Canon XSi [450D] and Sony A300. Some of the features that made me go for it are mentioned below:
- a nice package with 14-42mm and 40-150mm lenses
- the quality of Zuiko lenses [and they are smart to market them as optimized for digital photography]
- SSWF dust removal system [which according to some works the best]
- Live View [XSi and A300 have that too]
- In body Image stabilization, which means that you don't need expensive lenses with stabilization [A300 has in-body stabilization too]
- the camera felt better in hand than the other two
- the Olympus brand
- Intuitive Menu
I have both the CF and xD cards on it. The xD card box has a code that activates Art and 3D feature on the Olympus Master 2 Software.
For someone who is moving up from the point and shoots, the Oly E-520 is one of the best choices. I have been using it for a week now and everyday I learn something new about it.
Overall, it's one of the best and I have no hesitation in giving it 5 stars and recommending it highly!!!!
Rating: -
Great value for money
I evaluated the Canon 40D and new EOS XSI before stumbling onto this little beauty. I can argue that it takes just as good pictures as the 40D - at least in my hands. It's smaller than the Canons and for the price, an incredible deal.
Now, not to put down Canon... I actually broke my Canon brand loyalty for this camera, but overall, Olympus did a great job in packing features and ease of use into this camera and once its in your hands, you'll see it.
The back has lots of buttons but once you spend 15 min figuring out how to navigate the camera and its buttons, you'll like the ready access to many functions.
In terms of image quality, it's breathtaking for those looking to step up from advanced point and shoot cameras. It's not a pro camera for sure but I'm no pro and for what I do, it more than gets the job done. I use it for baby photos, nature macro, nature landscape and cityscape photography and it does great for the variety of environments I shoot in. One thing I find really impressive is the flash. Flash on most DSLR's tend to wash out or harshen images. This camera's flash is just enough but not too much so long as you compose your shots correctly. (Like not having your subject 1 meter from the lens!)
Overall - I'm glad I looked at this and Olympus won themselves a convert!
EDIT - 8/8/08. After using the camera for a few days, I noticed that when I turned the camera off, a rattle would emanate from the inside of the camera. Distraught, I removed the lens and still the rattle continued. Upset that my new beauty was defective, I boxed it back up and prepared to return it... but before I did, I called Olympus support to see if they had any insight since I could find NOTHING on the internet about the rattling. Well, as it turned out, it was the image stabilizer in the camera body that was creating the rattle! The tech said it was a natural function of the IS "resetting" itself. (Remember, this camera has in-body IS, not lens IS) When I turned off the IS, no more rattle. Whew, good thing I called - Olympus support was great and saved a return. Only con is that they should document this in the manual, its a little unnerving at first but you get used to it. Don't worry, the rattle is slight - nothing that will jar the camera from your hands or damage any internal parts. It was that I just never felt something like this emanating from a camera before. Verdict after 1000 shots, still love it!
Rating: -
A Great DSLR - Highly Recommended!
This is my first DSLR. I bought this and the Canon XSI at the same time and tried them both for a week. To make a long story short, I returned the XSI and kept the E520. It was just easier to take good pictures indoors, which is where I do most of my shooting. The Canon took more effort to produce good pictures. Plus I liked the interface of the Olympus more.
The XSI has a better viewfinder and a slightly better autofocus system but the Olympus image quality won me over in the end. Its white balance and exposure was just easier to get right than the Canon.
The key is to purchase a camera that you will use and the Olympus does that for me.
