Digital Camera Home > Digital Camera Reviews > Olympus Digital Cameras > Olympus Camedia D-510 Zoom

Olympus Camedia D-510 Zoom Olympus updates its popular 2.1 megapixel D-490 model with a new user interface and improved features. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet Camedia D-510 Zoom Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on Camedia D-510 Zoom Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Viewfinder :(Previous) | (Next): Exposure & Flash>> Page 5:Optics Review First Posted: 6/18/2001

Optics
The D-510 comes equipped with a 3x, 5.4-16.2mm zoom lens (equivalent to a 35-105mm lens on a 35mm camera) with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 to f/4.4, depending on the zoom setting. In normal mode, the lens can focus from 31 inches (80cm) to infinity and in Macro mode, from 8 to 31 inches (20 to 80cm). The through-the-lens (TTL) autofocus function uses a contrast detection system, which produces sharp, reliable focus in well-lit conditions, but may have problems functioning in low-light situations. A Quick Focus setting is available for maintaining sharp focus on faraway subjects (accessed by pressing the up arrow button until an Infinity symbol appears on the monitor), which is great for fast-action sports photography, where the subject will be changing position minute-by-minute. The camera controls the lens settings automatically, with apertures ranging from f/2.8 - 5.6 at wide angle and f/4.4 - 8 in telephoto mode. Shutter speeds range from 1/1,000 to 1/2 second.

The 3x optical zoom is controlled by a toggle lever on top of the camera, allowing you to zoom fairly seamlessly from wide-angle to telephoto settings. (The zoom lenses on some cameras have certain "preferred" positions, a limitation we didn't observe with the D-510.) An additional 3x Digital Zoom increases the camera's total zoom to 9x, when activated through the Shooting menu, but image quality will deteriorate in direct proportion to the amount of digital enlargement. Digital Zoom kicks in at the maximum optical zoom setting, indicated by a red extension to the white Optical Zoom bar.

Our tests indicated somewhat high optical distortion on the D-510, with the camera showing a 1.0 percent barrel distortion at the wide angle end, and but only an 0.25 percent pincushion distortion at full telephoto.The 0.25 percent distortion at telephoto is a bit better than most, but the 1.0 percent barrel distortion is higher than we like to see, with many competing cameras having 0.8 percent or so. The difference between the typical 0.8 percent and the D-510's 1.0 percent isn't actually all that great, but we'd much rather see less than more. Macro performance was quite good, as the camera captured a minimum area of 2.8 x 2.1 inches (70.7 x 53.0 millimeters).

Focus
Camera focus is very straightforward, just point the camera at the subject, depress the shutter button halfway to initiate the autofocus and metering, then press all the way down to shoot. The orange and green LEDs next to the viewfinder let you know when the camera is ready. If the orange LED blinks after metering, it means that the camera recommends using the flash due to slow shutter speed. As with most other digicams, the D-510 sets exposure and focus based on the approximate center of the frame, but this can be changed very easily. Simply center the subject you want properly exposed and focused in the viewfinder, depress the shutter button halfway, and continue to hold the shutter button halfway until you've repositioned the subject in the viewfinder to your original composition. When you fully depress the shutter button, the focus and exposure will remain locked on the area you have chosen. (Keep in mind that this procedure will not work if you significantly change the distance between your camera and subject when you complete the exposure.)

Quick Focus and Macro Focus
In addition to normal focusing, the D-510 features Quick Focus and Macro focus options. Both options are selected by pressing the up arrow button on the Arrow Pad until the Infinity symbol (Quick Focus) or the flower icon (Macro mode) appears on the LCD monitor.

Quick Focus sets the camera focus on distant objects (Infinity), which is especially helpful when photographing moving targets, such as players at sports activities. As long as the subject stays within the depth of field (or range of focus), it will remain in focus as it moves from one point to the next. Depth of field for the Quick Focus mode is approximately 4.3 feet to infinity at wide angle and 22 feet to infinity at telephoto.

Macro focus is used for photographing subjects up close. The focal distance in Macro mode is approximately 8 to 31 inches (20 to 80cm), capturing a minimum area of about 2.8 x 2.1 inches (70.7 x 53.0 millimeters). Unlike the previous D-490 model, the LCD monitor is not automatically activated when you enter the Macro mode. The macro flower icon will come on screen briefly when scrolling through the focus options with the up arrow button, but the monitor will remain off when you take the picture.

Digital Zoom
Digital Zoom provides an additional 3x enlargement when activated through the Shooting menu. The Digital Zoom can only be engaged with the LCD monitor turned on. It appears as a red extension on the white Optical Zoom bar and kicks in when you zoom past the maximum optical telephoto range. Readers should be aware, however, that digital enlargement compromises image quality because it only crops out the central portion of the camera's sensor array, producing a smaller image with fewer, enlarged pixels.