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Went to buy an E420 but came away with...

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Mangojuice

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a Nikon D60.

After months of researching and plenty of lurking here on this forum I decided that the E420 was the camera for me. Noise wasn't going to be a problem for me although concerns about dynamic range were nagging me. However, after that excellent analysis by Raist3d (sorry can't find the link), I decided that DR wasn't going to unduly concern me. Everything else about Olympus cameras fitted my needs exactly.

So off I trotted to go and buy the E420 and the dual lens kit. Of course I had to hold it before I bought it and that is where my theory fell apart. The damn thing just didn't feel comfortable - it was too small. The E520 fitted like a glove but that was more than I wanted to spend. So I tried the next camera on my list which was the D60. It instantly felt comfortable. At this point I tried to come up with excuses for buying the E420 such as quality of kit lens and things like that but none of the really stood up to much scrutiny.

In the end there wasn't really any reason to not buy the Nikon so that's what I did. However, it was a slightly painfull experience as I have always bought Olympus. Compact's, SLR, digital compacts. They have all been Olympus. So I'll keep a keen eye on Olympus and this forum to see what the future holds as I fully intend to upgrade to a much higher spec camera once digital sensor technology has matured.
 
I think you did the right thing. You had a go with the camera and it didn't feel right. You are the user and the camera needs to feel right to you alone. I bet you're back in the future though? LOL.

Good luck and keep the passion for photography burning bright!!

Pete:)
 
Initially, I disliked the lack of grip and odd feel of the E-410, but I grew to like it for one major reason, it basically feels like not having to carry a camera at all, especially with a light (14-42mm, 25mm pancake) lens on it. Its main claims to fame is sheer portability along with control features fitting a medium range DSLR.
--



'I cried because I had no E-3. Then I met a man with no E-510'

Olympus E-410, E-330, Nikon D100 (IR) & Pentax K20D.
57 lenses of various types from most brands.
 
I did the same thing years ago.

My Canon G1 had died and I wanted a G6 or a Pro1 and the salesman passed me a C-8080 and said try this....

The 8080 fit like a glove and I am still here.

Nikon is a good company. Enjoy taking pictures. Brand name loyalty is over-rated.

--
Jon
Stony Plain Alberta
 
You made the right choice. A camera can have the greatest specs in the world but if it is a pita to use all those theoretically wonderful pics will pale in comparison to the actual pictures you would be taking with a cam you are using and not just using as an incredibly expensive paperweight.

Friend with lotsa cash has a Canon 1ds2 with great L lenses. Only problem is 1. it's too big and heavy for him to carry around. 2. He's not into the technical side of photography so he doesn't really care about aperture and shutter speeds, exposure and anything else. 3. His wife takes all the best shots with her Panasonic compact because unlike him she actually uses her camera.
 
about "abandoning" Olympus, I've got the perfect solution: you can just send the D60 to me. :-) I'll email the shipping address to you!

Seriously, I've had Olympus cameras since 1982, but I also have a Nikon D40. The Nikon and my Olympus cameras all have different strengths, so they complement each other nicely.
 
Jonathan Demarais said:
Initially, I disliked the lack of grip and odd feel of the E-410, but
I grew to like it for one major reason, it basically feels like not
having to carry a camera at all, especially with a light (14-42mm,
25mm pancake) lens on it...
Click to expand...
That has also been my experience with the E-420, but I will add that the camera handles equally well with bigger lenses, e.g., the 14-150. The technique that works for me is to support the kit with my left hand under the lens. My right hand then needs to grip the camera only lightly in order to keep in position to use the controls.

Jeff

--
Enough!
 
an informed decision and best of luck with your new camera.
As has been stated, they're all good and all have their own idiosyncracies.
Most importantly, have fun!
--
Bill Turner
Eschew Obfuscation, Espouse Elucidation

Recent Images:
Please do not edit my images without asking permission.
Thanks.
http://www.pbase.com/wmdt131

 
Jeff Charles said:
Jonathan Demarais said:
Initially, I disliked the lack of grip and odd feel of the E-410, but
I grew to like it for one major reason, it basically feels like not
having to carry a camera at all, especially with a light (14-42mm,
25mm pancake) lens on it...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Yeah, my reason for buying E-420 too. The grip is a non issue, all my film camera's until the EOS 5D, had none. Not Zenit TTL, not Pentax MEsuper, not Chinon, not Canon AE1.
Jeff Charles said:
That has also been my experience with the E-420, but I will add that
the camera handles equally well with bigger lenses, e.g., the 14-150.
The technique that works for me is to support the kit with my left
hand under the lens. My right hand then needs to grip the camera only
lightly in order to keep in position to use the controls.
Click to expand...
Which is the only correct way to hold any camera with VF/EVF.
Jeff Charles said:
Jeff

--
Enough!
Click to expand...
--
Digifan
 
I tried the same experiment with the wife. Our E500 and E330 are essentially too heavy for her. So try the E410 I thought. We went, she looked, and then she said. That one will not take the pictures I want. It is too small and it will not balance. I want this one, she said holding another body. It says here that it is weather sealed. Does it take our lenses? But honey isn’t it a little heavy, asked I. It doesn’t matter to me, she countered, since you will carry it and I will tell you what to shoot, as always.

So I got the E3 :-)

gurin
 
No problem, it's up to each individual to choose the right tool for them.

There are no bad camera's so you can't really go wrong. It's better to buy something that feels right immediately than have buyers remorse later on something you knew didn't feel right from the start.

--
Digifan
 
enjoy it

don't regret the one that got away!

they will both do the job - so get on with the one you think will do it best for you.

personally I have no issues with the feel of the 400 (no grip bump at all!) when switching from my 3 - the control options are another thing.

but I'm a big guy with not that large hands

--
  • enjoy your camera equipment -
 
First of all, you did good. I say this because I've found the D60 to be a superb camera for a number of reasons. The color tonality is quite rich and comes closest to what Oly has that I've found so far. What is nice is that although it also has just 3 AF points, Nikon spaces these a good distance apart, which makes them worthwhile.

This is a camera that Oly lovers would love. Here's a few samples taken at ISO 400 with the D60, SB-600 flash in bounce mode, and the awesome Nikkor 16-85 VR lens:







The D60 also has superb high ISO 1600 capabilities. Here's one taken at ISO 1600 - I made sure that I exposed a bit to the right (taken in RAW) and sharpened a bit after-the-fact (no NR used). Not bad at all and still maintains its color tonality.



--
As always - good shooting....

 
that was too funny!!!

--
Robert
Olympus E-3 & E-500, 7-14mm, 14-54mm, 40-150mm, 30mm
Olympus 1030SW P&S
Gandolfi 'Universal' Large Format, 127mm Schneider
Yashica Lynx-1000
 
I have been playing with a Nikon D200 from time to time, and it really felt and shot very nicely. I think I actually enjoyed shooting with it more than my E-3.

I only bought the E-3 for the 7-14mm lens, so unless you have some driving reason to buy a specific Oly lens, then the camera that is best is the camera that feels the best to use...
--
Robert
Olympus E-3 & E-500, 7-14mm, 14-54mm, 40-150mm, 30mm
Olympus 1030SW P&S
Gandolfi 'Universal' Large Format, 127mm Schneider
Yashica Lynx-1000
 
And enjoy your new camera! if it feels good in your hands and you're inspired to take photographs then you've made exactly the right choice for you :)

Kind Regards

Brian
--



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