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Olympus E-300 review is up
- Thread starter mpixel
- Start date
thw
Veteran Member
if Phil find the *istDS under-exposing like the E300, it'll be very disappointing... However, I came to the conclusion about the ISO noise without even trying out the E300... why pay so much for a DSLR only to find the Kodak sensor sucks at ISO 800 and 1600?
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See the colors of my world in:
thw.smugmug.com
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See the colors of my world in:
thw.smugmug.com
If there is an issue with the *ist DS underexposing or with the flash I would hope and expect that Pentax will supply a firmware update to fix it.
I've had three *ist D bodies so far and none have had exposure problems, with or without the flash.
Yes, I think most people came to the same conclusion just by looking at the specs.
Well if the body was smaller - like the Minolta A2 then I think it would fly off the shelves.
Mike Johnston
Leading Member
But does it? I downloaded the large files of the 800 and 1600 shots and they look okay to me. Yes, more color noise in the dark areas at 1600 than the DS, but perfectly usable for most purposes. If you need a cleaner print just run a noise-reduction app. What's the big deal?
I wonder whether digital photographers don't obsess about noise too much. Heck, 1600 on the DS is better than 1600 film. And who minds a little grain? I'm used to it from film. In some cases I actually like it. I like DS shots at 800.
I know it's fun to compare products when we're shopping, and "pixel-peeping" noise levels is one way to decide "what's best." But to me it's much ado about...well, if not nothing, then not as much as we make of it.
--Mike
juri275693
Member
noise causes data loss which is not recoverable. whether it's a big deal for most of us, thats another question... for me it is.
exactly, why settle for less? i certainly wan't more bang for my bucks ; )
thats a good point. e300 might have combination of qualities that satisfy you but my needs require better image quality at high iso values.
-juri
--
'Whether you think you can or think you can't, you are right.' - Henry Ford
thw
Veteran Member
The problem is that if you look at the individual channel noise (especially red and blue), it's pretty bad. So, like what Phil pointed out, if you've got something in the shadows and you want to bring out the details in post processing, you'll be very disappointed at the terrible noise that shows up. The overall noise charts (dominated by the green channel noise) are simply guides.
Michael Barker
Senior Member
marcfoto.tk
Leading Member
IMNSHO, Phill fails to tell the REAL flaws of the E300:
- bad viewfinder (worst ever in my opinion, which is a true achievment as the 300D and D70 were allready pretty bad) Methinks Phil could have added a little salt to what he had to say about the viewfinder. I state: "The actual view is slightly darker than the E-1, it's also a little more 'tunnel like'." Why not say plain out right that the viewfinde ris unusable in terms of trying to appreciate sharpness and DOF?
- bad AF: well, at least one can say that Olympus makes it a challenge to have sharpness right. But for me, I don't like such challenges very much
- it's not compact: in fact it's bulky compared to the D/Ds...
marcfoto.tk
Leading Member
It's a pitty, because I would have liked to see some more competition for the EOS 300D and the D70.
I'm not sure if it's going to sell well, but I find it a pitty the E300 is all about specs and not about performance...
Sorry, I know some won't like to see this written this way...
I'm not sure if it's going to sell well, but I find it a pitty the E300 is all about specs and not about performance...
Sorry, I know some won't like to see this written this way...
thw
Veteran Member
the fault lies in Kodak. If Oly can get Sony or Panasonic to make the 4/3 sensors, I am certain they'll be much better. After all the 4/3 sensors are not that much smaller than the Canon 20D/Nikon D70 sensors. See what Panasonic can achieve with their tiny sensors in the FZ20 or the Canon G6/Sony V3 with 7 MP on the 1/1.8 sensors. I am also disappointed... competition is always good for consumers. 
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See the colors of my world in:
thw.smugmug.com
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See the colors of my world in:
thw.smugmug.com
Joele
Senior Member
Doesn't interest me much this camera, I tried it out about a month back and must say I much prefer the ist DS, two of the main reasons I went DSLR from my FZ20 were, better/brighter viewfinder and far less noise at higher ISOs, the *ist DS beats the E300 hands down in these areas, I also thought that considering the change in design and smaller lenses, that the E300 would be smaller, but it isn't. It is a little shorter than the DS but wider, which is noticable when holding the camera, the DS feels much better to use.
Hopefully the *ist DS review can be updated/finished soon...
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Joel
*ist DS, Sigma 18-125 DC, Sigma 50mm f2.8 DG EX Macro
Hopefully the *ist DS review can be updated/finished soon...
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Joel
*ist DS, Sigma 18-125 DC, Sigma 50mm f2.8 DG EX Macro
Well sensor on Oly C7000 is better than Sony V3/G6 have.
Who ever make that sensor should make sensor for E300.
http://www.pbase.com/quest21
Who ever make that sensor should make sensor for E300.
--the fault lies in Kodak. If Oly can get Sony or Panasonic to make
the 4/3 sensors, I am certain they'll be much better. After all the
4/3 sensors are not that much smaller than the Canon 20D/Nikon D70
sensors. See what Panasonic can achieve with their tiny sensors in
the FZ20 or the Canon G6/Sony V3 with 7 MP on the 1/1.8 sensors. I
am also disappointed... competition is always good for consumers.
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See the colors of my world in:
thw.smugmug.com
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http://www.pbase.com/quest21
thw
Veteran Member
the fault lies in Oly's engineers? Look at:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusc7000/page15.asp
You'll see that apart from Pentax, all the other cameras have very similar noise characteristics. Even Phil also feels the Sony 7 MP 1/1.8 sensor is superior to the 8 MP 2/3 sensor... very often the sensors themselves play a big role.
-------------------------------------------
See the colors of my world in:
thw.smugmug.com
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusc7000/page15.asp
You'll see that apart from Pentax, all the other cameras have very similar noise characteristics. Even Phil also feels the Sony 7 MP 1/1.8 sensor is superior to the 8 MP 2/3 sensor... very often the sensors themselves play a big role.
-------------------------------------------
See the colors of my world in:
thw.smugmug.com
I tried Sony V3 and I used Oly 7000.
As far as noise, colors and image quality, Oly beats V3 in this departments.
The only thing that V3 is better is speed.
I don't know, but in shadows V3 gets really noisy.
http://www.pbase.com/quest21
As far as noise, colors and image quality, Oly beats V3 in this departments.
The only thing that V3 is better is speed.
I don't know, but in shadows V3 gets really noisy.
--
http://www.pbase.com/quest21
May it's not the sensors problem, maybe thats how Sony is made.
Canon on the other hand have better image than Sony and they use
same sensor.
http://www.pbase.com/quest21
Canon on the other hand have better image than Sony and they use
same sensor.
--
http://www.pbase.com/quest21
thw
Veteran Member
with everything you just said. But as far as comparing the 4/3rd sensor to the Sony CCD or Canon CMOS sensors is concerned, I still think the Kodak sensors can be improved.
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See the colors of my world in:
thw.smugmug.com
-------------------------------------------
See the colors of my world in:
thw.smugmug.com
Yes the Kodak sensor should be better and so should the E300.
I can't believe that the have the smallest sensor from all DSLRs and still they couldn't made the smallest camera. Pentax DS have bigger sensor than Oly or Canon Drebel and they still made such a small camera.
Phils review shows
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse300/page17.asp
that Nikon D70 is a lot noisier in ISO200 than Oly in ISO100.
I think Pentax Ds is a lot better than Nikon in low ISO.
http://www.pbase.com/quest21
I can't believe that the have the smallest sensor from all DSLRs and still they couldn't made the smallest camera. Pentax DS have bigger sensor than Oly or Canon Drebel and they still made such a small camera.
Phils review shows
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse300/page17.asp
that Nikon D70 is a lot noisier in ISO200 than Oly in ISO100.
I think Pentax Ds is a lot better than Nikon in low ISO.
--
http://www.pbase.com/quest21
nemrtvy
Leading Member
I am really looking forward to DS review. If e300 has been recommended than DS has to be Highly Recommended. My conclusion is set on :
))
- DS has nearly instant start (phil didnt like e300 although it slow because of cleaning ccd)
- less noise with iso 800 and higher
- MUCH but I REALLY mean MUCH better viewfinder. I believe that DS and 20d have the best viewfinder right now
))Douglas Film
Veteran Member
the istds has a much better viewfinder than the 20d, thats why I bought this camera.
I am really looking forward to DS review. If e300 has been
recommended than DS has to be Highly Recommended. My conclusion is
set on :
slow because of cleaning ccd)
- DS has nearly instant start (phil didnt like e300 although it
and 20d have the best viewfinder right now
- less noise with iso 800 and higher
- MUCH but I REALLY mean MUCH better viewfinder. I believe that DS
everything else will be pretty same. To be honest these days you
can do only 2 types of camera : good and bad ... Surely DS is not
in category bad, you cant do bad choices with thesedays dslr (ehmm
actually you can with e300, chicky me. i simply hate 4/3 system a
x2 lens ratio
kristian2000
Veteran Member
I'm going to be really interested in the DS review by Phil, here is my take on the pro and cons the the DS.
PROS
Excellent image quality
Very good high ISO preformance (a big plus for Phil)
Small size, yet doesn't feel too small
Backward compatibilty with old lanses (a huge plus)
AA batteries
Very well placed controls
CONS
Slower than average AF by DSLR standards
Grip should be more rounded
Included Pentax software blows
Some adavanced features from D not included in DS
By me the DS is "Highly Recomended". Though I can't predict what Phil wlll say.
PROS
Excellent image quality
Very good high ISO preformance (a big plus for Phil)
Small size, yet doesn't feel too small
Backward compatibilty with old lanses (a huge plus)
AA batteries
Very well placed controls
CONS
Slower than average AF by DSLR standards
Grip should be more rounded
Included Pentax software blows
Some adavanced features from D not included in DS
By me the DS is "Highly Recomended". Though I can't predict what Phil wlll say.
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