I feel sick right now - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/06/2006 12:30:00 PM · #1

I just sent my camera back to Olympus, and God Himself knows when I'll get it back. But, unless I want to go un-earth my old Minolta and shoot film for awhile, this means I have NO CAMERA until my Olympus comes back. What am I going to do with NO CAMERA? I gave my point and shoot away to a friend when I bought the Olympus!

I shot pictures at my sister's wedding on Saturday. I shot in 400 ISO because we were inside most of the time. I bought a flash special for the occassion, but the flash didn't work worth a darn in 100 or 200 ISO. If I had shot in film, I would have expected the level of noise I got in 400 ISO, in about 1600 ISO. I was able to fix most of it in PS, but at 400 ISO, I don't think I should HAVE to. Also, since the day I bought it, the camera has ALWAYS over exposed in the auto-settings. I didn't complain about it then because I'm so used to shooting manual that it didn't really faze me. But, the paid photographer who was there and my brother (both have Nikon D 70's) trying to get the flash to work right, and they were both like, "What a piece of crap! You need to send this thing back to Olympus while it's still under warranty." So, today, that is what I did.

I'm also considering writing a letter to Olympus outlining the problems I've had with the camera, telling them how unhappy I am with the camera, and that what I really want is my cotton-pickin' money back.

Beetle

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

03/06/2006 12:32:33 PM · #2

Aawwwww Melissa.... you need a ((((( hug ))))).

I'll cross fingers for you that you'll get it back very soon, all fixed. Or a refund :-)

MadMan2k

Sony Alpha a6400

Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD

03/06/2006 12:35:59 PM · #3

That sucks. Hope you get a refund so you can get a Canon :P

fotomann_forever

03/06/2006 12:42:10 PM · #4

Oh man! This is not good :-(

I've never worked with Olys so, I'm not sure of the quality of thier products. I will stand behind both Canon and Nikon though and I've never had any problems with my 35mm Minolta gear.

I considered selling off my Nikon 8700 and related gear when I got the Rebel, but threads like these make me glad I decided to keep it.

saracat

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

03/06/2006 12:54:09 PM · #5

You've just made me start wondering if ALL Olympus cameras over-expose on auto-settings. I know mine does & that's why I pretty much quit using them...except when the ambient light is way down.

Anybody else using an Oly have this problem?

Olympus 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 ED Zuiko Digital

03/06/2006 01:10:54 PM · #6

Is there any chance that if I wrote to Olympus that I could get a refund? I just bought the camera in November, so I've had it less than six months. Noise and *shake issues* which I interpret to mean soft focus are the two biggest complaints I've read about the E-300 online. I don't recall anyone else complaining about over-exposure. I know I have noise for sure in ISO 400, sometimes even in ISO 200. It seems when I use the 45-150 mm lens the focus is frequently soft and there's more noise no matter the ISO. I was in Richmond, VA last Thursday. It was a bright sunny day, but it was a very windy day. I actually got wind burn on my face. This picture was shot at 1200 shutter speed, ISO 100, f-9.0. But, if you blow it up to 100% the focus is ever so slightly off. Isn't the point of auto-focus not having to worry about shizz like this? Also, at 1200 shutter speed you shouldn't need a freaking tripod, not that it would have helped in that wind. I like the picture anyway, and that's why it's in my gallery. But, I doubt any of the stock sites will take it.

Message edited by author 2006-03-06 13:11:50.

cislander

Olympus E-3

03/06/2006 01:13:50 PM · #7

I've shot with Olympus E20 and now E1. Neither has any problem with overexposure in auto. I however, never aim the flash at my subject. In darker areas I shoot with the flash aimed backwards. Otherwise I aim it up and use a make shift bounce by taping a piece of white mat board to the back of the flash. I shot a wedding in a dark hall and got excellent exposure.
That said, I don't use the built in flash on the E20 because you can't deflect the direct light. Also, I primarily shoot in manual but switch to auto in high volume changing light settings like wedding receptions.
My brother shoots Canon high end cameras and also uses the same techniques to avoid harsh over exposed looks associated with direct flash.
Love my Olympus.

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

03/06/2006 01:29:27 PM · #8

Well I'm not sure of your issue, However once learning how to shoot with my E300 I love it. I will give you a link to shots I took a few weeks ago at ISO 800 and I have no issue with them whatsoever. However I will tell you if you under or overexpose anything and have to correct you are going to get noise. What flash were you using with it? I have shot with flash in Auto mode and have seen the ISO go as low as 64 with no issues what so ever.

Edit to note, ZOto is currently down but as soon as it goes up I will link a good link for you.

This is the link I think, as soon as Zoto is back up check the photos, these were taken indoors @800 ISO some even with flash. BTW I read where you bought a different brand Flash, I'd nearly bet you arent able to use TTL with it or something to that effect. The Fl-36 works great and its not pricey.
MattOPhoto Gallery

Message edited by author 2006-03-06 14:41:11.

bluenova

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

03/06/2006 01:39:38 PM · #9

Strange what u say about noise at ISO 400, On my 350D I only start to notice it at ISO 800.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

03/06/2006 01:47:37 PM · #10

I bought a flash special for the wedding. It's a PROMASTER 5550DX FLASH F/OLYMPUS DIGITAL. It was supposedly made to work with the Olympus digital cameras. I couldn't afford to buy a comparable Olympus flash. Plus, I'm not feeling real inclined to invest huge amounts of money into my Olympus right now. Anyway, when the flash was working, I think it did it's job well. I'm assuming the problems I had with it were because of not being familiar with it yet. I need to see if I can find a manual for it online.

I fully expect noise in under-exposed pictures. I usually turn those black and white, and then people think you meant for it to be that way. You can see a few of my sister's wedding pictures in my gallery. EVERY last one of those pictures had high noise problems, including the one where her dress is a little over exposed.

Now, I'm wondering if it's something that I'm doing wrong and should I go back and get my camera before it goes out. I really feel sick thinking about not having it for several weeks.

Message edited by author 2006-03-06 14:02:55.

MattO

Nikon D4

03/06/2006 03:35:58 PM · #11

If I were you I would get your camera back before it goes off, start shooting in either Apeture priority or shutter priority and using Exposure compensation to get the correct exposure. I had alot of problems with noise when I first got mine and was shooting in full manual mode. Until I realized the problem with "camera shake" and noise wasnt the camera but it was the operator. As soon as I learned my camera and how to use it, my photos got soo much better and I begin to understand why people who use the Olympus systems love their cameras. I think that blaming the camera isnt the right thing to do. I hope you get this figured out. BTW when Zoto does come back up the photo gallery I linked to you those photos were taken with the 40-150 that you state your having problems with. You must remember the rule of shutter speed and remember the 2X crop factor so that at 150 on the lens you need to figure that to be 1/300 unless your REALLY still, then bump ISO up and use exposure compensation to get what you need. If you need any help PM me or jump over to //www.fourthirdsphoto.com and get some of the people who have it all figured out. As I am still learning.

MattO

Edit to add a photo I have posted on Blogger from the gallery.

ISO 800
SHutter priority
no flash.

//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7795/2038/1600/PAD22506.jpg

Message edited by author 2006-03-06 15:45:57.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

03/06/2006 04:04:51 PM · #12

Originally posted by ragamuffingirl:

My dad has a Promaster Flash that he uses with his Oly 8080. I've shot with his setup and I find it gives excellent results.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

03/06/2006 04:14:43 PM · #13

Yeah, I think the problems I had with the flash were me, and not the flash. I needed more than one day to make friends with it.

MattO

Nikon D4

03/06/2006 04:48:31 PM · #14

One more note to add, according to this site.

Web link

The flash that you stated you have isnt compatible with the E300 camera.

MattO

Olympus 50mm f/1.8 MF Normal Zuiko

03/06/2006 04:59:56 PM · #15

Thanks Matt! I may take you up on your offer of help with my camera.

As for the flash, I might call the place I bought it (it was used) and ask about a possible return/exchange.

I got my camera back. I told the store owner what I'm planning on is saving up enough to get either the XT or D20, but keeping my Olympus for a back-up camera because I never want to be in a position of being completely without a camera. My older brother has also said he's going to buy a Nikon D2 something. It's not the D200. It's something else by Nikon. Anyway, he said he MIGHT consider selling me the body of his D-70, but then I'd have to find a lens for it.

emorgan49

Olympus E-5

03/06/2006 05:08:57 PM · #16

I love my Olympus E1, but now that you mention it...I always set the EV exposure compensation to -.3 or -.7 when I use the auto setting. Try that.

modgethanc

Nikon D90

Nikon AF Fisheye-Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D

03/06/2006 05:09:36 PM · #17

Minolta? Film? Which one? :D

I use a Maxxuum 5000i a lot when I feel like shelling out for film processing.