The crops are taken from the original images, saved as High Quality JPEGs in Photoshop CS2 and presented here at 100%. Each number represents 100 lines per picture height (lpph), so a figure of 20 means a resolution of 2000 lpph.

Fitted with the Zuiko Digital 14-42mm kit zoom lens at 25mm f8, the E-520 resolved 2150 lpph of horizontal and vertical resolution. While the result looks crisper than the earlier E-510 (possibly aided by a different copy of the kit lens), the resolved detail is the same. Our sample from the E-420 shows a prime lens like the 25mm pancake has the potential to technically squeeze a little more vertical resolution, but there’s little in it. Note: the E-520 and E-420 share the same sensor and processing engine, so the results should be the same when fitted with the same lens.

The Canon 450D / XSi manages to resolve slightly greater detail in this test, but again there’s not a great deal of difference in real-life detail as seen on the previous page.

So a good result here for the E-520 which manages to deliver a result that’s as good as the best 10 Megapixel DSLRs out there, although models with higher resolutions are taking a small lead in technical tests like these.

To see how shooting in RAW affects this test, scroll to the bottom of this page, or head straight over to our Olympus E-520 noise results page where we’ll see how it performs across its sensitivity range next to the Canon 450D / XSi and Pentax K200D.