Latest – Review by PCWorld (added 01 February ‘08)
Olympus E-510 features:
- 10 megapixels
- Built in image stabilization
- Live preview
- 2.5 inch LCD
- Supersonic Wave Filter for dust protection
- 28 shooting modes (incl. 5 exposure, 5 creative & 18 scene modes)
- ISO from 100-1600
- 3 frames per second with up to seven images in RAW buffer
- Camera measurement 136 x 92 x 68 mm (5.4 x 3.6 x 2.7 in) and weighs 460 g (16.2 oz)
Read More Reviews – (updated 01 February ‘08)
| PCWorld |
 |
| Pocket-lint |
|
| DPExpert |
 |
| WhatDigitalCamera |
|
| DPReview |
|
| ThinkCamera |
|
| ComputerActive |
 |
| GoodGearGuide |
|
| LetsGoDigital |
|
| ePhotographia |
|
| ComeAcross |
|
| Megapixel |
|
| CNET |
 |
| PhotographyReview |
|
| Steve’s Digicams |
|
| PopPhoto at US Open |
|
| ePhotozine |
|
| DigitalTrends |
|
| Wrotniak |
|
| Macworld |
|
| Imaging Resource |
|
| PhotographyBlog |
|
| Digital Camera SLR Guide Mag |
|
| Digital Camera Info |
|
| Four Thirds User |
|
| PopPhoto |
|
| Trusted Reviews |
|
| Digital Camera Review |
|
| Digicam Review |
|
| Digital Camera Review (First Thoughts) |
|
| NW Photo Forum |
|
| Photo Review |
|
| Camera Labs |
|
| DigitalCameraInfo |
|
 |
PCWorld – 01 February’08 – reviews the Olympus E-510 and notes that to reach some of the cameras advance features is difficult . Here a summary of their review -
“Bottom line on any camera is picture quality and the PCWorld reviewer indicates the E-510 does not disappoint, images are great. As would be expected lower ISO setting render digital free images but as ISO raises so the corresponding noise, and the case of the E-510 looks like it’s around ISO 800.”
Pocket-lint – 30 November’07 – reviews the Olympus E-510 and discovered the white balance was temperamental . Here is their review verdict -
“With a stunning feature set and great handling in a (slightly) beefier body than its E-410 predecessor, plus great image quality, the only thing left to want is a great price. Oh! Hang on; it has a great price too – in a variety of tasty-looking kits or body only.”
DPExpert – 28 November’07 – reviews the Olympus E-510 and notes the viewfinders seems really dim. Here is their review verdict -
“This is a camera we would recommend to anyone who wants the image quality of a good SLR without having to think too much. It’s light weight will also appeal. And now that Panasonic/Leica is in the Four Thirds camp there should be some cheaper third party lenses coming onto the market. Olympus have fitted a CF card slot as well as their own xD slot, which makes sense because CF cards are cheaper and available everywhere.”
WhatDigitalCamera – 24 November’07 – reviews the Olympus E-510 and points out that the main difference between the E-410 is the E-510 has image stabilization. And for the extra money it costs it more than worth it. Here is their review verdict -
“In-camera image stabilization and dust-reduction are high on most enthusiasts’ DSLR shopping lists, but all too often we see one without the other, or we get a weak compromise. With the Olympus E-510 we’re getting both of these things and, most importantly, they both work. On top of that, you’re able to turn the rear LCD on and use the camera like a compact (albeit with manual focus), which is exactly what you want for macro, still-life and landscape photography. Throw in a high-resolution 10MP sensor that delivers largely noise-free images, and all the secondary features you’re ever likely to need and there’s no doubt in.”
DPReview – 23 November’07 – reviews the Olympus E-510 and felt that for such a nice and modern camera it was odd that Olympus chose to sill use a 3 point auto focus system. Here is their review verdict -
“Overall, especially considering the excellent pricing, extensive feature set, effective image stabilization and superb design/construction/handling, the E-510 is an impressive and hugely rewarding camera in use. The results from the kit lens are some of the best we’ve ever seen, the SSWF dust reduction system is the most effective on the market and the whole package shows that Olympus understands the needs of the photographer as well as – if not better than – any of its major competitors. If it had a better sensor (less noise and better dynamic range) the E-510 would be a strong candidate for category winner; as it is you’ll need to decide if the slight compromises the sensor demands are going to affect the type of pictures you take.”
ThinkCamera – 18 October’07 – reviews the Olympus E-510 and notes that digital noise is not an issue even at high ISO’s. Here is their review verdict -
“The E-510 is probably the most feature-rich entry level DSLR available on the market today. Competition may be rife, but it seems that Olympus have succeeded with one of the most obvious (yet effective) selling points – it’s affordable. Not ‘cheap cheap’, but if you are looking to buy into the DSLR market and are looking for a camera with decent auto and manual modes whilst remaining portable and light, then there’s not much missing here. Top marks go to Olympus.”
ComputerActive – 15 October’07 – reviews the Olympus E-510 and thought picture quality did not equal competitive cameras. Also the reviewer noted the camera fell a few points because of it’s inconsistency. Here is an excerpt from their review -
“Literally the bigger brother of the current E-410 DSLR, the E-510’s chief advantage is that any lens attached becomes immediately stabilized. The lack of this feature wasn’t a noticeable omission on the E-410, so whether you spend that extra £100 largely comes down to whether you prefer the E-510’s more rounded build and so more comfortable handling.”
GoodGearGuide – 11 October’07 – reviews the Olympus E-510 and suggests there and perhaps a little too many buttons. Noise was only an issue at higher ISO setting like 1600. Here is an excerpt from their review -
“Features wise, most things you’d expect are there, including manual shooting modes as well as automatic and a few scene modes for newer users. We were a little disappointed by the three-point auto focus system and ISO sensitivity is capped at 1600, however, there is custom white balance along with full manual mode.”
LetsGoDigital – 09 October’07 – reviews the Olympus E-510 and noted the image quality was a lot better than the E-410. Noise was only an issue at higher ISO setting like 1600. Here is their review conclusion -
“All in all, the Olympus E-510 is a very good D-SLR camera. It has a nice and solid build, good image quality and it is easy to use. In addition, the camera is fairly compact, it features Live View, and is part of the FourThirds System so that you can mount a large number of lenses. One of these is the ultra wide-angle zoom lens that was included in our test. This Zuiko Digital 7-14mm performs better than we ever could have expected from such a wide-angle zoom lens. You do have to shell out quite a bit for it, but in return you get a gem of a lens.”
ePhotographia – 08 October’07 – reviews the Olympus E-510 and thinks it has three features that make it a great camera. 1. The sensor cleaning system. 2. Its image stabilization. 3. Image quality. Here is their review conclusion -
“The Olympus E-410 was very convincing as far as user friendliness and image quality are concerned, but the Olympus E-510 is better than that – its bigger body and good grip are a clear indication that this is a camera for a more demanding photographer. I think this is a good move on the part of Olympus – two reasonably different cameras with the same image quality. The Olympus E-510 is intended for all those photographers who want to control all image capture parameters but don’t feel like using the computer to process the images. This is especially true for older photographers who are still using film cameras.”
ComeAcross – 03 October’07 – reviews the Olympus E-510 and writes;
“The E-510 is a great all-around DSLR. It’s light, affordable, packed with features and options, and it will help you get great photos. I would definitely recommend it to someone who’s looking to purchase a DSLR and lens kit for well under $1,000.”
Megapixel – 18 September’07 – reviews the Olympus E-510 and writes;
“While the overall ergonomic design of the Olympus E-510 is very similar to the E-410, the improved grip gives the camera a much more secure in-hand feel. Similarly, the external controls on the back of the E-510 are more extensive than those of the E-410, making it possible to set a number of parameters faster. The viewfinder, however, remains tight for any user that wears eyeglasses, and often forces squishing one’s nose against the monitor to see the data presented on the right side of the image.”
CNET reviews the Olympus E-510 and writes;
“While the exposure quirks mentioned above might sound bad, you really can create very good photos with the Evolt E-510, though it can be a bit frustrating when compared to competitors, such as Canon’s EOS Rebel XTi or Nikon’s D40x. However, if you like the idea of this Evolt’s Live View mode or built-in Image Stabilization (something neither of the aforementioned competitors have), then you should give the E-510 a look.
The bottom line: The Olympus Evolt E-510 has quirky exposure and white-balance issues, but its Live View and Image Stabilization modes may make some photographers give this SLR a chance.”
PhotographyReview has a pro review of the Olympus E-510 and writes;
“The Olympus EVOLT E-510 eventually won me over thanks to its overall usability and image quality. Because of my bias for a 3:2 aspect ratio, I often caught myself feeling that the E-510 somehow wasn’t”serious enough” as a photographic tool. However, I found that photos I took with the E-510 compared well to photos from Canon, Nikon, and Pentax bodies I’ve recently tested or owned (even though I did crop a lot of my E-510 photos back to a 3:2 aspect ratio). The Olympus E-510 yields images with a well-balanced, film-like color palette, right out of the camera. The kit offers the camera body with two great starter lenses at a very attractive price. This combination of camera ergonomics and image quality does a lot for the E-510’s fun-factor. Compact size and light weight make the Olympus E-510 a natural “take-with-you-always” digital SLR.”
Steve’s Digicams reviews the Olympus E-510 and writes;
“The Olympus E-510 is a very capable digital SLR, offering terrific image quality, an extensive list of useful features and an automatic cure for a common dSLR annoyance – the dusty image sensor. The E-510 is also a terrific value; for under $1000 you can get the E-510 in a Two Lens Outfit with both the 14-42mm and 40-150 lenses, a package that covers an effective focal length range of 28-300mm. It competes well with other consumer dSLR’s and offers a compelling alternative to those considering high-end consumer digicams. The E-510’s Auto and Scene modes will produce high quality snapshots for beginners, while its advanced operating modes will satisfy the enthusiast photographer – it’s truly a camera the entire family can use.”
PopPhoto tests the Olympus E-510 at the US Open Tennis matches and writes;
“Overall, the Olympus E-510 performed well for its camera class at the US Open. You won’t be seeing many of these on the sideline of the Super Bowl or in the photo pits during the World Series, but for the Four Thirds advanced amateur photographer, it will do just as well on the sidelines of little league, recreational tennis, and Pop Warner games as many of its sub-$1,000 competitors. As it stands now, the E-510 is among the best cameras for sports on the Four Thirds platform, but we’d like to see Olympus finally bring out their long-rumored pro camera to really make the most of their impressive supertelephoto lenses for sports and safari action.”
ePhotozine reviews the Olympus E-510 and writes;
“The Olympus E-510 is a very capable camera. I enjoyed using it and it gave good results despite the weather. The build quality is good and it handles well. The Image stabilizer is effective and the dust reduction seems to work well as the images produced are clean with the Zuiko lenses ensuring sharpness. The Turbo III processor has ensured that noise remains at a minimum as much as possible and the noise test was a great surprise.”
DigitalTrends reviews the Olympus E-510 and writes;
“I have no problems recommending the Olympus Evolt E-510 two lens kit for D-SLR newbies or those who don’t have an extensive collection of older lenses. However if you have a collection of glass, go with similar 10MP Canons or Nikons. And, as noted, any fans of Olympus’ Live View let me know what I’m missing.”
Wrotniak reviews the Olympus E-510 and spent two full weeks getting to know it. He thought the build quality was very good and most important the image results were in a word, outstanding. He was particularly impressed with the detail even when the noise filter was off. What he struggled with was the menu system though which he thought was overly complex and difficult to locate items. A couple of other negative marks the camera received was the erratic live histogram and no image stabilization for legacy lenses.
Bottom Line: Well constructed camera that provides beautiful image results.
Read the Full Review »
Macworld reviews the Olympus E-510 and likes the fact that this camera delivers consistent high quality images. It was tough to fool the E-510 sensors and it responded by delivering great color fidelity and saturation. Digital noise above ISO 800 was no worse than any other digitals on the market. About the only complaint the Macworld reviewer pointed out was that to access some of the cameras more advance features requires some deep menu digging, which was a little frustrating.
Bottom Line: Superior image quality and easily accessed primary camera functions this is a serious DSLR worthy of consideration.
Read the Full Review »
Imaging Resource reviews the Olympus E-510 and thinks the camera is currently the most well rounded choice in the Four-Thirds SLR group. The review was impressed with the over all quality of the kit lenses. He thought they were compact and tack sharp, even in the corners. Also he reported the E-510 displayed less shadow problems than its sibling the E-410. What really captured the attention of the reviewer was the “special features” Live View, sensor shift image stabilization and manual focus.
Bottom Line: This camera is small and light with a kit lens that beats others in its class make the E-510 a worthy consideration.
Read the Full Review »
PhotographyBlog reviews the Olympus E-510 and likes the built in image stabilization and the fact the camera feels rugged and built to last. No plastic feeling here. Like the E-410 the E-510 does exhibit a white balance problem particularly when taking photos in filtered natural daylight. Photos in this condition tend to have a cool blue color cast so the reviewer recommends if you’re shooting in those conditions you would be well advised to fire off a few shots and set the white balance manually.
Bottom Line: Rugged camera with almost a clean bill of health the E-510 rated almost a perfect score.
Read the Full Review »
Digital Camera SLR Guide Mag reviews the Olympus E-510 and defines it as sleek styling and a lightweight body maek this an excellent travel camera. However, a crop factor of 2x and some expensive lenses make it less desirable when compared to the competition.
Bottom Line: The reviewer did not like that fact that the high cost of Olympus lenses made this camera less desirable.
Read the full review in the June ‘07 issue of Digital Camera SLR Guide Mag »
Digital Camera Info reviews the Olympus E-510 and believes the camera beats the competition in a couple of areas. With lots of manual controls, a white balance with infinite adjustments, and 5 metering modes this camera really takes creative control to the next level.
On the surface the E-510 looks like other DSLRs yet its live view LCD screen really is what separates it from the crowd.
Bottom Line: Don’t buy the E-510 just so you can have the live view LCD. To be fair look at this camera because of its design, manual controls, and smooth handling.
Read the Full Review »
Four Thirds User reviews the moving sensor image stabilization capabilities of the Olympus E-510 and makes sure its reader understand that image stabilization is not just a photographic gimmick, it sincerely works. They do however warn that it would be prudent to NOT leave the camera’s Mode 2 on unless you are panning or taking pictures from a car.
Read the Full Review »
PopPhoto reviews the four thirds Olympus E-510 and thinks the image quality is the best of any Olympus DSLR they’ve tested. For photographers who are after image stabilization and more camera controls this camera should fit the bill. The reviewer thought the three zone auto focus was better than any previous Olympus cameras.
In the field the auto focus was able to track even a small moving object if it remained in the area covered by the three auto focus zones.
The optical stabilization system was able to add 1 to 1.5 stops of steadiness for low light or telephoto images.
Bottom Line: PopPhoto’s reviewer was impressed with the outstanding image quality shooting in RAW from ISO 100 to 1600.
Read the Full Review »
Trusted Reviews – 7/23/2007 – examines the Olympus E-510 and was impressed with its superb handling and performance. With great image quality and tremendous amount of creative control the camera moves to the front of the class of its nearest competitors. The reviewer deemed the E-510 as one of the best semi-pro DSLRs on the market which is the reason he rated it 9 out of 10.
Read the Full Review »
DC Resource – 7/23/2007 – reviews the Olympus E-510 and indicated they like the E-510 much more than the E-410. The live view feature is what really sets this camera in a class all it’s own. Start-up time was a little slower that competitor cameras but on the other hand it’s a little slower because it needs the extra time to remove dust from its sensor, and according to the reviewer they were more than happy to wait for that.
Photo quality of a newly purchased E-510 was disappointing however, after tweaking a few setting excellent results were achieved.
Image stabilization, battery life and a lot of custom settings not found on its sibling the E410 make it a terrific entry level DSLR.
Read the Full Review »
Digital Camera Review – 7/17/2007 – has reviewed the Olympus E-510 and writes, “If I were buying a mid-level dSLR today I would probably purchase the competitively priced, compact, capable, and responsive Olympus E-510. For casual photographers, Canon Powershot S3/S5 owners, and Panasonic FZ7/FZ8 owners looking to move up to a dSLR – the E-510 is the camera you’ve been searching for. For Olympus E-300, E-330, E-400, and E-500 owners looking to upgrade, the E-510 is the camera you hoped Olympus would build.”
Digicam Review – 7/9/2007 – has reviewed the Olympus E-510 and writes, “The Olympus EVOLT E-510 has a number of appealing features, built in image stabilisation, a working dust reduction system, high quality kit lens(es), solid body with good grip, and one-touch white balance. However it goes one step further than the majority of the competition with an impressive Live View feature, this lets you see your subject without having to have the camera pressed to your face, and includes an impressive magnified view to help with manual focus. The camera also delivers the goods, with excellent image quality, once it’s tweaked to your liking regarding noise reduction. I’m regularly surprised by people who feel the need to buy one of the “main brand” Digital SLRs in preference to the Olympus EVOLT E-510 with image stabilisation, dust removal, a decent kit lens, and live view. The camera has excellent responsiveness, as you would expect with a DSLR, and has a fast continuous shooting mode and fast flash recharge. The camera comes with features and modes to suit the beginner all to way up to professional photographers, and is currently the cheapest Digital SLR to feature Live View and Image Stabilisation. Photographers will be very happy with this camera. Highly Recommended!”
Digital Camera Review – 7/9/2007 – has a first thoughts review of the Olympus E-510 and writes, “Equally impressive is the E-510’s ergonomic footprint – this digital camera is as compact and easy to use as many of today’s long zoom P&S digital cameras. Consumers who like the convenience and immediacy of P&S prosumer digicams will adore the E510. Construction is robust (polycarbonate body shell over a metal alloy frame) and all controls are logically placed and easily accessed – plus the E-510 provides direct access to white balance, AF mode, ISO/sensitivity, and metering options. This snazzy little dSLR is targeted at serious amateurs and was obviously designed by photographers for photographers.”
NW Photo Forum – 6/29/2007 – has reviewed of the Olympus E-510 and writes, “The last thing I want to mention about the 510, and this really applies to all of the Olympus professional and pro-sumer bodies – are that they are made very tough. So far, I have not had any breakdowns in the field with any of the bodies I have used. In the last three years, I made 9 trips to Kashmir in India where I’ve been working on a photo book which will be released by WW Norton in the Fall of 2008. For this project, I used the Olympus E-1 in the snow, dust and rain and completed my work entirely with 4.9 megapixel images. I shot some 36,000 photographs and I never had any problems with the E-1 professional camera. I am now thrilled to be using the E-510 which is a 10 megapixel camera with almost all the great features of a pro body.”
Photo Review – 6/21/2007 – has reviewed of the Olympus E-510 and they write, “Of the Four Thirds System cameras we’ve tested, the E-510 represents by far the best value for money when you combine its performance, ease of use and functionality. Offering the same Live View LCD and tried-and-proven SSWF dust minimization system as the E-410, the E-510 is a more comfortable camera to hold and use and would be an excellent choice for photographers who prefer viewing their shots on TV sets and computer screens and should suit travelers who wish to minimize the bulk and weight in their camera bags.”
Camera Labs – 6/15/2007 – has reviewed of the Olympus E-510 and they write, “The Olympus E-510 is arguably the most feature-packed DSLR in its class, ticking almost every box on the wish-lists of new DSLR buyers. You get 10 Megapixels in a relatively light and compact form factor, the option of one or two decent kit lenses, and the triple whammy of built-in anti-shake, anti-dust and Live View capabilities, not to mention easy access to a wide variety of settings. It’s certainly a compelling package, especially for the asking price.”
DigitalCameraInfo – 4/3/2007 – has a first impressions review of the 10 megapixel Olympus E-510 and they write, “Olympus is steadily improving its Four-Thirds cameras. We like the styling and operation of the EVOLT E-510 much more than the E-330. We don’t know about the EVOLT E-510’s image quality, but there was a significant jump in quality from the E-300 to the E-330. Our full review will tell if that trend continues, but given the state of the art at this end of the DSLR price range, we expect the EVOLT E-510 to be a player based on its features and styling.”
Sample Test Photos
[Sample Test Photos at Pocket-lint]
[Sample Test Photos at WhatDigitalCamera]
[Sample Test Photos at DPReview]
[Sample Test Photos at LetsGoDigital]
[Sample Test Photos at ePhotographia]
[Sample Test Photos at ComeAcross]
[Sample Test Photos at Megapixel]
[Sample Photos at PhotographyReview]
[Sample Photos at Steve's Digicams]
[Sample Photos at Imaging Resource]
[Sample Photos at Photography Blog]
[Sample Photos at Digital Camera Info]
[Sample Photos at Trusted Reviews]
[Sample Photos at Digicam Reviews]
[Sample Photos at Camera Labs]
Firmware Updates – (15 August ‘07)
[Firmware Upgrade 1.1 Download Page]
Videos – (9 July ‘07)
[Video Review at Cameras.co.uk]
Specifications
[Official Olympus Specification Sheet]
Owners Manual
Press Release
London, 5 March 2007 about forethought, professional specifications and the seamless integration of cutting-edge technology: The Olympus E-510 delivers nothing short of impeccable performance. This successor to the E-500 gives photographers a better way to frame their compositions since unlike most D-SLRs it boasts Live Preview on its 2.5cm/6.4cm HyperCrystal LCD. Olympus proves itself once again as a technology leader with this camera’s built-in image stabilizer, which incorporated directly into the body, so there’s no need for the costly inclusion of a stabilizer in each lens. Experience dramatically improved shooting results with a new image processing engine that offers excellent noise performance thus bringing picture quality to a whole new level. And, as with all of its E-System cameras, Olympus eliminates the threat of dust with Supersonic Wave Filter. What’s more, the addition of a new Live MOS sensor in this Four Thirds- based camera delivers 10 Megapixels of high-quality detailed photography.
Pages: 1 2
Latest Pricing at Amazon
