Final Thoughts (as far as the official review goes anyway) - Olympus EVOLT E-510

For someone like me who hadn't been exposed to DSLR photography before, it continues to be a challenge to learn not only about the Olympus EVOLT E-510 but about basic digital photography as well. I have been assured by many with far more experience than I however, that photography really is a lifelong learning process, so I’ve vowed to stop beating myself up so much about what I *haven’t* yet learned, well except to say that I wish I had not watched the Partridge Family in my younger days – I’ll be damned if I can remember anything about aperture, but ask me for the words to the insipid song “I Think I Love You” and I could recite it word for word.

(Ohhhh cut me some slack, it was David Cassidy after all!) ;-)

My experience thus far with the E-510 has been mostly positive, with the only true negative being my inability to absorb and “get” the basics of digital photography. This of course is not the camera's fault and most definitely can be attributed to, in this case, the user. That’s not to say I don’t have any “cons” about the camera, but I do know I won't easily tire of it since I am coming from such a beginning standpoint and still have so much to learn, not only about the E-510 specifically, but digital SLR photography overall.

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(Okay, okay the AF Illuminator had me and others stumped. Some cameras use a beam of light to assist with auto focus, but the E-510 uses the on camera flash as a strobe for this and I was worried that I would induce epileptic seizures, but now that I have figured out how to turn that “feature” off, friends and family won’t have to cower anymore when I point the camera at them.)

Now those who have had experience with DSLR cameras may get bored with the E-510, which in my opinion is definitely a camera for a beginning photographer (especially if “those in the know” are of the belief that there are only two camera brands out there – of course, I’m referring to Nikon and Canon). As one who sometimes walks to the beat of a different drummer anyway, I'm kinda glad that I'm not married to the idea that there are only two vendors to consider. Does that mean I have blinders on for not exploring other comparable brands of DSLRs? Some might think so. But I prefer to look at it more as a method of self preservation - I’m just avoiding new frustrations. ;-)

Plus, I just really like this camera.

The E-510 is feature-rich, catering to digital photography novices with its 18 scene modes, which once engaged, are fully explained on the LCD screen. Of course, the first thing that drew me to the Olympus line of DSLRs was the live-view LCD screen, especially coming from the world of compact digital point-and-shoot cameras where 99.9% of photos are probably taken using an LCD panel. In using the E-510 for the past few months however, I have already gotten out of the habit of using the screen to take pictures and find that I am using the viewfinder almost exclusively, so you *real* photographers out there can stop cringing. ;-) Not to mention, it does take a little longer to shoot a picture in live-view mode, but for the times when you’re shooting above your head or really low, it’s invaluable to be able to frame and focus your shot using the screen even if you’re not in the ideal position to take a picture. The reviews I’ve read that cite slow picture taking in live-view mode as a “con” seem silly even to me, but I thought it should at least be mentioned. And even though the live-view LCD screen was the initial feature that attracted me to the E-510, it really shouldn't be purchased solely for that reason. Instead, it should be considered based on the following:

1) Design and handling - it’s an easy camera to carry around and if it’s not cumbersome to carry, chances are you’ll actually take it with you more than you thought you would.
2) Its feature-rich scene modes, and from what I have read since I have yet to venture into manual mode, its manual controls.
3) Dual media capabilities (the E-510 takes both compact flash and XD memory cards).
4) Anti-dust and built in anti-shake features.
5) Multiple access to settings, including preset WB, ISO and AF buttons.

It also helps that in the time that I have been using this camera, the price has dropped significantly, even on the 2 kit lens package, thus making it even more attractive to me than before.

My cons remain the same as before with just one addition:

1. The viewfinder is smaller than rival cameras, but that can be easily rectified by purchasing a magnifying eyecup attachment.
2. I still tend to hit the FN button by mistake at times when gripping the camera, but I’ll chalk that up to user error vs. placement for now.
3. The manual included isn’t the best organized manual I’ve seen, so I had a tendency to avoid referring back to it at times even when I really should have. But let’s face it manuals at the best of times make for pretty dull reading.

Now while I am of the opinion that the beginning DSLR photographer is the perfect target market for the EVOLT E-510, Olympus really has included something in it for almost everyone. Truly experienced photographers will likely pass it by, but novice and even serious “hobbyists” will definitely enjoy this camera and should at least consider it along with any comparable Nikon, Canon, Pentax or Panasonic DSLR camera on the market today.

Sly

(While I am hoping that my experience with the E-510 doesn’t stop with this review, I want to thank Olympus, especially Michael Bourne and Jennifer Colucci, for the opportunity to explore and use the EVOLT E-510 for such an extended period of time.)