I am thinking of upgrading from an E-510 which I have had for 5 years to an E-5. Before I make that move I would like to hear from some of you who have had the E-510 and now have the E-5. What are some of the main improvements that you have noticed regarding image quality, ease of use, and other factors. This camera body is expensive and I want to know what to expect. I have 5 lenses. My favorites are the 70-300 mm and the 12-60 mm. Thanks.
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E-5 and E-510
- Thread starter demi2020
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- olympus e-5
GNapp Studios
Forum Enthusiast
1) E-510 I can shoot at ISO 800 and ISO 1600 using Noise Ninja.
E-5 I can shoot at ISO 1600 and ISO 3200 using Noise Ninja
2) E-5 has a better dynamic range and is more vibrant.
3) E-5 allows me to shoot for HDR (by taking 5 frames within 1 second and giving me an exposure ranged +2 and -2. E-510 only goes +1 and -1.
4) E-5 has a live view that is workable.
5) E-5 is noticeably sharper.
6) E-5 is splashproof.
7) E-5 has art filters and the dynamic range is terrific.
These are the main features I find with the E-5 compared to the E-510. Having said that, I would seriously consider buying the OM-D instead....it's cheaper and better and will probably be supported more in the future.
E-5 I can shoot at ISO 1600 and ISO 3200 using Noise Ninja
2) E-5 has a better dynamic range and is more vibrant.
3) E-5 allows me to shoot for HDR (by taking 5 frames within 1 second and giving me an exposure ranged +2 and -2. E-510 only goes +1 and -1.
4) E-5 has a live view that is workable.
5) E-5 is noticeably sharper.
6) E-5 is splashproof.
7) E-5 has art filters and the dynamic range is terrific.
These are the main features I find with the E-5 compared to the E-510. Having said that, I would seriously consider buying the OM-D instead....it's cheaper and better and will probably be supported more in the future.
Skeeterbytes
Forum Pro
Short answer: everything.
Sole item I miss is the mode dial. And I suppose the 510's weight. When it comes to capabilities, customization, ease of use, ability to capture difficult subjects, ability to manuallly focus and focus in dim light, usability of live view, and very importantly, image quality, the E-5 is simply in a different league than the 510.
A nice benefit is how much less time one needs in post processing to wrestle the images into shape. The extra dynamic range is very welcome.
If you can afford it, make the move and don't give it another thought. If it's too far a reach, consider finding a clean used E-30. It's like having an E-510 that's all grown up.
Good luck,
Rick
Sole item I miss is the mode dial. And I suppose the 510's weight. When it comes to capabilities, customization, ease of use, ability to capture difficult subjects, ability to manuallly focus and focus in dim light, usability of live view, and very importantly, image quality, the E-5 is simply in a different league than the 510.
A nice benefit is how much less time one needs in post processing to wrestle the images into shape. The extra dynamic range is very welcome.
If you can afford it, make the move and don't give it another thought. If it's too far a reach, consider finding a clean used E-30. It's like having an E-510 that's all grown up.
Good luck,
Rick
tinternaut
Veteran Member
Almost everything you put applied to the E-30 and even more so to the E-5 where they really refined everything and improved sharpness.
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J
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jasonhindleuk
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Gear in profile
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Regards
J
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jasonhindleuk
Blog: http://jasonhindle.wordpress.com
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Gear in profile
J
jkrumm
Guest
Despite the oldish sensor, it's a far more modern camera, and you know it.
I think you'd have to try it to know for sure. Ideally, if you could try it next to the OMD, you could decide if one or the other suits you better.
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John Krumm
Juneau, AK
I think you'd have to try it to know for sure. Ideally, if you could try it next to the OMD, you could decide if one or the other suits you better.
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John Krumm
Juneau, AK
Max Pegler
Forum Enthusiast
The viewfinder
Quicker AF
The viewfinder
Calibrate lenses
The viewfinder
Bigger brighter screen
The viewfinder
etc.
Regards
Max P
Quicker AF
The viewfinder
Calibrate lenses
The viewfinder
Bigger brighter screen
The viewfinder
etc.
Regards
Max P
bobinsandyeggo
Leading Member
one of the complaints I have about my 510 is the viewfinder.
What's your opinion of that aspect of the 510
;-)
seriously, it's the single aspect which bothers me most. I've learned to deal with its other quirks.
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bob naegele
san diego, ca
http://www.rjndesign.com/
What's your opinion of that aspect of the 510
;-)
seriously, it's the single aspect which bothers me most. I've learned to deal with its other quirks.
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bob naegele
san diego, ca
http://www.rjndesign.com/
Thanks to everyone who has responded to my questions. Keep em coming. As to the viewfinder, I also find it too small and very hard to see in bright light. I really do like the E-510, but a larger viewfinder will be a big plus. I love to photograph the wildlife in the woods in and around our house and use the 70-300 mm the most. I would love to get a little more sharpness out of my photos even though I have learned what I have to do to get the most out of this camera. At least I hope so.
I own the E-510, the E-420 and recently acquired the E-5. Nearly everything about the E-5's handling, build, responsiveness, etc. is dramatically better than the E-510, as everyone here has already stated.
The improvement in IQ, however, isn't as dramatic. It's better than the E-510 for sure. But it's not a "jaw dropping" better. In fact, the IQ of the two cameras up to ISO 800 is quite similar (a good thing!). Beyond ISO 800 and up to ISO 1600, the E-5 wins by quite a margin. Yes, the E-5 provides sharper images, but I haven't found it all that difficult to achieve a similar sharpness with the E-510 and even my E-420.
So: bottom line for me is that the E-5 gives me a much better picture-taking experience. It's a joy to hold and use. It's a very, very satisfying tool; very pro feel and very pro behavior. The viewfinder alone is worth the price of admission. But the IQ difference between it and the E-510 is like the IQ difference between a Canon 5D Mark II and the more entry-level Canon t3i: there's definitely a difference, but in the right hands there's hardly any difference at all.
--
SteveG
'When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.'
— Found in a Chinese Fortune Cookie
http://www.stephenmichaelgarey.com
The improvement in IQ, however, isn't as dramatic. It's better than the E-510 for sure. But it's not a "jaw dropping" better. In fact, the IQ of the two cameras up to ISO 800 is quite similar (a good thing!). Beyond ISO 800 and up to ISO 1600, the E-5 wins by quite a margin. Yes, the E-5 provides sharper images, but I haven't found it all that difficult to achieve a similar sharpness with the E-510 and even my E-420.
So: bottom line for me is that the E-5 gives me a much better picture-taking experience. It's a joy to hold and use. It's a very, very satisfying tool; very pro feel and very pro behavior. The viewfinder alone is worth the price of admission. But the IQ difference between it and the E-510 is like the IQ difference between a Canon 5D Mark II and the more entry-level Canon t3i: there's definitely a difference, but in the right hands there's hardly any difference at all.
--
SteveG
'When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.'
— Found in a Chinese Fortune Cookie
http://www.stephenmichaelgarey.com
Max Pegler
Forum Enthusiast
In it's day the 510 viewfinder didn't worry me. I couldn't manually focus, but I put than down at the time to the lack of split prisms ala OM series.
Since acquiring the E3 & now E5, the viewfinder is chalk & cheese. The E510 is gathering the proverbial dust.
Borrow an E3 or E5 if you can. Then you won't go back.
Regards
Max P
Since acquiring the E3 & now E5, the viewfinder is chalk & cheese. The E510 is gathering the proverbial dust.
Borrow an E3 or E5 if you can. Then you won't go back.
Regards
Max P
Skeeterbytes
Forum Pro
Yup, you need to hold and shoot one to discover whether you "bond" with it. It's probably also worth trying a µ4/3 body and adapter to see whether you can live with that combination, because all the Pens and the EM are generations more advanced.
As to IQ, I'll only say that with the better lenses, the difference in detail between the 510 and 5 is substantial. It's less distinct with other lenses because there's simply less detail to wring from the optics.
Cheers,
Rick
As to IQ, I'll only say that with the better lenses, the difference in detail between the 510 and 5 is substantial. It's less distinct with other lenses because there's simply less detail to wring from the optics.
Cheers,
Rick
Marathonianbull
Leading Member
The E-5 may seem costly at first, but you really do get a relatively great and (IMHO) very justifiable value for money. I had paid about $1500 for a brand new Sony A700 in 2007, and it was in retrospective a rather lukewarm, dust-grabbing toy compared to my snappy, invincible, and inspiring E-5.
Just to add to all previous comments, the E-5 back LCD is very bright and high def (usable almost everywhere and helpful for judging if more shots / retakes are needed. Its battery life lasts forever. The view through the viewfinder's huge pentaprism is spectacular. Greater balance with the 12-60mm or 70-300mm aforementioned may be another significative advantage. The AF will definitely be faster, and more precise especially in lower light situations. The multiple shots is cool. The movie recording. The double card system (SD/CF) is useful too. The built quality is impressive, as expected.
A Leica M9P body costs more or less $8000 + tx. For a good kit lens, such as the small 35mm Summilux f/1.4, add another $5000 + tx...
With your already-owned 12-60mm gem, one of the best general zooms ever made optically speaking, the relatively cheap E-5 can also make miracles!!!
Just to add to all previous comments, the E-5 back LCD is very bright and high def (usable almost everywhere and helpful for judging if more shots / retakes are needed. Its battery life lasts forever. The view through the viewfinder's huge pentaprism is spectacular. Greater balance with the 12-60mm or 70-300mm aforementioned may be another significative advantage. The AF will definitely be faster, and more precise especially in lower light situations. The multiple shots is cool. The movie recording. The double card system (SD/CF) is useful too. The built quality is impressive, as expected.
A Leica M9P body costs more or less $8000 + tx. For a good kit lens, such as the small 35mm Summilux f/1.4, add another $5000 + tx...
With your already-owned 12-60mm gem, one of the best general zooms ever made optically speaking, the relatively cheap E-5 can also make miracles!!!
Marathonianbull
Leading Member
The E-5 may seem costly at first, but you really do get a relatively great and (IMHO) very justifiable value for money. I had paid about $1500 for a brand new Sony A700 in 2007, and it was in retrospective a rather lukewarm, dust-grabbing toy compared to my snappy, invincible, and inspiring E-5.
The colors from the E-510 are not exactly like the ones you get from the E-5; I like both personalities, but will leave this delicate, subjective question for you to decipher. In any case, they can always be easily modified via WB settings, etc.
Just to add to all previous comments, the E-5 back LCD is very crisp and high def (usable almost everywhere and helpful for judging if more shots / retakes are needed). Its battery life seems to last forever. Framing through the viewfinder's huge pentaprism is spectacular, bright and precise. Greater balance with the 12-60mm or 70-300mm aforementioned may be another significative advantage. The AF will definitely be faster, and more efficient especially in lower light situations. The multiple shots function is cool and sometimes missed on other models or brands. If needed, there is a movie recording function. The double card system (SD/CF) is useful too. The built quality is impressive, really!
Not the same league maybe, but a Leica M9P body costs more or less $8000 + tx. For a good kit lens such as the small 35mm Summilux f/1.4, add another $5000 + tx...
With your already-paid-for 12-60mm gem, one of the best general zooms ever made optically speaking, the relatively cheap E-5 can also make miracles!!!
The colors from the E-510 are not exactly like the ones you get from the E-5; I like both personalities, but will leave this delicate, subjective question for you to decipher. In any case, they can always be easily modified via WB settings, etc.
Just to add to all previous comments, the E-5 back LCD is very crisp and high def (usable almost everywhere and helpful for judging if more shots / retakes are needed). Its battery life seems to last forever. Framing through the viewfinder's huge pentaprism is spectacular, bright and precise. Greater balance with the 12-60mm or 70-300mm aforementioned may be another significative advantage. The AF will definitely be faster, and more efficient especially in lower light situations. The multiple shots function is cool and sometimes missed on other models or brands. If needed, there is a movie recording function. The double card system (SD/CF) is useful too. The built quality is impressive, really!
Not the same league maybe, but a Leica M9P body costs more or less $8000 + tx. For a good kit lens such as the small 35mm Summilux f/1.4, add another $5000 + tx...
With your already-paid-for 12-60mm gem, one of the best general zooms ever made optically speaking, the relatively cheap E-5 can also make miracles!!!
I believe it's worth purchasing. First, it will last a lifetime. There's really no need to purchase another camera once you own the E-5 ... regardless of what might come along in years to come (unless HD video becomes a priority for you).
Second, there's much about the camera's design, handling and overall ergonomics that you'll appreciate right away and some that you'll discover and appreciate as time goes by. The quality of the LCD, for example, isn't really something I thought about when I purchased mine. I think about it now, though; it's a very valuable and welcomed feature.
Third ... and a little more so than the E-510 ... the E-5 almost always captures the subject or scene the way you experienced it. Olympus cameras are generally uncanny in their ability to do this, but the E-5 does it to even a slightly higher and rather noticeable degree.
Is all this worth $1,700? Well, for a camera that I believe outperforms most other cameras regardless of price, I think so.
--
SteveG
'When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.'
— Found in a Chinese Fortune Cookie
http://www.stephenmichaelgarey.com
daddyo
Forum Pro
Right now, Cameta Camera (which is a first class vendor) has a factory refurbished E-5 'Factoy Demo' in stock for $1249, with free shipping. It comes with the full 1 year factory warranty.
If I were you, I wouldn't hesitate to order this. I've ordered a number of Olympus refurbished cameras in the past, and have never had a problem with one.
P.S. I own two E-5's -- great cameras!
God Bless,
Greg
http://www.imagismphotos.com
http://www.mccroskery.zenfolio.com
http://www.pbase.com/daddyo
If I were you, I wouldn't hesitate to order this. I've ordered a number of Olympus refurbished cameras in the past, and have never had a problem with one.
P.S. I own two E-5's -- great cameras!
God Bless,
Greg
http://www.imagismphotos.com
http://www.mccroskery.zenfolio.com
http://www.pbase.com/daddyo
Cameta Camera
Active member
Thank you for the kiind words!
bobinsandyeggo
Leading Member
when they come with the original warranty and a nice, discounted price, it's a no-brainer.
I'm a big fan of the factory refurb.
Good suggestion!
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bob naegele
san diego, ca
http://www.rjndesign.com/
I'm a big fan of the factory refurb.
Good suggestion!
--
bob naegele
san diego, ca
http://www.rjndesign.com/
I say go for it. I have sold my E-5, but it was genuinely an impressive camera let down only by two things: autofocus performance and noise at ISO 4000 and up. Exposed correctly (and as long as the blue channel isn't getting pushed too much as in tungsten lighting), you get pretty good IQ right up to 3200.
Regarding autofocus performance, I say it was a let-down because I now have a D3s and that thing's AF is insanely fast, accurate, and consistent. But for that price, it better be. Also, I may have been hindering the E-5's AF by using mostly Sigma lenses on it: my pancake, 12-60, and 7-14 didn't miss much, if at all, once AF-calibrated.
Compared to the E-510, I would say the biggest improvements you'll realize with the E-5 are:
Regarding autofocus performance, I say it was a let-down because I now have a D3s and that thing's AF is insanely fast, accurate, and consistent. But for that price, it better be. Also, I may have been hindering the E-5's AF by using mostly Sigma lenses on it: my pancake, 12-60, and 7-14 didn't miss much, if at all, once AF-calibrated.
Compared to the E-510, I would say the biggest improvements you'll realize with the E-5 are:
- Viewfinder
- Speed/response time, especially in live view
- Almost "autofocus anywhere" since all the AF points are crosshatched
- Better noise performance starting at ISO 500+, DR from 200+
- Battery life is improved over the 10 MP cameras. The E-3 felt like an energy hog compared to the E-5, where I could often get 1200-1500 images on a charge.
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