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10/16/2007 07:14:47 PM · #1 |
Imaging Resource hands on preview
New gear is always exciting, even if its something you'll never own. Glad to see the viewfinder is improved, that was always my main complaint about Oly. |
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10/16/2007 08:37:43 PM · #2 |
I've had a chance to try out a friend's E1 a couple times, and the thing that impressed me most is how quiet the shutter is. It's around the level of the Leica M rangefinders, which are pretty much the benchmark for quietness.
Since it's a slow advance and a small mirror and shutter overall, there's not much mass going anywhere too fast.
This new one should be nice, but I'm not really a fan of their lens lineup. The claim of the worlds faster AF speed is kind of out there, but if Oly offered me a camera with whatever their 70-200 equivelant is to try it out, I wouldn't say no.
It doesn't offer anything compelling enough for me to even think about switching, but it's good for current Oly users.
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10/16/2007 10:49:49 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by MadMan2k:
I've had a chance to try out a friend's E1 a couple times, and the thing that impressed me most is how quiet the shutter is. It's around the level of the Leica M rangefinders, which are pretty much the benchmark for quietness.
Since it's a slow advance and a small mirror and shutter overall, there's not much mass going anywhere too fast.
This new one should be nice, but I'm not really a fan of their lens lineup. The claim of the worlds faster AF speed is kind of out there, but if Oly offered me a camera with whatever their 70-200 equivelant is to try it out, I wouldn't say no.
It doesn't offer anything compelling enough for me to even think about switching, but it's good for current Oly users. |
While there are holes in their lens lineup, such as no Olympus primes or affordable ultrawides, their lenses are of very high quality and considered in the same class as Leica and Zeiss. They ditched using the existing Zuiko OM lenses from the 80s and 90s, much to the dismay of OM photographers, to start over from scratch and develop the new 4/3rds standard, which is only 4 years old, so you have to give them some time.
I believe that Canon did the same when they developed the EF lenses, and Olympus is no where near the same sized company without the extensive resources for R&D. In addition, all of their lenses except for the kit lenses, 35mm macro and 18-180 are built very well and weather and environmentally sealed to go with their weather sealed pro bodies. One without the other is not going to give you a weather protected system.
Some of the holes in their lens lineup is being filled by other companies, such as Sigma and Leica, who both offer high quality primes and super-teles. I agree with you that Olympus has to prove themselves with their new autofocus system, which has always been one of their achilles heals (along with noise, which is getting worked out). This is probably one of the most exciting nights for Olympus users in a long time. |
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10/16/2007 10:58:30 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by MadMan2k:
The claim of the worlds faster AF speed is kind of out there
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FWIW, the imagine resource preview states their impression of the camera was that the AF felt at least as fast as anything currently available... but warned that it was just a subjective impression.
I'm hoping the claim is true and it is indeed the fastest, most accurate AF system to date. Competition makes all of our cameras better in the end... |
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10/17/2007 12:26:47 PM · #5 |
It's now on the Olympus web site - Filling the hole that they left vacant for so long. Is it in stores?
Olympus DSRLs
Message edited by author 2007-10-17 12:30:34.
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10/17/2007 12:37:28 PM · #6 |
I havent gone to my olympus dealer yet. everythime i walk in there asking for something, example: the RM-1, wireless remote for the camera. The owner of the store said he never heard of it and he checked his books and he cant even find anything on their cameras having wireless remotes. then he gets all red and his voice starts to studder but by then i am out the door on my way to office max:P
Message edited by author 2007-10-17 12:38:04. |
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10/17/2007 12:37:42 PM · #7 |
It's worth noting that this camera features a flip-out, live view LCD with superimposed grids/golden sections etc available, and it magnifies up to 10x for critical focusing. That's really a nice feature, especially the flip-out screen for low angle or high angle work.
R.
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10/17/2007 12:50:05 PM · #8 |
Looks like a very capable camera. 11 point AF too which is handy, and seems ruggedly built with a 50% increase in durability over the 40d, which it appears to be competing against.
Makes a nice headache for those looking to upgrade to semi-pro DSLRs.
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10/17/2007 04:49:50 PM · #9 |
How would they go about measuring a 50% increase in durability, anyway?
"We dropped a hundred of each camera from a third story window, and 50% less of the E-3's fell completely apart than the 40D's"? |
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10/17/2007 05:08:32 PM · #10 |
sorry, i meant in shutter durability.
It says its good for 150,000 clicks, the 40d is advertised as being good for 100,000.
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10/17/2007 05:26:22 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by MadMan2k:
How would they go about measuring a 50% increase in durability, anyway?
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The E-1 is practially bullet proof. In SUdan there were a couple of times where I wondered if it really would be bullet proof.
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10/17/2007 06:00:56 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Tez:
sorry, i meant in shutter durability.
It says its good for 150,000 clicks, the 40d is advertised as being good for 100,000. |
actually it says TEST to 150,000...not sure if # 150,000 broke the shutter or the testers finger lol. I'm sure that is when it broke or at least got worn to the point of ineffectivness...is that a word?
My email had a link for getting emailed when it is available so I don't think it is available in stores just yet...does look nice and I love the flip out screen as bear mentioned...I'm tired of laying on the ground to compose my shot. Actually I just gave my wife an ad for a 90 degree eyepiece periscope type thing that I want for Christmas...wonder if I can talk her in to this instead lol. |
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10/17/2007 07:29:02 PM · #13 |
I have been seriously considering selling my Canon 10D and upgrading to the 40D. But this might change everything. I have been in love with Olympus since my first film SLR (the OM-1), through my last film SLR and into my beginnings into digital.
I may put the upgrade plan on hold for a couple of months. This looks like the camera for me.
Of course I will want to hold it before I make my final determination. My hands are rather small and it looks HUGE. |
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10/17/2007 08:14:21 PM · #14 |
I'm definitely eating ramen noodles for the next couple of months so I can pick up this beauty. As far as the joker who said that there are no affordable ultrawides available for 4/3's, they obviously haven't used the 7-14 F/4.0 or tried out the 11-22mm f/2.8-3.5... for those who use them for artistic shots and for architecture, they easily pay for themselves.
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10/17/2007 09:26:49 PM · #15 |
| Yes, I saw the article in the Japanese paper this morning of the announcement - it seemed to focus on it being the world's fastest autofocus camera; and also being held by two beautiful models at the launch ;-) |
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10/17/2007 09:49:56 PM · #16 |
As a big fan of the Olympus E series system before jumping to canon, I have to say that the long wait for an E-1 replacement might not be all everyone was hoping for, but at least its out. Let see what handson tests bring for this one.
MattO
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10/17/2007 10:14:31 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by Jimbo_for_life:
I havent gone to my olympus dealer yet. everythime i walk in there asking for something, example: the RM-1, wireless remote for the camera. The owner of the store said he never heard of it and he checked his books and he cant even find anything on their cameras having wireless remotes. then he gets all red and his voice starts to studder but by then i am out the door on my way to office max:P |
I've had the very same experience at my local. After they can't find an Olympus accessory they say they'll look into it. Then I go to the Olympus camera site and spent a lot of effort to find what I'm looking for. My biggest complaint about Olympus is that their web site sucks.
NB. I read that the E-3 will be available end of Nov. Amazon is taking orders for shipment Dec. 15. Well, that will give me time to save up at least. That and I usually wait a while 'cause there can be problems getting first out of the factory tech gear. Right now I'm 8 out of 10 going to get one of these, and some more glass. |
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10/17/2007 10:20:30 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by BAMartin:
Of course I will want to hold it before I make my final determination. My hands are rather small and it looks HUGE. |
If it feels like the E-1 you will love it. The main reason I like Olympus is that the shutter is placed where small hands can reach it.
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10/17/2007 10:33:57 PM · #19 |
Here is a forum I was involved with before jumping ship. This Page has some photos with comparisons to other E-series for size comparisons. Has anyone found any examples of high ISO shots?
MattO
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10/17/2007 10:46:51 PM · #20 |
This is simply my next camera, money saved for the 1699 asking price.
5fps, 11 AF points, inbody IS, 10.1MP, all housed in a awesome dust/splash proof body.
The "worlds fasted AF" was used with the 12-60mm SWF lens to get that figure in-house at Olympus so I don't know how true or false that claim is.
The E1 was claimed to have a 500,000 shutter life, so Im wondering how converative the 150k clicks is.
But dang that click sounds nice:)
VIdeo with the click
Edit: Fix link
Message edited by author 2007-10-17 22:49:18. |
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10/17/2007 10:54:05 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by fireserpent:
As far as the joker who said that there are no affordable ultrawides available for 4/3's, they obviously haven't used the 7-14 F/4.0 or tried out the 11-22mm f/2.8-3.5... for those who use them for artistic shots and for architecture, they easily pay for themselves. |
The 7-14, while one of the best ultrawides out there is $1700. Not exactly chump change, especially when you compare it to the more affordable Canon 10-22 and Sigma 10-20. They go for half of what the Oly 7-14 goes for and on APS-C cameras are true ultrawide lenses. The 7-14 is big and heavy and is considered a specialty lens.
The Oly 11-22, while also a terrific lens and more affordable is not an ultrawide on a 4/3rds camera. According to the Olympus lens roadmap they will be releasing a consumer grade ultrawide sometime in 2008, hopefully. It should be have a focal length around 8-16 (16-32 35mm eq). |
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10/17/2007 10:56:28 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by MQuinn:
This is simply my next camera, money saved for the 1699 asking price.
5fps, 11 AF points, inbody IS, 10.1MP, all housed in a awesome dust/splash proof body.
The "worlds fasted AF" was used with the 12-60mm SWF lens to get that figure in-house at Olympus so I don't know how true or false that claim is.
The E1 was claimed to have a 500,000 shutter life, so Im wondering how converative the 150k clicks is.
But dang that click sounds nice:)
VIdeo with the click
Edit: Fix link |
The E-1 was never rated for 500,000 shutter clicks, it's life is also expected to be 150,000. |
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10/17/2007 10:56:51 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by MadMan2k:
This new one should be nice, but I'm not really a fan of their lens lineup. The claim of the worlds faster AF speed is kind of out there, but if Oly offered me a camera with whatever their 70-200 equivelant is to try it out, I wouldn't say no.
It doesn't offer anything compelling enough for me to even think about switching, but it's good for current Oly users. |
:) Would be the 50-200mm.. Course dunno if your talking actual 4/3rds size, because well a 35-100mm F2 would be the 70-200mm your asking about... And it would rock your socks off:) |
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10/17/2007 11:04:43 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by Olyuzi:
The E-1 was never rated for 500,000 shutter clicks, it's life is also expected to be 150,000. |
I was told the E1 was tested to 1/2 million with no problems but they went with the 150000 rating so it did not come back and bite them in the butt!
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10/17/2007 11:15:52 PM · #25 |
Originally posted by MQuinn:
Originally posted by Olyuzi:
The E-1 was never rated for 500,000 shutter clicks, it's life is also expected to be 150,000. |
I was told the E1 was tested to 1/2 million with no problems but they went with the 150000 rating so it did not come back and bite them in the butt! |
I never heard that but if it's true that's great. Whatever it's been tested at or rated for, I never heard of anyone complain that their E-1 suffered from a dead shutter. It's really built like a tank.
What's also very good news is the OVF. Large and bright with 1.15x magnification and 100% field of view. With the exception of the E-1, most people complained that their OVFs were dark and tunnel like and very hard to manually focus. |
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