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.
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
