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Olympus E-520

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Test Images (click to enlarge) Still Life Multi Target

	10.00 Megapixels
	Four Thirds mount
	2.7 inch LCD

The Olympus E-520 is very closely related to its predecessor the E-510, in much the same way that the E-420 announced last March was an analogue of the previous E-410 model. Externally, the difference is barely noticeable - the only signs beyond the model number that suggest you're looking at the Olympus E-520 rather than the 510 are a larger LCD display, a change to the color of some icons, and a slight restyling of the control dials which now both have similar patterns where on the previous model each dial had a totally different pattern around its outside surface. (The control dial also gets a little silver trim ring in its top surface which wasn't in the previous model).

Most of the changes made between the 5xx-series cameras are under the skin, and they're almost all the same as those made in the earlier 4xx-series upgrade, although the Olympus E-520 does boast one new feature that could prove a lifesaver on some types of shooting. As with the uprated E420, Olympus' E520 gains a larger 2.7" HyperCrystal II type LCD display in place of the E-410's HyperCrystal 2.5" display. Resolution is unchanged at 230,000 dots, but Olympus says the newer HyperCrystal II displays offer twice the contrast and better viewing angles. Another change to the camera's body may be missed by most users, but will be a huge relief to the color blind. The colors of the screen-printed icons on the E-520's body have been changed so as to make them more clearly visible to anyone with protanopia, deutranopia or tritanopia.

The E-520 also gets the 420's Live View Autofocus function, which operates via contrast detection of data streaming off the image sensor, where the '10-models required a brief interruption of live view to drop the mirror and perform AF using the camera's phase detection AF system. Olympus also includes Face Detection technology in the E-520, capable of detecting and tracking up to eight faces in a scene, then using the info to adjust focus and exposure to best show off your subjects. There's also Shadow Adjustment Technology to help bring out detail in underexposed areas of a scene, as well as the useful inclusion of wireless flash capability.

The main difference between the E-420 and the E-520 is the latter's inclusion of image stabilization, basically the same differentiation factor as that found between the '10-models. Olympus uses sensor shift-type stabilization in these cameras, and rates the system as able to compensate up to 4EV. This is where we get to the feature that's new to the E520 - where the E510 had only two operating modes, the Olympus latest DSLR has three image stabilization modes. In addition to dual-axis stabilization and a landscape panning mode (which stabilizes only motion on the vertical axis, ignoring motion along the horizontal axis), Olympus has added one last panning mode. In the IS-3 mode, the EVOLT E-520 compensates only for motion in the horizontal axis, allowing panning either vertically (or horizontally when shooting in portrait orientation). Sure, plenty of photographers may never touch this new setting, but those who do will appreciate its inclusion very much indeed.

As with its predecessor, the Olympus E-520 digital SLR has a sensor resolution of ten megapixels, is capable of burst shooting at 3.5 frames-per-second, a Live View mode which frees users from having to have their eye to the viewfinder - very useful for a generation of photographers who're growing up after film and now expect to be able to hold their camera at arm's length while watching and framing on the LCD display. Images are stored on either Type-I or Type-II CompactFlash cards (including Microdrives) or the less common xD-Picture Card format. Power comes from a proprietary Lithium Ion battery. Outdoors types will be interested in an optional PT-E05 underwater housing which allows the Olympus EVOLT E520 to be used underwater at depths up to 130 feet.

The Olympus E-520 digital SLR ships in the North American market from July 2008, priced at US$600 or thereabouts body-only. A kit with bundled ED 14–42mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens will have a $100 premium for a street pricetag of around US$700.