Olympus E-510

The list below is in reverse chronological order (most recently announced camera first). I experimented taking pictures of my son running around the yard with his Tonka truck. • Special digital dedicated & near telecentric design for good image quality from maximum aperture on. And if there are kids in the house, mom and dad can rest easy that even the most mischievous child will have a hard time damaging this tough little camera. 2.5 million sensor photo detectors. This does mean that autofocusing isn't possible without first dropping the reflex mirror, briefly interrupting the live view for the duration of the autofocus process.Olympus says they hid a little tribute to the OM-1 under the E-410 and E-510's pop-up flash.

It has been specially tailored to the needs of digital high-end photography. Update: 12/06/2007 Added index to RAW files! In fact, I'm sorry to say that if I were to arrange a demonstration of why you want an SLR in the first place, I'd choose the E-330 to illustrate the problem in one single camera.

"You see a balanced image on the screen, but you get no concept of what it'll look like until after capture."

35 mm - 98 mm (2.8x) zoom lens. The E-510 also works with a pretty impressive array of high-quality optics that are small for their equivalent focal lengths, making for a good, robust wildlife camera kit that won't take more space than necessary. You can also use other lenses from other Four-Thirds manufacturers, currently 28 in number. Jim Tanner, our lens technician, tested the Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6, and plotted the average results against the average results from Canon's EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 and Nikon's Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G.

Although there were some constraints, I tried to test the Olympus 770 SW under a variety of conditions to see whether it lived up to its rough-and-tumble claims. Still, that small limitation aside, Olympus has certainly found many fans of the ability to have a live LCD preview comparable to those found on compact cameras. The other major goal of the Four-Thirds system was to be "designed for digital." At first, manufacturers like Nikon, Canon, and Pentax were using lenses that were designed for 35mm film cameras, while using sensors that were roughly APS-C sized. This does mean that autofocusing isn't possible without first dropping the reflex mirror, briefly interrupting the live view for the duration of the autofocus process. Digital cameras. I've used these modes for the sake of the review.

• Wireless Flash Control.
• The OM-series spanned three decades, culminating in the OM-4T, an innovative, albeit manual-focus camera that was finally discontinued in 2002.
• It's the one SLR on the market that will let you frame pictures from the ground without laying down on the ground yourself.
• (It's possible that the live readout is actually sub-sampling the sensor pixels, so there isn't enough resolution for accurate contrast-detect AF.) So focus is manual in this mode, made a little less sure-footed due to the digital nature of the E-System lenses.
• Because the optical viewfinder bezel had to be extended to clear the LCD, you can't just tilt the LCD up, you have to first tilt it down (or pull it out slightly as above), then it will swing up 90 degrees for those waist- or ground-level shots.
• Read user reviews (24).
• Press the AF point selector, and a similar selection menu comes up, and you can select among the three AF points, or set it to Auto, and the camera will choose for you.
• And of course the Olympus SP-550 UZ has optical image stabilization.

The Olympus E-3's viewfinder status display runs along the bottom, not off to the right as on the E-410 and E-510. The E-510 uses both CF cards (CompactFlash) and xD cards. Read user reviews (32).

Live View B mode shows no exposure information or preview; is also noisy. You can also compare cameras by specification using our. Most of the light (we're told 80%) is reflected out the optical viewfinder.Bookmark/Share this review:. If you plan to use the camera underwater, you may want to purchase an adjustable wrist strap to help prevent it slipping off your wrist when you're swimming. My doll shots in the darkness of the garage were simply among the best I've ever gotten with any camera. Olympus didn't skimp on the grip with the E-510. Olympus D-620L.

7.9 million sensor photo detectors. As has been the case with every Olympus SLR I've reviewed, though, I managed to get some very good shots with the E-510. Power switch is easy to flip while still gripping camera. Olympus C-300 Zoom.• Fixed focal macro lens. While it has enough to complain about, the Olympus SP-550 UZ merits a. With these onboard features, direct Olympus 770 SW's PictBridge printing is more appealing, since you can tweak images in-camera prior to outputting the photo.

Unfortunately, the lens is positioned high and to the left, making it easy to inadvertently place a finger (or two) in front of it. Test Images.But even these enthusiast photographers should be warned that each mode is a compromised version of what you can get in full on a more conventional digicam or digital SLR. It's also a little fatter and contoured, with a nice, tacky rubber surface for excellent traction. (Mju 1200 Digital). Olympus E-330.

18x zoom (28-504mm 35mm equivalent) with 14 elements in 11 groups, 4 aspherical lenses, 2 ED lenses. Mju-by-Olympus Case. > Digital SLR. Read user reviews (161). Read user reviews (15).The Olympus SP-550 Ultra Zoom is expected to ship in March 2007 at an estimated street price of $500. No light lost, no trouble; you get the view you're used to, framed exactly as the capture sensor will see it. If you put a lamp behind you, you end up with a fuzzy image of a lamp appearing on your LCD. The E510's LCD displays is a high resolution 2.5" wide-view LCD with a 230,000 pixel resolution. Update: 12/06/2007 Added index to RAW files!

Olympus FE-180. Olympus 830.You could call it a crime in progress (see the Gallery images for the painter crouched over the bench: images YP4160884.JPG, YP41608845.JPG, and YP4160887.JPG). Camera Drivers.

This was a smart way for these companies to keep their loyal lens owners by giving them a safe upgrade path. Pre-Capture technology records the five frames in the buffer prior to shutter release. Viewfinder blackout is brief enough that you can stay on your subject. Pro Lenses.Shutter speed from 1/2 sec. They lasted -- in this camera. Light enters the rear optic, reflects through the entire mirror system and back off the focusing screen, back through the mirrors, and right through the pellicle mirror to the 49-point metering system and the sensor for Live View A. I also like that the E-3 has a slightly better grip area on the left of the camera, for better two-hand control when working the menu and looking at photos. The E-410's pop-up flash actually had better success focusing, but it took a lot longer, with several bursts of illuminating flash.

In addition to its 2.5-inch LCD, the SP-500 UZ has an electronic viewfinder for use in bright sunlight. With Live View mode off, the E-410 can capture around 500 shots with its slim 7.2V, 1150mAh lithium-ion battery (Model: PS-BLS1).I slipped the Olympus SP-550 UZ's lens carefully between the links and took a wide angle shot just to set the scene. As is true with all Live View SLRs, there's significant shutter lag, but that's the price of the feature at this point.

Olympus E-1. Olympus E-300. Olympus took an extra step to invoke the memory of their OM-series cameras.Metering options include 49-zone ESP metering, Spot, Center-weighted, and a new Highlight/Shadow spot metering mode. Software CD Olympus Master 2; User Registration; muvee theaterPack (trial version; Windows only). The new RC Data Transfer System built into the E-3 allows the built-in strobe to control up to three groups of RC flashes inside a 120 degree area in front of the camera without requiring an separate on-camera commander unit. Its small size and light weight let me take it along more often, and it was nimble and easy to adjust to my needs.

See the Exposure tab for more (scroll down to Low Light). With the E-3, Olympus introduces their first new autofocus sensor in years: an 11-point array, each point consisting of twin cross-type AF sensors. Dave Etchells talks to a few photographers at the October 16, 2007 launch event about how they use a some of the special features of the Olympus E-3 digital SLR camera. Read user reviews (35).

"I'm not sure why, but Olympus either didn't want to, or for some reason couldn't use the same contrast detection method used in nearly all modern digital cameras."

Olympus D-595 Zoom. Built-in flash with six modes.

If you decide you want to change the Picture Mode item, you press the right arrow to bring up the next screen. Pages of this review. Manual and automatic focus modes, with adjustable AF area and Single-Shot and Continuous settings.E-System Lens Roadmap. You can select focus points manually, let the Olympus E-3 do the picking, or confine the pattern to a group of four to five AF points across the array, and again let the camera do the selection from those points. • Fixed focal macro lens. And because the camera can't do any metering until just before the exposure, you get no onscreen display telling you what the settings are.

Small camera case for outdoor and in-bag protection. Take a look at the Exposure and Optics tabs for the full breakdown on image quality. As soon as I took the shot, I compared the instant review display on the LCD with the flower.Print this Page.

According to Olympus test method.

(The Canon Rebel XTi comes with the software for this trick at no extra cost.). Though other manufacturers have come out with their own digital-specific lenses, it seems these two new lenses outperform the two most popular manufacturers' kit lenses. Other SP-550 UZ features include a 7.1 megapixel 1/2.5 inch CCD that delivers images up to 3,072 x 2,304 pixels in size. ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses meet the high demands of digital SLR photography providing edge-to-edge sharpness and high light utilisation.Viewfinder blackout is brief enough that you can stay on your subject.

The good news is that Olympus's method blurs the dust so much that it seldom affects the final image. The E-410 is a good camera in the hands of an experienced photographer, but not the best choice for the average consumer. Olympus E-410 digital SLR body.

"One really nice touch is that you can still use the pop up flash with the FL-36 mounted and get some great bounce/fill combinations for more flattering portraits."

The Olympus E-System is radically different to other Single Lens Reflex (SLR) Systems. I had spent some time at the Olympus booth at Macworld Expo and had sad news to report: "Sadly, though, we learned the Olympus C-2100 UZ (which features 10x optical zoom and image stabilization) is being discontinued with no successor planned. 5.6 million sensor photo detectors. This was the last image that the Live View A mode saw before the mirror shot up.

Olympus FE-250. Olympus C-2500 L.Olympus D-545 Zoom. With the E-3, Olympus introduces their first new autofocus sensor in years: an 11-point array, each point consisting of twin cross-type AF sensors. (Mju 300 Digital). You won't get exactly what you see, because of shutter lag, but it's pretty close.

But to do that, you need a live preview like you have on all-in-one digital cameras. I actually felt I should back off a little for a nicer composition.I've used these modes for the sake of the review. It turns out that you can actually change the release priority to allow the camera to fire if the flash isn't fully charged, but it also removes the condition that the camera achieve focus before shutter release. Details on this mode were not available as of this writing. My biggest complaint was the poor speed of the autofocus system. Live View mode, while easily misunderstood, is actually quite useful so long as you know its limitations.

There's no dedicated button for the Olympus 770 SW's Movie mode; rather, you have to first get into the Scene mode menu, then scroll down to Movie mode to shoot video clips. Interchangeable lens mount accommodates Olympus Zuiko Digital lenses. Grass still comes out a little too blue in daylight shots, so be prepared to tweak your settings a bit, or else shoot in RAW mode. My shots at Spreckles Lake were actually shot at High ISO, indicated in the Full Exif Display as GainControl with "Low gain up." Usually you would not set Auto ISO to High ISO for a daylight shot, but the camera should be able to set the ISO to 50 or 100 even at High ISO. E-System Backpack.

• Because the LCD is somewhat dim in bright sunlight, these images seem badly underexposed; but if you adjust the exposure for a better appearance on the LCD, you'll blow the highlights even worse.
• Just press the button on the back, compose on the LCD, and press the shutter button.
• Olympus EVOLT E-330 Digital Camera - Full Review - The Imaging Resource!
• Twin Flash.
• As has been the case with every Olympus SLR I've reviewed, though, I managed to get some very good shots with the E-410.

Since I shoot only with the E-330's optical viewfinder when it's important, I've come to think of the other modes as unnecessary gadgetry that I'd rather not have to pay for. (The Canon Rebel XTi comes with the software for this trick.). Contrast is a little high, tends to lose highlight and shadow detail under harsh lighting (does better than most in its class though).

(Mju 740 Digital). Conspicuously absent from the Olympus E-510 are two scene modes: both of them Underwater modes. The 3x lens is only smaller by a nose, but the 40-150 takes you to 300mm equivalence in a remarkably small space.

18x zoom (28-504mm 35mm equivalent) with 14 elements in 11 groups, 4 aspherical lenses, 2 ED lenses. The lens is coupled with a 7.1 megapixel imager and 2.5" LCD display that has 230,000 pixels. Olympus 770 SW.

According to Olympus test method. I had a few problems locating and pressing the Zoom, Mode, Playback, Menu, and Print/share controls because each button is identified only by a small, white painted word or icon. While I was sitting there, I slipped into Scene mode (something I rarely do) to set the Olympus SP-550 UZ on Behind Glass for a shot through glass. Dual image stabilization with Olympus' Sensor-Shift optical stabilization and high ISO and fast shutter speeds providing digital stabilization as well. It's not that Olympus is entirely marketing these two cameras exclusively as Live View SLRs, but because they're the.

• 3.3 million sensor photo detectors.
• The point is that Live View is a feature of the Olympus E-410 that you won't get many other places, but it's not the main mode you should use.
• D-SLR Viewfinder.

The relatively fast f/2.8 - 4.5 lens employs high-refractive, aspherical, and extra-low dispersion elements to maximize sharpness and clarity, and is also capable of focusing as close as 0.39 inches (1cm), an amazing feat considering the record-breaking zoom range. Olympus C-5060 Zoom. On the front of the Olympus E-330, they returned to a small, distant lens release button, instead of the nice big button that's nestled right against the lens on the E-500. I really had to work to get it to focus, and my little models didn't stay still for long. But it's just the right size when you want to pack light, as it's also the lightest camera on the market.

Read user reviews (89).

Olympus Stylus 1200. Optical viewfinder is small and information is displayed off to the right, rather than beneath the image. Built-in flash can be used simultaneously with external flash for bounce/fill combo. Built-in flash with six modes. Exposure modes include Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, Auto, Guide mode, and 22 scene modes. As with the previous E-330 model, the E-510 allows images to be framed on the LCD display.I'm an Olympus fan from way back, but I'm concerned about these claims. And fine focus can be had with the press of a few buttons. Behind it in this series of shots is the Pandigital photo frame showing off images taken with the camera directly from its xD card. What dust it doesn't shake off is substantially blurred in the final exposure.

(Mju 1200 Digital). Olympus FE-110. The Olympus E-3 is expected to ship in November 2007, at an estimated street price of US$1,699, body-only. This of course was a prototype, so the finished Olympus E-3 could very well be faster at the decision-making aspect. I had a few problems locating and pressing the Zoom, Mode, Playback, Menu, and Print/share controls because each button is identified only by a small, white painted word or icon.Discussion Forums. The Stylus 830 also offers face detection autofocus and auto exposure, and Shadow Adjustment technology which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. Though our preview unit had more colorful icons, our review unit had these white painted icons that were more difficult to read. Two prior SLRs that display a live preview are the Canon 20Da, built specifically for astronomy, and the Fujifilm S3 Pro; but both of these can only show a live preview for seconds, and then only in monochrome mode. Telephoto lens.