Olympus E-520: Improved IS, Double Live View, and More
by Wesley Fink on May 14, 2008 12:10 AM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
New Super Wide-Angle Olympus Lens
Olympus has also announced a lens addition to the four-thirds system. The Olympus ED 9-18mm f4.0-5.6 provides a 35mm equivalent of 18-36mm. The new lens is just 3 inches long and weighs just 9.88 ounces (280g).
The lens’ lightweight design combined with In-Body Image Stabilization – available in the E-3, E-510 and the newly announced E-520 – makes capturing blur-free super-wide images possible even without a tripod. Olympus now offers two super-wide-angle zoom lenses. This new 9-18mm is designed as an affordable consumer lens and the existing 7-14mm splash-proof lens is targeted for the pro photographer. Both feature both a focal distance equivalent to less than 20mm on a 35mm camera. E-System owners can use either lens with Image Stabilization and Live View, which makes it possible to shoot from unique perspectives that are difficult with an optical viewfinder alone, including over a crowd or at ground-level to catch a toddler’s first steps.
Availability and U.S. Pricing / Product Configurations
The Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f.4.0-f5.6 will be available in the fall of 2008. The estimated street price will be $599.99.
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punchkin - Saturday, May 17, 2008 - link
... nobody edits these articles. The writer should enroll in the closest community college English program post-haste.allajunaki - Thursday, May 15, 2008 - link
Something I have been noticing, Most of the SLR's are now going Live View with Contrast detect AF. Just curious, Isnt that what Point and Shoot's been using all this while?I was under the impression that Phase detect is the fastest AF available and that Contrast detect by nature is very slow in focussing. Have they improved up the contrast detect AF over the years to make is as good as the phase detect, or Am I missing something here?
strikeback03 - Thursday, May 15, 2008 - link
yes, contrast detect is what P&S uses, and yes it is still slow; reports at DPR state that on the same camera it is typically slower than phase detect for live view that offer both, even with the mirror flipping involved for phase detect. For those migrating from P&S without much research (or those who might use it enough to wear out the mirror prematurely) the contrast detect could be a nice option though.So far I have only used the Live View on my 40D on a tripod and with manual focus.
haplo602 - Thursday, May 15, 2008 - link
You need the normal autofous sensors for Phase Detect AF, means mirror down, means no live view while focusing. So there is not other option as the normal P&S contrast detect focusing in live view.Maxington - Thursday, May 15, 2008 - link
Or a fancy mirror setup like the Sony A350, where it can use the phase detect AF in Live View without mirror slap. Pity it comes at the cost of a horrific viewfinder.Live View is a waste of time on DSLR imo anyway.
haplo602 - Thursday, May 15, 2008 - link
IMO Live View is very usefull if you have a tilt/swivel/turn LCD so you can see the LCD when shooting over crowd of people. But that only helps with framing the picture in some situations.For precise focusing you still need a nice bright and clear viewfinder with either split prism or quality fresnel focusing screen.
So Live View is usefull, but only in marginal situations (at least from my point of view).
Wesley Fink - Thursday, May 15, 2008 - link
I also have mixed feelings about the usefulness of Live View in a DSLR, but the ability to zoom in on the LCD and touch-up focus - as you can do on many of the new Live View cameras is terrific for critical macro and tripod shooting. It is a VERY useful studio-type feature.The tilt screens and tilt-swivel (like used on the Oly E-3 and Panasonic L-10) are incredible tools for high and low angle shots that are extremely difficult "real-time" with an optical viewfinder stuck to your eye or an LCD screen that only faces straight back.
My point is there are real situations on a DSLR where Live View is indispensible. Like you, I basically considered it a gimmick, but I have found it very useful in several shooting situations.
Maxington - Friday, May 16, 2008 - link
I find it boils down to Live View being useful *if* a bunch of boxes are ticked. Like, articulated LCD, which is also very high resolution and visible in sunlight, as well as fast AF without mirror slap, as WELL as all this being doable without ending up with a miserable viewfinder or battery life or other such drawbacks. Oh, and the Live View lcd needs to cover 100% of the frame of the shot too.I suppose in the future that will occur, but at the moment I still class it as somewhere between a gimmick and a minor feature. In other words, not something to base a DSLR purchase on. :)
GTVic - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - link
At the bottom of the page you mention "is available in Live View on the $599 E-510". Should that be "E-520"?Wesley Fink - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - link
Corrected. Thanks.