Finding an exceptional digital SLR
camera that is
below $700 isn't easy. However the Olympus E520 ticks many boxes and
comes in at a friendly entry price! Check the review below for further
details.
When confronted with the prices of digital SLR cameras you may consider
going for a high-end point-and-shoot camera instead.
However, most of the point-and-shoot cameras simply underperform in
terms
professional image quality as you are limited in using different types
of lenses.
Even some post-production editing can sometimes not be enough to make
your images
stand out. The Olympus
E520 hopes to do
something different by winning the hearts of new DSLR users
without going over $700.
Olympus E520 Highlights
The 10-megapixel Olympus E520 focuses directly on
making the quality of the image as great as possible.
It achieves this
through the TruePic III image Processor by
achieving accurate colors, and clear visuals by lowering the image
noise by a single step which can help greatly when higher ISO
settings are used and during low-light scenarios.
This works together with the built-ion image stabilization
feature which includes three different modes. The
first mode called "IS-1" makes some adjustments to
the sensor to keep the images sharp even when the shutter speed is slow.
The "IS-2" mode is ideal for high-speed
photography while the "IS-3" mode is for
artistic purposes where panning effects can applied
to the sharp subject while blurring the background for a motion
effect. The "Shadow Adjustment Technology"
is also applied to further improve the photo by revealing details to
shadowed areas while ensuring that the details in bright areas are also
present.
The live view which is commonly found in just about
all point-and-shoot cameras and some of the later high-end DSLR cameras
is implemented in the Olympus
E520 to allow any
user to take nice shots with ease as well as shots where using the
optical viewfinder is difficult.
It has an autofocus capability that triggers when
the shutter button is pressed half way and a built-in face
detection technology to detect each person's face (up
to 8 faces) in the subject and applies special sharpness
settings for the portraits to end up looking nicer.
The live view makes use of a 2.7" display which isn't very big compared
to higher-end cameras, but the HyperCrystal II Technology
adds some value by delivering better contrast and viewing even if the
lighting conditions are intense.
Any of the 20 scene-select modes can be applied for the next photo and
can be viewed with the effect on the live view instantly through the "Perfect
Shot Preview" feature.
Olympus E520 -- Other Notable Features
It is possible to change lenses worry-free as the Olympus E520 has a dust
reduction system using a patented ultrasonic technology
called "Supersonic Wave Filter".
This activates
each time the camera is turned on by having the unit vibrate while the
adhesive membrane captures dust from the sensor.
It also has wireless flash support to achieve
professional lightings when used with wireless electronic flashes like
the FL-50R.
The Olympus E520 is a camera that isn't very heavy
on features when compared to other cameras, but it manages to get the
quality right and the live view should make it very approachable to the
budget user.
There are a few limitations including the low dynamic ranges of any
image format and only a 3 point auto focus, but the
compact sized DSLR camera deserves praise for its essential features
and good overall performance.