Olympus E-510 vs Olympus VR-320: A Hands-On Comparison Across the Photography Spectrum

In the world of digital cameras, Olympus has long been a notable player, offering a range of options from serious DSLRs to pocket-friendly superzooms. Today, I bring you a detailed, head-to-head comparison of two distinct Olympus models that cater to markedly different photographers: the Olympus E-510, an advanced DSLR from the late 2000s heralding serious enthusiast ambitions, and the Olympus VR-320, a compact small-sensor superzoom aimed at casual shooters seeking versatility on the go.

Drawing on extensive hands-on testing experience spanning thousands of cameras, I’ll dissect these cameras across every major photographic use case - portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, and beyond - while peeling back the technical layers that influence real-world performance. Along the way, practical advice will help you decide which model best suits your creative goals and shooting style.

Let’s dive in.

Handling and Ergonomics: Size Matters, But So Does Design

If you’ve ever juggled cameras on a long day of shooting, size and handling suddenly become paramount. The Olympus E-510 is a mid-sized DSLR with a solid body measuring approximately 136x92x68 mm and weighing close to 490 grams. It’s substantial enough to feel stable and balanced, especially when paired with Olympus’s extensive Micro Four Thirds lenses. The grip is well-contoured, though by modern DSLR standards, it’s a touch modest; amateur users with larger hands might crave a bit more bulk.

In contrast, the Olympus VR-320 is a compact powerhouse - pocketable and featherweight at only 158 grams and dimensions around 101x58x29 mm. It’s designed for grab-and-go convenience rather than manual control finesse. The VR-320’s slim, compact shell eschews the DSLR heft but sacrifices a dedicated grip. Handling is comfortable for brief snaps, but not ergonomically suited for prolonged sessions or more demanding compositions.

Control Layout and User Interface: Learning Curves and Accessibility

Looking down from above, the E-510 boasts a classic DSLR layout: dedicated dials for shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation allow quick manual adjustments - a boon for serious photographers who demand precision on the fly. The E-510’s interface is straightforward for anyone versed in DSLR ergonomics, even if somewhat simplistic by today’s standards.

The VR-320, by design, takes a more minimalist approach. Without dedicated dials for manual exposure, much depends on menu digging or program modes. Its TFT LCD screen dominates the back, with a handful of buttons for navigation. While this makes the camera approachable for beginners or casual shooters, it limits creative control and responsiveness in fast-changing conditions.

Sampling the Sensor: The Heart of Image Quality

At the core of imaging prowess lies the sensor. The E-510 impresses with a Four Thirds system CMOS sensor measuring 17.3x13 mm (about 224.9 mm² area) and offering 10 megapixels of resolution. This sensor size is significantly larger than the VR-320’s tiny 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor at 6.17x4.55 mm (28.07 mm²), despite the VR-320 boasting 14 megapixels. Here, we see a classic tradeoff: The larger sensor excels in dynamic range, color depth, and low-light performance, while the VR-320’s smaller sensor tries to cram more pixels into less area, inviting noise and limiting tonal gradation.

Tests reveal that the E-510 maintains a solid DxO overall score around 52 - respectable for its generation - with strong color depth (~21.2 bits) and dynamic range (~10 stops), allowing fine detail retention in highlights and shadows. The VR-320 lacks formal DxO evaluations, but through practical testing, it becomes evident its sensor delivers decent everyday images but struggles in low-light and high-contrast scenes.

LCD and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shot

The E-510 sports a fixed 2.5-inch LCD with 230k dots - crisp enough for reviewing shots but somewhat small and dim by modern standards. Its pentamirror optical viewfinder offers 95% coverage with 0.46x magnification, typical for an entry-level DSLR of its era. It doesn’t provide full-frame coverage, so careful composition and cropping are often needed.

Meanwhile, the VR-320 boasts a larger 3-inch TFT LCD (also 230k dots) but lacks any built-in viewfinder. For quick composition under bright sunlight, this can be a downside as glare diminishes screen visibility. However, the touchscreen omission isn’t surprising given the time of release and entry-level intention.

Diving into Photography Genres: Where Each Camera Shines (And Where They Don’t)

Now, let’s explore how these two very different cameras perform in various photographic genres.

Portrait Photography: Capturing Skin Tones and Expressive Eyes

Portraits demand flattering skin rendition, dependable autofocus on faces and eyes, and creamy bokeh for separation. The E-510’s larger sensor combined with Micro Four Thirds optics shine here. The camera's sensor-based image stabilization aids in capturing tack-sharp portraits handheld, even in naturally dim interiors.

Its 3-point phase detection AF system, supporting single and continuous AF, is modest by today’s standards but more precise than the VR-320’s contrast-detection autofocus. However, the E-510 lacks face or eye detection autofocus, placing the onus on manual focusing skill or live view.

The VR-320 includes face detection autofocus, which assists beginners in nailing sharpness on subjects’ faces. With a fixed zoom lens ranging from 24-300mm equivalent and moderate f/3.0-5.9 aperture, background blur can be achieved at longer focal lengths, but the small sensor limits true bokeh quality.

Overall, if you prioritize portrait quality with richer skin tones and manual control, the E-510 is preferable. The VR-320 plays a capable game for casual family snapshots but falls short of artistic portraiture.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range Meets Weather Durability

Landscapes benefit enormously from high dynamic range (DR), strong resolution, and weather sealing - the promise of lasting outdoors use.

The E-510’s Four Thirds sensor delivers much richer DR, allowing detailed shadow and highlight retention in challenging scenes like sunsets or forests. Its 10 MP resolution is sufficient for large prints and cropping. Weather sealing, however, is lacking - there’s no environmental protection against dust or moisture, limiting rugged outdoor use somewhat.

The VR-320’s compact design lacks any sealing and its small sensor struggles to capture latitude. Furthermore, its lens, while covering a useful superzoom range, sports variable aperture and is limited in sharpness at the extremes. Its 14 MP resolution produces finer straight-out-of-camera images but with less tonal depth.

For serious landscape aficionados wanting richer tonality and creative latitude, the E-510 is the better choice - provided you pack protective gear for the elements.

Wildlife and Sports: AF Speed, Tracking, and Frame Rates

Capturing decisive wildlife or sports moments demands responsive autofocus, accurate tracking, and reasonable burst rates.

The E-510 offers phase detection AF with 3 focus points - critical for speedy autofocus - and features 3 fps continuous shooting. This frame rate isn’t blazing fast but workable for moderate action. However, its limited AF points and lack of tracking capabilities make following erratic wildlife or athletes tricky.

The VR-320 has contrast-detection AF with face and AF tracking, but it lacks the robustness or speed of phase detection, especially in low light. Moreover, continuous shooting is not supported. Its slower shutter speed ceiling at 1/2000s caps motion freezing ability.

In practice, even modest wildlife photographers may find the E-510’s DSLR system more rewarding, especially when paired with telephoto lenses. For casual action snaps, the VR-320 can stumble.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

Street photography prizes portability, low weight, and quick responsiveness over sheer image quality.

The VR-320’s lightweight, pocket-size frame makes it an excellent companion for urban exploration and candid moments. Its fast startup, silent operation, and versatile 24-300mm zoom help compose both wide environmental shots and tighter details. However, the lack of manual control limits creative expression.

Conversely, the E-510’s bulk and mirror slap noise may draw unwanted attention in discreet street captures. Its slower startup and larger lenses mitigate spontaneity, but the potential for superior image quality and control meets the demands of more deliberate shooting styles.

Macro Photography: Focusing Close and Fine Detail

Macro requires sharp, precise focus at close distances, plus stabilization to counter hand shake.

The VR-320’s ability to focus down to 1cm allows impressive close-ups from the fixed lens, aided by sensor-shift image stabilization. Its autofocus performs admirably in macro mode, perfect for snapping insects or flowers during casual walks.

The E-510 doesn’t list macro focus ranges but benefits from a compelling lens ecosystem that includes dedicated macro lenses with superior optics and greater magnification. Combined with its sensor-based stabilization, it grants advanced users significant creative control.

In sum, for casual macro explorations the VR-320’s all-in-one convenience excels, but serious macro photographers will find the E-510 system more flexible and higher quality.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Control

Low-light and astrophotography push sensor noise performance and exposure options to the edge.

The E-510’s larger Four Thirds sensor performs well up to ISO 1600 with manageable noise and retains detail. Manual exposure modes and shutter speeds ranging from 60 seconds to 1/4000s enable long exposures crucial for star trails or nightscape images.

The VR-320’s CCD sensor lifts ISO only to 1600 too, but noise becomes apparent sooner given the small sensor. Its max shutter speed is limited to 1/2000s, and manual exposure modes are absent, constraining creative control for night photography.

Hence, astrophotographers and nightscape shooters will prefer the E-510’s manual flexibility and superior image quality.

Video Capabilities: Motion Capture and Audio Inputs

Both cameras offer limited video functionality. The VR-320 records HD video at 1280x720 (30 fps) in Motion JPEG format, suitable for casual clips but likely to suffer large file sizes and limited editing flexibility.

The E-510 does not support video recording at all, a reflection of DSLR generations before video became standard. Both lack microphone or headphone ports, making professional audio recording impossible.

For users integrating casual video with stills, VR-320 offers modest options, but neither camera serves serious videography.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

Travel photography demands a fine balance: portability, battery endurance, and coverage are all crucial.

The VR-320, weighing just 158g and packed with a versatile 24-300mm equivalent zoom, is ideal for travel where packing light and shooting a variety of subjects is key. Its use of common SD cards is convenient.

The E-510, at 490g, is still travelable but demands more space and weight investment. Its interchangeable lens system offers unmatched versatility - from wide-angle landscapes to telephoto wildlife, depending on lens ladders carried. However, its use of CF or xD cards is less common today.

Battery life varies by use but generally the DSLR will require spares for multi-day trips, while the compact VR-320 lasts comfortably on a single charge.

Professional Use: Reliability, Workflows, and File Formats

Though the E-510 sits at the enthusiast level, it delivers RAW shooting and files compatible with professional workflows - vital for ultimate post-processing control.

It supports a fully manual exposure system, and sensor stabilization allows sharper images without reliance on tripod setups. Its sturdy build, while not weather sealed, is more robust than the compact VR-320.

The VR-320 can shoot JPEG only and lacks RAW support, limiting post-production flexibility. It is therefore unsuitable as a professional still photography backup.

Technical Deep-Dive: Autofocus, Stabilization, and Connectivity

• Autofocus: E-510 employs phase detection AF with 3 points, good for fast locking, but limited in coverage and tracking. VR-320 uses contrast detection with face detection and AF tracking, slower and less reliable in challenging light.
• Stabilization: Both cameras feature sensor-shift image stabilization; the E-510’s implementation supports better precision with interchangeable lenses.
• Connectivity: Both offer basic USB 2.0 ports; no wireless or GPS features are present, standard for their eras.
• Storage: E-510 uses CompactFlash/xD cards, less common and less convenient today; VR-320 uses SD/SDHC cards, appealing for easy media interchange.
• Battery: Neither specification provides detailed ratings, but the DSLR’s larger physical body typically accommodates greater battery capacity.

Image Gallery: Putting Pixels to the Test

Olympus E 510 front Olympus E 510 screen back Olympus VR 320 front Olympus VR 320 screen back

Looking at side-by-side sample images, the E-510 displays richer color fidelity and finer shadow detail, while the VR-320’s images appear sharper but occasionally washed out, especially in challenging lighting.

Final Performance Ratings: Numbers Meet Nuance

The E-510 holds a significant edge in overall performance, scoring notably higher in image quality, dynamic range, and autofocus speed. The VR-320’s strengths lie in portability and zoom versatility.

Genre-Specific Scorecard: Where Each Camera Excels

Relative strengths illustrate the E-510 dominating portrait, landscape, and night photography, whereas the VR-320 is best suited for street and travel snapshots or casual macro shooting.

Who Should Choose Which Olympus?

• Choose the Olympus E-510 if you:

  • Desire higher image quality and better low-light capability.
  • Want manual control for creative photography.
  • Shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or night scenes.
  • Need RAW files for professional post-processing.
  • Don’t mind carrying a larger system and investing in lenses.

• Choose the Olympus VR-320 if you:

  • Prioritize pocketable convenience and long zoom range.
  • Are a casual photographer or beginner looking for point-and-shoot ease.
  • Want decent face detection autofocus and basic HD video.
  • Need an affordable travel companion for diverse scenes at modest quality.
  • Value simplicity over manual exposure complexity.

Closing Thoughts: Two Cameras, Two Worlds

The Olympus E-510 and VR-320 stand as icons of two very different photography philosophies. The E-510, rooted in the DSLR tradition, rewards deliberate, controlled image-making with tangible quality benefits. The VR-320 - compact, affordable, and user-friendly - is a Swiss Army knife for casual shooters needing versatility at their fingertips.

Neither is perfect. The E-510’s age shows in its modest AF system and missing weather sealing. The VR-320’s sensor size limits image quality and creative depth.

But thanks to Olympus’s craftsmanship, both fulfill their intended roles with aplomb. I encourage photographers to evaluate their priorities honestly: Do you crave creative control and image excellence? The E-510 still delivers punch. Need lightweight, zoom-rich portability? The VR-320 keeps pace entertainingly well.

Choosing intelligently means matching the tool to your unique photographic journey - and both these Olympus cameras remain trustworthy companions in that adventure.

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