Compared to...
Here we compare the E-620 to the cameras it is likely to sit alongside on the shelf when you wander to your local retailer. The obvious competitors are the Nikon D5000 and Canon 500D - both are upper-entry-level DSLRs with live view. Like the Olympus, the Nikon also offers a fold-out LCD to increase the utility of its live view system. However, both its obvious rivals also offer HD video, which the E-620 doesn't. In most other respects, their specifications are pretty well matched. The E-620 has a greater level of external control (or complexity, depending on how familiar you are with using a DSLR), is smaller, has built-in image stabilization and is less expensive.
The other camera we will consider is the Panasonic DMC-G1, the first large-sensor interchangeable lens camera to do away with a mirror. The result is a smaller (though still DSLR-shaped) camera with a fold out screen that behaves much more like a compact camera, with autofocus designed to be fast in live view. Crucially, it has the same sized sensor as the E-620.
The Sony A330 and A380 are also potential competitors to the E-620 with both offering flip-out screens and live view at very competitive prices. We haven't yet tested either of these cameras, however, so are unable to present the results. Both share Sony's interesting live view system that allows fast, phase detection autofocus, giving nearly as seamless and compact-like a performance as the G1. Meanwhile, Pentax does not currently offer a camera in this price range, instead offering the less expensive, entry-level K2000 (K-m) or the more sophisticated, more expensive K-7.
| Camera | Kit price |
Live view |
LCD | Anti Shake |
Sensor (effective pixels) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympus E-620 | $650 | Yes | 2.7" / 230k pixels | In-body | 12.3 MP LiveMOS (2.0x crop) |
| Nikon D5000 | $775 | Yes | 2.7" / 230k pixels | Lens option | 12.3 MP CMOS (1.5x crop) |
| Canon EOS 500D | $825 | Yes | 3.0" / 920k pixels | Lens option | 15.1 MP CMOS (1.6x crop) |
| Panasonic DMC-G1 | $670 | Yes | 3.0" / 460k pixels | Lens option | 12.1 MP CMOS (2.0x crop) |
| (Sony DSLR-A330) | $650 | Yes | 2.7" / 230k pixels | In-body | 10.1 MP CCD (1.5x crop) |
| (Sony DSLR-A380) | $850 | Yes | 2.7" / 230k pixels | In-body | 14.2 MP CCD (1.5x crop) |
Now that DSLRs have been comparatively affordable for a couple of years, most manufacturers have started to consider the needs of users upgrading from entry-level DSLRs as well as those coming from compacts. As a result, the cameras in this group vary considerably in their design - some have compact camera-like interfaces with multiple buttons needing to be pressed to change each setting, while others have direct access buttons for the key shooting settings.
The implementations of live view also vary considerably, with the Sonys offering fast focusing but a low resolution preview, while the Olympus, Canon and Nikon offer high resolution, magnifyable live view with obstructively slow focus. The Panasonic sits apart from all of them - having been designed as a live view-only camera, it offers both fast focus and a high resolution preview.
Olympus E620 advantages
- 7 point AF (with 5 cross-type sensors that can detect both vertical and horizontal detail)
- In-body image stabilization (gives anti-shake with all lenses)
- Smallest camera here
- Range of metering modes including highlight and shadow spot metering
- Least expensive camera here
Olympus E620 disadvantages
- Smallest viewfinder in this group
- Fewest AF points
- No video capability
Note: Because we do not yet have one, we have been unable to compare the E-620 to the Sony A380, which would fit fairly well in this company.
 Olympus E-620 |
 Nikon D5000 |
 Canon 500D |
|
| Price (single lens kit) |
US: $650 [check price] |
US: $775 [check price] UK: £620 |
US: $825 [check price] UK: £600 |
| Sensor | • 17.3 x 13.0 mm LiveMOS • 12.3 million effective pixels • 13.1 million effective pixels |
• 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS • 12.3 million effective pixels • 12.9 million effective pixels |
• 22.3 x 14.9 mm CMOS • 15.1 million effective pixels • 15.5 million effective pixels |
| Dust reduction | • Supersonic Wave Filter | • Low pass filter vibration • Airflow Control System • Dust reference image |
• Anti-dust materials • Low pass filter vibration • Dust reference image |
| Native image size | 4032 x 3024 (4:3 ratio) |
4288 x 2848 (3:2 ratio) |
4752 x 3168 (3:2 ratio) |
| Video | None | • 720p24 | • 1080p20 • 720p30 |
| Lens support | • 4/3 standard lens mount • Olympus and third party 4/3 |
• Nikon F-mount • Includes DX lenses • AF only available with AF-S or AF-I lenses |
Canon EF mount • Including EF-S lenses |
| FOV crop | 2.0x | 1.5x | 1.6x |
| Body shake reduction | Yes | No | No |
| Live view | Yes, Contrast detect (inc Face detection) or Phase detect AF | Yes, Contrast detect (inc Face priority) or Phase detect AF | Yes, Contrast detect (inc Face detection) or Phase detect AF |
| File formats | • RAW (comp. lossless) • JPEG (4 levels) |
• RAW (compressed) • JPEG (3 levels) |
• RAW (comp.
lossless 14-bit) • JPEG (2 levels) |
| RAW+JPEG | RAW + JPEG (any quality) | RAW + JPEG (Any quality) | RAW + JPEG (Fine) |
| Auto focus | • 7 area TTL • Range: -1 to +19 EV • Contrast detect AF in live view |
• 11 area TTL • Cross-type at center • Range: -1 to +19 EV • Contrast detect AF in live view |
• 9 area TTL • Cross-type F2.8 at center • Range: -0.5 to +18 EV • Contrast detect AF in live view |
| AF illuminator | Flash strobe, must be raised | Built-in lamp | Flash strobe, must be raised |
| Color space | • sRGB • Adobe RGB |
• sRGB • Adobe RGB |
• sRGB • Adobe RGB |
| Metering sensor | • 49 zone sensor • 1 - 20 EV working range |
• 420 pixel RGB sensor • 0 - 20 EV working range |
• 35 pixel sensor • 1 - 20 EV working range |
| Metering | • Digital ESP • Center-weighted average • Spot • Highlight based spot • Shadow based spot |
• 3D Color Matrix Metering II |
• Evaluative • Partial • Center-weighted average • 4% spot |
| Exp. comp. | +/- 5.0 EV | +/- 5.0 EV | +/- 2.0 EV |
| EV steps | 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV | 1/3 or 1/2 EV | 1/3 or 1/2 EV |
| Sensitivity | • ISO 100 - 3200 | • ISO 200 - 3200 |
• ISO 100 - 3200 (with 6400 and 12800 equiv) |
| Auto ISO | Auto (100 - 1600) | User definable maximum ISO and minimum shutter speed | Auto (100-1600) |
| High- ISO NR | Yes (4 levels) | Yes (4 levels) | Yes (4 levels) |
| Shutter speed | • 60 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/180 sec Flash sync |
• 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/200 sec Flash sync |
• 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/200 sec Flash sync |
| Continuous shooting |
• 4 fps • Unlimited JPEG/HQ frames • 5 RAW frames |
• 4 fps |
• 3.4 fps • 170 JPEG/Fine frames • 9 RAW frames |
| White balance | • Auto • Eight presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable |
• Auto • Twelve presets • Manual preset • Fine tunable |
• Auto • Eight presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable |
| Embed comment | No | Comment set in-camera | Owner name set via software |
| Flash | Electronic release pop-up | Electronic release pop-up | Electronic release pop-up |
| Viewfinder | • Pentamirror • Eyepoint 16 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.96x • Lumi-Micron Matte screen |
• Pentamirror • Eyepoint 18 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.78x • B-type Bright View Clear Matte Mark V |
• Pentamirror • Eyepoint 18 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.87x • Precision matte screen |
| LCD monitor | • 2.7 " TFT LCD • 230,000 dots • Hinged/swivel |
• 2.7 " TFT LCD |
• 3.0 " TFT LCD • 920,000 dots |
| Mirror-lockup | Yes, custom 1 - 30 sec | No (exposure delay mode) | Custom function |
| Other features | • JPEG edit • Shadow adjustment technology • Wireless flash control • RAW development |
• In-camera retouching • Active D-Lighting • RAW Development • Interval shooting • Stop motion movies |
• Multi-shot self-timer • Image verification data • Auto Lighting Optimizer • Highlight Tone Priority • Remote Live view shooting (via USB) • Eye sensor • DOF preview |
| Storage | • Compact Flash card • xD Picture card |
SD/SDHC card | SD/SDHC card |
| Battery | PS-BLS1 (7.2 V, 1150 mAh) | EN-EL9a (7.2 V, 1080 mAh) | LP-E5 (7.4 V, 1050 mAh) |
| Battery status | Battery life (3 stage) | Battery life (3 stage) | Battery life (3 stage) |
| USB | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed |
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed |
| Vertical grip | HLD-5 (option) | No | BG-E5 (option) |
| Software | • Olympus Master 2.0 • Olympus Studio 2.0 (trial) |
• Nikon Transfer • View NX • Nikon Capture NX (trial) |
• Canon DPP • Canon PhotoStitch • Canon ZoomBrowser EX • EOS Utility (Remote Capt.) |
| Dimensions | 130 x 94 x 60 mm (5.1 x 3.7 x 2.4 in) |
127 x 104 x 80 mm (5.0 x 4.1 x 3.1 in) |
129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in) |
| Weight (no batt) | 475 g (1.0 lb) | 560 g (1.2 lb) | 480 g (1.1 lb) |
