Rate Olympus

I rarely see any discussion on dSLRs from Olly. Would anyone recommend
the e410/510 as a first SLR for someone (not a noob to photography)? I
like the fact that it has inbody stabilisation. How do the lenses rate
- Zucor Digital is it? I've read the review at dpreview.com. I own an
s3is and need better low light performance.

 

Maybe it's because there's better gear for the money...

 

I have just purchased the E-510 and so far, am impressed with it's
capabilities and lens performance. The learning curve with all it's controls
and facilities will take a little while.

Changed over from Olympus OM and a simple Panasonic digital P&S.
Cheers, Peter S.
******************

 

I had an E-510 for about five weeks. It took fine photos for my modest
purposes (I don't do big prints), but I found it cranky to use and in the
end I didn't really want to. For instance, the menus are cryptic in
comparison to some of its competitors.

The lenses get good reviews, and I have no complaints. The stabilisation is
worth two steps. I expect that there will be fewer rather than more brands
of 4/3 systems in the future.

 

Depends on the camera. The E-510 is as good or better (for what you
get) than anything in it's price range.

 

Is there a healthy choice of lenses to go with their dSLRs?

 

Is there a healthy choice of lenses to go with their dSLRs?

 

Sure, for most people. They have the best kit lenses going, their
pro lenses cover equivalent f.ls from 14mm to 300mm and their super
pro lenses (for those with deeper pockets) are as good as they get and
go up to a 600mm equivalent, more with teleconverters. Their weakness
is the lack of prime lenses. Currently, they only have an 8mm
fisheye, 35mm macro, 50mm macro and very pricey 150mm f2 telephoto and
300mm f2.8 telephoto, the rest are zooms. However, because the 4/3rds
system products are usable on any brands, there are some other
options. Leica makes a 25mm f1.4 prime for 4/3rds and Sigma has made a
number of their DX type lenses in the 4/3rds mount.

 

No thanks...I'll pass.

 

I've had an E-300 for over 3 years with the kit lens, the 50 mm f2 and the
50-200 Oly telephoto. I use it for business and pleasure. I've dragged it
through many construction sites and inspections of sewer and water treatment
plants, been out in blizzards and northeasters photographing surf, and it
has performed flawlessly. The lenses are superb. I look forward to getting
an E-3. I have a friend who has a Nikon D-80, I would not switch. The camera
and the lenses are well built and tough.

 

I considered Nikon, Canon, Oly, and Pentax when buying my first DSLR
recently... and it came down to Oly vs. Pentax.

Things I liked a lot about the Oly E510:
* in-body stabilization
* live preview (though I doubt I'd use it that much)
* great kit lenses
* lightweight cameras

Things I didn't like:
* not much lens selection, and expensive
* body is a little too small for my hands
* viewfinder is small and dim
* many firsthand reports of poor dynamic range (due to small 4/3
sensor)

I ended up getting the Pentax K10D, which I am enjoying immensely. It
has a large, weather-sealed body and in-body stabilization, a great
viewfinder, a decent kit lens, and a huge lens selection going back 30
years. No live preview, a bit heavy, and an amazing steal for $580
with the kit lens.

Dan

 

Olympus make some of the absolutely best lenses in the world.
Canon make some of the absolutely best cameras in the world.
Nikon make the absolutely best flash system.

Perceived Image quality is not everything. Olympus cameras do not have
a very wide dynamic range of capture. Last century, photographers
learned to live with narrow dynamic range using slide film. Those who
couldn't, used negative film.

Given the choice between great lenses and exceptional flash control,
or perceived image quality, I would be hard pressed to make the choice
easily. I bought a E300 Olympus a few years ago. It's images taken
under the right lighting conditions were stunning. Beyond anything my
20 Canon could produce. Sadly sunlight was this camera's worst enemy.

Even sadder is that Olympus's new flagship E3 is about 3 years old
technically speaking. I'm very much afraid the financial might of
Mitsubishi (who own Nikon) and Canon is such that pouring a few
hundred million into sensor development only sends a tremmor through
them where it would shake the financial foundations of Olympus.

Until Panasonic or Olympus actually devote the money, time and
expertise to develop ground breaking new sensors like are in the new
Nikons, Olympus will remain a nice alternative consumer camera taht no
experienced or professional photographer will bother with their DSLRs.
Sad really because I love their lenses.

 

Hi there!

b'coz the oly-users make photos instead of discussing about the gear
they use? ;-)

The Lenses, esp. the Pro & Top-Pro line are the best you can get for
your money (take a look at the costs of equally lenses from the other
manufactureres, an see by yourself, that the Zuikos are in fact cheaper).

The 510 isn't that bad, but if you want to use ISO 1600 and above, take
a look at the EOS 40D.

The new Oly E-3 is a true winner for the e-System, but it ends on usable
ISO1600~2000. If you have to invest in a total new system, the E-3 with
2-3 Top-Pro-Lenses will equally fit your needs, I think. On top you will
get the only working dust-removal system found on a dslr-system.

If you want to stay with your lenses from the S3 (Nikon-mount, I think)
take the new Nikon D300.

Hope I could be a helping hand to sort it out ;-)

Roland

 

The irony when comparing Pentax to Olympus is the focusing
confirmation with older lenses. Pentax allows this, Olympus does
not. Meanwhile Olympus NEEDS this because its viewfinder is poor,
making manual focusing difficult with some lenses, whereas Pentax's
viewfinder isn't poor. Additionally, you can mount any lens you want
on an Olympus, from any maker save (I think) Canon so the poor Olympus
viewfinder is a major issue, unless you never manually focus a lens!
Meanwhile, Pentax will only take Pentax-aimed lenses and some old
screw-mount lenses with an adapter. Mind you, there is a good number
of legacy lenses out there, which help to make up for the shortfalls
in the current Pentax line-up.

 

On Mon, 21 Jan 2008 04:56:26 -0800, RichA wrote:
+AD4 The irony when comparing Pentax to Olympus is the focusing confirmation
+AD4 with older lenses. Pentax allows this, Olympus does not. Meanwhile
+AD4 Olympus NEEDS this because its viewfinder is poor, making manual
+AD4 focusing difficult with some lenses, whereas Pentax's viewfinder isn't
+AD4 poor.

Wow, I didn't realize this feature wasn't standard on +ACo-all+ACo DSLRs... I
absolutely love this feature, as my only telephoto lens right now is a
70-200mm manual focus. So easy to get good shots with the focus confirm,
almost takes the effort out of it+ACE

+AD4 Additionally, you can mount any lens you want on an Olympus, from
+AD4 any maker save (I think) Canon so the poor Olympus viewfinder is a major
+AD4 issue, unless you never manually focus a lens+ACE Meanwhile, Pentax will
+AD4 only take Pentax-aimed lenses and some old screw-mount lenses with an
+AD4 adapter. Mind you, there is a good number of legacy lenses out there,
+AD4 which help to make up for the shortfalls in the current Pentax line-up.

Why aren't there more adapters for Pentax? Is it because the lens-to-
flange distance is larger than other models, so lenses with passive
adapters couldn't focus to infinity? Or lack of demand? Or something
else?

Dan

 

That's why. They won't reach infinity focus. The only way you could
adapt them is to use a negative relay lens (essentially, a
teleconverter) and that would change the design of the lens, probably
effect the optical quality. Nikon is the same.

 

Wow. Where did you manage to find such an awesome price on the Pentax?