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Going back to the E-400...

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Sorry to ask you here...did you ever try your E-400 with the 50-200 swd version?
If you did, how does it compare to the old version.
That you in advance for your reply.
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Nam
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E-3 • E-330 • E-510 • ZD 8 • 35 • 50 • 11-22 • 14-54 • 50-200 • EC-20 • EX-25 • FL-50
 
Robert Schroeder said:
The one big E-400 advantage used to be its JPEG engine. If you're
after nice-looking JPEGs right out of the camera, the E-400 is indeed
better than its successors, as long as there's enough light, because
its high ISO performance is the worst Olympus ever dared to sell in a
DSLR.
Click to expand...
The JPEG engine is great, but RAW files from the E-400 are even better. Turn out NR in Studio and you have the sharpest files of all Olympus camera.
Robert Schroeder said:
Otherwise, all later models with Panasonic sensors are better.
The E-400 sensor was the worst DSLR sensor Olympus ever had (cf.
http://www.zs2.hu/csgzsfoto/technical/e1e400/ at the bottom of the
page, "that bluish thing").
Click to expand...
Totally wrong. At ISO 100-200, the E-400 ORF are even better than those of the E-3. The weakest E-400 point is high ISO noise, but i feel it's similar to E-30 and E-620.

--
Cheers,

Frederic
http://azurphoto.com/blog/
 
It's a nice image Brian, but please forgive me...

What is it in it that no other camera could do? It is an overcast day and it looks like late afternoon, very flat and even light, no contrast. In other words, ideal for any camera, even a P&S. Sorry, I just see nothing special in the image, which could motivate any point for the E-400.

Of course, I may be missing out something, but what you are saying is that after all the turns you have taken, the cameras you have tested or owned, this image is the proof that the E-400 is the best. I think you know I disagree with that, and as I have some experience with Kodak sensor, I must say, I continue to be a happy E-3 user even after your praise of the E-400 and the Kodak. The fact is, just yesterday I was asked by someone to take a few quick shots of her and just to be on the safe side, I chose raw+jpeg. We both were amazed by the jpegs, and after I looked at them, I decided I could throw the raws out from the 100 images I took yesterday. Not one of the jpegs was garbage, one I had to throw away because she blinked. Raw offers no advantage there. In the same situation with the Kodak sensor of the E-500, I think I would not get so many keepers and would have had a need for PP in some of them. OK, I must admit, I used OTWB, but that was frequently used even with my E-500.

In other words, as much happy as you are with the E-400, I really am happy with my E-3 and not turning back. Anyway, the main importance is that you are happy with what you use, not which cameras other people like.
--
http://www.olyflyer.blogspot.com/
 
I think I mentioned that it was just after sunset, and that it was a snapshot - and with your experience I'm surprised that you should think any single image should be capable of proving anything.

Don't worry, the E-3 is still the top performer... I just think the E-400 has a character I like very much - and the easiest way to express it is to say that I see a 10Mp E-1 sensor at work here.

Kind Regards

Brian
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Beautiful shot/colour. I tend to agree. First camera I got post-Olympus Kodak CCDs was the E-330 and while it was a neat camera from a specification and feature standpoint, it sure wasn't my E-1.
 
not sure like Olyflyer said, that another camera per se couldn't do. But that said, I always liked the Kodak sensor also. Honestly, we never had banding before the switch :-) I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Kodak again in 4/3rds. They still have cutting edge ideas, patents and know how... though it takes them time, I have no doubts Kodak could do it - the issue is who pays for the R&D.

I wouldn't mind seeing Kodak back. No more banding! :-)

(though Panasonic looks like finally fixed that in the last batch).

--
Raist3d (Photographer & Tools/Systems/Gui Games Developer)
Andreas Feininger (1906-1999) 'Photographers — idiots, of which there are
so many — say, “Oh, if only I had a Nikon or a Leica, I could make great
photographs.” That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard in my life. It’s
nothing but a matter of seeing, and thinking, and interest. That’s what
makes a good photograph.'
 
Hey I have an E-400 in pristine conditions here, wanna swap it with your E-620? ;-)

Great image, nicely balanced composition and perfect post processing.
Was this shot in raw or jpeg?

--
http://blog.sopali.net/
 
Another nice thing about the E-400, native support in Lightzone :D

This image was converted from RAW using Lightzone - the RAW file has loads more dynamic range than Studio manages to access.

Thanks everyone, for your kind comments... and while every later Oly camera becomes easier to use, faster and more flexible - there is undeniable magic at base ISO in the Kodak sensor cams imho... and teasing the best out of the earlier cams is great practice :)

Kind Regards

Brian
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Thank you Brian for your nice pic. I agree with you E400 has something special, and I think it is just the Kodak sensor.

what surprises me is that we call old, a cam that is two years and a half old. I still own a nice Kodak Retina aII from my father in perfect conditions, I still use an OM 1 and enjoy whit it. ¿Are they old?....no matter to me, they have just what interest me: a solid body and god lenses...and in the case of the E400, a small&well designed body and a very good sensor, lenses are your choices. I can live very happy without the rest of the thing, that actual slr´s offer.
 
Hi Enrique,

you raise a very interesting point... over multiple generations of camera, there are definite, relatively minor incremental 'tweaks' which are turning what could be simply a photographic tool into a consumer item.

I think the E-1 is a good example of a properly engineered camera to last... rather than a consumer model, waiting to be 'refreshed' within a couple of years.

The leica M8 is another example of a timeless design imho - whether you want that particular camera or not, it's 'finished'... not programmed to be obsolete in 18 months.

Why not go the whole hog, and make a camera from 100% recyclable materials? I'd buy the camera designed to last... give me a 10Mp sensor and latest electronics in a mildly updated E-1 please? I love the weight, the ergonomics and the lovely silent shutter.

Kind Regards

Brian
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Don't worry Brian, I won't be sad or angry, even if you would seriously state that the E-400 with it's Kodak is indeed standing above any other Oly camera, so I have no need to cheer up. I just don't understand the point you want to make. No doubt, the E-400 is a nice camera, like any other DSLR.
Brian Mosley said:
I think I mentioned that it was just after sunset, and that it was a
snapshot
Click to expand...
That's possible, but in that case I missed that. Regardless of which, it is clearly visible in the image that it is late afternoon, ideal for any camera, not just a DSLR.
Brian Mosley said:
and with your experience I'm surprised that you should
think any single image should be capable of proving anything.
Click to expand...
I was not really thinking that you seriously would want to proof your point with this image, but since you posted it, I wanted to know why and what was it showing which is special in any way, because I could not see anything special in it. Sorry.
Brian Mosley said:
Don't worry, the E-3 is still the top performer...
Click to expand...
I don't worry at all. In fact, I am not sure it is the top in every way, I really hope that the E-30 and the 620 are in some ways improved and would actually expect them to be better at least in the noise and banding subject. Anyway, I have no experience with anything other than the E-500 with it's Kodak and the E-3 with it's Panasonic sensor. I prefer the E-3 and don't see the Kodak being special, or better in any way, regardless if it is E-1, E-300, E-500 or E-400 is mentioned. Of course, that statement is based on images I have seen because as I said, I only have experience from the E-500. Whether the E-3 is a top performer or not, is not important for me, I am not participating in that race. I just know it is performing beyond my own limitations and the output definitely outperforms the E-500, and most probably every other Oly camera prior E-3 as well.
Brian Mosley said:
I just think the
E-400 has a character I like very much - and the easiest way to
express it is to say that I see a 10Mp E-1 sensor at work here.
Click to expand...
Well, I think the E-1 is not just a Kodak image sensor, but since I never had any of those cameras, I cannot say anything on that. Your opening post gave me the impression that you say the E-400 is the best ever and that it closed the circle for you. In other words, I simply misunderstood your post.

Cheers
--
http://www.olyflyer.blogspot.com/
 
I have had the same thought - of getting an E400, but I live in the states.
What is the best way to get one living here?
--
A chicken crossing the road: Poultry in motion.
 
With the first generation JPEG engine, the E-330's colour is at least as good as any of the Kodak models - it seems the "Kodak is better" myth just won't die in this forum.
 
Thanks, Brian.
Do you have a link?
--
A chicken crossing the road: Poultry in motion.
 
... for a small fee, just as soon as the E620 hits the streets.

Little used, body only, and I think we live fairly close ...

Francis

--
c a (n) o n: a.6.5.0 & o l y (m) p u s: e.4.0.0
 
Pixnat2 said:
Pixnat2 said:
The one big E-400 advantage used to be its JPEG engine. If you're
after nice-looking JPEGs right out of the camera, the E-400 is indeed
better than its successors, as long as there's enough light, because
its high ISO performance is the worst Olympus ever dared to sell in a
DSLR.
Click to expand...
The JPEG engine is great, but RAW files from the E-400 are even
better. Turn out NR in Studio and you have the sharpest files of all
Olympus camera.
Click to expand...
With Master/Studio it is quite impossible to judge how good different cameras' RAW files are, as Master/Studio behaves completely different for different E-System models, because it emulates their respective JPEG engines.
Pixnat2 said:
Pixnat2 said:
Otherwise, all later models with Panasonic sensors are better.
The E-400 sensor was the worst DSLR sensor Olympus ever had (cf.
http://www.zs2.hu/csgzsfoto/technical/e1e400/ at the bottom of the
page, "that bluish thing").
Click to expand...
Totally wrong. At ISO 100-200, the E-400 ORF are even better than
those of the E-3. The weakest E-400 point is high ISO noise, but i
feel it's similar to E-30 and E-620.
Click to expand...
Have a look at http://www.iemp.net/rs/fototechnik/e-system-fuenfer-vergleich/index-en.html – using a more neutral RAW converter, the E-510 is already significantly better than the E-400 even at low ISO. At ISO 400 and above, the 10 MP E-400 even resolves worse than the 7.5 MP E-330 because of noise.

Cheers,
Robert
 
I'm currently shooting the E-400 alongside the E-30, and the extra couple of megapixels are certainly delivering beautiful extra detail with the ZD 50 macro and ZD 11-22 at f4...

What the CCD delivers though, is a subtly different and more pleasing colour character... which I'm seeing particularly in blues and reds.

At the end of the day, things are close enough not to worry either way when you have such exceptional glass to use, and good quality light!

Kind Regards

Brian
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