Olympus E-520 Announcement And Preview

Official Olympus E-520 Press Release >>
Olympus E-520 Beta Sample Photos >>

Olympus was kind enough to send me a pre-production E-520 and I’ve been playing with it for a few days now. Since it’s a pre-production camera and the firmware isn’t final yet, I can’t really evaluate the camera’s performance or image quality. However, it does have all the best characteristics of its predecessor, the E-510 – and then some. I liked the E-510 because of the compact size of the body, the built-in image stabilization, and the 2x crop factor of the Four-Thirds lenses. This combination of features made the E-510 – as well as other Olympus digital SLRs – great for travel and outdoor photography, where minimal weight and size make a real difference.

Like the E-510, the E-520 is a 10-megapixel camera. However, it uses a new 10.1-megapixel sensor with more light-sensitive area on each pixel. That should mean less noise, more dynamic range, and better overall image quality. It also uses the new TruePic III image processor, which Olympus says, “lowers image noise by one step to reduce graininess in images shot at higher ISO settings,” as well as boosting the speed of the camera. Based on my recent experience with the new Olympus E-420, I expect the E-520 to be much better than the E-510 in terms of dynamic range and noise.

One of the best things about the Olympus E-System digital SLRs is the built-in image stabilization, which works with every lens and helps keep the lenses relatively small. Olympus has enhanced the E-520′s sensor-level image stabilization system with three modes. It corrects standard camera shake (I.S.1) as well as panning horizontally (I.S.2) or vertically (I.S.3). Autofocus Live View and a new HyperCrystal™ II LCD will make for an easy transition for people used to composing with the LCD display on compact digital cameras. I love Live View for studio shooting so I don’t have to bend over so much when I’m doing tabletop product photography. They’ve also added Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology, and Perfect Shot Preview so photographers can see white balance and exposure changes in the LCD.

The camera I have is a pre-production unit, so I haven’t shot any controlled studio tests nor can I make any big proclamations about the performance. As soon as we get a production E-520 or get the firmware updated to an approved version, we’ll get studio tests shot and uploaded so the pixel-peepers can geek out on them.

Olympus E-520 Beta Sample Photos:
These photos from a beta version of the E-520, with a non-final version of the firmware. Most of them have also been edited a bit in Photoshop and they shouldn’t be seen to represent the ultimate image quality of the Olympus E-520. However, I do think they look good. I am pleased with what I was able to shoot with the pre-production camera and I’m looking forward to having a camera with the final firmware.

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Official Olympus E-520 Press Release:

EVERYTHING COMES INTO FOCUS WITH OLYMPUS E-520
DIGITAL SLR: ADVANCED IN-BODY IMAGE STABILIZATION AND AUTOFOCUS LIVE VIEW DELIVER SHARP IMAGES

In-Body Image Stabilization Steadies Any Lens; Take-Anywhere Portable Design
Means You’ll Capture It All

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., May 13, 2008 – The new Olympus E-520 digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera delivers brilliant images thanks to advanced technologies that help take the blur out. Industry leading Image Stabilization built into the portable camera body compensates for movement so that images are sharp and blur-free with any lens and even at slow shutter speeds. Autofocus Live View brings subjects into sharp focus on the camera’s HyperCrystal™ II LCD. Together, these technologies produce amazing results, along with the following features that further expand the DSLR experience:

• In-Body Image Stabilization with Supersonic Wave DriveTM technology provides blur-free images when using any of the more than 30 digital-specific lenses;
• Face Detection Technology targets and locks on faces to ensure they are in focus and blur-free for amazing portraits;
• Shadow Adjustment Technology opens up detail in the shadows that other cameras would render too dark or underexposed while maintaining detail in the highlights; and
• Perfect Shot Preview enables photographers to view and select White Balance and Exposure Compensation effects right on the LCD, and see how the image will look before they even capture it.

“Beyond a successor, the Olympus E-520 features an array of new technologies that help photo hobbyists and serious digital photographers take remarkable images,” said John Knaur, senior marketing manager – DSLR, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “Its image stabilization system now lets photographers pan while holding the portable camera vertically – perfect for capturing everything from a sprinter breaking from the pack to the bride and groom walking down the aisle.”

Enhanced In-Body Image Stabilization
For the first time, in-body Mechanical Image Stabilization has 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 images stay sharp even at slow shutter speeds. To capture the motion of athletes and animals, and other moving subjects, the E-520 offers two specialized modes. IS-2 mode is ideal for capturing a racecar flying down the track, preserving the sense of motion while panning with the moving subject and holding the camera horizontally to dramatically portray the car’s high speed. For sharp images of moving subjects like a basketball player charging up the court, the IS-3 mode allows a photographer to hold the camera vertically while panning. The artistic effects of panning enhance the shot and render the player in sharp detail with blurred background.

The Live View Experience
The portable E-520′s advanced autofocus Live View enables photographers to compose their images and bring them into sharp focus on the HyperCrystal II LCD – just like a point-and-shoot camera. By simply pressing the shutter button halfway, subjects come into focus on the LCD, so when the perfect moment occurs it is easy to compose, focus and capture sharp images while viewing on the LCD. Live View makes it possible to shoot upward from a low angle for dramatic composition, in close for detailed macro photos of an exotic insect, or over a crowd of people at a tennis tournament.

New and Improved HyperCrystal™ II LCD
The E-520′s viewable HyperCrystal II LCD is the key to its Live View capabilities. While some LCD screens force photographers to squint to preview images in bright sunlight or a dimly lit room, the E-520 features a large, bright 2.7-inch LCD display that incorporates new technology. It also offers twice the contrast for better viewing in extreme light conditions, a larger color gamut that displays a greater range of color detail, and a 176-degree viewing angle.

Always Find a Face in the Crowd
The E-520′s Face Detection reduces the chance of blurred subjects in photography by distinguishing between people’s faces and the background. It tracks up to eight faces within the image area even if people are moving and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures.

In Sunshine or the Shadows, Never Miss a Detail
Shooting scenes with shadows can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark and bright areas. The E-520 addresses this challenge with Shadow Adjustment Technology that compensates for extreme contrast and maintains visible detail in both the shadow and highlight areas of the scene. Now users can preview and capture images showing the shadow detail they saw. This feature is also available in the Edit menu after the shot has been taken.

Preview a Multitude of Possibilities
Perfect Shot Preview enables users to preview and select from a variety of thumbnail previews of the photographic effects of white balance and exposure compensation adjustments live on the LCD before taking the photograph. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, visually, without having to scroll through menu options. With 20 preset scene-select modes for every imaginable shooting scenario from underwater photography to fireworks, and program, automatic modes and full manual controls, the E-520 offers a world of possibilities to photographers.

Experience Life under the Sea
Olympus will offer the PT-E05 optional underwater housing for the E-520 to allow photographers to document the richness of life in the depths. Capable of reaching depths of 130 feet underwater, the housing will ensure that divers will not miss an image during their journeys to the abyss. Special underwater scene modes on the E-520 will assure that the camera is set up correctly for underwater use.

Wireless Flash Capability
Sometimes wireless flashes can help photographers cast the best light on their subjects and capture great images. For this reason, the E-520 is compatible with the Olympus FL-50R and FL-36R wireless electronic flashes that are designed exclusively for digital photography. When these flashes are used in combination with the E-520, wireless multi-flash photography is possible. The E-520 can control up to three wireless flash groups independently, with multiple flash units in each group.

TruePic III for Image Clarity & Speed
The 10.1 megapixel E-520′s TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal-clear photos 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 blue skies and precise tonal representation in between. TruePic III also lowers image noise by one step to reduce graininess in images shot at higher ISO settings, enabling great results in low-light situations.

Dust Reduction System for Spot-Free Images
Life moves too fast to spend time worrying about dust ruining the perfect image. Olympus’ proven Dust Reduction System produces spot-free photos with the exclusive Supersonic Wave Filter™. The patented ultrasonic technology vibrates to remove dust and other particles from the front of the image sensor and captures it on a special adhesive membrane every time the camera is turned on. These spot-free photos liberate users from hours spent retouching photographs at the computer or sending their cameras back to the manufacturer to remove dust trapped inside.

Easy to Handle, Easy to Operate
The E-520 is extremely portable, measuring 5.35 inches (width) by 3.6 inches (height) and 2.68 inches (depth), excluding protrusions, and weighing 16.75 ounces (body only). The new camera has a classic penta-mirror design that is light and compact enough to shoot with all day. It features a comfortable ergonomic grip to ensure that the camera fits snugly in the hand. Beyond its portable size, the E-520 has an expanded menu for greater control and buttons on the body for quick and easy direct access to the most common settings. Accepting both CompactFlash Type I & II, Microdrives and xD-Picture Cards, the camera provides a choice of data-storage options for enhanced flexibility, and it is possible to transfer image files from one card to the other right inside the camera.

100% Digital-Specific Lens for Sharpness and Rich Colors
The E-520 outfit includes a compact, Zuiko Digital 28-84mm equivalent (ED 14-42 mm Four Thirds) f3.5-f5.6 lens that perfectly matches the imager so light strikes the sensor directly to ensure rich, accurate colors and edge-to-edge sharpness. Its 3x ED Glass zoom lens covers the range most frequently used in photography and weighs just 7.5 ounces, offering users an extremely dynamic, portable, everyday-use zoom. Close-ups as near as 9.84 inches (0.25 m) are possible throughout the zoom range. This lens is part of Olympus’ expanding line of 100 percent digital lenses – designed specifically for digital photography. Unlike other camera companies, Olympus does not rely on old film lenses, which often result in images with soft edges or other imperfections.

Availability
The Olympus E-520 Digital SLR will be available in July 2008. It includes: E-520 Body, USB Cable, Video Cable, Li-Ion Battery Pack (BLM-1), Li-Ion Battery Charger (BCM-2), Shoulder Strap, OLYMPUS Master Software CD-ROM, Manuals and Warranty Card.

U.S. Pricing/Product Configurations
E-520 body Estimated Street Price: $599.99
E-520 with ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens Estimated Street Price: $699.99