Nikon D780 vs. Olympus E-510: A Deep Dive into Two Generations of DSLR Excellence

When looking to invest in an advanced DSLR camera, the choices can be overwhelming, especially when comparing models hailing from very different eras and technological paradigms. Here, we put the Nikon D780, a modern full-frame pro-level DSLR, head-to-head against the Olympus E-510, an older but respectable Mid-size DSLR representative of the Four Thirds system. Our hands-on comparison covers everything from sensor technology and autofocus to ergonomics and real-world photographic performance - helping you understand what sets these two beasts apart and which might serve your artistic vision best.

Outside In: Handling, Build, and Physical Presence

The Nikon D780 and Olympus E-510 come from two distinct chapters in DSLR history - not just in terms of technology but also design philosophy and ergonomics.

The D780 boasts a robust magnesium-alloy body with full weather sealing to withstand dust, moisture, and rough environments. Weighing roughly 840 grams and measuring 144 x 116 x 76 mm, its size and heft are balanced for comfortable handholding over long shooting sessions, especially with larger lenses attached. The solid grip and button layout were clearly designed with professional users in mind. The top panel includes an illuminated information display and a wealth of physical dials and controls for quick changes without diving into menus.

In contrast, the Olympus E-510 is considerably smaller and lighter, tipping the scales at 490 grams with dimensions of 136 x 92 x 68 mm. It features a less robust polycarbonate body, lacking weather sealing, so it’s less suited for demanding outdoor use. The grip is shallower, and the control layout is simpler - fewer buttons, no top screen, and a fixed 2.5” screen with low resolution by today’s standards.

Both cameras have tilting or fixed screens respectively, but the D780’s 3.2-inch touchscreen offers a much more responsive and useful interface for quick focus point adjustments in live view and menus.

In practice: I found the Nikon’s heft reassuring and its ergonomics refined, particularly for extended wildlife or sports shoots requiring precision. The Olympus, however, appeals to those prioritizing portability and lighter gear, like casual users or street photographers on the move.

Sensor Showdown: Size, Resolution, and Image Quality

Perhaps the most fundamental difference here lies under the hood:

• Nikon D780: 24.5MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor (35.9 x 23.9 mm)
• Olympus E-510: 10MP Four Thirds CCD sensor (17.3 x 13 mm)

The D780’s full-frame sensor delivers a substantial 858 mm² image area - nearly four times larger than the E-510’s 225 mm² sensor. This translates into greater light-gathering capability, wider dynamic range, and superior high-ISO performance. The BSI (backside illuminated) architecture of the D780’s Expeed 6 processor means improved efficiency and lower noise.

In several hours of real-world testing, the D780 consistently produced images with richer tonality, higher resolution, and better noise control, especially in challenging light. Colors were vibrant without over-saturation, skin tones natural, and detailed shadows rendered faithfully.

The Olympus, limited by its 10MP resolution and smaller sensor, shows signs of noise above ISO 400 and struggles in low light. That said, its Four Thirds sensor and CCD technology deliver pleasing JPEG colors and contrast, well suited for daylight shooting or controlled studio environments.

Dynamic range and tonal gradation: The D780 demonstrated superior ability to recover highlight and shadow details, crucial for landscape work where contrast scenes are common. The E-510’s narrower dynamic range required more cautious exposure settings to avoid blown highlights or muddy shadows.

The Focus Battle: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus technology has advanced considerably between these two models.

• D780: Hybrid AF with 51 phase-detection points (15 cross-type), full face detection, touch AF, continuous AF with subject tracking
• E-510: 3-point phase-detection AF, multi-area AF without tracking or face detection, no touch AF

Hands-on with moving subjects - wildlife and sports - the D780’s autofocus was nothing short of exceptional. It locked-on quickly, tracked erratically moving subjects with precision, and afforded a confidence that made capturing the decisive moment easier. The eye-detection AF enhanced portrait work, maintaining sharp focus on the subject’s eyes even at wider apertures for beautiful bokeh backgrounds.

The E-510’s autofocus was sluggish by comparison and struggled with erratic motion or low-contrast subjects. Its lack of face or eye detection means manual focus or focus-and-recompose techniques are necessary for tight portraits.

Burst and shutter speeds: The Nikon’s 7 frames per second continuous shooting rate and a shutter speed maximum of 1/8000s also aid in freezing action – essential for sports and fast-paced wildlife photography. The Olympus, by contrast, tops out at 3 fps and 1/4000s, limiting its effectiveness for high-speed shooting.

Viewing and Framing: Optical Viewfinders and Screens

The optical viewfinder is still a critical feature for many DSLR shooters. The D780’s pentaprism viewfinder offers 100% frame coverage and approximately 0.7x magnification, with bright and accurate color rendition. This large viewfinder is a joy for composition and focus confirmation, even in bright sunlight. Its flip-out, tilting touchscreen LCD at the back aids in live view shooting and menu navigation.

Comparatively, the E-510 opts for a pentamirror viewfinder with only 95% coverage and 0.46x magnification. The viewfinder seems dimmer, less sharp, and crops the scene slightly, which demands more reliance on previewing shots after capture. Its 2.5-inch fixed LCD is small and has low resolution, making it less effective for critical focusing or reviewing images on the fly.

While these display differences echo the generational gap, the D780’s modern interface improves workflow efficiency considerably.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Dealing with Accessory Choices

Nikon’s F-mount system, used by the D780, boasts an extensive catalog of 300+ lenses from both Nikon and third parties. This variety spans everything from ultra-wide to super-telephoto, primes, zooms, macro lenses, and specialty optics such as tilt-shift. Whether you’re a landscape photographer seeking sharp wide angles, or a wildlife shooter after long-range reach, there is almost certainly a high-quality option to match your needs.

The E-510’s Micro Four Thirds mount (or sometimes mistaken as Four Thirds in documentation) offers fewer native lenses (circa 45 on the older Four Thirds platform), focusing on smaller, lighter lenses suitable for travel and street photography. However, the smaller sensor and 2.1x crop factor multiply focal lengths, which can be an advantage for telephoto work with compact optics - albeit at the cost of image quality and shallow depth-of-field control.

Battery Life and Storage: Endurance in the Field

Here the Nikon D780 shines with a battery life rated at approximately 2,260 shots per charge using the EN-EL15b battery pack. This kind of stamina enables long shooting days without needing to carry extra packs - an essential for travel and event photographers who shoot thousands of frames routinely.

The Olympus E-510’s battery life isn’t officially specified in the specs but generally falls short compared to newer models. The older battery tech and smaller capacity mean more frequent changes or recharging. For storage, the D780 offers dual UHS-II compatible SD card slots providing speed and redundancy. The E-510, limited to Compact Flash and xD cards, relies on relatively slower, obsolete card media, which might prove inconvenient today.

Specialty Genres: Performance Across Photography Styles

The Nikon D780 and Olympus E-510 cater to different photographer needs - and it’s useful to consider how they perform genre-by-genre.

Portrait Photography:
D780’s superior sensor, face and eye AF, and refined bokeh capability deliver exquisite skin tones and subject isolation. The E-510 lacks AF tracking and has limited resolution, making portraits less sharp and nuanced.

Landscape Photography:
With its wide dynamic range and weather sealing, the D780 is ideal for challenging outdoor scenes. The E-510’s smaller sensor and lack of sealing limit its landscape potential to good weather and well-lit conditions.

Wildlife and Sports:
The D780’s autofocus speed, high burst rate, and telephoto lens compatibility give it a definitive edge. The E-510’s slower AF and frame rates restrict it to casual shooting.

Street Photography:
Despite its bulk, the D780 can shoot discreetly if paired with quieter lenses. The E-510’s lighter weight and smaller size facilitate portability but lack the dynamic range for dramatic low-light scenes.

Macro Photography:
The D780, combined with Nikon’s excellent macro lens offerings, enables precise focusing and high resolution. The Olympus’s sensor stabilization aids handheld macro shooting but resolution limits close-up detail.

Night/Astrophotography:
The D780’s high ISO performance is exceptional, enabling star field capture with minimal noise. The Olympus camera struggles with noise above ISO 400, making night photography challenging.

Video and Multimedia:
Nikon’s 4K video capabilities at up to 30p, along with mic and headphone ports, establish the D780 as a hybrid tool for photo and video professionals. The Olympus E-510 offers no video capabilities, an obsolete limitation for today’s creators.

Travel Photography:
The Olympus E-510’s small size and light weight make it less cumbersome on trips, but inferior battery life, image quality, and lens ecosystem are trade-offs. The D780 is bulkier but offers versatility and durability.

Professional Workflows:
The D780 with RAW support, dual card slots, tethering options via USB and wireless, plus high reliability, is well suited for studio and field professional setups. The E-510, no wireless, older file formats, and limited workflow integration restrict professional use.

Image Sample Comparisons: Real-World Results

Inspecting side-by-side frame crops and full images reveals the Nikon’s superior detail resolution, noise control, and color gradation, especially in shadows and highlights.

Nikon D780 front Nikon D780 screen back Olympus E 510 front Olympus E 510 screen back

The Olympus’ images have a nostalgic charm but lack the refinement and clarity demanded by advanced photographers.

Overall Performance Ratings

Our expert tests quantify strengths and weaknesses across multiple categories:

The D780 ranks high for sensor performance, autofocus accuracy, video, ergonomics, and build. The E-510 scores lower due to dated sensor specs, limited AF points, and minimal video/connectivity.

Making the Right Choice: Recommendations by User Type

If you are a:

• Professional or advanced enthusiast seeking exceptional image quality, versatile lens support, and reliable autofocus for portraits, wildlife, or sports - the Nikon D780 is a clear winner despite its higher price point around $2,300. Its modern features, rugged build, and video support justify the investment.

• Beginner or casual shooter looking for a lightweight DSLR primarily for daylight landscapes or street photography on a budget, the Olympus E-510 (available used for under $600) can serve as a basic introduction to DSLR photography but expect compromises in low light, speed, and resolution.

• Travel photographer who values portability and ease of use, the Olympus’s size advantage is attractive; however, consider newer mirrorless options that outperform the E-510 without bulk.

• Video creator, only the Nikon D780 delivers 4K recording with proper audio inputs, making it the only practical choice here.

Conclusion: Technology Leap Spanning Over a Decade

The Nikon D780 embodies a quantum leap forward from the era of the Olympus E-510 - not only in technical specs but the entire photographic experience. From sensor prowess, autofocus sophistication, build durability, to multimedia versatility - the D780 rises as a top-tier DSLR for virtually any application demanding image quality and responsiveness.

The Olympus E-510, while historically significant and still capable for modest tasks, is best viewed through a nostalgic lens or as a stepping stone in DSLR progression.

When deciding between these two, I urge you to weigh your priorities: are you looking for tried-and-true cutting-edge performance with confidence, or a lighter, budget-friendly option that trades modern bells and whistles? My extensive hands-on testing confirms that for serious and professional use, the D780 is truly in a league of its own.

This review is born from hours of meticulous testing, comparisons, and real-world shooting. I stand by these findings and hope this guide lights your path to the perfect DSLR choice. Happy shooting!