Looking at the specs for the OLy 410 --looks an excellent machine for those situations where a full blows SLR is too much gear to carry and you want something b(considerably) better than a P&S .

Is this camera a good idea but too late or is it a "Runner".

I've only ever used OLY's P&S'es in the past but found them good.

Any comments.

Cheers

-K

It is a "flown blown" dSLR, IMO. More full-featured than most in it's class.

It'll be my next purchase.

Kyle, its good. Not the easiest interface though. Gets a bit confusing. I'm somewhat use to it since I have an Oly C-7070, but even then I get lost around the camera a bit.

Its exposure is not as good as the Nikon D40x's also. Nothing to fret about though I suppose.

With a single 14-42 lens on it, it is very small and still pretty comfortable. But if you wanted something more versatile (lens wide), I'd possibly look at the Canon S5, Panasonic FZ-50, or the excellent Fuji S6500.

The Fuji has a sharp, wide lens with manual focus ring and excellent high ISO noise characterstics.

The Pana has an even better lens and is f3.3 at the 432mm end. Not as good as the Fuji in the noise department though.

Nik

I currently own the E-410 and it is truly amazing!

A DSLR, the size of a bridge without comprimising the handling, which allows you to choose between all the lens built for the 4/3 standard which now includes Olympus, Leica and Sigma.

The color are sharp and crisp, including the best dust reduction system ever.

If you're looking to buy it, I strongly suggested you buy the body with the 14-54mm F2.8-3.5.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!

sebaslarrivee wrote:

If you're looking to buy it, I strongly suggested you buy the body with the 14-54mm F2.8-3.5.



Or perhaps consider as an alternative the image stabilised Panaleica D Vario-Elmarit 14-50 F2.8-3.5 with 410 body only.

I did consider the Oly for a street camera, I found it rather uncomfortable in the hand however and not due to the size. Am I the only one?

I did consider the Oly for a street camera, I found it rather uncomfortable in the hand however and not due to the size. Am I the only one?

It's a gem. Nothing like it anywhere if you ask me. Absolutely the closest to my OM-cameras that I've tried. I'm looking at body plus the Sigma 30/1.4 and/or a couple of my OM-Zuikos for a light, compact walk-around kit.

i've used an Oly E-300 for about 2 years now, and i love it. i have used my friends Canon Xti a few times and didn't like it as much as my Oly.

Agree 100% with Jorgen: with a monopod and the 14–54/2,8, a walk/carry anywhere unit. I carry one with me on all morning walks, and the rest of the time it lives in the car. Actually smaller than the OM-4 sitting next to me, but the finder is *nowhere* near as good. OTOH, it doesn't take film, so all good. The finder is usable, of course, and better than an LCD. And if I break it, or it gets stolen, no big deal. We are approaching the era of the 'throw-away camera". Just kidding (sort of).

It does make nice images, but I underexpose -0.3 EV; sometimes 0.7 to protect highlights, and that's shooting Raw.

Oly needs to make a small wide prime, IMO—around the 15–18mm mark. I'd buy one right now, if such a creature existed.

Can someone explain the difference between the 410 and 510? It seems to me that the 410 is newer but maybe I'm just confused (again)....

The 410 is much smaller, truly compact. The 510 is more similar to all the other "small" dSLRs. Oh, and the 510 has IS.

Thanks.....

AFAIK, same sensor, too—so the choice for me was the ~$150 AUD price difference, the significantly smaller form/weight factor, and my intention to have this as a backup *IF* Oly ever bring out a successor to the E-1. Sound like a familiar story?

Don't worry Oly is releasing a successor to the E-1; EP-1 I think. It will be a huge upgrade and will beat up on the D200 and 30D in specs at least. Still not a fan of their little sensor if you regularly use ISO 800+. The camera looks impressive from the (leaked?) pdf that was going around. New 11 pt AF with every point cross-type, big bright VF, tilt-swivel live view, IS, dust-buster, 5fps, sealed, inbuilt flash .....

Sounds good. I just hope it doenn't have too many pixels! cheers, kl

Kit Laughlin wrote:
Sounds good. I just hope it doenn't have too many pixels! cheers, kl

A couple of months ago, there was a statement from some Olympus official that it will have the same sensor as the 410/510. Makes sense to me, since that is apparently a very good one.

Usually, I'm not to fascinated by rumours and leaks, but in this case, if what has been said so far holds water, I'm very enthusiastic about this camera.

Kit Laughlin wrote:
Sounds good. I just hope it doenn't have too many pixels! cheers, kl

10.1MP I think, just like the E-510/E-410.

Very cool looking camera. Love the size.

Problem is (and I have used one to confirm these findings) that the e-410 has terrible dynamic range. The images are far too digital and contrasty - does not look natural. Highlights and shadows clip way too early. Part of the problem with many Olympus cameras.

Strange that the Panasonic L1 actually has good dynamic range....so its not a 4/3s problem at least. Maybe Olympus will do better with the e-510. Trying one next week. Ill post pictures for everyone.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse410/page17.asp

I actually saw the E510 with kit lens at Best Buy for $899 and played with it for a while while the family was next door shopping at Target. I was quite impressed at how robust the camera was. Quite small actually and the viewfinder was better than the Rebel XTi's.

In fact, I am now considering buying the Leica 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 kit lens that comes with the panasonic and using it with the E510 (or maybe even the E410) soon enough.

Has anyone used the Leica kit lens (which has image stabilization) with an Olympus body like the E410 or E510.

I bought it last April, and since then is has proved to "best" my Nikon D80 in almost all uses, barring Nikon's lighting system. Great picture quality, once you get used to how it best meters and how best to process the RAW files. (I use LightRoom, it beats the provided software hands down.) The two lens kit fits into a small Eagle Creek fanny pack, with room leftover for a bag of trail mix. Live View is great for manual focusing on a tripod. Can't praise the camera too much, IMHO.

I have the E510 and use it alongside my trusty Canon 5D. It's a fun little camera to shoot with and I have been pleased with the results. It is not the 410, so maybe they are different, but the dynamic range is far from terrible on the 510.

hyperion, this seems accurate. Phil reports that compared to other cameras, the 410 has about 0.7 EV less highlight range (the range above middle gray) than the other cameras here. I am not sure it's terrible (in the sense of being unworkable/unusable). Certainly the S5 Pro beats the pants off it in this regard—but the S5 (esp. with the grip) is as big and heavy as the D2H. I take the 410 plus lens with me every day on the morning's walk—something I have never done with either the D2H or the S5.

The shots I have made so far (with the 14–54/2.8 and today with the 11–22/2.8) definitiely seem to need underexposure to avoid clipping highlights (-0.3–1.0 EV, and processing in ACR). Recovery and fill light work very well to maintain the DR.

pascal03, the Olympus 14–54/2.8 does not have IS, but optically is at least as good, and half the price. I decided on the Oly version, because although the Leica version works perfectly well (and the IS does work on the Oly bodies) I thought that the E-1 replacement will likely have IS, and I would use the Oly lens on that when needed. In the meantime, I get to play with the 'plastic fantastic' (410) and learn how to make images with it.

Thanks Guys for all the replies

This camera defintely seems like a "Goer". It's not my intention to use it instead of the 1D2's I currently have or the 1D3 I plan on getting --but to use it in those situations where I might consider using a P&S but want something better.

Iwouldn't expect the Dynamic Range to be as good as on Canon's 1-series cameras but I'm sure given proper exposure and composition this camera will fit the bill.

It's the small form factor that interest me and the idea you can put a decent lens on it. P&S cameras can be fun too but I find then rather limiting apart from pure "Snapping".

Cheers

-K

Edited by Kyle Yates on Jul 22, 2007 at 09:39 AM GMT

"Sbapping"

I gotta ask—what is this, exactly? and how do you pronounce it?