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Olympus Evolt E520 10MP Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization w/ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Lens | 
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| Brand: Olympus
Category: Photography
List Price: $1,060.88
Buy New: $539.00
You Save: $521.88 (49%)
New (34)
Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 311
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Display Size: 2.7
Maximum Focal Length: 42
Minimum Focal Length: 14
Maximum Resolution: 10
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.3
Dimensions (in): 4 x 4 x 4
MPN: E520 14-42
Model: E520 14-42
UPC: 050332163973
EAN: 0050332163973
ASIN: B0019FJM9A
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | 10-megapixel CMOS sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints | | • | Lightweight ergonomic design; kit includes 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko lens | | • | Enhanced in-body Image Stabilization with Supersonic Wave Drive technology | | • | Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment technologies; Perfect Shot Preview | | • | Compatible with CompactFlash Type I and II, Microdrives, and xD-Picture Cards (not included) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
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:
 Damaged January 6, 2009
Jane Eyre (NYC)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
My camera's Compact Flash drive slot came damaged. Almost half the pins are bent, thus the camera's ability to not read a CF memory card. Very disappointed in this "new" item arriving damaged.
 Why a DSLR December 30, 2008
John C. Henze (USA)
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
When you have superzoom cams like the Panaonic FZ-28 with a zoom from 28-476mm for only $262 why would you go with a DSLR that will become obselete in a year?
I have a system film Nikon but in the flux of e cameras it seems to be almost a throw away to me.
Having said that I love Olympus products..............
5-star camera amongst 5-star competition December 28, 2008
Jeremy (Madison, AL USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I've owned an E510 for over a year. Here are a few comments that might help you.
The E520 adds face detection, a vertical panning IS (image stabilization) mode, and an improved sensor with better noise and dynamic range. Conventional wisdom is that it is not worth upgrading an E510, and further that it is worth looking at E510s on markdown if you can find a good deal. The E520, though, is certainly improved.
There are no bad DSLRs any more. They are all really good, although within a given budget and dimension, designers have to prune certain features. Olympus' main feature is the four-thirds sensor - this is one of the smaller sensor footprints available, meaning that lens designs are slightly more compact, but small sensors generate more noise in low-light conditions.
In good light, sensor noise is not a problem. For most consumer-level users, ISOs up to about 400 or even 800 are very good - but most consumers would notice the more grainy, washed out look at 1600. I would rate an ISO1600 shot as unacceptable at 8"x10" on the E510.
The small light circle also makes the Olympus view finder smaller and darker. If you peer through, say, a budget Nikon, the view is noticeably larger and brighter.
However, the E520 has image stabilization in the body, rather than the lenses. Lens stabilization is slightly better - it also works while you are framing up the shot - but obviously you pay for it in every lens. Many Canon/Nikon lenses do not have IS.
Neither the E520 nor the kit lenses are weather sealed. Be careful in the rain or at the beach. Fortunately, the Olympus self-cleaning sensor is probably the best one out there. I have not had to clean my sensor yet.
You will need an extra battery. The focusing in low light gets slow or fails completely as the battery runs down. I have a Duracell spare - it has been fine.
If you are into HDR (and you WILL be), the E-520 offers only +-1 EV brackets. You will have to use a tripod and fiddle with exposure between each shot for other brackets.
I recommend making a "lens plan" to decide whether to get the body only, or a 1 or 2 lens kit.
Olympus is respected for the quality of the kit lenses. These lens (the 14-42 and 40-150) are extremely compact, with good image quality. They primarily give up speed, but they are well within the speed range of other brand's kit lenses. If you buy the kit lenses, you will look jealously at the 14-54, and the 12-60 "walking around" lenses - these are highly regarded but much more expensive. Except for the extra speed, most consumers will not notice the difference on a 5x4 print with these lenses over the kit lenses. With larger prints, or with low light, the more expensive glass is worth having.
Overall, Olympus lenses are highly regarded, even by people who are not fans of the format. Expect to pay $200 to $600 for "Standard" grade, $600 to $1200 for "High Grade", and $1200 to $2000 for "Super High Grade" lenses. Olympus also offers a few obligatory $5000 monsters - these are well into purely-theoretical for an average user like myself.
I added the 9-18 and 70-300 lenses to my 2 kit lenses, for roughly an extra $1000. This gives me coverage from 9 through 300. These are all Olympus "Standard" quality lenses, good image quality, but not weather sealed, and a bit slow.
It is fair to say that the four-thirds system is a bit of a pariah in the camera world. There are a few pro's shooting with it, but you should be aware that Canon has over 60% of the market, and Nikon something like 15%. If you search B&H, you will find pages and pages of Canon lenses, but only 2 pages of Olympus. Many photographers will pointedly sniff at your 4:3 ratio pictures, instead of their "classic" 3:2 ratio. However, 4:3 is a better crop if you often print out 8x10 pictures instead of the small 5x3 or 6x4, and Walmart and many other developers offer a 5x4 size.
I wish there were more lenses to choose from - yet I would still buy the ones I already bought. I wish the noise performance were better - but I have never really lost a shot because of it, and may add an E-30 body to my bag soon. I'm satisfied with the 4/3 format, and very happy with my camera.
You should google up Wrotniak, four-thirds (on Wikipedia), or four-thirds forum for more information.
Great buy, great deal, great camera!!!! December 20, 2008
crystal tear
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have done a long research before I decided to go ahead with this camera, I was thinking about Nikon, Canon (like most of us), Olympus (in the past I had p&s Camedia 4000 and it was excellent camera) and Pentax.
Finally I decided to buy this one and I am so very happy with the buy!!!
Photos are great and even if you are not advanced photographer you manage to take some good shots! It is easy to operate and relatively light.
 e520 vs, e510 December 17, 2008
William Balsam (Taos, NM)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Although I ended up buying the e510, the reasons might be of interest to people considering the e520 since both are still on the market. To be sure, these cameras have much in common. They both rate excellent image quality, resolution, color accuracy, very low to low noise from ISO 100 to 1600, and very high shadow detail. In addition, they are both of similar shape and easy to hold and handle. Further, like all Olympus DSLRs they are sturdy and have a low frequency of repair rate.
The e 520 improves on the e510 or adds the following features:
1) slightly improved dynamic range,
2) face detection,
3) ability to fire an Olympus flash remotely and still use TTL (the e510 can do this only on manual)
4) bigger LCD screen (2.7" vs. 2.5"),
5) faster processor, and
6) more scenes and profiles.
However, the e510:
1) is slightly smaller
2) is slightly lighter,
3) focuses a little faster, and
4) can be had for less than $550 with 2 lenses.
Size and weight were important in my decision because I take my cameras hiking and the added features of the e520 were not ones I considered deal breakers. However, it was the price of the 2 lens package that tipped me over the edge to buy the e510 as opposed to the e520.
While these are both very good, sturdy cameras there are some annoyances they share.
1. Both apparently have trouble focusing in low light. But, my experience says it has to be pretty dark for this to be a real problem.
2. I was aware of the low light focus problem when I bought the camera and figured one can always switch to manual focus. But, the focus ring on the lens requires a lot of movement making straight manual focus less useful than I had hoped it would be. Fortunately, Olympus includes a mode where you can auto-focus and then touch up manually.
3. Live view works but, compared to point and shoot cameras, is clunky and will never replace using the viewfinder, not that I want to. (I suspect this is true of all DSLR's with the possible exception of Sony and the cheapest camera they have with a Live View equivalent, the A300, costs more.) Live View is perhaps best reserved for macro shots.
4. I'm not sure if this is true of the e520, but on the e510 Live View seems to drain the battery at a very rapid rate. I'd be surprised if I could get 60 Live View pictures from a battery charge. (I've never seen this mentioned in reviews and would be curious if anyone else has had this experience.) However, I do believe the claim of about 500 shots without Live View.
I started photography using a 4 x 5 Speed Graflex (yes I know this dates me), graduated to a Canon film rangefinder, and Nikon film SLRs all the while doing my own darkroom work in B&W. I enjoyed the manual aspects of these early cameras I used and with my digital point and shoots cameras missed easy manual adjustments. I bought this camera so that it would be easier for me to be creative, that is, adjust ISO, f-stop, shutter speed, white balance, etc. And, compared to my Panasonic FZ5, the e510 is much easier to adjust, but still not as easy as my film cameras (not that I would give up digital photography or the digital darkroom). Magazine articles have noted that the menu system is complicated. I don't find this to be true, but then I'm used to Windows. In fact, I find most everything is easily accessible and, at most, just a few clicks away.
As noted above, image quality is excellent. I have yet to try RAW because the SHQ JPEG's with minimal compression (1:2.7) are reputed to be as good as RAW. But, as with all cameras with high mp sensors, be prepared for large files; these SHQ images are 6 - 7 mb. Of course, if you want the image quality advantage of a DSLR large file size is inevitable.
All in all I am happy with the e510. It is a good sturdy camera that produces excellent images. The lenses are lightweight and well matched to the camera. However, with advances in sensor design, I suspect that in the near future superzoom cameras such as the Panasonic FZ28 will provide image quality similar to today's DSLR without the price, bulk, or necessity to carry an extra lens. For folks who don't want to fuss with a camera or extra lenses but want a large range of lens focal lengths, superzooms might already be a better choice than a DSLR.
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