Features:  

The Olympus Evolt E-520 comes at the top end of Olympus’s entry level DSLR camera line up with a price tag to match. It features a 10 megapixel Live MOS sensor, which provides great images but can sometiems be have trouble on pictures with lots of light. With 10 megapixels you'll have more than enough to enlarge all of your favorite images.

With a 2.5-inch LCD screen, you can easiyl see all your manual or automatic settings, navigate the menus and view all your photos. The Evolt E-510 also features Live View mode which is bound to make those barely coming up from a point and shoot comfortable. However, as with a point and shoot, when you see images through the screen it doesn't always translate exactly to what the picture turns out to be so not everyone will want use the screen all the time. It can be turned off though when the user wants to see exactly what the image is that they'll be snapping.

One really nice features is the dual memory card slots; you should never run out of storage space. The E-520 features one compact flash drive and one xD card drive. You can transfer pictures between cards to free up space on one card without having to use a computer or deleting images you've already taken.

Most first-time DSLR users will find the bigger body of the DSLR a little difficult to feel comforatable with and to snap pictures with. Although the 520 is somewhat heavier and larger than other entry-level DSLRs, it does come with built in image stabilization. We like that it's in the body and no the lens so you can have crisp pictures no matter which lens you use.

Ease of Use:  

The Olympus EVOLT E-520 is fairly intuitive, even for those not familiar with a DSLR. The Live View mode, as we've said in other reviews, is almost a must for those making the transition from a point and shoot. It will help them feel comfortable until their skills improve. As with its sibling camera, the EVOLT 520 also offers more than enough automatic shooting modes that you could get away with treating it like a point and shoot camera.

Value:  

The EVOLT E-510 does have a lot of features but, as with the Nikon D80, these features are probably best suited for those looking to make their photography more than a hobby. The 510 has the highest price, at $683, of any of the entry-level DSLRs we reviewed, which we think will deter many from purchasing this camera.

Customer Satisfaction:  

Users liked the feel of the camera. For first time users, the live view mode was useful as it helped frame shots and made the camera feel more like a point and shoot camera. They also liked the combination of the automatic and manual settings. It gave them a lot of variety in their picture-taking modes.

The Olympus Evolt E-520 is a great camera for those looking to get into DSLRs. It provides a host of features although at a higher price than most other entry-level DSLRs.