Oly E-520. Does anyone care?

[PSA DC-9-30]

Unless I've missed it again (as with the E-420), I don't see any threads on this new model. Unfortunately, it is not all that exciting IMO, the only real advance being the use of the new 420 sensor with improved dynamic range. Any opinions on this camera?

[mbridgers]

Unless I've missed it again (as with the E-420), I don't see any threads on this new model. Unfortunately, it is not all that exciting IMO, the only real advance being the use of the new 420 sensor with improved dynamic range. Any opinions on this camera?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=196221\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

If Olympus had some small, fast-ish primes, like Pentax's pancakes, I'd be more interested.  Better yet, if Pentax would come up with a smaller DSLR (smaller than the K10D, by a fair margin) I'd be first in line.

[jerryrock]

If Olympus had some small, fast-ish primes, like Pentax's pancakes, I'd be more interested.  Better yet, if Pentax would come up with a smaller DSLR (smaller than the K10D, by a fair margin) I'd be first in line.
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Olympus has one:  [a href=\"http://fourthirdsphoto.com/preview/e-420_10.php]http://fourthirdsphoto.com/preview/e-420_10.php[/url]

[DarkPenguin]

I thought the DR is the same but the metering is kinder to highlights than the predecessor.

[Er1kksen]

No, the dr has, fortunately, been significantly improved. The popphoto article announcing the E-420 stated that this new generation used the same sensor as the previous generation with new processing, but this has since been shown to be untrue. At the moment, there's some debate over exactly which sensor it is, as it seems to share many characteristics with the E-3 sensor, but other characteristics (such as the contrast detect AF, which has been confirmed to be undoable with the E-3 sensor) match more closely with the sensor in the Panasonic Lumix L10. Or it could be a completely new sensor, improved over the E-x10 generation but lower cost than the E-3's.

I agree that it's a kind of dissapointing incremental upgrade to the E-510. But if I was looking at getting into a system with a new DSLR, it would be a definite contender.

Here's hoping for a real E-3 lite (with weather sealing and improved AF, but a smaller body and lower price) in september at photokina (or whichever show it is they have then).

[jerryrock]

According to DPreview.com, the E-520 improvements include a larger LCD (2.7"), face detection technology, wireless flash technology, Shadow Adjustment Technology (auto gradation), Dynamic Range increase (closer to the E-3) and contrast autofocus.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0805/08051301olympusE520.asp

[BJL]

On E-420/E-520 dynamic range, my reading is that
1) Panasonic made some design improvements during 2007 for the "high speed" version of its 10MP nMOS sensor used in the E-3, including reduced amplifier noise giving a lower noise floor and improved dynamic range relative to the E-410 and E-510. Olympus has indicated this in an interview.
2) Those changes seem also to be used in the new "2008" version of the 10MP sensor used in the E-420 and E-520. Olympus has said that the E-420 sensor is a somewhat new design, not exactly the same as in any 2007 model.
(For other evidence of incremental design improvements, note also the somewhat increased frame rate: 3.5fps officially for the E-x20 models compared to 3fps in the E-x10 models, with the E-420 benchmarked at 4fps in one review.)

This reminds me of the apparent succession of improvements that Sony has made to its 6MP DSLR sensor product line over its long life from D100 to D40, with high ISO noise levels in particular improving in newer models.


The E-x20 updates also offer improved AF options in LiveView mode through addition of contrast detection AF. LV with CD AF seems to be universal in new DSLR's, except some with CCDs.

[BJL]

Here's hoping for a real E-3 lite (with weather sealing and improved AF, but a smaller body and lower price) in september at photokina (or whichever show it is they have then).[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=196250\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

my guess: Panasonic/Olympus will launch a third generation 4/3" nMOS sensor of about 12MP later this year or early next year, and this will be a good candidate for a new model to fill the price/performance gap between the E-520 and E-3. My main priorities beyond what the E-520 offers are the 11pt AF system of the E-3 and an articulated LCD. A pentaprism VF of 1x mag. or better and two control wheels would be nice too. I want in-body IS for my current lenses, so a new Panasonic body will probably not appeal to me.