Olympus E-510

If you're ready to move on from your compact to an SLR but not entirely ready to let go of the compact's framing style, the Olympus E-510 is your answer. Using a Live View LCD preview mode, it helps you gently make the transition. Loads of features will a...

Sensor-shift image stabilisation; Live View mode (LCD preview) operation

Sluggish autofocus; subpar exposure and white balance performance; some poor choices for default settings

The Olympus E-510 has quirky exposure and white balance issues but its Live View and Image Stabilisation modes may make some photographers give this dSLR a chance

Compact camera not doing it for you? Time to get serious with Olympus's new semi-pro snapper

Great pics. Top gadgets

Boring menus

State of the digi-SLR art

With a digital SLR camera you can produce superb photographs with strong technical attributes. The Macworld team take a look at six worthy contenders.

Physically smaller body and lenses, sturdy build, responsive, good handling of noise at higher ISO settings, crisp, colourful results on vivid setting

Auto white balance is hit and miss, pixel fringing in high contrast scenes

It's worth keeping an eye on white balance, as occasional daylight shots were rendered with a blue colour cast, and there is some pixel fringing between areas of high contrast. The variable white balance problem affected both our portrait and low light sh...