Useful Tips

Olympus E-520

Olympus E-520

CHARACTERISTICS

MATRIX: 10.0 Mp, 3648x2736, 17.3x13.0 mm

LENS: Standard 4/3. Standard lens ZD ED 50-200 / 2.8-3.5 SWD (100-400 eq. Mm) and other lenses 4/3

MEMORY: xD or CF memory cards

PHOTO: RAW; JPEG; RAW + JPEG

INTERFACE: USB, video output

DIMENSIONS: 136x92x68 mm

It has been many years since Olympus released the first 4/3 standard DSLR camera - designed from the ground up, not based on film DSLRs. Time flies by and the E-520 is the tenth Olympus camera in the 4/3 standard. Unlike many other DSLRs in the E line, the E-520 is not a revolutionary development, but rather an upgrade from the previous E-510. On the other hand, you can consider the E-520 as an older model in relation to the E-420 - it is larger and equipped with an optical stabilizer.

DESIGN

The camera is lightweight, although not part of the "miniature" E-4xx line. With small kit lenses, it is quite possible to shoot even with one hand. By the way, the handle is very ergonomic. Olympus developers manage to make even relatively small cameras comfortable for photographers with normal male hands.

When the camera is turned on, an ultrasonic filter for cleaning the matrix is ​​triggered, it takes about a second.

CONTROL

Dedicated buttons are available for the following functions: ISO, AF mode, AF point, white balance, metering type, stabilizer, Live View, exposure lock, shutter mode, flash mode, and exposure compensation. Very good for a fairly small case. There is also a reassignable Fn button; there are few functions, but they well complement the ones listed above - depth of field preview, setting WB according to the sample, AF / MF (auto / manual focus) or RAW / JPEG switch. In general, there are not enough little things - the second control wheel (in front) and the status LCD indicator on the top panel.

The parameters can be changed both using the dedicated buttons and on the screen, in the active information panel mode - it is also a fairly quick and convenient option (by the way, the monitor's color rendition is adjusted). Finally, you can go deeper into the menu “in a soapbox” way, but there are mainly basic settings, so having configured the camera once, then you can focus on shooting - the menu is not often required.

POWER ON

The camera power lever is located under the mode dial, and it is inconvenient to get to it. I suspect that this was done on purpose so as not to turn on (let alone turn off) the camera's power unintentionally.

MONITOR

During shooting, the monitor can operate in Super Control Panel mode. Almost all the necessary shooting parameters are changed right on the screen; or by pressing the button, you can find yourself in the corresponding place in the menu.

FLASH

The flash is used not only for its intended purpose, but also for wireless control of external flashes, and for autofocus illumination with short strobe impulses (by the way, this does not mean that the flash should then fire).

MODES AND FUNCTIONS

Of course, there is a set of PASM exposure modes, as well as an AUTO mode and 20 scene programs. In addition to the three usual types of metering, there are two peculiar (although for

Olympus DSLRs are already typical) - point with priority transmission of shadows or bright areas.

Another dynamic range function, SAT (Shadow Adjustment Technology), is useful in high contrast lighting.

Of course, there is exposure bracketing (three frames), as well as bracketing for WB and flash power.

The mirror autofocus is fast, although it has only three points, of which only one is a cross. Burst shooting is carried out at a good (though not brilliant) speed of 3.5 fps, the length of the burst is 8 RAW frames or more than 20 JPEGs.

The stabilizer can work in three modes: normal in two axes, for horizontal wiring and for vertical wiring. The latter option may cause confusion, but here we mean not only (and not so much) tracking of a vertically moving object as the usual horizontal wiring, simply with a vertical frame composition.

Among other functions, we highlight the in-camera processing of RAW files, as well as an adjustable delay for raising the mirror (useful when shooting with a tripod).

Another useful feature is Pixel Mapping. Digital camera arrays contain millions of elements, and often some of them do not work, and the number of such defects can increase over time.They appear as bright (or even white) dots in the picture. They can be eliminated, masked by software, but most manufacturers force you to send a camera to service for this, while Olympus camera users can do it themselves.

LIVE VIEW

In Live View, three autofocusing options are available - using conventional AF sensors and accompanying mirror claps (AF Sensor), contrast AF based on the signal from the sensor (Imager AF, as in compacts) and a hybrid option that combines both methods.

With contrast AF, you can select one of 11 AF areas and even enable face detection (which can be useful if you're asking a full kettle to take your portrait).

In "hybrid" AF mode, the approximate focus is calculated in a contrasting manner when you half-press the shutter button, and the main sensor is connected when you press the button. With three lenses (Zuiko Digital ED 14-42 / 3.5-5.6, ED 40-150 / 4-5.6 and 25 / 2.8) the device can work “purely in contrast”, with other lenses it is the hybrid version that is activated. Note that in this case, the focus point can only be selected from the usual three, not 11. Although Live View is quite advanced, autofocus is not at all as fast as it was in Mode A in the E-330 (where there was an additional the matrix). So Live View remains a leisurely shooting mode for manual focusing. The E-520 does not have a swivel screen, but still in Live View you can shoot from below or from above - since the monitor is clearly visible from a wide angle.

In Live View mode, you can display a histogram or a grid, the ISO setting, WB and in general the entire "super control panel" (it only appears in a translucent form) works. You can turn on 7x or 10x magnification. Also in the Live View mode, you can see the work of the stabilizer.

IMAGE QUALITY

Pictures sometimes seem a little underexposed - apparently, from the desire of the camera to avoid overexposure. The color rendition is correct (however, note that in most scene programs, increased saturation is turned on). Sharpness is excellent, there is little distortion. The Zuiko optics are generally good, and the ZD ED 50-200 / 2.8-3.5 SWD lens that we tested is absolutely great.

As for the noise - perhaps the Olympus developers have found the optimal level of noise reduction (this is always a compromise, because any noise reduction system, along with the elimination of noise, “eats up” small details of the image). If you want, you can change this level, there are four options. The built-in stabilizer works not only with 4/3 lenses, but others, including Olympus OM, Nikon F, Pentax K, Leica R, Contax RTS, M42, Exakta, installed through the appropriate adapters. You set the focal length manually, which allows the gimbal to calculate the amount of offset compensation.

Photo at different ISO:

ISO100

ISO200

ISO400

ISO800

ISO1600

SET

Lens, BLM-1 battery, BCM-2 charger, shoulder strap, USB and video cables, CD with software, instructions.

CONCLUSIONS

The Olympus E-520 is a feature rich, flexible and responsive DSLR. He's not perfect, but very good. It is perfect for beginners and advanced amateurs, but in principle, I would not be surprised to see it in the hands of a professional - of course, complete with serious lenses.

“+” - Lightweight body, effective dust removal, built-in stabilizer, many scene programs, good continuous shooting, advanced Live View mode, wireless flash operation, xD and CF memory cards.

"-" - Only three AF ​​points, no LCD on the top panel, small viewfinder.

ERGONOMICS

Everything is convenient and well thought out, and for the "maximum" only the second control wheel is missing, as well as the status LCD.

FUNCTIONALITY

The functionality is not top-end, but it is quite "semi-professional" level - at the price of the initial one.

QUALITY OF IMAGES

As always with SLR cameras, the lens has a strong influence. The potential of the apparatus itself is very high.

EXAMPLES OF SHOTS

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