Product Summary
Very good
The good: Sensor-shift image stabilization; Live View mode (LCD preview) operation. 7.1
out of 10View score
The bad: Sluggish autofocus; subpar exposure and white-balance performance; some poor choices for default settings.
The bottom line: The Olympus 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.
Read full review of the Olympus E-510 »
Average User Rating
from 2 users
Spectacular
8.5
out of 10CNET Asia Review
As compact cameras continue to evolve into commodity items, camera makers have shifted the way they approach their entry-level dSLRs. In Olympus' case, the E-410 and E-510 include LiveView LCD preview mode to mimic the way you frame a shot with a compact camera and scene presets in case you're not comfortable enough to set exposure using the program, aperture- and shutter-priority, and manual shooting modes that are the norm among SLR shooters. Of course, those modes are still available in the E-510, and can give you the same level of exposure control you find in other SLRs.
Of course, there are also hard buttons for commonly changed settings, such as ISO, white balance, and AF mode, in case you want to bypass the status screen, which you access by pressing the OK button in the middle of the five-way touchpad. The layout of buttons on the 510 is very nice, making it a comfortable camera to use, though like most entry-level SLRs, its body is a tad short, and our pinky finger dangles from the bottom of the grip when we hold it.
Design
Olympus thinks of the E-510 as a small step above the E-410 and thinks that it should appeal to SLR newbies (or possibly former film SLR owners) that want more of a traditional SLR design than its smaller sibling. While the 410 has an extremely compact body design with almost no grip so it can fit into a pocket if you take the lens off, the 510 has a more prominent grip, making for a slightly larger body. Not only that, but the 510 also included mechanical, sensor-shift image stabilization, which the 410 lacks.
For more details on the E-510's design, click on the image.
Of course, there are also hard buttons for commonly changed settings, such as ISO, white balance, and AF mode, in case you want to bypass the status screen, which you access by pressing the OK button in the middle of the five-way touchpad. The layout of buttons on the 510 is very nice, making it a comfortable camera to use, though like most entry-level SLRs, its body is a tad short, and our pinky finger dangles from the bottom of the grip when we hold it.
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User Reviews
Good for beginner
Oct 12, 2007Rating: 9 out of 10 (Spectacular)
Pros: IS is good, better kit lens
Cons: Autofocus
Opinion:
Value for money.
Value for money
Oct 8, 2007Rating: 8 out of 10 (Excellent)
Pros: Live view, LCD info++, Scene select, IS, Better KIT lenses, value buy, great forbeginners
Cons: Pre-flash is "too flashy", usability can be better , USB port placement
Opinion:
Excellent value for money, got me a 2 lense set, excellent for beginners like me, live view is surprisingly excellent(end product), can be viewed from every angle, IS is noticeable, dust reducer is effectively working. Seamless transfer to PC and software is more than adequate without using pro graphic software. Learning curve is not that steep but can be improved especially the menu navigation system. Function button is great for setting regularly used function. However, USB port interrupting operation when connected. Excellent buy for semi-pro.
