Compare Prices : Olympus E-510 - Expert Reviews

Pros: Excellent image quality at all ISOs ; feature-rich design ; sensor-based image stabilization works with all Olympus Zuiko Digital lenses

Cons: Menu system unpolished, harder to use than rival cameras ; sensor-based image stabilization not as effective as lens-based stabilization ; sluggish Live View mode

Verdict: The Olympus Evolt E-510 is a solid choice for someone looking to step up from a point-and-shoot or compact camera.

Review summary: The E-510 is the most complete general public reflex: stabilization, anti-dust, LCD aiming, and 10 MP. With excellent ergonomics and very good image quality, this camera rivals and sometimes surpasses the current leaders, the Canon 400D and Nikon D40x.

Pros: - High performance optical stabilization, - Good ergonomics, - Anti-dust system, - Very good noise control, - Direct shooting with the LCD screen

Cons: - Very small optical viewfinder, - Burst mode needs a fast memory card, - White balance unpredictable in high sensitivities, - No rotating LCD screen

Review summary: While many low-cost digital SLRs are compromised in terms of features, Olympus is bucking the trend with its Olympus Evolt E-510.

Verdict: Many DSLR vendors are streamlining their offerings to appeal to novices; in the process, they strip out features or skimp on quality. Olympus is taking a different tack. With the Olympus Evolt E-510, you get a full-featured DSLR with more advanced ...

Review summary: If you worry that you'll outgrow the functionality of other entry-level DSLRs -- and you don't want to spend a bundle to get the features -- the E-510 is a very good choice.

Pros: Excellent image quality ; extensive feature set, including exposure, flash, and color balance bracketing ; Live View mode lets you view images on the LCD screen instead of in the viewfinder ; light and comfortable to carry

Cons: Accessing advanced functions can be confusing ; no manual focusing switch on lens

Verdict: One of the first things I noticed when picking up the camera with the standard 14-42mm zoom lens was how light it was: the camera and lens together weigh less than two pounds. The E-510 doesn't feel flimsy, however. The body is well-built, and the ...

Award: Highly Recommended!

Review summary: The Olympus E-510 is a compact DSLR camera featuring Live Preview, which allows you to frame your shot using either the optical viewfinder or the 2.5 inch LCD screen. The E-510 boasts a built-in image stabilizer in the camera body which will help to ...

Verdict: So, the question is, is the Olympus E-510 worth the extra money over the E-410, which offers many of the same features including an identical 10 megapixel resolution? In terms of ergonomics, the E-510 feels slightly more comfortable to handle due to ...