Tom Davis
Well-known member
Focussing on what I've found most important:
1. Image quality: The jpegs straight out of the camera are
remarkably good with colors on net-service prints (through iPhoto
no less) matching monitor output with satisfyingly consistency and
high quality.
2. Value for money: You can cover 35mm equivalent 28mm to
400mm with two high quality reasonably fast (f2.8-3.5) zooms, so
that while the E-1 body cost may seem comparatively high to its 6
meg competitors, initial system cost is actually quite good since
other systems will require more (and bulkier) lenses to cover the
same range. And the 50mm/f2 Macro (100mm equivalent) is an
outstandingly good and unique value for a fast macro.
3. Picture output: The 4:3 image ratio (directly enlargeable to
8x10 and 11x14 at fine quality) combined with the 100%
viewfinder means that for these standard size largish prints you
have a "what you see is what you get" viewfinder.
4. Ergonomics: While in the end ergonomics are always personal,
the body fits my hands like a glove, with the only awkward button
position being White Balance when you have the battery grip with
the grip strap in place. While you should try it yourself, never
underestimate the importance of a camera's "feel" in the flow of,
for me, portrait work: the E-1 just gets out of the way and lets me
concentrate on the getting the best shot.
5. Overall weight in the field: A full system with fast macro and
coverage from 28mm to 400mm fits into a much smaller bag at
noticeably less weight than any of its competition.
In sum: I'm really impressed and have sold a good chunk of Leica
R lenses, keeping only those wide-enough and fast enough to
compliment what Olympus offers now.
Problems:
While I'm still "on the way" to proficiency with Olympus Studio, it
is, indeed, slow, and certainly is not up to other professional
softward. I'm looking forward to full Photoshop Raw support for
the E-1 in the Spring.
1. Image quality: The jpegs straight out of the camera are
remarkably good with colors on net-service prints (through iPhoto
no less) matching monitor output with satisfyingly consistency and
high quality.
2. Value for money: You can cover 35mm equivalent 28mm to
400mm with two high quality reasonably fast (f2.8-3.5) zooms, so
that while the E-1 body cost may seem comparatively high to its 6
meg competitors, initial system cost is actually quite good since
other systems will require more (and bulkier) lenses to cover the
same range. And the 50mm/f2 Macro (100mm equivalent) is an
outstandingly good and unique value for a fast macro.
3. Picture output: The 4:3 image ratio (directly enlargeable to
8x10 and 11x14 at fine quality) combined with the 100%
viewfinder means that for these standard size largish prints you
have a "what you see is what you get" viewfinder.
4. Ergonomics: While in the end ergonomics are always personal,
the body fits my hands like a glove, with the only awkward button
position being White Balance when you have the battery grip with
the grip strap in place. While you should try it yourself, never
underestimate the importance of a camera's "feel" in the flow of,
for me, portrait work: the E-1 just gets out of the way and lets me
concentrate on the getting the best shot.
5. Overall weight in the field: A full system with fast macro and
coverage from 28mm to 400mm fits into a much smaller bag at
noticeably less weight than any of its competition.
In sum: I'm really impressed and have sold a good chunk of Leica
R lenses, keeping only those wide-enough and fast enough to
compliment what Olympus offers now.
Problems:
While I'm still "on the way" to proficiency with Olympus Studio, it
is, indeed, slow, and certainly is not up to other professional
softward. I'm looking forward to full Photoshop Raw support for
the E-1 in the Spring.