E-520 Preview Up at DCResource; ZD 9-18mm Available Fall 2008

[drakon09]

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/ol...ew/index.shtml

Olympus announces E-520 D-SLR and new lens; preview available
Olympus today announced their new E-520 digital SLR, and we have a preview of it available. The E-520 is the follow-up to the E-510, and its new features mostly mirror those of the E-420 (review coming soon, I promise!). Below are the highlights of this new D-SLR -- there are a ton more details in the preview.

Olympus E-520 [specs]

* 10.0 effective Megapixel Live MOS sensor
* Sensor-shift image stabilization; new ability to stabilize for horizontal and vertical panning
* FourThirds lens mount with 2X focal length conversion ratio
* Dust reduction system
* New 2.7-inch "HyperCrystal II" LCD with 230,000 pixels with live view (the E-510's screen was 2.5" in size)
o Contrast detect AF with select lenses; face detection available when using this mode; other AF modes include AF sensor (like the E-510) and hybrid (a mix of the two)
o New LCD promises improved viewing angle, contrast, and color
* Faster continuous shooting: 3.5 frames/second (versus 3 fps on the E-510)
* Full manual controls; shutter speed range of 60 - 1/4000 sec
* Hot shoe for external flash; also supports wireless flashes
* Shadow Adjustment Technology brightens dark areas of your photos
* Perfect Shot Preview lets you quickly see the effects of adjusting exposure compensation or white balance
* Uses BLM-1 lithium-ion battery; 650 shots per charge (unchanged)
* Optional underwater housing
* USB 2.0 High Speed support
* Ships in July for $599 body only or $699 with the F3.5-5.6, 14 - 42 mm lens
>> Read our preview for more <<

Along with the E-520 comes a new Zuiko Digital lens. This F4.0-5.6, 9 - 18 mm lens is going to make wide-angle lovers drool. It's just 3 inches long, weighing 9.9 ounces (280 g), and is equivalent to 18 - 36 mm when attached to a FourThirds mount. This lens will be available in the Fall for $599.




Official Press Release:

E-520: http://www.olympus-global.com/en/new...80513e520e.cfm

9-18mm: http://www.olympus-global.com/en/new...0513zuikoe.cfm

[egnaro]

somehow E520 can't convince E510 user to upgrade. just my personal view.

[drakon09]

Originally Posted by egnaro somehow E520 can't convince E510 user to upgrade. just my personal view.

Nope, it's clearly targeted on the PnS upgraders (e.g. face detection, contrast detection AF).

Olympus wants the E-510 users to upgrade to the E-3!

[bousozoku]

The new panning modes should be appreciated in the I.S.

I'm not sure about the new lens, though. Too many slow, small lenses already.

[drakon09]

Woah, the underwater housing and flash sure looks yummy!

Calling for 1 x sunfish....

[drakon09]

Originally Posted by bousozoku The new panning modes should be appreciated in the I.S. I'm not sure about the new lens, though. Too many slow, small lenses already.

Well, f4.0-5.6 at 9mm is pretty decent I suppose.

Mike should be happy - other than the pricing I guess...

[blurboiboi]

Originally Posted by drakon09 Nope, it's clearly targeted on the PnS upgraders (e.g. face detection, contrast detection AF). Olympus wants the E-510 users to upgrade to the E-3!

then its about time they slash E3's price manz...
will definitely get one if it cost prob same price as the Pentax 20D or even better Canon 40D... hee

[bousozoku]

Originally Posted by drakon09 Well, f4.0-5.6 at 9mm is pretty decent I suppose. Mike should be happy - other than the pricing I guess...

Well, it's not US$1799 like the 7-14mm, so it's a bargain of sorts. I guess people doing landscapes won't mind at all.

[egnaro]

sg oly having islandwide promote.... 2409 for E3 with grip....

[tao]

With the release of the E-420 and E-520, it looks like Olympus finally realised that it doesn't make economic sense developing completely new bodies everytime they release a camera, when they can just make incremental improvements like what the other makers have been doing. Sometimes, they are just too innovative for their own good but I guess that is why we are using Olympus.

Now, where is the E-340 with 10MP, IS, Mode A lifeview and same tiltable LCD? That, for me is the product I want.

[OSFlanker]

Originally Posted by egnaro somehow E520 can't convince E510 user to upgrade. just my personal view.

I feel the same way. The new features are not enticing enough for me to upgrade from E510, and I won't go E3 way coz the reason I bought the E510 is for it's size and weight.

Hopefully E530 will feature 5fps.......

[shengliang1981]

9-18mm is nice.. but still quite expensive..

[egnaro]

Originally Posted by shengliang1981 9-18mm is nice.. but still quite expensive..

I think for a 9mm ultra wide at ard <900 SGD is pretty reasonable... It is ZUIKO lens and well known for ex but good...

[marky]

9-18mm.. What grade is it? I suppose its a normal grade lens?

[spidey89]

i believe it's part of standard grade,are the prices in sing?if they are,9-18 f4-5.6 below 600 is really attractive.The only thing that attracts me to upgrade to E-520 from E-510 is the shadow adjustment technology as well as the 0.5 frame per sec faster (though not really that attractive) but still,i'd rather wait for E-3's replacement camera,bound to have these features and more,start saving for this wide angle and the new pro body,XD

[egnaro]

Originally Posted by marky 9-18mm.. What grade is it? I suppose its a normal grade lens?

in the lens chart, it shd be standard grade

[egnaro]

Originally Posted by spidey89 i believe it's part of standard grade,are the prices in sing?if they are,9-18 f4-5.6 below 600 is really attractive.The only thing that attracts me to upgrade to E-520 from E-510 is the shadow adjustment technology as well as the 0.5 frame per sec faster (though not really that attractive) but still,i'd rather wait for E-3's replacement camera,bound to have these features and more,start saving for this wide angle and the new pro body,XD

agree... I will most likely go for the lens and save up for new pro body...

[spidey89]

Originally Posted by egnaro agree... I will most likely go for the lens and save up for new pro body...

ha ha ha,we save together,then we go buy together,ka chio the salesman give up more discount,lol

[Evilmerlin]

Hmm, the 9-18 is very very tempting indeed! In my quest for ever wider angle lens, this should come in very handy. The slow speed of the lens doesn't really matter much considering its purpose which is static landscape or architectural photography. I guess it would matter some when you are doing in door shoots.

The E-520 is not worth upgrading to if you already own a E-510. Its simply an E-510 with some added features, no big deal.

[drakon09]

Originally Posted by spidey89 i believe it's part of standard grade,are the prices in sing?if they are,9-18 f4-5.6 below 600 is really attractive.The only thing that attracts me to upgrade to E-520 from E-510 is the shadow adjustment technology as well as the 0.5 frame per sec faster (though not really that attractive) but still,i'd rather wait for E-3's replacement camera,bound to have these features and more,start saving for this wide angle and the new pro body,XD

It's Standard Grade, and the 599 recommended pricing is in USD.

(Personally, I'll gladly trade my E-3 for a pimped-up E-420 on steroids, but that's just me!)