- Box Inside - E-520 body, Li-ion array BLM-1, Li-ion array charger BCM-2, USB cable, Video cable, OLYMPUS Master 2 CD-ROM, Lessons manual
- Up to 3648x2736 pledge - RAW (12-bit), JPEG, and RAW+JPEG File Formats
- CompactFlash Type I/II, Microdrive, xD-Picture Card (Dual-Slot) Memory Card Slot
- 3.5 frames per seconds sequential shooting speed, up to 8 frames in RAW mode
- Dimensions - Width 5.35 x Height 3.60 x Depth 2.68 (136x91.5x68mm) excluding protrusions
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 Fantastic Camera, Fantastic Lenses and Facial appearance Galore |
| Review Date: July 20, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Tisza Major, Claremont, CA |
The E-520 is my very first DSLR and I have had it now since April '09 (the Easter Bunny brought it :-) and I can't say enough excellent things about this camera or this combo.
The camera body is lightweight enough to carry all day lacking getting tired but sturdy enough to not feel "cheap". The two kit lenses cover most of the distances the average user will want or need, and again neither one is a back-surf. I use the 40-150mm when I am going to spend a day at the zoo to bring the animals closer to me (since they won't let me get closer to them :-).
One really nifty feature that the camera offers is the ability to use Live View Boost to focus and frame pictures with an infrared filter in place on the front of the lens and to really see what the camera will record. Pretty cool.
The reins are simple to use and I reckon the only challenge I have encountered where they are worried is not in using them but in recall what to use when and to dredge up what menu it is under. Opportunely, most of the things you will need most often (wb, AF, Flash, ISO, etc.) also have dedicated buttons simple to find right there on the camera body. You can also set your own custom profile combos to allow you to quickly switch from one set up to another lacking having to dredge up what you did the last time that you liked.
The 20 scene modes make life very simple especially when you are just starting out or if you don't want to reckon and just want to shoot. And the ability (with the optional water-strong housing and light) to shoot underwater would be a really cool thing to do.
Color is fantastic, clarity is fantastic, the ability to remotely hegemony the FL-36R or FL-50R flash units lacking having to have them attached to the camera by wires of any kind is fantastic too.
A word about the proprietary XD card (the camera supports three uncommon recording formats, CF, XD and Microdrive (But who uses those really?)) you can have the card in the camera in addition to the CF card and I would recommend having one just for the panoramic help option which is only available if you use the XD card. The panoramic help supports horizontal and vertical pans and the stitching software is built into the Olympus Master software that comes standard with the camera.
The only down side to having this camera is that you may find it hard to find all the uncommon lenses available at your local camera store (but there is always Amazon) as Nikon and Cannon have much better marketing. Oh, and one more word about lenses, you can get adapters which will allow you to use not only Olympus OM mount lenses from your SLR but also Pentax, Minolta, Nikon, Cannon, Miyama, and all the rest. Olympus only makes the OM mount adapter but you can find all the others aftermarket. You will need to be able to manually focus and set the f-stop on the lens itself as those facial appearance won't be supported through the adapters but it sure opens up options. |
Thank the gods for digital cameras!
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| Review Date: August 4, 2009 |
| Reviewer: bdgilfry@wildchildpublishing.com, California |
I shopped and I compared before buying. While the E-520 is not my first SLR--I have owned and shot with Nikons and Canons for many years--it is my first Digital SLR. I am very comfortable with it. It is sturdy, excellent looking, flexible and well-organized.
The main complaint I see regarding the E-520 is its ability to focus. That is a valid complaint. Though...
First, every lens that Oly makes is uncommon in its auto-focus characteristics. Yes, you will have to become familiar with each lens separately, but this is right of all SLR cameras and lenses.
Second, some lenses are better than others at AF. Most of the complaints I see come from birders, and they are doubtless using the 40-150 kit lens, or the 70-300 lens. These lenses do take some getting used to.
I was shocked when I probable the 70-300. It's a monster! But I have been able to focus on a wire 100 feet away, then go the camera and focus 200 yards beyond that within a split second; same with the 40-150 kit lens after a small practice.
In low light, I recommend that one ALWAYS focus manually.
As far as the feature of the image produced by the E-520 (once you master the focusing aspect), it is spectacular. I have spent hours comparing images from the E-520 to those from Nikons and Canons. There is virtually no variation. (Check out the review and compare images at: [...]
If you're willing and able to spend $8000 for the top Nikon body (and another $10,000 or so for lenses), you will get that small bit of extra pledge and snappy auto-focus. But you didn't spend $18,000 for the Olympus E-520.
Is it honest to buy a $25,000 Pontiac Solstice and expect it to perform like a $160,000 Ferrari?
The E-520 is an incredible camera. Period. Full stop. It's even more incredible when you deliberate that you can buy it with two kit lenses and add the 50mm "Pro" lens and still have spent under $1000.
Pleased shooting!
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E520 is a fantastic feature-packed entry level DSLR
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| Review Date: October 9, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Mattaphore, California, USA |
I bought my E-520 in November of 2008 and we bought this second camera for my father.
As said before in many other reviews, the E-520 is a DSLR with full hegemony over it's facial appearance. In-body image stabilization works fantastic and allows all 4/3rds lenses to be stabilized.
The E-520 pairs perfectly with the 50mm f/2.0 Zuiko Digital Macro.
The 14-42mm is a versatile wide angle and the 40-150mm is a fantastic entry level telephoto.
Check out the reviews on [...] |
Olympus E-520: Better technology for lesser price
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| Review Date: June 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Johanybravo, |
I have been using this for past one month now and havn't had any problems with it yet. The pictures are sharp and colors captured are live, especially in the "Vivid" mode.
The benefit is In-body image stabilizer so you don't have to buy lenses with IS, saves money on that front; and the body is smaller than the competitors, so is simple to handle too.
Though, sometimes, the built-in flash interferes with the brightness of the image in auto-mode. It might be darker than it should be. But for the facial appearance you're getting at the price, I would give it 5-star...
Have fun shooting ;) |
Often overlooked, Research is satisfied
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| Review Date: October 22, 2009 |
| Reviewer: A. Myles, Durham, North Carolina, United States |
| Nikon and Canon get most of the concentration when it comes to the dSLR market. And for excellent reason. They are fantastic cameras. But they might not be the perfect choice for all. I submit that this camera competes completely with anything Canon and Nikon can bring at this price point. With facial appearance like anti-shake in the camera and numerous scene modes, this camera makes life a small simpler for folks in a rush. I was suprised at how well this camera is able to pull in really excellent shots on the glide. |
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