Preordered an E-1 and 14-54 from B&H

I've been so impressed with the potential of this camera that I preordered an E-1 and 14-54 from B&H on 9/30 for $2320.55. Their buyer spoke with Olympus and they expect to have the camera within two weeks. They charged my Mastercard at the time of the order which is OK with me since they made that policy very clear when we spoke by phone. I've been a customer of theirs for 20 years and so trust the shop. I'm told that I'm the first on the preorder list. They don't yet advertise the preorder option but Don at extension 2381 (800-606-6969) made the arrangements.

There are these "religious wars" going on all over these boards which seem ridiculous to me. Olympus vs. Canon, Catholics vs. Protestants, Harley Davidson vs. Japanese motorcycles, etc.. It's all a variation on the same kind of thinking. Some people seem to be more interested in rooting for their team than in making pictures. So, for the record, I'm a professional working with a Canon 1Ds and 10D. The 1Ds is the finest camera I've ever owned and the 10D is wonderful as well (and has no problem focusing, although it's no 1Ds). I've got a large investment in Canon lenses and the like. The E-1 won't replace either camera but it's appealing to me as a lightweight, weather sealed pro body. There are situations where it would be just perfect so I'm eager to try it out. High ISO performance, for my needs, is going to be important. I'll run my own tests and draw conclusions then.

Cheers,

Sean Reid
Northeastern Imaging

Hello Sean

And a big hello to everybody on this forum, since this is my first post here

I'm nearly in the same boat. I'm very impressed with the potential and I just know it's the right camera for me. But I don't want to preorder one until I at least had one in my hands.

As for your remark about the religious wars - I couldn't agree more. You can bet that every thread about the E-1 turns into bashing sooner or later. We can take bets how long this one will survive But after visiting some other forums - it seems to be the same everywhere and everytime a new camera arrives. So I guess you just have to live with it.

I live in germany and the cameras are expected to arrive next week. As for now, I don't NEED one on the spot - but I'm afraid I WANT one the minute I see it (provided it keeps it's promises).

I keep telling me don't buy one of the first models, and eventually prices will drop soon, but, well......

I'm looking forward to opinions from everyone who actually bought one - I hope I can share my opinion and some pictures soon.

Cheers

Black Dragon
http://www.pbase.com/black_dragon

Black Dragon said:

I live in germany and the cameras are expected to arrive next week.
As for now, I don't NEED one on the spot - but I'm afraid I WANT
one the minute I see it (provided it keeps it's promises).

Click to expand...

...

Black Dragon said:

I'm looking forward to opinions from everyone who actually bought
one - I hope I can share my opinion and some pictures soon.

Click to expand...

if all goes well, I'll get a "leih" model once it's in the shop.. I'm going to put it through its paces next to my D100 and see what gives. I'm very, very eager to get my hands on it.. and indeed, I'll probably WANT one.. although I don't NEED one right now.. oh well, something for early next year, I guess.

Black Dragon said:

Hello Sean

And a big hello to everybody on this forum, since this is my first
post here

I'm nearly in the same boat. I'm very impressed with the potential
and I just know it's the right camera for me. But I don't want to
preorder one until I at least had one in my hands.

Click to expand...

Welcome. I've been in and out of these forums for about three years (beginning when I bought a Canon D30). I find them to be very helpful when I'm camera shopping and sorting out new cameras. If you sort through all the nonsense, there can be some very practical information such as: XYZ high ISO samples posted here, ABC camera store now has stock of such and such item and so forth.

In one afternoon of testing, I can answer most of my questions about a camera or lens. There's no substitute for "hands on" so I figure I better just buy one and do my own tests.

Cheers,

Sean

Sean,

I for one will be waiting patiently(well almost) for the results of your tests. It will be great to hear from someone with extensive pro experience with the 1Ds and 10D.

Thanks in advance!

--
Uzi, E-10, stuff

gbbiv said:

Sean,

I for one will be waiting patiently(well almost) for the results of
your tests. It will be great to hear from someone with extensive
pro experience with the 1Ds and 10D.

Thanks in advance!

Click to expand...

Thanks for the post; I'll get feedback to the list as soon as I've had a chance to test things out.

Cheers,

Sean

Wow, Sean, congratulations!!! That must feel great! I love it when I make a big decision like that. Then I can just forget about it for awhile.

Please do let us know how it holds up. I agree with you completely, you just don't know until you try the thing out and work with it in your particular style, for your particular needs. I will be interested in the high-ISO noise issue, that's for sure. I never realized until tonight that there is a 3200 ISO option on the camera? Is this true? That gives me hope, because even the S2 only goes up to 1600.

Congrats again! Cheers, Maya in NH

I got to play with one today with the grip and 14-24. I was impressed to say the least, to say the build quality is ahead of it's time is an understatement. The focus is fast as a Nikon F100 and it was supprising light.

Oh and they are INSTOCK. Ok well a body and an AC power cord. The lenses will be there in a day or two. I got to play with a rental.

Oh cruel is that too they get one in and make it a rental?? Oh the prints I saw were amazing too. The images I saw were from the staff and they included chrome, studio and close ups.

I did notice a rubber gasket around the lens mount.

If my amex was with me I'd have got one.

BTW the noise issue is a joke by posers who don't know how to shoot. I use a e10 for all my shoots and it's quite nosiy but in print you don't even see it.
Take a look at Sonik Magazine: http://sonik.info/

If you download the current issue you'll see many of my images. The whole thing is done with E10 and D100 (other photographer)

g

Maya Rushing Walker said:

Wow, Sean, congratulations!!! That must feel great! I love it
when I make a big decision like that. Then I can just forget about
it for awhile.

Please do let us know how it holds up. I agree with you
completely, you just don't know until you try the thing out and
work with it in your particular style, for your particular needs.
I will be interested in the high-ISO noise issue, that's for sure.
I never realized until tonight that there is a 3200 ISO option on
the camera? Is this true? That gives me hope, because even the S2
only goes up to 1600.

Congrats again! Cheers, Maya in NH

Click to expand...

--
g