Olympus E-510 Expert Reviews

alaTest has collected and analyzed 1580 reviews from magazines and websites. Reviewers really like the screen. The resolution also impresses, but many are less positive about the performance.

Screen, Resolution, Lcd, Price

Performance

Experts rate this product 81/100 and users 92/100. We analyzed these ratings, the product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital SLR Cameras, the Olympus E-510 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 81/100 = Very Godd quality.

The Olympus E-510 is an entry-level digital SLR that is the "big brother" to the E-410 which I recently reviewed. For an additional $100, the E-510 offers all of the things that made the E-410 impressive (and, in some cases, not impressive) and throws ...

Excellent photo quality if you tweak the settings ; minimal noise until ISO 1600 (with noise filter set to low) ; Optical image stabilization for every lens you attach ; Great value for the money ; Well built, easy-to-hold body ; Live view on LCD ...

Soft photos at default settings (adjust the noise filter to fix that) ; occasional underexposure and dull colors ; Live view feature not as robust as on a fixed-lens camera: view is grainy and sluggish, difficult to see outdoors and in low light ; ...

Those two kit lenses were introduced alongside the E-410 and E-510. They're not as fancy as some of Olympus' other lenses (they're not weather sealed) but they're more than adequate for most people. You can, of course, use any of the other FourThirds ...

One of my cameras is the Olympus E-510, in some countries also known as the EVOLT E-510.  It's a very capable DSLR with some unique features.  We have written about one of its predecessors, the E-300 more than two years ago and I've always been ...

The first Four Thirds format D-SLR with a built-in Image Stabilizer, the EVOLT E-510 is an incredibly versatile camera in many respects. This 10-megapixel model offers several benefits over the previous EVOLT models, including higher resolution, the ...

Depth of field preview-for evaluating the range of acceptably sharp focus at any f/stop-is also available in Live View when that option is selected in the menu. (The camera's default setting is for conventional depth of field preview.) At small ...

Under the spotlight of the PMA trade show in 2007, Olympus unveiled the newest flagship of its portable DSLR line, the 10-megapixel EVOLT E-510. Housed within its compact dimensions is a dense feature set that offers dust reduction, sensor-shift image ...

Under the spotlight of the PMA trade show in 2007, Olympus unveiled the newest flagship of its portable DSLR line, the 10-megapixel EVOLT E-510. Housed within its compact dimensions is a dense feature set that offers dust reduction, sensor-shift image ...

As a principal founder of the system, Olympus's E-510 conforms to the Four Thirds standard of lens and sensor dimensions. This allows users to apply other manufacturers' Four Thirds lenses to their Olympus DSLR body. With Four Thirds sensors being ...

Updated 12/23/08: While many digital SLRs priced under $1000 have severely limited features, Olympus's Evolt E-510 bucks the trend. Priced at $600 with a standard lens (as of 12/10/08), this 10-megapixel camera is designed for photo enthusiasts who ...

Live View mode to compose shots with LCD Supports both Compact Flash and xD cards

Difficult access to advanced functions No manual focus switch on lens

Features wouldn't be worth much if the E-510's pictures weren't of high quality, and Olympus didn't disappoint in this respect either. Color fidelity and saturation were very good, and the E-510 handled most shooting conditions easily. At lower ISO ...

If you worry that you'll outgrow the functionality of other entry-level DSLRs -- and you don't want to spend a bundle to get the features -- the E-510 is a very good choice.

Excellent image quality ; extensive feature set, including exposure, flash, and color balance bracketing ; Live View mode lets you view images on the LCD screen instead of in the viewfinder ; light and comfortable to carry

Accessing advanced functions can be confusing ; no manual focusing switch on lens

One of the first things I noticed when picking up the camera with the standard 14-42mm zoom lens was how light it was: the camera and lens together weigh less than two pounds. The E-510 doesn't feel flimsy, however. The body is well-built, and the ...

The Olympus E-510 is a compact DSLR camera featuring Live Preview, which allows you to frame your shot using either the optical viewfinder or the 2.5 inch LCD screen. The E-510 boasts a built-in image stabilizer in the camera body which will help to ...

So, the question is, is the Olympus E-510 worth the extra money over the E-410, which offers many of the same features including an identical 10 megapixel resolution? In terms of ergonomics, the E-510 feels slightly more comfortable to handle due to ...