I'm officially a brand whore. - DPChallenge Forums

Olympus 14-42mm f.3.5-5.6 ED Zuiko Digital Zoom

10/24/2009 08:31:28 AM · #1

A close friend of mine has been using my E-510 for a while so she can get used to handling a dSLR. Anyway, this week she finally decided to set a budget and buy one for her self.

We had a look at some cameras in Jessops, held various Canons and Nikons, however Jessops no longer keep Olympus cameras in stock. So, I told her to "trust" me, we went on to Parkcameras and got the follow.

//www.parkcameras.com/Bundle.aspx?BundleID=6539&display=true

* Olympus E-620 + 14-42mm + 40-150mm
* SanDisk CompactFlash EXTREME III 4GB
* Free Olympus Cleaning Cloth with all E-620 Cameras!
* Free Olympus Double Zoom Bag with all E-620 Lens Kits!

Bundle Price Â£627.47

I've only read of the E-620, but having used my Olympus for a year or so, I just sort of knew it was going to be good. She could have had a 500d, or the new entry level Nikon, but at that price level the E-620 offers such a great package. Both the kit lenses are very good, especially compared to what Canon and Nikon give you. A Sony/Pentax was an option, but I don't think she was too sure about that.

Anyway, it arrived in the post today and she called me to say it feels absolutely perfect in her hands, and one of the comments people *always* seem to make about Olympus dSLRsm, I made the same comment too... "It doesn't feel as plasticy as other cameras"

Anyway, I've told her I am stealing the 40-150mm and she can use my 35mm macro for a bit, muahahahaha.

ahjenny

Olympus E-620

10/24/2009 08:39:52 AM · #2

I have the E-620, and I LOVE it. I'm also new to the dSLR world, and this camera makes learning easy and fun. I agree that it doesn't have that "plastic-y" feel to it. I hope she enjoys hers as much as I do.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

10/24/2009 08:45:40 AM · #3

I want to try out the 40-150mm, at 42mm the IS isn't "tested" much.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

10/24/2009 09:36:07 AM · #4

Brand whore?

Whazzat?????

colorcarnival

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

Olympus 45mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital

10/24/2009 10:27:49 AM · #5

Good choice :) Looks like a very nice deal too!

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

10/24/2009 11:08:36 AM · #6

On a similar Olympus theme I am going to try get a job (Interview on Monday! - as long as it fits in to my uni timetable), and upgrade to an E-30 from my E-510.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

10/24/2009 11:53:09 AM · #7

Cool. I almost bought an Olympus. I still like fondling the E-51-/520/620 series in the stores. They feel right in my hands.

Photologist

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/24/2009 11:56:55 AM · #8

So you coerced her into an Olympus just so you could increase your lens availability? :-(

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

10/24/2009 12:33:14 PM · #9

haha, no, but two friends with a range of lenses between them is better than two friends on different systems...she's fairly obsessed with macro stuff so she can happily take my macro lens away with her as I hardly use it.

For the price I can't see a better deal than the one she got.

colorcarnival

Olympus 45mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital

10/24/2009 12:50:21 PM · #10

Originally posted by dd1989:

On a similar Olympus theme I am going to try get a job (Interview on Monday! - as long as it fits in to my uni timetable), and upgrade to an E-30 from my E-510.

good luck on the interview!

if you get an e-30, I want to hear about what you think of it.

bvy

Sigma DP1x

10/24/2009 01:13:21 PM · #11

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Cool. I almost bought an Olympus. I still like fondling the E-51-/520/620 series in the stores. They feel right in my hands.

Go for it, Steve!

Olympus has great glass, good feeling cameras, and IS that works on anything I attach to the camera. Where they let me down is with low-light performance. AF is a coin toss and noise banding in the shadows of high ISO images is atrocious. It's going to be something with any camera though, and the encouraging news is that some of the newer Olympus models seem to be making improvements on these fronts.

I almost bought the Zuiko 11-22 recently -- a well reviewed lens that delivers stunning sharpness and clarity. Could have gotten it for around $600 with a rebate. I'm holding off though. Quite honestly, the 14-42 kit delivers some impressive results. It's been said that Olympus has some of the best kit glass in the business. Also, I'm sniffing around a second high-end compact.

If I were to change sytems today, I'd probably go with Sigma. But the reasoning there is more personal, subjective.