Swapping My OM-D E-M1 for an Olympus E-520
Some camera moves might look like a step backwards on paper, but in practice they make all the sense in the world. Recently, I traded my OM-D E-M1 for an Olympus E-520 a camera that, at first glance, seems worlds apart from a modern mirrorless flagship. But the more I shoot with it, the more it feels like I’ve come home.
Why the Change?
At the heart of it, I missed the optical viewfinder. The E-M1’s electronic viewfinder is clever and undeniably powerful, but it never gave me quite the same sense of direct connection to the scene as a prism and glass. The E-520 may be older, but looking through it (even if it does feel a bit tunnelish) feels immediate, natural, and satisfying.
This particular camera was in near mint condition, with only 750 registered shutter counts so feels like new. The camera also came with a 5 year warranty all for £65! So it also makes economic sense.
Portability with a Familiar DNA
The E-520 was one of the last great Four Thirds DSLRs before Olympus shifted entirely to Micro Four Thirds. That means it carries much of the DNA that made the later mirrorless cameras so successful, compact size, portability, and a surprisingly deep feature set. In use, it strikes a lovely balance between being lightweight enough to carry anywhere and solid enough to feel dependable. Its actualy very similar in dimension to the EM1 and just a smidge shorter, it actualy fits my hand a bit better as for me the grip and rear thumb rest are more comfortable to hold.
ISO and Stabilisation
Drawing parallels with my D2x, I’ve always been more of a careful shooter than a high ISO pusher. My photography rarely goes beyond ISO 400, so the E-M1’s ability to climb cleanly to ISO 1600 or higher was never a huge draw for me. On the other hand, the E-520’s in-body image stabilisation is genuinely useful, helping to steady those slower handheld shots without demanding higher ISOs.
Colour and Character
Perhaps the biggest surprise is just how much I prefer the files. I never really got on with the E-M1’s colour science it always felt a bit too clinical for my taste and hence why I mostly shot mono with it. The E-520 produces images that feel more organic, with a richness that suits the way I see the world. It’s hard to quantify, but it matters. Even better, I still have the built-in colour filter options for black and white shooting, giving me the creative flexibility I like without fuss.
A Sensible Move, Not a Nostalgic One
This wasn’t just about chasing nostalgia. It was about finding the camera that fits my way of working. For me, the E-520 manages to blend the portability and practicality of Olympus’s later designs with the optical immediacy of a DSLR. It feels right in my hands, and the files coming out of it feel right to my eyes.
Some will question what progress can be achieved moving from a modern 16mp micro 4/3 to a 10mp 4/3 camera - the doubters are welcome to waste energy debating the merits of resolution as they watch the real photographers push on with their art in the field with whatever tool is available to them 😉
Sometimes the smartest upgrade is actually a sideways move or even what looks like a step back. The E-520 is proving that point every time I take it out.