Olympus E-520
Review Date : Mon, 4 Aug 2008
Author : Matt Golowczynski
- Product Shots: http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equipment/galleries/productshots/olympus/8771/1/0/olympus-e-520-product-shots.html
- Sample Photos: http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equipment/galleries/sample-images/olympus/9169/1/0/olympus-e-520-sample-images_pg_Inspire.html
- Video: http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/videos/reviews/285104/olympus-e420-and-e520-review.html
The 10-megapixel Olympus E-520 is the bigger brother of the E-420. The primary difference between the two is that the E-520 benefits from in-camera image stabilisation technology.
| Pros: | Superb handling, dust reduction, effective image stabilisation, consistent AWB. |
|---|---|
| Cons: | Power switch, highlight control, slow AF system with standard lenses. |
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the Four Thirds system has been around longer than its years. Having quietly celebrated its fifth birthday last year, the system has to date notched up 13 DSLR bodies and 37 lenses, with help from a range of manufacturers and the backing of an ardent supporter base.
Olympus has been at the forefront of this, most notably pioneering live view and its dust reduction system, technologies later adopted by other DSLR manufacturers for their own models. The E-520 features both of these, and also continues the evolution of the live view system.
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Verdict
There is a lot to like about the E-520, with its handling, effective image stabilisation and good image quality being three things that immediately spring to mind. <br><br> But as much as we’d like to report that it’s all roses, the 3-point AF system and limited ISO range are still disappointing.
Have your say!
Latest comments
October 01 14:49
Stephen Brasure
With the release of the Olympus E-620, the E-520 is now available at some very low prices (at least in the United States). It's hard to find a better deal than the E-520 lens kit, which is a great camera for those purchasing their first digital SLR. Having purchased a dual lens kit for my first SLR, I'm more than pleased with the camera's performance but you do have to be aware of it's limitations, as with any camera. One advantage of the Olympus E-520 is the quality of the JPEG images straight from the camera. They are usually quite excellent, and those who prefer to avoid a lot of post processing should compare JPEG quality of the 520 with images from other entry level SLR cameras. The quality of Olypus Zuiko lenses available for the E-520 is generally considered to be excellent and competitive with comparable offerings from Canon and Nikon. And again, for the average consumer, buying into the 4/3 Olympus system isn't any more or less advantageous than purchasing other systems. That being said, if the purchaser plans to upgrade to a full sensor body, than sticking with Canon or NIkon or other system may be preferable. With the availability of quality lenses, getting started with a 520 system can be a very cost effective means to enter SLR photography. And, there is always the option of upgrading to a newer body i.e. E-620 as prices come down or newer bodies are released. Bottom line..........the Olympus E-520 is a very competent and cost effective camera system for most consumers.