Image quality with kit lenses

At the first glance, it was obvious that the camera has excellent image processing algorithms. The sharpening is a bit heavy handed, resulting in grainy appearance at 100% magnification. However, since the camera processes images so well, it's not necessary to process them with the computer, while the prints mask the grain well. In other words, don't worry. It would also seem that the camera corrects for lens errors, producing great results with kit lenses. There's little evidence of chromatic aberration (purple fringing), and sharpness is good at all focal lengths. When comparing both lenses at about 40 mm, the only noticeable difference is a slightly cooler tint of the 14-42 lens. This again was a very positive surprise, and that’s not all – Olympus E-510 fares well in high ISO tests, too, which used to be a weak point of the 4/3 system.

The whole picture at 14 mm (28 mm equivalent). All shots are at f/8 and ISO 100.

100% crop, 14 mm (28 mm equivalent).

100% crop, 14 mm (28 mm equivalent). Despite the relatively wide angle and high contrast in certain regions, almost no purple fringing is visible.

100% crop, 14 mm (28 mm equivalent). For a kit wide angle lens, this is a remarkable achievement – good sharpness and very few errors. I believe that the errors are corrected in the camera.

100% crop, 26 mm (52 mm equivalent).

100% crop, 26 mm (52 mm equivalent).

100% crop, 26 mm (52mm equivalent). The image is really well processed – in most competitive cameras, the leaves and wires aren't that sharply defined.

100% crop, 26 mm (52 mm equivalent).

100% crop, 42 mm (84 mm equivalent).

100% crop, 42 mm (84mm equivalent).

100% crop, 42 mm (84mm equivalent).

100% crop, 42 mm (84 mm equivalent) to the left and 40 mm (80 mm equivalent) to the right. Compared to the 40-150 mm lens, the 14-42 lens has a slightly cooler tint. However, they both exhibit excellent sharpness.

100% crop, 40 mm (80 mm equivalent), Zuiko Digital 40-150 mm.

100% crop, 40 mm (80 mm equivalent), Zuiko Digital 40-150 mm.

100% crop, 75 mm (150 mm equivalent).

100% crop, 75 mm (150 mm equivalent).

The whole picture at 150 mm (300 mm equivalent).

100% crop, 150 mm (300 mm equivalent).

100% crop, 150 mm (300 mm equivalent).

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