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Need your opinion re: E-Volt purchase

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lakuster

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Hello, I am trying this message again!
To those who already responded...thanks! But I need more info!

I am a long time SLR user who has gotten rather lazy over the past few years. I have a film Pentax zx5n that I use mostly in program modes and a Kodak dx7590 that I also use in program modes.

I am looking to buy a digital SLR because I miss using a viewfinder and also because of the shutterlag on my Kodak. I am wondering about the program modes of the Evolt. Are you using them? Are you satisfied with them? Do you, instead, rely on manual modes?

I have also been considering the Pentax istDS but I am drawn to the sensor cleaning in the Olympus. Also, B&H photo is selling this camera at a fantasic price.
Can you share your opinion with me? Would be much appreciated.
Thanks so much.

Lois Kuster

--
L.Kuster
 
I usually use the Program or Manual modes. I am sure the Scene modes work just fine. Any of the metering problems mentioned in the reviews have all been corrected with firmware updates. I had the 8MP canon Pro1 and didn't like the slow autofocus speed and electric zoom. There is no comparison between the two although both are 8MP. The Olympus images are clearly superior due to larger sensor and better lens.
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http://www.living-in-a-postcard.smugmug.com
 
I use Program must of the time, and occasionaly A or S. I have tried the scene modes, and the results were OK. They just look a little overdone in my opinion. I also looked at the istDs, but picked the E-volt for three main reasons: 1. dust shaker, 2. Easier to change settings on the e300, 3.Price couldn't be beat. I couldn't be more pleased with my selection.

Chris
 
CAldred responded pretty much the same way I do. Love the Evolt. My choice came down to Evolt and *ist DS. Changing important functions like AF, WB, metering, exposure comp, ISO, quality are simple a button and spin the dial away. W/ the *ist DS, you have to go through the menu, sometimes 2 or three steps deep. Same can be said with some of the other DSLRs. I haven't played with the Scene Modes too much, just Sunset (too red). But maybe I'll try some of the others later. Can't go wrong with any of the DSLRs., but the 2lens deal of the Evolt/E300 can't be beat. And the lenses are quite excellent.
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shinndigg
 
too bad I didn't see that 6 hours ago. I just walked into our local camera shop this morning and picked up the two lens kit (really I was looking for point and shoot for the up coming trip to Alaska), and all of a sudden the box was in my hand and was going out the door. I paid $899.00, but at least some of my money will stay local.

George Law
Images
Muskegon, MI

New E-volt, E-1, E-10, and Fuji S2
 
Hi, Lois! I've taken several thousand photos with the E-300 since May, and I've mostly used P mode or A mode with the camera's default settings. In dim light, I might want to kick up the ISO, and this can be easily done (as can many other adjustments) using a combination of a button press and spin of the control dial. While in P mode, turning the control dial with your thumb will either open up or close down the aperture and give you a corresponding change in the shutter speed in order to maintain the same exposure. The autofocus works quite well, and I haven't found the need to resort to manual focus. The camera really is a joy to use, and I think the current price of the two-lens kit is a killer deal. Good luck with your camera selection :-)

Bob
http://www.pbase.com/caseus
 
Hello everyone,

I am indebted to all of you for your responses. I am so happy to hear that the controls on the E-volt are easy to use and that you are pleased (more than pleased) with the camera. It is reassuring to hear from users of the camera (and not just reviewers) who have used the camera in all kinds of circumstances.

I was also pleased to read about your comparisons of the Pentax istDS and the E-volt. I just loved the way the E-volt felt when I held it, but was more familiar with the workings of a Pentax. I was reluctant to purchase the camera knowing little about it. I am more confident about making this purchase. So thanks very much.
Looking forward to visiting this forum as an E-volt owner.
Lois
--
L.Kuster
 
Just an FYI, buydig.com and butterflyphoto.com have the lowest prices for the E-300. Both of them are excellent internet vendors.
 
George Law said:
(really I was looking for point and shoot for the up coming trip to Alaska),
Click to expand...
If your trip is this year, you may want to inquire about smoke and haze all about the state from numerous fires. I think we have scorched more acres than all the fires in the lesser 48 put together. The news just doesn't make it to the outside (lesser 48). The best time to visit is late May or June. By July and August the fires have started and the views become less than ideal. I have been up here (Alaska) for two years now and this has been the case each year. Of course a lot depends of frontal activity and winds. Lately Anchorage and the Chugach Mountains have been looking a lot like east Tennessee and the Great Smokey Mountains. Just a heads up. It is so much nicer when the visibility is 200-300 miles and all the tallest mountains and volcanos in all directions can be seen from my tenth floor office. This is usually the case through winter, spring, and early summer.
--
http://www.living-in-a-postcard.smugmug.com
 
GeorgeH said:
Just an FYI, buydig.com and butterflyphoto.com have the lowest
prices for the E-300. Both of them are excellent internet
vendors.
Click to expand...
Note, they have low prices on the camera & camera/lens kit, but you can do better on the accessories elsewhere. In particular, the filters are Crystal Optics, which are junk, their CF prices are higher (for example, San Disk Ultra II CF card for $129, while newegg has the same card for $84), and the lens prices are the standard Oly suggested retail price (50mm is $499, 50-200mm is $999, when I've started seeing $450 and $880-850 respectively for those two at samys and arligntoncamera).
 
Michael,

That's LOWER 48, not lesser ;^)
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shinndigg
 
I was just yank'n yall around. Although that is common phraseology for up here. I really like "the outside" another common term, becsuse that really sums it up. Alaska, it is like a whole other country. Come winter time, it is like a whole other planet. The dark, cold one, a little further away from the sun, where everything is covered with snow and ice.
--
http://www.living-in-a-postcard.smugmug.com
 
Quick question for you (too lazy to read my manual or test for myself) :-)
Bob Rheaume said:
in P mode, turning the control dial with your thumb will either
open up or close down the aperture and give you a corresponding
change in the shutter speed in order to maintain the same exposure.
Click to expand...
How is that any different than "A" / Aperture Priority mode?
 
Hi Bob,

Just looked through your "in box", "Boston Harborfest '05" and "Boston Dragon Boat Festival" galleries, and those pics are beautiful. Can you please tell me did you shot those pics with the included "kit lenses" or the more expensive 14-54 and 50-200.

thanks.
 
I assume it's the same as on my E1. In A or S, you adjust to a desired Aperture or Speed, and the camera adjusts the other parameter to give the correct exposure. But if you've set say F:16 in A or 1/4000sec in S, then you'll probably get underexposure in all but exceedingly bright conditions, because the camera can't override your chosen Aperture (or Speed).

In Program, the wheel is asking the camera to favour a fast speed or a small aperture, but they are not fixed. If this would result in under- or over-exposure, then both parameters will start to change automatically.
 
Thanks for the heads up, however, the time of the trip is set in stone (we leave 8-26-05).

It really isn't the kind of trip I'd like to do (it's a cruise out of Vancouver), but it's the best I could do and still remain married. I'm sure it'll be interesting. Everything that we've found on the internet (tours and such) are certainly tourist priced!!!!!

I have a couple of different digital systems; however, my Oly E-1 and E-10 are remaining home as my daughter will be using them to shoot a wedding.That leaves me with my Fuji S2 system (which is fine), but I've been reading quite abit about the S2 sensor sudden death problem and I could see myself out in the middle of an ocean when my sensor dies.......I would be totally peed. So, the hunt for yet another digital camera (was looking for a decent point and shoot).

George Law
 
Those inside passage cruises should be good. Most of the fires are in the interior/fairbanks and south central/kenai alaska. Maybe by then we will get some rain and frontal activity to get rid of some of this smoke. It is just we have had this HIGH pressure weather thing going on for a week or so and to continue for several more days, so everything is just stagnating. Oh yea, and as you have found out most everything around here i$ high.
--
http://www.living-in-a-postcard.smugmug.com
 
Ok, so it's like "A" mode, but with an exposure limiter to keep things "in bounds".
PJ_Hobart said:
I assume it's the same as on my E1. In A or S, you adjust to a
desired Aperture or Speed, and the camera adjusts the other
parameter to give the correct exposure. But if you've set say F:16
in A or 1/4000sec in S, then you'll probably get underexposure in
all but exceedingly bright conditions, because the camera can't
override your chosen Aperture (or Speed).

In Program, the wheel is asking the camera to favour a fast speed
or a small aperture, but they are not fixed. If this would result
in under- or over-exposure, then both parameters will start to
change automatically.
Click to expand...
 
Hi, Inigo! I'm not sure there is any significant difference, but the the "program shift" is a neat feature that allows you to easily change the aperture and shutter settings without changing the exposure, if your unhappy with what the program initially gives you.

Bob
http://www.pbase.com/caseus
 
Thanks, nova! I've only ever used the two "kit"enses that came with the camera, the 14-45 and 40-150. I think these lenses are more than decent, especially considering that Oly is practically giving them away with their aggressive pricing of the E-300 two-lens kit. Of course these lenses aren't particularly fast, but I really have no complaints. Most of the shots in the two galleries you cite were taken with the 40-150. Having the reach afforded by the longer lens is a novelty for me, and I've been taking advantage of it, especially for people and animal shots. Overall I'm very well pleased with my EVOLT purchase.

Bob
http://www.pbase.com/caseus
 
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