Olympus EVOLT E-510

Viewfinder
The size of a DSLR's optical viewfinder is at least partly a function of the camera's sensor size. Because the EVOLT E-510 is a Four-Thirds camera, its viewfinder is smaller than average. Though it's easy to see the full frame and the view of the data displays on the right, the view is smaller and less bright than competing cameras. It is also not convenient for manual focus.

The data display includes aperture, shutter speed, focus confirmation, white balance, AE lock, exposure compensation, exposure mode, battery status, stabilization mode and metering pattern. The data are readable and complete.

LCD Screen
Olympus calls its LCD displays "Hypercrystal." The 2.5-inch, 241,000-pixel unit on the EVOLT E-510 is bright and shows color attractively. It's visible over a wide angle of view. We didn't have a chance to test its performance in bright light at the PMA show. We also couldn't play back images on it because the display models were modified to prevent recording images to media.

In shooting mode, the LCD displayed a full screen of shooting data, which the user can access with the 4-way controller and other buttons. The data displayed are:

The LCD also functions as a live view monitor, though, which provided a good means for evaluating its performance. Focus can show the full frame or a portion magnified 7x or 10x. The views were detailed making it preferable over the viewfinder for focusing the EVOLT E-510 manually.

Flash
The EVOLT E-510's flash is a small, rectangular reflector on a pop-up armature. The flash is small enough to hide behind a quarter which is a problem. This is because small, concentrated light sources do not make flattering pictures of most people. The light accentuates skin blemishes and wrinkles. The flash is directly above the lens, which reduces the shadows visible in horizontal shots. With vertical shots, there will be obvious shadows to one side of the subject.

The EVOLT E-510 is compatible with Olympus's dedicated flash system, which includes some powerful on-camera and macro units. The maximum shutter speed in normal flash mode is 1/180, but Olympus flashes allow sync up to 1/4000 with a series of closely-spaced flashes. In that mode, the flashes are much less powerful.

The internal flash can be set for auto TTL exposure or manual flash at full, 1/4, 1/16 or 1/64 power. The EVOLT E-510 has a red-eye reduction mode, which is accessible via the menu system instead of the flash mode button. Flash exposure compensation is available via the menus system as well as with a range up to two stops above or below the metered reading adjustable in 1/3-EV increments. The flash can accompany long exposures, or the user can set the E-510 to default to any shutter speed from 1/60 to 1/180 when the flash is on.

Zoom Lens
The EVOLT E-510's 14-42mm, f/3.5-5.6 Zukio lens is equivalent to a 28-84mm lens on a 35mm camera. We couldn't test the lens' performance, but it's kind of flimsy. The maximum aperture is not ideal for low-light photography.

The EVOLT E-510 is compatible with Four-Thirds lenses from a range of manufacturers, including Panasonic, which apparently makes Four-Thirds lenses under its own name and for Leica. Leica also produces a Four-Thirds camera adapter for its R-series lenses.

The EVOLT E-510 has optical image stabilization built into the camera body. The same motors that vibrate the sensor in the dust reduction routine move the sensor in response to camera motion. Other cameras with this kind of system work well, but we did not have a real opportunity to test the E-510's system at PMA.

Dust Reduction
The EVOLT E-510 has the same sort of dust reduction system found in earlier EVOLT DSLRs – a pair of piezoelectric motors vibrates the sensor quickly to shake dust off and onto a patch of sticky material below it. Olympus introduced this system, and other manufacturers, including Pentax, Canon and Sony, have followed. The systems appear to shake off many dust particles, but Olympus and other manufacturers have included manual cleaning routines for removing stubborn crud.