Olympus just joined the pre-PMA pileup with the announcement of its E-620 DSLR for entry-level enthusiasts. The E-620 is a mash-up of Olympus' semi-pro
E-30 and entry-level
E-520 in a compact body approaching Oly's own E-420 (the
world's smallest DSLR when launched). The resulting cam brings a 12.3 megapixel Live MOS image sensor with sensor-shift image stabilization, 7-point AF, TruePic III+ image processor, built-in wireless flash controller, and a fully articulating, 2.7-inch tilt-and-swivel live-view LCD. It also features Olympus' Art Filters which take in-camera image enhancements a bit beyond sepia. Expect the E-620 body to ship in May for about $700; $800 with the 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 lens. Front-side front after the break.
Read -- Press release
Read -- DP Review preview
Read -- DigitalCameraInfo first impression
posted February 24th 2009 1:46AM
what's behind the view screen once it is flipped out?
nvm, after hitting the read links, i see in one of the reviews that there aren't any further controls or anything. just a flat black surface, so i guess it's just to show subject what they look like as the picture is being taken?
The articulated live wiew screen is usefull when taking pictures above crowds and at ground level (without you crawling in the mud). Imo it will become standard in a few years and is the biggest improvement this camera has.
too bad this thing is ugly as all hell.
definitely better designed than a Canon...
...But you probably think the silver Rebel is the height of style.
You're forgetting what cameras looked like before they became digital. All these 'photographers' today probably have no idea how to make a quality photo, and how to develop it yourself in the dark room. You should read some of the posts from old timers on http://f2bb.com once in a while, you might learn something.
@spass
How is this better designed than Canon?
And why would anyone care about the way a DSLR looks; DSLR's are designed to function well, not to look cool.
Looks nice, though I wouldn't consider $700-800 "entry-level."
what do you think Engadget meant by "raises the bar for entry-level DSLRs"
Aie, it's really in the "advanced consumer" range. (eg. D90, XSi, A300)
Suggested Retail Price >> Street price.
Grrr...this comes mere days after I buy my Nikon D60, with it's lowly, nay, pathetic 3 point AF....
Number of AF points rarely does matter. It's not that camera checks only single pixel or something - whole region around AF point is tested.
Too much AF points only add to headache of adjusting their configuration.
My Canon 400D has 9 or something like that, but I prefer to only use 1... Press the shutter half way whilst focussing with the center point, then composing the picture and shoot... It's the most flexible / efficient configuration I know of...
include HD video and olympus will grab tons of customers from canon.
the 410 has nothing on my 400D in terms of low-light quality...
The features on this body might be nice. But unless there is some really awesome new tech that i missed (which is possible) using the 'live view' on an SLR is pretty crap. I played with a friends nikon D500 with live view and it is so slow to focus in that mode that it is useless
Furthermore, it is the lens not the body that really matters. And olympus cannot compete with canon when it come to glass. (only nikon can, really).
For example, one of my favorites is the canon 50mm f1.8 for less than $100.
If you want a comparable you can get the 50mm f2 olympus, a shittier lens for more money.
Most people i know do not appreciate the importance of the lens. They think their SLR pictures are magically going to look awesome with a kit lens. Buy the body. skip the kit lens. get a fast prime lens.
just my 2 cents.
so what? if people still need articles why crapy phone camera isnt better than DSLR then megapixels and features make no sence. its all about content in photo, not the features of camera.
what about GPS capability also? I think GPS needs to be a leader in including this in their cameras or maybe as an external accessory?
oops. i meant OLYMPUS needs to be a leader...
I agree. GPS with some good software could mean lots of good things.
Nobody should be putting dumb "art filters" IN THE CAMERA. WTF? Why ruin the original picture? It's DIGITAL. Screw with it on the computer.
Manufacturers include worthless crap like this, but then continue to omit long-overdue but simple features like an interval timer for time-lapse. And apologist consumers defend it, saying, "Well they can't put so many things in one camera at this price."
YES THEY CAN. Things like an interval timer are just a software change, and a pretty simple one at that. Practically free to implement.
Your point is moot.
Everybody who cares about quality uses RAW.
People who just want to make quickly a fancy JPEG photo are pretty happy about the "art filters" in E-30.
Well, they are trying to sell a product here. Come to think about it, the good majority of people that owns/plans to buy a DSLR doesn't actually need one, they would fit much better with a compact P&S or advanced P&S. They just buy DSLR thinking by doing so will automatically make your pictures look better (marketing working its magic). There are way too many people I know that has DSLR but never venture out of green mode and probably don't have a clue what aperture or exposure is or think that because they own a DSLR and knows how to run some photoshop actions, they are a "real" photographer.
The craziest thing is I know someone that just bought a DSLR not long ago, was still asking me "why are there dots on my pictures?" (camera was in auto and the ISO was like 1600 or something like that) couple weeks ago and now this person is claiming to be a photographer, and charging people for "sessions".
@CL - Dude. 3 words. Subject-verb agreement. People OWN things, they don't OWNS them. They make THEIR pictures better, not YOUR pictures better. People HAVE a DSLR, they don't HAS a DLSR.
Mod me down. I'm still right. Your post damn near made my head explode.
I agree with your post. I bought an entry-level DSLR to "make my pictures better", but then sat down and did some learnin'. Now, I am making great use of a fully-manual lens that I acquired for nothing, and I'm getting some really good shots out of it.
Something to consider... but it IS ugly.
And exactly what makes it so ugly compared to other dSLRs?
The articulating screen? Awesome. This is a feature I want to see on all brands of DSLRs.
Unfortunately it makes camera thicker... Olys aren't thick - they can afford the luxury.
But e.g. Canikon have (larger) sensor very close to the back of a camera - adding articulating screen would make the cameras even more bulkier then they already are.
I agree, it is a cool feature. It would be fairly useless on a camera without live-view, however.
Funnily enough, the camera is actually smaller than E-520.
From DPReview:
Dimensions
E-620: 130 x 94 x 60 mm (5.1 x 3.7 x 2.4 in)
E-30: 142 x 108 x 75 mm (5.6 x 4.3 x 2.9 in)
E-520: 136 x 92 x 68 mm (5.4 x 3.6 x 2.7 in)
Judging by the photos and these measurements, it would appear that they've shrunken the grip.
Tilt & swivel lcd ftw. Well done Oly.
[shakes head...rolls eyes] "...dual memory card slots, one for CompactFlash, one for xD card."
"Front-side front after the break."
Oh snap, that front side is looking so look!
I gotta say...if I were to ever leave Nikon, it would be for Olympus. They just bring their A-Game when it comes to features. They may have a bit smaller sensor, but they make up for it in other ways. I am seriously considering going Olympus with my next DSLR upgrade.
I agree. You have to give Olympus credit for innovating with features. They were the first manufacturer to come out with Live View, and the first with a dust reduction system. And I love the articulating LCDs. Live View on a Nikon just isn't as useful since you can't move the screen.
Cue the 'Singing in the Rain' background music...
Those are some incredible specs for a camera that size. I really like my Oly E-510, but the 3 AF points, lack of a tilt/swivel screen, lower usable max ISO (I like to keep it to 400 or below), and the older image processor are all reasons that I'm starting to save for this body. Good one, Oly, now market the h#ll out of this thing and get people buying your incredible lenses!
What a completely junky kit lens...you can get a tack-sharp 50mm 1.8 prime lens for the $100.
That's actually one of the best, if not the best kit lens on the market. It's far better made then either of the 18-55mm's from Canon or Nikon. Pentax's 18-55mm is the only entry level kit lens built as well as Olympus's. Canon and Nikon's cheapo 18-55mm's feel like plastic toys in comparison.
And as much as I love the classic fast 50mm; a 28-80mm eqv is far more useful for most users. Plus, in 4/3's land a 50mm lens = 100mm field of view. Hardly a standard walk around lens.
@Eric.
People talk about a 'walk-around' lens, and sure, for trips to italy or wherever the 28-80 is great (i have the 17-84 canon for this on an XTi body). But (maybe it is just my age) most people i know want a dSLR for pictures of their kids and family. and for that the kit lens (or even an upgraded zoom f4.5 lens) is pretty crap.
I tell my friends to get a fast lens (like the $100 f1.8 50mm canon) and most of them (who don't understand optics) are so amazed that they can talk amazing indoor shots that they can't thank me enough. And once i got the 28mm f1.8 i used that more than my zoom lens for a 'walk around' lens.