This is the sort of digital camera I had been waiting for: serious hardware but
compact and lightweight enough to carry on a hike or a prolonged holiday. Build
quality is beyond reproach and picture quality is very good even with the kit lenses
(but beware if you are moving up from a compact digicam: this is a DSLR and it
takes time and skill to get considerably better results compared to a compact).
Handling is no problem despite the lack of a grip, and I really like the classic pre-
autofocus film-SLR design.
Oh yes, this is the most beautifully designed DSLR currently on the market!
One word about the kit lenses that come with this camera. I very much enjoy
shooting with the 14-42, which is a lightweight gem which suits 90% of my
shooting needs. The new 40-150 that's supplied with the double-zoom kit is a
decent lens that has had some pretty good reviews. However, it is a relatively slow
lens which, absent any image stabilisation feature is only usable in bright daylight
conditions. Nonetheless, as it's supplied almose for free in the DZ kit, there is no
reason not to give it a try. Oh yes, by the way, there lenses have a plastic mount,
which has been widely critizised on Oly forums. I think this is basically a non-issue,
as the build quality and the plastics used are very solid. So unless you change
lenses 10 times a day, 365 days a year, this should really not be an issue.
Problems:
Not much to critizise about this beautiful little camera. The only real dislike for me is
the small viewfinder, which is sufficiently bright for composing but next to useless
for manual focussing. I'm thinking about getting the optional viewfinder loupe.
Value for money used to be an issue, but since the recent dramatic price-drop, the
E-400 is a bargain now.
ISO noise is there starting around 400 ISO, but even 1600 ISO pictures are usable,
especially as prints. Olympus stripped this camera of a few "pro" features, such as
mirror lock-up and a few bracketing modes. But this will probably only annoy pros
or semi-pros, and this camera is more intended for hobbyists.
One word of caution for beginners: if you are currently shooting with a compact or
"bridge" camera, dont expect to shoot instantly better pictures with this camera.
DSLRs give you more versatility and creativity, plus a bigger sensor for low-light
conditions, but in good lightning conditions a compact digicam will yield roughly
the same image quality. DSLRs are good for creative shooting, depth-of-field play
and they give you access to better lenses. If you don't intend to make use of this
added versatility, you probably won't need a DLSR. Even the tiny E-400 is a
substantive camera compared to a compact, and there's no way to fit this into your
jacket pocket.
compact and lightweight enough to carry on a hike or a prolonged holiday. Build
quality is beyond reproach and picture quality is very good even with the kit lenses
(but beware if you are moving up from a compact digicam: this is a DSLR and it
takes time and skill to get considerably better results compared to a compact).
Handling is no problem despite the lack of a grip, and I really like the classic pre-
autofocus film-SLR design.
Oh yes, this is the most beautifully designed DSLR currently on the market!
One word about the kit lenses that come with this camera. I very much enjoy
shooting with the 14-42, which is a lightweight gem which suits 90% of my
shooting needs. The new 40-150 that's supplied with the double-zoom kit is a
decent lens that has had some pretty good reviews. However, it is a relatively slow
lens which, absent any image stabilisation feature is only usable in bright daylight
conditions. Nonetheless, as it's supplied almose for free in the DZ kit, there is no
reason not to give it a try. Oh yes, by the way, there lenses have a plastic mount,
which has been widely critizised on Oly forums. I think this is basically a non-issue,
as the build quality and the plastics used are very solid. So unless you change
lenses 10 times a day, 365 days a year, this should really not be an issue.
Problems:
Not much to critizise about this beautiful little camera. The only real dislike for me is
the small viewfinder, which is sufficiently bright for composing but next to useless
for manual focussing. I'm thinking about getting the optional viewfinder loupe.
Value for money used to be an issue, but since the recent dramatic price-drop, the
E-400 is a bargain now.
ISO noise is there starting around 400 ISO, but even 1600 ISO pictures are usable,
especially as prints. Olympus stripped this camera of a few "pro" features, such as
mirror lock-up and a few bracketing modes. But this will probably only annoy pros
or semi-pros, and this camera is more intended for hobbyists.
One word of caution for beginners: if you are currently shooting with a compact or
"bridge" camera, dont expect to shoot instantly better pictures with this camera.
DSLRs give you more versatility and creativity, plus a bigger sensor for low-light
conditions, but in good lightning conditions a compact digicam will yield roughly
the same image quality. DSLRs are good for creative shooting, depth-of-field play
and they give you access to better lenses. If you don't intend to make use of this
added versatility, you probably won't need a DLSR. Even the tiny E-400 is a
substantive camera compared to a compact, and there's no way to fit this into your
jacket pocket.