The launch of the E-410 and especially the E-510 takes Olympus and the Four Thirds standard to the premier league of digital SLR photography – so long as they deliver the goods in practice of course. Both new models feature new 10 Megapixel sensors with Live View facilities and the proven Olympus SSWF anti-dust technology, while the E-510 goes one step further to become the first Four Thirds body to feature built-in anti-shake.

In this article we’ll examine the specifications of the new models and how they compare with the recent E-400. Before going any further though, it’s important to note unlike the European-only E-400, both of the new DSLRs will be available worldwide – and Olympus says you should expect them both in the shops in early June.

Design and controls

One glance at the new E-410 and E-510 and it’s clear both are based on the recent European-only E-400, left. Indeed the E-410 shares exactly the same dimensions and weight, not to mention the same control layout as its predecessor; the only external difference we could spot at this stage was the E-400’s Fn button now labelled with a screen icon to activate Live View. So the world’s smallest DSLR can now use its main screen for composition. Identical dimensions and controls also means the E-410 can use the same PT-E03 underwater housing as the E-400.

The E-510 is fractionally larger – 5.5mm wider, 0.5mm taller and 3mm deeper – and slightly heavier at 460g compared to 375g for the body alone. Much of that extra weight comes from the E-510’s grip, which additionally houses a different battery – more of which later. The E-510’s grip is the main external design difference between the two new bodies, and obvious when both are viewed from above.

Again the E-510’s controls are virtually identical to the E-410 / E-400 apart from labelling on the four direction buttons, a new IS button for Image Stabilisation, while the Function and AF point buttons have been relocated to the top right corner. To see what the new cameras look like from the rear, see the next page.

The on / off switch is still wrapped around both camera’s mode dials, although on the E-510 the switch itself is positioned towards the front like the older E-500. The grip and fractionally larger dimensions of the E-510 mean it won’t squeeze into the E-410’s underwater housing, and there’s no mention of a dedicated underwater accessory for it as yet.

Beyond the E-510’s grip, the two cameras are physically so similar you really have to look very closely for any external differences. Interestingly, one of the more noticeable are the position and styles of their strap attachments. The E-410 employs the same front-mounted eyelets as its predecessor, whereas the E-510 has more conventional wider side-mounted lugs. We found the eyelets of the earlier E-400 could occasionally dig into your palms, so it’s nice to see Olympus address this – at least with the E-510.

The two new cameras also employ different batteries: the E-410 unsurprisingly uses the same BLS-1 as the E-400, while the E-510 uses the BLM-1 from earlier E-Series DSLRs. Olympus claims each battery is good for 500 or 650 shots under CIPA conditions respectively.

Standard specifications

In terms of standard DSLR specifications, both cameras are pretty much identical to the E-400: they all share the same 95% viewfinder coverage and 0.92x magnification, the same 3-point AF system, 49-zone metering, 3fps continuous shooting, 100-1600 ISO range and 1/4000 to 60 second shutter speeds. Like the E-400, both new models also feature twin slots to support either xD and Compact Flash memory.

It’s also interesting to note while the E-410 and E-510 also share the same sized screen as the E-400, the new models have slightly more pixels on their monitors: 230K compared to 215K. The E-410 has identical scene presets to the E-400, but the E-510 is missing the Underwater Wide and Underwater Macro modes; this implies there won’t be an underwater housing for the E-510 in the future.

Since the physical design, controls and main specifications of the new cameras are so similar to the earlier E-400, it’s worth checking our Olympus E-400 review and video tour for an overview of what to expect. On the following page though we’ll detail the headline new features.