Olympus E-520 Expert Reviews

alaTest has collected and analyzed 3922 reviews from magazines and websites. Reviewers really like the price. The lcd also impresses, but many are less positive about the resolution.

Price, Lcd, Design, Usability

Resolution, Screen, Performance

Experts rate this product 80/100 and users 90/100. We analyzed these ratings, the product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital SLR Cameras, the Olympus E-520 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 89/100 = Very Godd quality.

If you're ready to replace your stripped-down entry-level DSLR, or taking a step up from the point and shoot world, the Olympus E-520 definitely deserves a hard look. It has all the features of any of its upper entry-level competition, and you just ...

10MP resolution, Live View with autofocus, In-camera image stabilization, 2.7” 230,000 dot LCD

The Olympus E-520 DSLR is Olympus' latest model in the upper entry-level...

Large LCD, Good build quality, Easy to adjust settings

Mediocre image quality, Slow speeds, No flash-off option on the mode dial

Although the Olympus Evolt E-520 made a good first impression with its solid, ergonomic build and intuitive interface, it quickly lost points for its slow speeds and lackluster image quality. Although the Nikon D40's ($499) interface takes getting ...

Our review of the Olympus E-520 has been completed using a production-level camera. Thank you for your patience!

Very good photo quality (though see issues below) ; Good value for the money ; doesn't feel "cheap ; Sensor-shift image stabilization ; Dust reduction system ; Live view with contrast detect AF and face detection (with some lenses) on a 2.7" LCD ...

Photos on the soft side, especially at high ISOs ; Images are noisy when noise filter is lowered ; banding at highest sensitivities ; Tends to clip highlights easily ; occasional overexposure ; Small optical viewfinder ; Slow contrast detect AF, ...

If you purchase the E-520 lens kit, then you'll get Olympus' fairly new 14 - 42 mm lens. On the E-520 (and all other FourThirds cameras), that's equivalent to 28 - 84 mm. This is a pretty nice lens, as kit lenses go, with good sharpness and decent ...

The Olympus E-520 digital SLR camera evolved from its predecessor, the Evolt E-510--but only just. Olympus has added a larger, more ergonomic grip, for one; the company has also increased the size of the LCD to 2.7 inches (from 2.5 inches), added a ...

Very impressive autofocus in daylight

Complicated customizable menus Poor performance at high ISOs

Some cameras in this class are still priced quite a bit higher, and do some things better--such as handling noise at higher ISOs--but as an entry-level DSLR, the Olympus E-520 offers decent performance and consistently good results with outdoor ...

Priced between $500 and $600 complete with a 14mm-42mm lens, the Olympus EVOLT E-520 is one of a newer generation of digital SLR cameras targeted squarely at entry-level purchasers looking to expand beyond the limitations of point-and-shoot ...

The E-520 is small for an SLR, weighing in at just over one pound. It is well constructed, with a comfortable grip, though those with larger hands may find it a bit too small. The camera can use any lens that matches Olympus's Four Thirds standard. ...

I've been using the E-520 since Olympus sent me a pre-production camera in the early spring. On the surface it looks almost exactly like the E-510. However, there's a lot more to the E-520 than meets the eye. It has a new 10-megapixel sensor, new ...

Light and compact, Built-in mechanical image stabilization, Super Control Panel LCD interface, Excellent, compact lenses, Lots of customization possible, 3.5 frames-per-second frame rate, Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction system, Great value

Image quality isn't as good as the competition, Sometimes auto focus locks up, Only three auto focus points, Menus and customization options can be overwhelming

The TruePic III Image Processor allows the E-520 to produce crystal-clear photos by using all of the pixel information for each image to provide the best digital images possible for every photo with accurate color, true-to-life flesh tones, brilliant ...

First seen on the E-510, the E-520 features in-body Mechanical Image Stabilization with three modes for increased versatility. IS-1 mode for general shooting adjusts the sensor on both the X and Y axes to compensate for movement by the photographer so ...

If you're currently a compact camera user teetering on the edge of a decision whether to upgrade to a DSLR or not, the Olympus E-520 may well help make that decision for you. With an array of both advanced and user-friendly options available, this ...

One of the most notable features of the E-520 for me, is actually how little it weighs. At approximately 500 grams with battery, 14-24mm lens and memory card included, the portability rating of this DSLR is high. The plastic casing however, is ...

The Olympus E-520 is a refreshed version of Olympus's upper-entry-level camera, the E-510. As such it's a slightly bulked-up E-420 with image stabilization, which makes it one of the most feature-packed and customizable cameras available for under ...

Good image quality at low ISO settings, JPEG engine conveys just about everything that is captured, In-body image stabilization means the benefit is seen with all lenses, Control panel display allows quick access to the important shooting parameters, ...

Dynamic range limited compared to the rest of class - can lead to more easily clipped highlights, Small viewfinder, Comparatively soft image output in JPEG and RAW, Disappointing high ISO performance, Auto white balance and presets not brilliant ...