Olympus E-520 User Manual

Must-have gear for your next adventure.

Full featured and ready to go anywhere.

You live for the thrill of nailing a tough shot and the challenge of capturing photos rich in
color, clarity and detail. That’s why you’ll love the Olympus E-520 — a DSLR for people who
take photography seriously. This light, highly portable camera is packed with technology to
help you take your skills to the next level. Its In-body Image Stabilization works with every
Four Thirds lens to ensure crisp, clear photos. An Autofocus Live View feature ensures you’ll
never miss a shot, while our industry-leading Dust Reduction System eliminates spots from
your photos once and for all. Of course, the E-520 has dozens of features to help you shoot
anything, anywhere, anytime.

14-54mm f2.8-3.5 [f3 1/5 sec.]

™

Olympus ZUIKO DIGITAL

Olympus ZUIKO DIGITAL™11-22mm f2.8-3.5 [f2.8 1/60 sec.]

In-body Image Stabilization for tack-sharp images at any focal length.

The E-520’s In-body Image Stabilization ensures you’ll
always capture clear images. Thanks to our camera
shake correction technology, you can shoot up to four
shutter speeds lower. The E-520 features three image
stabilization modes. IS-1 helps to take clear shots at
slow shutter speeds — great for a candlelight scene or
an evening campfire. IS-2 lets you pan while holding
the camera horizontally — perfect for shooting a
moving object like a speeding race car. IS-3 lets you
pan while shooting vertically — ideal for taking shots
of a basketball player charging up a court. You can
manually adjust the focal length of any non-Four
Thirds lens in any IS mode for effective stabilization.
Even OM lenses can be stabilized using an optional
adapter.

The E-520’s In-body Image Stabilization gives you
more lenses to choose from. Every Four Thirds lens is
stabilized — from the widest to the most telephoto —
making the system amazingly cost efficient. You pay
for Image Stabilization once instead of every time you
buy a lens.

Live View. Advanced features to help you capture more.

Autofocus Live View now with Face Detection
expands your shooting possibilities.

Shooting through an LCD instead of a viewfinder gives you more

lexibility and creativity. View and take easier overhead shots.

f
Take better macro shots with unique viewing angles. Quickly
capture candid shots. The E-520’s Live View offers real-time
“live” viewing of your subject on a high-contrast, high-definition

2.7-inch HyperCrystal
sunlight. The E-520 uses a high-speed Imager AF for easy
11-point multi-area autofocusing with Live View — simply press
the shutter button halfway. Use a preview feature to check the
effects of white balance, exposure and Shadow Adjustment
Technology on the LCD before shooting. Face Detection works
with Live View to automatically detect up to eight faces in a
frame and focus appropriately.

™

II LCD that’s clearly seen even in bright

Magnify your image.

Enlarge an image on the LCD up to 10 times for more precise
focusing — especially helpful for macro photography. You can
autofocus after the image is magnified.

10x magnification

Preview your creativity.

Perfect Shot Preview lets you instantly compare the effects of
up to four different exposures or white balance settings. Choose
your settings by selecting an image on the LCD.

The selected setting is applied.

Check your composition.

Framing-assist patterns like a golden grid or a histogram can be
displayed on the LCD while shooting in Live View. Check your
composition and exposure before shooting.

HyperCrystal™II LCD for effortless viewing.

The generous 2.7-inch HyperCrystal™II LCD features
230,000-dot resolution, exceptional contrast ratio and stunning
color reproduction. Compose more creatively and see more
clearly, thanks to a wide viewing angle of 176°.

Grid line Histogram

You demand amazing images. The E-520 delivers.

Olympus ZUIKO DIGITAL™40-150mm f4.0-5.6 [f11 1/500 sec.]

Brighter, detail-rich photos.

When you select Gradation Auto, Shadow Adjustment
Technology captures detail in bright areas of a frame and brings
out details hidden in shadow. You’ll get images — especially faces
and backgrounds — with well-balanced brightness.

Capture spectacular color.

The E-520 uses an advanced 10-megapixel Live MOS Sensor
with wider dynamic range for natural color reproduction. Our

™

TruePic

III image processor gives photos true-to-life color
with exceptionally fine detail and minimal noise even at high
ISO settings.

Take dust out of the picture.

Once dust gets on the image sensor, it shows up in the same
spot on every picture. Our revolutionary, proven Dust Reduction
System features a Supersonic Wave Filter
front of the image sensor that vibrates an astounding 30,000
times per second. Dust is shaken off so you’ll always get spot­free photos.

With Dust
Reduction System

Without Dust
Reduction System

™

(SSWF) located in

The camera that puts you in control.

■

ISO Sensitivity can be set to Auto (ISO 100 to 800) or manually
from 100 to as high as 1600.

■

High-speed Sequential Shooting up to 3.5 frames per second.

■

49-point Multi-pattern Metering is available plus center-weighted
average and three spot metering modes.

■

White Balance features Auto, Preset, Custom and One-touch WB.

■

FN Button can be customized to one of five functions or
turned off.

■

Bracketing functions for exposure, flash power and white balance
in different steps.

Example ofExposureBracketing

-0.5 ±0.5 +0.5

■

Four Shooting Modes, five scene program modes and 20 scene­select modes.

■

Dual Slots work with CompactFlash Type I/II, Microdrive
and xD Picture Cards.

■

Light Box Function simultaneously displays two images on
the monitor.

No wires mean more creativity.

The E-520’s built-in flash uses a commander function for wireless flash
operation with the FL-36R or FL-50R. Through the Super Control Panel,
the camera can run up to three groups of flashes and execute a wide range
of creative lighting set-ups.

Zuiko Digital™Lenses

Combining spectacular image quality with superior portability.

Designed exclusively for digital cameras, Zuiko Digital lenses deliver
amazing picture quality in a portable size. In fact, many of our lenses
give you the same imaging power as other lenses that are twice the
size. Photos taken with Zuiko Digital lenses are brighter with
unmatched sharpness throughout the image. The E-520’s In-body
Image Stabilization gives you the freedom to use all Four Thirds
lenses for crisp, sharp photos.

Zuiko Digital™ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 (28-84mm*)

Covers the range from wide to short telephoto zoom. Great for a
wide range of everyday shots.

Closest focusing distance: 9.84" | Dimensions: 2.58" x 2.40"
Weight: 6.7 oz. | Filter size: 58mm

Zuiko Digital™35mm f3.5 Macro (70mm*)

Capture small objects with 1x magnification (2x: 35mm
camera equivalent)

Closest focusing distance: 5.75" | Dimensions: 2.80" x 2.09"
Weight: 5.8 oz. | Filter size: 52mm

Zuiko Digital™ED 40-150mm f4.0-5.6 (80-300mm*)

Astonishing telephoto zoom in a compact size that’s perfect
for travel.

Closest focusing distance: 35.43" | Dimensions: 2.58" x 2.83"
Weight: 7.8 oz. | Filter size: 58mm

Zuiko Digital™ED 25mm f2.8 (50mm*)

Highly portable lens perfect for snapshots and portraits.

Closest focusing distance: 7.87" | Dimensions: 2.50" x 0.92"
Weight: 10.6 oz. | Filter size: 43mm

Zuiko Digital™ED 70-300mm f4.0-5.6 (140-600mm*)

Super-telephoto lens captures spectacular images from a distance.
In-body Image Stabilization lets you comfortably hold a 600mm
equivalent lens for nature or sports photography. Close focusing
down to 38.80" makes this lens tele-macro compatible.

Closest focusing distance: 38.80" (MF); 47.24" (AF)
Dimensions: 3.15" x 5.02" | Weight: 21.70 oz. | Filter size: 58mm

* 35mm camera equivalent
† Specifications are subject to change.

Zuiko Digital™ED 9-18mm f4.0-5.6 (18-36mm*)

(Release planned for 2008)

†

Compact and lightweight ultra-wide angle lens. Shoot a
sweeping landscape in a single shot or take a photo of a
large family gathering.

Closest focusing distance: 9.84" | Dimensions: 3.12" x 2.87"
Weight: 9.87 oz. | Filter size: 72mm

Photo management made easy.

Image Management/Editing Software
OLYMPUS Master 2 (Included) OLYMPUS

aster 2 not only makes it easy to sort your data

M
and organize your photos in folders or albums, it
provides easy-to-use editing functions and
high-quality RAW data processing.

System Requirements: • Compatible OS: Windows Vista/XP/2000, Mac OS X (v10.3 or later) • CPU: [Windows]
Pentium III 500 MHz or higher, [Macintosh] PowerPC G3 500 MHz or higher, Intel Core Solo/Duo 1.5 GHz or

ore • RAM: 256 MB or more (512 MB or more recommended) • HDD: 500 MB or more • Monitor: 1024 x 768

m

ixel or higher [Windows: 65,536 colors or more (16.77 million colors or more recommended)], [Macintosh: 32,000

p
colors or more (16.77 million colors or more recommended)] • Other: CD-ROM drive (Required for installation)

System Chart

Digital Workflow Software
OLYMPUS Studio 2 (Trial Edition included*) OLYMPUS Studio 2

assures a smooth, high-speed digital workflow with features like an
image select function, advanced RAW data processing, PC camera
control capability and image editing functions.

The Trial Edition can only be used for 30 days after installation. After the trial period has expired, online purchase

*
of a license key is required for further use. (Requires Internet connection.)
System Requirements: • Compatible OS: Windows Vista/XP/2000, Mac OS X (v10.3 or later) • CPU: [Windows]

entium III 500 MHz or higher, [Macintosh] PowerPC G3 500 MHz or higher, Intel Core Solo/Duo 1.5 GHz or

P
more • RAM: 512 MB or more recommended • HDD: 500 MB or more • Monitor: 1024 x 768 pixel or higher
[Windows: 65,536 colors or more (16.77 million colors or more recommended)], [Macintosh: 32,000 colors or more

16.77 million colors or more recommended)] • Other: CD-ROM drive (Required for installation)

(

Record mode

Compression rate File format

Image size

(pixels)

3648 x 2736

3648 x 2736

2560 x 1920

1280 x 960

Recordable images

(with 1 GB card)

59
129
186
406
602
246
411
802

1204
1079
1565
2846
4473

(Lossless)

1/2.7

1/4
1/8

1/12

1/2.7

1/4
1/8

1/12

1/2.7

1/4
1/8

1/12

File size (MB)

Approx. 11
Approx. 6.8
Approx. 4.7
Approx. 2.2
Approx. 1.5
Approx. 3.6
Approx. 2.2
Approx. 1.1
Approx. 0.7
Approx. 0.8
Approx. 0.5
Approx. 0.3
Approx. 0.2

ORF

JPEG

RAW

Record type

Large

Middle

Small

Compression type

Super Fine

Fine

Normal

Basic

Super Fine

Fine

Normal

Basic

Super Fine

Fine

Normal

Basic

E-520 (Body) includes:

• BLM-1 Li-ion Battery

• BCM-2 Li-ion Battery Charger

• OLYMPUS Master 2 CD-ROM

• USB Cable

Camera package may dier depending on the sales area.

• Video Cable

• EP-4 Eyepiece Cover

• Shoulder Strap

E-520 14-42mm Lens Kit includes:

• E-520 (Body)

• ZUIKO DIGITALED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6

Specifications

Product Type Single-lens reflex Live View digital camera with interchangeable lens system

Memory CompactFlash Type I/II, Microdrive, xD-Picture Card (Dual-Slot)
Screen size 17.3mm (H) x 13.0mm (V)
Lens mount Four Thirds mount

Effective Pixels Number 10 million pixels
Image Pickup Unit

Producttype Live MOS Sensor
Totalno. of effective pixels Approx. 11.8 million pixels
Aspect ratio 1.33 (4:3)
Filter array Primary color filter (RGB)
LPF Fixed type
IR cutfilter Hybrid type
Dust reduction Supersonic Wave Filter (dust reduction system for image sensor)

ecording

R

Recordingformat DCF,DPOF compatible/Exif, PRINT Image Matching III

ile format RAW (12-bit), JPEG, RAW+JPEG

F
Recordingimage size [RAW] 3648 x 2736 pixels

Viewfinder

Producttype Eye-level single-lens reflex viewfinder

ield ofview Approx. 95%

F
Viewfindermagnification Approx. 0.92x (−1m-1, 50mm lens, infinity)
Eye point Approx. 14mm (-1m-1)
Diopteradjustment range -3.0 - +1m-1
Focusingscreen Fixed (Neo Lumi-Micro Mat screen)
Eyepieceshutter Eyepiececap EP-4 supplied

Live View Live MOS Sensor for still picture shooting is used, 100% field of view, Exposure adjustment

AF High-speed imager AF,Phase-difference detection AF

Image Stabilizer

System Built in (Imager shiftimage stabilizer)
Mode 3 modes, (2-dimensional activation, 1-dimensional activation in landscape frame to vertical

Effectivecompensation range Approx. 4EV steps (in maximum effect)

LCD Monitor

Producttype HyperCrystal II LCD (semi-transmissive TFT color LCD)
Size 2.7 inches
Totalno. of pixels Approx. 230,000 dots
Playbackfield of view 100%
Brightnesscontrol 15 levels
Color balance 15 levels

Focusing

AF system TTL phase-difference detection system, Contrast detection system

Focus mode Single AF (S-AF) / Continuous AF (C-AF) / Manual Focus (MF) / S-AF + MF / C-AF + MF

Focusingpoint 3-point multiple AF with the phase-difference detection system (Auto, selectable in option),

Focusingpoint selection Auto/Option selectable
AF luminance range
(phase-differencedetectionsystem) EV 0 to 19 (at 20˚C , ISO 100)
AF illuminator
(phase-differencedetectionsystem) Built-in flash (external flash available. Inactivation is available to set.)
AF lock Lockedat first position of Shutter button in Single AF mode / AEL button (customizable)
Focus tracking
(phase-differencedetectionsystem) Interlocked with Continuous AF mode
Focus aid Available

Exposure Control

Meteringsystem TTLopen-aperture metering system

Meteringrange EV 1 - 20 (Digital ESP metering, Center-weighted average metering, Spot metering)

Exposuremode (1) Auto (2) P: Program AE (Program shift can be performed) (3) A: Aperture priority AE

Scene program AE Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sport, Night + Portrait
Scene select AE Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait,Night Scene, Night + Portrait, Children, Sport,

ISO sensitivity AUTO(ISO 100 - 1600) / Manual (ISO 100 - 1600), 1 EV steps
Exposurecompensation ±5 EV in 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps selectable
AE lock Locked by first position of Shutter button / AEL button (customizable)
Exposurebracketing 3 frames in 0.3, 0.7, 1EV steps selectable

† When a lens other than the ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6, ED 40-150mm f4.0-5.6 or 25mm f2.8 is used, the number of AF focusing points changes to 3 and AF is executed again when the shutterbutton is pressed all the way. With the ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 or
ED 40-150mm f4.0-5.6 lens, the firmware needs to be updated to Ver.1.1or later.

Specifications and appearances are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.• Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. • Macintosh and Mac OS are trademarks of
Apple Inc. • All other company and product names are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of their respective owners. • “Shadow Adjustment Technology”function contains patented technologies from Apical Limited. • The pictures in this catalog of the LCD monitors
are simulated. • The strap and the camera case shown in this catalog are optional.

[JPEG] 3648 x 2736, 3200 x 2400, 2560 x 1920, 1600 x 1200, 1200 x 960, 1024 x 768,
640 x 480 pixels

pre-view, White balance adjustment pre-view,Gradation setting pre-view, Face detection
pre-view, Perfect shot pre-view,Grid line displayable, 7x/10x magnification possible, MF/S-AF,
AF frame display, AF point display,Shooting information, Histogram, IS activation mode

direction moving, 1-dimensional activation in portrait frame to horizontal direction moving)

(with 25mm f2.8, 14-42mm f3.5-5.6, 40-150mm f4.0-5.6)

*C-AF mode is not available with the contrast detection system

11-point multiple AF with the contrast detection system (Auto, selectable in option)

(1) Digital ESP metering (49-point multi-pattern metering) (2) Center-weighted average metering
(3) Spot metering (approx. 2% for the viewfinder screen) (4) Spot with Highlight control
(5) Spot with Shadow control

(At normal temperature, 50mm f2, ISO 100)

(4) S: Shutter priority AE (5) M: Manual (6) Scene program AE (7) Scene select AE

Low Key, High Key,DIS mode, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Fireworks, Documents,
Panorama* (*Available with the Olympus xD-Picture Card), Beach & Snow, UnderwaterWide,
Underwater Macro

†

Number of recordable pictures (in main record modes)

White Balance

Auto WBsystem Advanceddetection system with Live MOS Sensor
Preset white balance 8 settings (3000K - 7500K), Lamp (3000K), Fluorescent 1 (4000K), Fluorescent 2 (4500K),

White balance compensation ±7 steps in each A-B/G-M axis (in Auto WB/Preset WB/One touch WB mode)
Custom white balance 1 setting can be registered at Kelvin temperature (2000K - 14000K)
One-touchwhite balance 1 custom setting can be registered
White balance bracketing 3 frames in 2, 4, 6 steps selectable in each A-G/G-M axis

Color Mode

olor space sRGB, Adobe RGB

C

Picture Mode

Mode Vivid, Natural, Muted, Portrait, Monotone (default setting Natural), Custom

djustmentparameter Contrast, Sharpness and Saturation level available in 5 steps for Vivid, Natural, Muted and

A

Filter effect Yellow, Orange, Red or Green filter available for Monotone
Picturetone Sepia, Blue, Purple or Green tone available for Monotone
Gradation 4levels (Auto, High key, Normal, Low key)

Shutter

Producttype Computerized focal-plane shutter
Shutterspeed Auto mode: 2 - 1/4000 sec. (depends on settings), P(Ps), S, A, M mode: 60 - 1/4000 sec.

Self-timer Operation time: 12 sec., 2 sec. (cancel available)
Remote cable release Available (with optional RM-UC1 Remote cable)

ptical remote control Operation time: 2 sec., 0 sec., bulb control available (with optional RM-1 remote control)

O
Anti-shockmode Available (1 to 30 sec. selectable)

Drive

Drive mode Single-frame shooting, Sequential shooting, Self-timer, Remote control
Sequentialshooting speed Approx. 3.5 frames/sec.

ax. recordable pictures

M
on sequential shooting RAW mode: Max. 8 frames. JPEG mode: Depends on compression ratio and no. of pixels

Integrated Flash

Built-inflash Retractable flash (Auto pop-up type), GN=12 (ISO 100m)
Compatibleexternal flash FL-50R, FL-36R, FL-50, FL-36, FL-20
Flash control mode TTLAuto (TTL pre-flash mode), Auto, Manual
Flash mode Auto, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction slow sync., Slow sync at 1st curtain,

Synchronization speed 1/180 sec. or less, Super FP up to 1/4000 sec.
Flash intensity control Up to ±3 EV in 1/3, 1/2 or 1EV steps selectable

Wireless Flash Control

Compatibleexternal flash FL-50R, FL-36R
Controlmethod Triggered and controlled by built-in flash light
Flash control mode TTLAuto (TTL pre-flash mode), Auto, Manual, FP TTL Auto, FP Manual
Number ofchannels 4 channels
Group setting 3 groups

Playback

Playbackmodes Single-frame, Index (4/9/16/25/49/100 frames), Calendar, Close-up (2-14X),

Information Display Histogram (independent luminance/RGB available), Highlight/Shadow point warning,

Menu

Languages English, French, Spanish, Portuguese

Image Editing

Erasing function Single frame, All frames, Selected frames (with protect function)
Protectfunction Single frame, Selected frames, Release protect (Single/All selected)
Copy between media Single frame, All frames, Selected frames
RAW picture editing RAW development
JPEG editing Shadow adjustment, Red-eye fix, Trimming, Monotone, Sepia, Saturation (color depth),

Print

Print function Print reservation (DPOF), Direct print (PictBridge compatible)

Input/Output

PC interface High-speed USB for storage and camera control (MTP mode is available)
USB/Videoconnector Dedicated multi-connector (Video:NTSC/PAL selectable, Optional Remote cable RM-UC1

Flash attachment Hot shoe

Power Requirements

Battery BLM-1 Li-ion battery (included)
Sleep mode Available (1, 3, 5, 10 min., off selectable)

Dimensions/Weight

Dimensions 5.35 in. (W) x 3.6 in. (H) x 2.67 in. (D) (excluding protrusions)
Weight 16.75 oz. (body only)

Operating Environment

Temperature 32-104˚ F (operation) / -4-140˚ F (storage)
Humidity 30-90% (operation) / 10-90% (storage)

Fluorescent 3 (6600K), Daylight (5300K), Flash (5500K), Cloudy (6000K), Shade (7500K)

one setting from basic 5 settings is available)

(

Portrait Contrast and Sharpness level available in 5 steps for Monotone

(Bulb: up to 30 min. with limiter), Scene program/Scene select mode: 4 - 1/4000 sec.
(depends on settings) 1/3, 1/2 or 1EV steps selectable

LN mode: approx. up to card capacity with SanDisk Extreme III 1GB)

(

Slow sync at 2nd curtain, Fill-in, Manual (1/4, 1/16, 1/64), Off

Slideshow, Picture rotation (auto mode available), Light box

AF frame, Shooting information

Resize (producing another file)

is available)

Olympus Imaging America Inc.
getolympus.com/dslr

• Middle selectable from 3200 x 2400, 2560 x 1920 or 1600 x 1200.

• Small selectable from 1280 x 960, 1024 x 768 or 640 x 480.

• The figures in the table are typical values. File sizes and the number of recordable pictures vary depending on the settings and subjects.

• The number of recordable pictures displayed on the camera shows the value assuming the lowest compression rate.

"Green printing"

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