Ping TOG: Digital SLRs

Just been looking around for one.

Spotted the Olympus E410 with a short zoom lens for £280.

Any idea if those things are any good?

 

None at all, I'm afraid. Timo's your man.

 

I haven't had a play with one either but from memory (and reading tests
in AP and suchlike), it's not a bad camera. AFAIK it's already been
superceded by the E420 though, plus the consensus in the AP tests was
that the 5xx series are better cameras for slightly more money.

The main reason I'm not a big fan of the Olympus and other fourthirds
cameras is the size of the sensor - it's even smaller than the
'standard' APS-C sized sensors you find in most DLSRs, which means that
low light performance suffers somewhat compared to similar models with
bigger sensors from other manufacturers. However if camera size is
important, 4/3rds has the advantage of smaller bodies (and lenses to a
certain extent).

The price is probably OK, but still...

 

Thing is, it's by far the cheapest proper DSLR on the market - Katie
wants to get back into photography, but, despite her City & Guilds,
she's only doing it as a keen amateur, so this E410 would appear to be
ideal - at least for the time being.

 

Hi mate,

I have an E510 here, and it's bloody fantastic. It recently replaced my
E500, from an insurance claim, after a small incident on the Scarborough
seafront :-/

If you want to know more about the 4/3 system, and the issue over the
sensor size, have a look here:

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/43/sensor-size.html

That whole site will likely answer most of the questions you have.

I bought the E500 simply because I have a few good legacy lenses, and
wanted to make use of them. However, even without that I was swayed
towards the E-series anyway, as they offer such good value. You get a
lot of camera for the money, and their kit lenses are renowned to be one
of the best for a budget buy (the Canon lens is usually replaced with a
Sigma).

If you want to see some images, there are a few on my web site, or I'd
be happy to bung a few Raw files onto a Cd and send them to you.

Also check the images here:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/e410.html

I'd be inclined to look for the twin lens kit though. It's more money,
but you get a 14-42 and 40-150 pair of lenses - the effective range
(compared to 35mm) is 2x, so you get 28-84 and 80-300. The small one is
a particularly nice lens. You won't get a better bit of kit at the
price.

Just another point, if you can go to the E510, you also get image
stabilising too. Apart from that, they perform similarly.

 

Better to spend the money on a previous model/used real full-size DSLR e.g.
Nikon D40 or the like.

See ebay Item number: 220213116252 for an example.

 

I wouldn't buy something like that on eBay. I'd most likely only buy a
used DSLR from someone I know and trust.

 

I might be persuaded to part with my old D100, if you're interested.

 

Tempting..... for me, possibly.

Looks a bit big and heavy for Katie - her favourite camera of all time
is the OM1n, which is pretty tiny by SLR standards.

How much, mister?

 

Which bit of know and trust confused you?

 

<Checks Ebay used prices>

£200? Blimey, is that all they fetch now? Sorry, I might as well hang
onto it.

 

I was waiting for some amateur comedian to stick his oar in....

<Re-books Bonwick's ferry for midnight>

 

Personally I'd suggest paying the extra and going for an entry level
Canon or Nikon. The Canon 400D for example has every feature you could
ever need and as canon are so mainstream there's more chance she'll be
able to find good deals on used lenses, etc. - or even get the chance to
borrow them.

£360 new from tesco right now..
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.200-1666.aspx

 

It was a feedline that I couldn't leave alone.

Adie made me post the comment so it's only fair that she should be on
a late ferry.

 

80 quid more, though.

 

Yes, but one could easily use the BMW 3 series costs more than a
vauxhall vectra argument to understand why.

 

How?

Given that the 3-series is an overpriced, underspecified heap of crap?

 

Off the top of my head:
More sensor noise from the Olympus.
Worse high ISO performance generally
The olympus has a ridiculously tiny viewfinder.
Only 3 point Autofocus, vs canon's 9 point (essentially the same as the
30D)
Small choice of lenses compared to Canon and Nikon.

Substitute for premium brand car of choice then, you know what I meant.

 

This would be the clincher for me.

Old camera bodies seem to be worth sod all, except for a few recognised
classics, but lenses are always in demand and you can always buy another
body and mount your old lenses on it.

 

The advantage of the Olympus is that it's 'four-thirds' compliant,
meaning cross-brand lens compatibility.

Obviously, 'four-thirds' may turn out to be a lame duck, like APS.