Olympus Evolt E-520 (with 14-42mm lens)

Description: The Olympus Evolt E-520 is a 10-megapixel, prosumer camera.Compared to other prosumer digital cameras on the market, it is expensive at around $565.

Pros: Has a 2.7 inch viewscreen, which is somewhat larger than some similarly priced digital cameras.Also, this digital camera has a 10-megapixel resolution, which is higher than some similarly priced digital cameras.This camera also offers control of several exposure modes including bulb, manual, program, shutter-priority, and aperture-priority mode.This camera supports RAW picture files, which makes color adjustments in software much easier.

Cons: Has a 2.7 in thickness.

Suitability: A prosumer digital camera, suited for semi-professional photography.This model has a hot shoe terminal which allows you to attach an external flash to accommodate poor lighting conditions.A recommended use, based on key features, is semi-professional photography.The largest recommended print size, estimated from the camera's resolution, is 12x16 or larger.

Value: Overall, this digital camera's price seems a bit steep, with respect to its features.In fact, you would normally pay about 20% less to get a prosumer camera with comparable resolution.

Suggestions: For more help in deciding if this is the best digital camera for you, visit the buying guide for digital cameras at CNET Reviews.

CNET's Product Briefs are generated by a software tool that combines product specifications with knowledge of our editorial experts. They do not reflect hands-on assessment or labs testing. For more information about how we create Product Briefs, contact us.

• Manufacturer: Olympus America Inc.
• Part Number: 262086

• General

• Product Type Digital camera - SLR with Live View mode
• Width 5.4 in
• Depth 2.7 in
• Height 3.6 in
• Weight 16.8 oz
• Body Material Plastic

• Main Features

• Resolution 10 megapixels
• Color Support Color
• Optical Sensor Type Live MOS
• Total Pixels 11,800,000 pixels
• Effective Sensor Resolution 10,000,000 pixels
• Field of View Crop Factor 2
• Sensor Dust Reduction Yes
• Sensor Features Supersonic Wave Filter (SWF)
• Light Sensitivity ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600, ISO auto (100-1600)
• Shooting Programs Macro, Candle, Sunset, Low key, Children, High key, Documents, Fireworks, Landscape, Anti shake, Beach/snow, Night scene, Sports mode, Nature macro, Portrait mode, Panorama assist, Underwater wide, Underwater macro, Landscape-portrait, Night scene with portrait
• Special Effects Blue, Green, Muted, Sepia, Vivid, Purple, Portrait, Black & White, Black & White Red filter, Black & White Green filter, Black & White Orange filter, Black & White Yellow filter
• Image Stabilizer Optical (image sensor shift mechanism)
• Max Shutter Speed 1/4000 sec
• Min Shutter Speed 60 sec
• X-sync Speed 1/180 sec
• Exposure Metering Spot, Multi-segment, Center-weighted
• Exposure Modes Bulb, Manual, Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority
• Exposure Range EV 1-20 ( ISO 100 )
• Exposure Compensation ±5 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
• Auto Exposure Bracketing 3 steps in 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps
• Exposure Metering Zones 49
• White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic
• White Balance Presets Flash, Shade, Overcast, Sunlight, 3000K - 7500K, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (daylight), Fluorescent light (cool white), Fluorescent light (warm white)
• White Balance Bracketing Yes
• Still Image Format RAW, JPEG, RAW + JPEG
• Remote Control Optional
• TV Tuner None

• Memory / Storage

• Supported Flash Memory Microdrive, CompactFlash
• Floppy Drive None
• Digital Storage Media None
• Image Storage RAW 3648 x 2736 - 11 MB, Super-fine JPEG 3648 x 2736 - 6.8 MB, Fine JPEG 3648 x 2736 - 4.7 MB, Normal JPEG 3648 x 2736 - 2.2 MB, Basic JPEG 3648 x 2736 - 1.5 MB, Super-fine JPEG 3200 x 2400 - 5.3 MB, Fine JPEG 3200 x 2400 - 3.7 MB, Normal JPEG 3200 x 2400 - 1.7 MB, Basic JPEG 3200 x 2400 - 1.1 MB, Super-fine JPEG 2560 x 1920 - 3.6 MB, Fine JPEG 2560 x 1920 - 2.2 MB, Normal JPEG 2560 x 1920 - 1.1 MB, Basic JPEG 2560 x 1920 - 0.7 MB, Super-fine JPEG 1600 x 1200 - 1.3 MB, Fine JPEG 1600 x 1200 - 0.8 MB, Normal JPEG 1600 x 1200 - 0.5 MB, Basic JPEG 1600 x 1200 - 0.3 MB, Super-fine JPEG 1280 x 960 - 0.8 MB, Fine JPEG 1280 x 960 - 0.5 MB, Normal JPEG 1280 x 960 - 0.3 MB, Basic JPEG 1280 x 960 - 0.2 MB, Super-fine JPEG 1024 x 768 - 0.5 MB, Fine JPEG 1024 x 768 - 0.4 MB, Normal JPEG 1024 x 768 - 0.2 MB, Basic JPEG 1024 x 768 - 0.1 MB, Super-fine JPEG 640 x 480 - 0.2 MB, Fine JPEG 640 x 480 - 0.2 MB, Normal JPEG 640 x 480 - 0.1 MB, Basic JPEG 640 x 480 - 0.1 MB

• Camera Flash

• Camera Flash Pop-up flash
• Guide Number (m / ISO 100) 12
• Flash Modes Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Slow synchro, Flash OFF mode, Rear curtain sync, Red-eye reduction
• Red Eye Reduction Yes
• Features AF illuminator, Flash +/- compensation, Flash exposure bracketing

• Lens System

• Type Zoom lens - 14 mm - 42 mm - F/3.5-5.6 Four Thirds
• Focal Length 14 mm - 42 mm
• Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 28 - 84 mm
• Focus Adjustment Manual, Automatic
• Auto Focus TTL contrast and phase detection
• Auto Focus Points (Zones) 3
• Min Focus Range 9.8 in
• Lens Aperture F/3.5-5.6
• Optical Zoom 3 x
• Zoom Adjustment Manual
• Lens Construction 8 group(s) / 10 element(s)
• Filter Size 58 mm
• Lens System Mounting Four Thirds
• Features ED glass, Internal focusing system

• Additional Features

• Self Timer Yes
• Self Timer Delay 2 sec, 12 sec
• Flash Terminal Hot shoe
• Additional Features AE lock, AF lock, Mirror lock, DPOF support, Direct print, Face detection, Auto power save, Contrast control, Focus bracketing, Cropping an image, Histogram display, Resizing an image, Sharpness control, LCD live view mode, PictBridge support, Saturation control, PRINT Image Matching, Shadow point display, USB 2.0 compatibility, Digital image rotation, Highlight point display, In-camera RAW processing, RGB primary color filter, In-camera red-eye removal, Display brightness control, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Depth-of-field preview button

• Viewfinder

• Viewfinder Type Optical - Fixed eye-level pentaprism
• Field Coverage 95%
• Magnification 0.92x
• Dioptric Correction Range -3 to +1
• Viewfinder Frames Autofocus frame
• LCD Display Information AE lock, AF lock, Aperture, Exposure mode, Shutter speed, White balance, Metering system, Exposure compensation, Flash charge completion

• Display

• Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2.7 in - Color
• Display Form Factor Built-in
• Display Format 230,000 pixels

• Digital Player (Recorder)

• Type None

• Connections

• Connector Type 1 x USB, 1 x Composite video output
• Expansion Slot(s) 1 x CompactFlash Card - Type I/II, 1 x xD-Picture Card

• Software

• Software Olympus Master, Drivers & Utilities

• Miscellaneous

• Microsoft Certifications Certified for Windows Vista
• Included Accessories Body cap, Dust cap, Lens cap, Lens hood, Eyepiece cover, Shoulder strap
• Cables Included USB cable, Video cable

• Power

• Power Device Battery charger - External

• Battery

• Supported Battery Olympus BLM-1
• Supported Battery 1 x Olympus BLM-1 Li-ion rechargeable battery - 1500 mAh ( Included )

• Environmental Parameters

• Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
• Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
• Min Storage Temperature -4 °F
• Max Storage Temperature 140 °F
• Humidity Range Operating 30 - 90%
• Humidity Range Storage 10 - 90%

Olympus America Inc.

Manufacturer profile

• Website: http://www.olympusamerica.com/
• Address: Two Corporate Center Drive, Melville, NY. 11747
• Phone: 631-844-5000