Olympus has launched the E-520, an update of its E-510 DSLR. The E-520 represents continuity, rather than revolution within the E-System camp. This process of orderly transistion sees the arrival of contrast detection AF at the E-5XX level of camera. This feature does not represent all the camera's new talents, however, with a larger LCD and Face Detection doing their utmost to add buyer appeal.
Wireless flash and Shadow Adjustment Technology (Automatic Gradation), also make their way down from the E-3. Like the recent E-420, the buttons on the E-520 have been re-colored to make the camera easier to use by people with certain types of color-blindness. Olympus also says the dynamic range of the E-520 has increased, compared to its predecessor, and is now close to the level of the E-3. |
|
| The Olympus E-520 digital SLR – main features: |
Built-in image stabiliser for all lenses
Autofocus Live View
Excellent dust reduction system
100% D-SLR quality
Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology
6.9cm/2.7" HyperCrystal II LCD
10 Megapixel Live MOS sensor
3.5fps with up to 8 images in RAW buffer
Built-in flash and wireless flash control
32 shooting modes
Optional underwater case available
Four Thirds Standard
Compact and ergonomic design
Bracketing functions
ISO 100-1600
AF/ AE lock functionality
Depth of field preview
Anti-shock (mirror lock) function
One-touch white balance
Perfect Shot Preview
100% field of view via LCD
TruePic III image processor
Detailed playback info screen with histogram
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 |
| Olympus E520 Specifications |
|
| Body material |
Plastic |
| Sensor |
4/3 type Live MOS sensor
17.3 x 13.0 mm active area
11.8 million total pixels
10.0 million effective pixels
RGB (Primary) color filter array
Fixed low pass filter (anti-alias filter) |
| Dust suppression |
Supersonic Wave Filter |
| Image processor |
TruePic III |
| Image stabilization |
In-body sensor shift
Three modes: Horizontal+Vertical, Vertical only, Horizontal only |
| Image sizes |
3648 x 2736
3200 x 2400
2560 x 1920
1600 x 1200
1280 x 960
1024 x 768
640 x 480 |
| File formats |
RAW
RAW + JPEG
JPEG (EXIF 2.2) - Four levels |
| JPEG compression |
SuperFine (1/2.7)
Fine (1/4)
Normal (1/8)
Basic (1/12) |
| Lenses |
4/3 standard lens mount
Range of ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses available
Multiply focal length by 2 for 35 mm equiv. FOV |
| Auto focus |
3-point TTL Phase Difference Detection
Automatic or manual point selection
11-point TTL Contrast Detection
EV 0 to 19 (ISO 100) detection range |
| Focus area selection |
Automatic
Manual |
| Focus modes |
Single shot AF
Single shot AF + MF
Continuous AF (Phase detect only)
Continuous AF + MF (Phase detect only)
Manual focus |
| Manual focus |
Focus by wire |
| AF assist lamp |
Yes, flash strobe (flash must be raised) |
| Exposure modes |
Auto
Program AE (with shift)
Aperture priority AE
Shutter priority AE
Manual
Scene modes |
| Scene modes |
Portrait
Landscape
Macro
Sports
Night Scene & Portrait |
| Other scene modes |
Landscape & Portrait
Night Scene
Children
Sport
High Key
Low Key
Digital Image Stabilization
Nature Macro
Candle
Sunset
Fireworks
Document
Beach & Snow
Panorama
Underwater Wide
Underwater Macro |
| Sensitivity |
Auto (100-1600)
ISO 100
ISO 200
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 1600 |
| Metering system |
49-zone multi-pattern
Range (Digital ESP): 1 to 20 EV (50 mm F2, ISO 100) |
| Metering modes |
Digital ESP
Center-Weighted Average
Spot (2%)
Highlight based spot
Shadow based spot |
| AE Lock |
AE/AF lock button
With shutter release half-press |
| AE Bracketin |
3 frames
1/3, 1/2, 0.7 or 1.0 EV steps |
| Exposure steps |
1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV |
| Exposure compen. |
-5.0 to +5.0 EV
1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps |
| Shutter speed |
Auto mode: 2 - 1/4000 sec
P, A, S or M mode: 60 - 1/4000 sec
Bulb (up to 8 mins) |
| Flash X-sync speed |
1/180 sec
1/4000 sec (Super FP mode) |
| Aperture values |
Depends on lens: 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps |
| White balance |
Auto
Tungsten (3000K)
Fluorescent 1 (4000K)
Fluorescent 2 (4500K)
Fluorescent 3 (6600K)
Sunlight (5300K)
Flash (5500K)
Cloudy (6000K)
Shade (7500K)
Custom (2000 - 14000 K)
Selectable (3000 - 7500 in 8 steps) |
| WB fine tuning |
Red - Blue: +/- 7 steps (2 mired each)
Green - Magenta: +/- 7 steps (2 mired each) |
| WB Bracketing |
3 frames
2, 4 or 6 mired steps |
| Color space |
sRGB
Adobe RGB |
| Image parameters |
Color mode (Vivid, Natural, Muted, Monotone)
Saturation (5 levels)
Contrast (5 levels)
Sharpness (5 levels)
Monochrome (B&W, Sepia, Red, Green, Blue) - filter (Ye, Or, Re, Gr)
Graduation (Auto, High Key, Normal, Low Key) |
| Drive modes |
Single
Continuous
Self-timer
Remote control |
| Continuous |
3.5 fps
RAW: 8 frames maximum
JPEG: Up to card capacity @ Large Normal (with high speed media) |
| Self-timer |
2 sec
12 sec |
| Flash |
Auto electronic pop-up
TTL auto / manual
Guide no. 12
Sync modes: Auto, Red-eye reduction, Slow syncro with red-eye reduction,
Slow syncro, 2nd curtain slow syncro, Fill-in, Off
Flash power: Up to +/- 2EV in 1, 1/2, or 1/3 EV steps |
| External flash |
Hot shoe
External wireless flash with FL-50R or FL-36R
TTL Auto FP / TTL auto for Olympus dedicated flash (FL-20, FL-36, FL-50)
Modes:Auto, Manual, Red-eye reduction, Slow syncro with red-eye reduction, Slow syncro, 2nd curtain slow syncro, Fill-in for exclusive flash.
Flash power: Up to +/- 3EV in 1, 1/2, or 1/3 EV steps |
| Viewfinder |
Eye-level TTL Optical Pentamirror
Field of view 95%
Magnification 0.92x with a 50mm lens and -1 dioptre
Eye point 14 mm at -1 dioptre
Dioptre adjustment -3 to +1 dioptre
Focusing screen: Fixed type
Mirror: Quick return mirror |
| Viewfinder information |
Aperture value
Shutter speed
Record mode
AF confirmation mark
Flash
WB
AE lock
Number of storable still images
Exposure compensation value
Metering mode
Battery warning
Exposure mode
AF frame (super imposed)
IS activating mode. |
| Orientation sensor |
Yes |
| LCD monitor |
2.7" TFT LCD monitor (wide viewing angle, semi-transmissive)
230,000 pixels
100% frame coverage |
| Playback functions |
Single
Magnify (2 - 14x)
Index (4, 9, 16, 25, 49, 100 frames)
Calendar view
Rotation
Light box view
Slide show
Histogram
R,G,B Histogram (With Highlight & Shadow point warning)
Shooting information |
| Editing |
RAW development
JPEG editing (B&W, Sepia, Red eye reduction, Color saturation, Resize) |
| Storage |
Compact Flash (Type I and II) / Microdrive
xD- Picture card |
| Connectivity |
USB 2.0 (Hi Speed)
Video Out (NTSC / PAL)
IR Remote control (optional) |
| Power |
BLM-1 1500 mAh Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (supplied & charger) |
| Dimensions |
136 x 92 x 68 mm (5.4 x 3.6 x 2.7 in) |
| Weight (no batt) |
475 g (16.2 oz) |
| Box contents |
E-520 body, (Lens where appropriate), Li-ion battery BLM-1, BCM-2 battery charger, EP-4 Eyepice cover, USB cable, Video cable, Shoulder strap, OLYMPUS Master 2, Olympus Studio 2 Trial, Instruction manual, Warranty card. |
| |
|
| Additional images |
Glossary
Built-in image stabiliser
A type of image stabiliser that is built directly into the camera. This enables the photo-enhancing effects of image stabilisation to be enjoyed irrespective of the attached lens. In Olympus E-System cameras with built-in image stabilisation, a gyro sensor detects the precise direction of the shake. Using the on-board SWD, the shake is then compensated for by shifting the image sensor according to the movement data. For quick response at long focal lengths, cameras are equipped with two dedicated microprocessors: One to control the two supersonic motors that shift the unit vertically and horizontally, and one to provide high-precision control.
Face Detection Technology
A technology that searches for faces in a composition and recognises them as the main subject. It then automatically puts them in focus and optimally adjusts exposure to create an image that’s sharp in the right places and ideally exposed.
HyperCrystal
A high-grade, fully-transmissive technology used in LCDs, which employs an additional layer at the bottom of the LCD to reflect light from external light sources. This enhances the brightness of the LCD, so even in direct sunlight images are displayed sharply and improved contrast compared to that of conventional displays. Also, it provides for particularly wide viewing angles without glare or shadow, so images can be framed from a variety of angles and viewed by several people at once.
Live View
Provides an alternative to framing shots through the viewfinder on a digital SLR camera. The image sent through the lens to the image sensor is displayed directly on the camera’s LCD. Whereas most compact digital cameras have been equipped with Live View functionality for many years, this feature has only recently become available on D-SLRs. The world’s first D-SLR to feature continuous Live View capabilities was the Olympus E-330.
RC Wireless Flash Control
The user can control wireless flash units remotely – eliminating the need for extra cables – by using the built-in flash as the system’s master unit. Control options include the ability to independently regulate flash mode and compensation settings for up to three groups of flashes, four channel settings to avoid interference as well as a wide range of brightness levels.
Shadow Adjustment Technology
A technology designed to improve exposure for pictures with dark areas. Using a sensor that works much like the human eye, dark parts of a composition (e.g. a shadow under a tree) are identified and the camera then adjusts the exposure settings accordingly for those areas. The result is a more realistic and detailed picture.
Supersonic Wave Filter
Dust entering digital SLRs, for example during lens changes, can cause damage to photos – unless it is removed. With the Supersonic Wave Filter, the potential for dust to ruin photos is eliminated. A transparent filter is located between the camera’s shutter and sensor. It makes sure no dust is able to land on the sensor. Instead, the particles settle on the filter and are then shaken off by a series of ultrasonic vibrations generated by the filter when activated. Olympus was the first manufacturer to incorporate dust protection in D-SLRs.
TruePic III image processor
Olympus’ latest-generation image processing engine. It automatically enhances important aspects of image quality including: Colour reproduction (colour range, saturation and brightness), picture sharpness (reduced image noise, improved edge reproduction), as well as providing faster processing speeds. |