Olympus E-410 + Zuiko Digital 14-42 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens (approx. EUR 770)
The engineers at Olympus are expanding their 4/3 system. Its major advantages are small body size and the best sensor cleaning system currently on the market. Olympus cameras always have innovative features - they were the first with a dust removal system, and then they were the first with another feature that's now being used by other manufacturers. When I tested the E-330, I thought that LiveView was more or less a marketing gimmick. I see now that I was wrong. After all, pro cameras have this feature now. It's just that digicams changed our way of shooting with their LCD viewfinders. And since most people buying entry level DSLRs are used to shooting with digicams, this is a very important feature. There are fewer and fewer users of advanced cameras. People who never used a film camera just don't see a DSLR in this way. (I was photographing a bunch of teenagers, and they were dismayed at the fact that my expensive camera wouldn't show live preview on the LCD. –J.) While a few years ago, (D)SLR cameras were the domain of advanced amateurs, artists and pros, today, they're used by just about everyone who feels like it. Since it's unlikely that they'll be using a DSLR for anything else than family snaps, LiveView is just what they're looking for. LiveView does offset one of the 4/3 system's shortcomings. While the 4/3 standard makes it possible to make compact cameras due to its smaller sensor size, which in turn means smaller lenses, there's one disadvantage this makes the viewfinder image smaller and dimmer. Especially in low light, the image is noticeably darker than in other cameras. So, there's no such thing as a perfect camera. If you have bad vision in low light or use glasses, I recommend you try out the E-410 in low light before buying it.
Still, the Olympus is quick to redeem itself. All of its menus and advice text, including explanation of functions and photography tips, are localized into pretty much every imaginable language, including Slovene. While this might not be worth much to a pro, for people with little photographic experience whose primary language isn't English, this is a godsend.
There’s a welcome bit of news for Olympus digicam users – besides CF cards, the E-410 also takes xD cards.
Also, Olympus proved me wrong - you don't have to postprocess E-410 images to get top quality photos. With the two new Olympus cameras (the E-410 and the E-510), the computer is only needed for cataloguing the images. Well, if you’re not extremely demanding, that is. The engineers at Olympus managed to combine the appealing tonality of digicams and the low noise of a DSLR (quite comparable to Canon's achievements in this field) to produce extremely appealing JPEGs straight out of the camera. Of course, the in—camera processing limits the possibilities of postprocessing later on. However, this is not much of a shortcoming – after all, this is a camera for those who want the best image quality with the least amount of computer work.
The E-410 is also the lightest and the thinnest DSLR. This makes it particularly appealing to travellers. After all, it takes up little space and it's very light. Besides, 4/3 lenses are smaller and lighter than comparable lenses in other systems. Then there's the LiveView I mentioned before – a very good selling point for those used to digicams. And to top it off, there's the anti-dust system to make sure your images are spotless.
Major pros: Excellent image quality straight out of the camera, anti-dust system, LiveView, localized menus, small size, CF and xD cards.
Olympus E-510 + Zuiko Digital 14-42 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens (approx. EUR 875)
Olympus also decided to introduce two entry level cameras. However, the E-510 is more than just a simple upgrade of the E-410. In fact, it's a completely different camera with some interesting features. At a quick glance, the only difference is the form and the sensor-based image stabilisation system, a first for Olympus.
Both the advantages and the disadvantages of the 4/3 system described in the E-410 section remain the same. The main difference is the size. Olympus decided to pitch the E-510 at advanced photographers. To them, a good grip is more important than the smallest possible body. Still, this camera is far from being a huge brick. Again, the LiveView feature is very interesting and pretty much the same as in the E-410. However, the viewfinder is still a better choice for shooting in strong daylight. This is exactly what an advanced photographer needs – a good view of the subject on the main screen and if the conditions demand it, a good viewfinder image. LiveView is a very useful feature for enthusiast photographers. The other important feature, the sensor-based image stabilisation, means that the pictures won't be blurry even at relatively long shutter times. This eliminates the need to purchase image-stabilised lenses, which are very expensive.
Also, Olympus proved me wrong - you don't have to postprocess E-510 images to get top quality photos. With the two new Olympus cameras (the E-410 and the E-510), the computer is only needed for cataloguing the images. Well, if you’re not extremely demanding, that is. The engineers at Olympus managed to combine the appealing tonality of digicams and the low noise of a DSLR (quite comparable to Canon's achievements in this field) to produce extremely appealing JPEGs straight out of the camera. Of course, the in—camera processing limits the possibilities of postprocessing later on. However, this is not much of a shortcoming – after all, this is a camera for those who want the best image quality with the least amount of computer work.
Its competitive advantages - the anti-dust system, LiveView, localized menus, small lenses and image stabilisation - is what will make the E-510 appealing to the hobbyist photographers. The price is important as well, as it puts the features into a context.
Major pros: Excellent image quality straight out of the camera, anti-dust system, sensor-based image stabilisation LiveView, localized menus, CF and xD cards.
