Olympus Evolt E520 10MP Digital SLR Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 ED Zuiko Lenses Review

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(More customer reviews)The E-520 is my very first DSLR and I have had it now since April '09 (the Easter Bunny brought it :-) and I can't say enough good things about this camera or this combo.
The camera body is lightweight enough to carry all day without getting tired but sturdy enough to not feel "cheap". The two kit lenses cover most of the distances the average user will want or need, and again neither one is a back-breaker. I use the 40-150mm when I am going to spend a day at the zoo to bring the animals closer to me (since they won't let me get closer to them :-).
One really nifty feature that the camera offers is the ability to use Live View Boost to focus and frame pictures with an infrared filter in place on the front of the lens and to actually see what the camera will record. Pretty cool.
The controls are easy to use and I think the only challenge I have encountered where they are concerned is not in using them but in remembering what to use when and to remember what menu it is under. Fortunately, most of the things you will need most often (wb, AF, Flash, ISO, etc.) also have dedicated buttons easy to find right there on the camera body. You can also set your own custom profile combos to allow you to quickly switch from one set up to another without having to remember what you did the last time that you liked.
The 20 scene modes make life very easy especially when you are just starting out or if you don't want to think and just want to shoot. And the ability (with the optional waterproof housing and light) to shoot underwater would be a really cool thing to do.
Color is great, clarity is great, the ability to remotely control the FL-36R or FL-50R flash units without having to have them attached to the camera by wires of any kind is great too.
A word about the proprietary XD card (the camera supports three different recording formats, CF, XD and Microdrive (But who uses those really?)) you can have the card in the camera in addition to the CF card and I would recommend having one just for the panoramic assist option which is only available if you use the XD card. The panoramic assist supports horizontal and vertical pans and the stitching software is built into the Olympus Master software that comes standard with the camera.
The only down side to having this camera is that you may find it difficult to find all the different lenses available at your local camera store (but there is always Amazon) as Nikon and Cannon have much better marketing. Oh, and one more word about lenses, you can get adapters which will allow you to use not only Olympus OM mount lenses from your SLR but also Pentax, Minolta, Nikon, Cannon, Miyama, and all the rest. Olympus only makes the OM mount adapter but you can find all the others aftermarket. You will need to be able to manually focus and set the f-stop on the lens itself as those features won't be supported through the adapters but it sure opens up options.

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Olympus EVOLT E-520 Digital SLR Camera 10 Megapixel - 3x/3.8x Optical Zoom - 2.70

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Sigma 24mm f/1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro Lens for Olympus and Panasonic Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I wanted a wide angle prime lens that I could take to parties where the shooting distance is always about the same and I could get higher quality pictures than with zoom lenses. Since this lens is fast, f/1.8, it focuses very quickly even in low light. It doesn't have an ultrasonic focusing mechanism, but focus speed is very fast and it has a clutch focusing ring so I can hold the lens and not interfere with the rotation of the focusing ring. The body feels very tight and well put together. The texture and feel are perfect. Picture quality is extremely good. The colors are natural and it's very sharp at 1.8 and is even better at 2.0 and above. Macro is excellent and since it has 9 curved aperature blades, the bokeh looks very pleasing. There is almost no distortion or abberation and focus is accurate. So even though this lens is a bit bigger and heavier than I would like in a prime lens like this, the benefits of brighter viewfinder (due to f/1.8), extemely sharp pictures and very good build quality makes it worthwhile purchase (especially for the price).

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This large-aperture wide-angle lens is equipped macro focusing capability with a maximum magnification of 127 and fast F18 maximum aperture The use of aspherical lenses are offered for superior peripheral brightness and compensation of aberrations an...

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Olympus Evolt E410 10MP Digital SLR Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 Zuiko Lenses Review

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(More customer reviews)If you're top priority is a small, interchangeable lens digital SLR, then the E-410 should be the place to start. There are none smaller, and the telephoto 40-150 is exceptionally short. It's light weight, and has all the basic features most people want or need in a SLR. It's basic enough for beginners, and featured enough (and good enough image quality) to satisy most advanced amatuers.
However, before you buy, you must understand two things: smaller SLRs and the 4/3rd system.
The smaller SLRs from all brands (Canon XTi, Nikon D40/D40x) have trade-offs. They all use the rear LCD for everything. Combined with the smaller battery for the smaller body, battery performance is not as good as the next size up (E-510, D80, etc.). Additionally, the magnification inside the viewfinder is less, making manual focusing (or seeing fine detail) a bit more difficult.
The 4/3rd system is also new to most people. In an attempt to compete with the well established Big Boys, Olympus, Panasonic & Leica now offer a new lens mount, where lenses can be interchanged among brands. The only problem is that Olympus is the only real line from these three, while Leica is now offering two lenses total, and Panasonic...none. The only major independent manufacturer currently making 4/3rd lenses is Sigma, and they do not offer most of their line in this mount. However, for most beginners, the two lense offered in this kit will be all they need.
The other major difference with this system is that it is a different "format". Traditional 35mm cameras produced a 3:2 format (which we typically call 4x6 because most labs produce that size of prints). The typical print from a 4/3rd camera would be 4x5, a more typical size from the older studio medium format film cameras. Now this has it's trade-off. Since most people will go ahead and make smaller prints in 4x6 size, they'll have to cut off a bit of the bottom and/or top of the photo. On the other side, they'll cut off less on the typical enlargement sizes, such as 8x10. I would say usually, it's a good trade-off. On most horizontal shots, we usually leave plenty of room at the top or bottom, whereas people tend not to leave enough room on group shots to allow cropping from 4x6 to 8x10, OUCH! This also means that on identical megapixel cameras, the 3:2 will loose more megapixels when cropped to standard enlargement sizes than 4/3rd cameras. But you can make 16x24s instead of 16x20s, etc.
One thing that is more difficult for me is that because the image is a bit more square on 4/3rd cameras, they tend to put the information inside the viewfinder on the side versus underneath the image. Looking down, reading left to right is more natural for me.
Anyway, the product description by Amazon is very detailed, but let me add that the "Live View" feature isn't as handy as it seems. First and foremost, you loose autofocusing (because the autofocusing's mirror system must be moved out of the way). Can you have it in Live View and still AF right before the shot? Yes, but it will cause a lag time that will be unacceptable for action or quick candids. However, it could be a welcomed feature used properly. You could pre-focus on a bird's nest (that ain't going no where), and use the Live View while waiting for the best time to shoot.
Overall, I give this camera very good marks. If you like the idea of 4/3rd, but don't need a small camera, you might wait for the soon to be released E-510 that has a larger battery and an Anti-Shake feature. As far as the competition goes, you might look at the Nikon D40x, or Canon Rebel XTi.
Nikon D40x 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)

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CL) AA) OLYMPUS E-410 2-ZOOM outfit

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Olympus Evolt E420 10MP Digital SLR Camera with 25mm f/2.8 Pancake Zuiko Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)I have used nearly every OLYMPUS dSLR (exception being the E-300 & E-400). I use the Olympus E-3 for my paid work and find it a superb camera. But like many of you, I want a camera with SLR quality to carry around minus the weight of my workhorse E-3. Enter the E-420, an absolute jewel of a camera whose IQ is top notch especially when compared to its market segment (Canon Rebels, Nikon D40/D60/D80, Pentax K200D, etc.). The gradation is fantastic, rivaling even my E-3. And coupling this, the world's smallest dSLR body with the new Pancake lens (25mm f/2.8, equivalant to 50mm in Full Frame) and you have a near 'pocketable' (depends on the size of the pocket) dSLR capable of taking phenomenal photos. Now, is it a world beater? No. But it isn't meant to be. It is meant for folks who want SMALL, but for whom Image Quality MATTERS. And here, it scores a perfect 10 (or 5 STARS in this case). As to the negative comment about focus points (you want 51 focus points, go spend 5K on the Nikon D3... truly a great camera, but marketed to a different segment of shutterbugs). And I have no idea what the reviewer was talking about poor performance in low light (this is much more of a lens issue on any camera), all I can say is NONSENSE. It does fine. No better and certainly no worse than any of the other 20+ dSLRs I've shot with. In fact, I used it as a 2nd camera during a 50th wedding anniversary party I was hired to shoot. Used it Indoors. It did great. I got great photos and the client doesn't know what came out of the E-3 or the E-420. The images are that good. So if you want 'pocketable', but you do want to compromise on Image Quality, then go ahead and pick this baby up. The likelihood of Buyer's Remorse is far smaller than this camera. After that, You just do one thing more. ...Enjoy.

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The Olympus E-420 Digital SLR camera is small enough to fit into a purse or a jacket pocket, and light enough to shoot with comfortably all day. Despite its size of 5.1 x 3.6 x 2.1" and light weight of 13.4 ounces, the E-420 is loaded with the features you need to take great pictures wherever, whenever.The innovative Olympus Autofocus Live View function allows you to frame and focus your images using the large 2.7" LCD as a viewfinder. The E-420 features Scene Select Modes that make you an instant expert, but also allows you to switch to manual mode and expand your creative control. This feature-rich digital SLR also sports Shadow Adjustment Technology and Face Detection, both viewable in real time on the Live View LCD.Features:
Face Detection Technology targets and locks on up to eight faces to ensure accurate focus for crystal clear, amazing portraits.
Shadow Adjustment Technology captures detail in the bright areas of a frame and opens up detail in the shadows that other cameras would render too dark or underexposed.
The E-420 measures 5.1 x 3.6 x 2.1", and it's a featherweight 13.4 ounces.
Olympus dust reduction system. Every time you turn on the E-420, the Supersonic Wave Filter, located between the shutter and the image sensor, silently vibrates an amazing 35,000 times per second. Dust is flung away and collected so it can't come back.
The Digital Image Stabilization Scene Select Mode allows high ISO sensitivity and faster shutter speeds so you can freeze the action to capture sharp, blur-free images even if you or your subject is moving.
The E-420's 2.7" HyperCrystal II LCD delivers twice the contrast and better viewing in extreme lighti

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Olympus Evolt E410 10MP Digital SLR Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)I am very impressed with this digital SLR. For years I used Olympus OM series film cameras with satsfaction. As digital camera image quality improved, I decided to go digital and have tried Nikon, Canon and Fuji SLRs. All were bulky and heavy, showing their heritage as modified designs for 35mm film adapted for use with smaller digital sensors.
Having design their E-series as digital from the outset, Olympus seem to me to have far superior handling qualities. Carrying an E-410 all day is far preferrable to any of the rival makers models I bought. I first used an E-400, and agreed with the reviews which found images taken at high ISO "filmspeed" settings somewhat noisy. This problem is resolved in the E-410 which uses a different sensor. Another improvement is in the autofucussing which is again, much improved.
As well as the conventional SLR viewfinder, the E-410 gives one the option of composing shots in the LCD screen on the camera back as a "live preview". It would be great if this worked as quickly as on a pocket digital camera, but there is in fact quite a delay between pressing the shutter release and the image being focussed and captured. Notwishtanding this, I have found the live preview invaluable for macro work and I would hate to be without it now.
Another good feature of the recent E-series models is the "supersonic wave filter for dust reduction". Unlike film SLR cameras, digital ones can be ruined by dust on the sensor introduced when lenses are changed. Nikon offers sofware which maps and then cancels out the specks - sounds like a rubbish "solution"! Olympus and Canon offer sonic systems which shake the sensor at start up to keep dust away. I'm ultra cautious when changing lenses, but I'm greatly reassured by reviews which suggest that the Olympus system really can be effective.
Finally Olympus seem to be developing a truly comprehensive system with a great (if expensive) selection of lenses and flash units. For clinical medical and dental photography they have an excellent 50mm (equivalent to 100mm in a 35mm format camera) macro lens which can also capture potraits or full body views. This can be coupled to a ring flash or twin macro flash with TTL metering and capable of taking perfectly exposed images straight out of the box. The only weak part of the system is the flash ring FR-1 needed to couple the flash head to the lens. I have bought three of these, and all three have broken in normal use!
The problem with the FR-1 is that the front element of it is held on to the main body by three TINY screws which just aren't up to the job. As I needed to keep working in three different centres I didn't return the units (what would be the point in exchanging one badly designed bit of kit for an identical one anyway). My solution is to permanently glue the front to the main body with Araldite. I hope that this shockingly poor piece of design isn't indicative of other problems elsewhere in the range.




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If you want to remember all the great moments you encounter, then the EVOLT E-410 was built to let you capture all of them. The Live View LCD is an great unique feature for a digital SLR. And when you experience the ergonomic feel and lightweight portability of this camera, you?ll want to take it everywhere. Whether the important details of your life are smiling faces or far-away places, you?ll capture pristine, detailed memories, thanks to a proven Dust Reduction System and powerful 10-megapixel imager. Features Effective Pixels: 10 million Total Number of Effective Pixels: Approx. 10.9 million pixels Aspect ratio 1.33 /4:3 Filter array Primary color filter /RGB LPF Fixed type IR cut filter Hybrid type Dust reduction Supersonic Wave Filter: Dust reduction system for image sensor Model Number: 262042

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Olympus FL-36R Electronic Flash for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased the FL-36R to use with my E510. Olympus only makes two flashes worth considering for general use with their E(volt) line of DSLRs, the FL-36R and the FL-50R. The FL-50R is significantly more powerful than the FL-36R (guide number of 50 vs. 36), but it is also substantially bigger, heavier and twice the cost. For me, the FL-36R was the obvious choice. There are also non-Olympus flashes that are cheaper and claim to work in the TTL (though the lens) mode, but many reviews cast doubt on this claim.
There are a couple of reasons to buy an external flash as opposed to just using the built-in flash.
1. Focusing at low light levels is much improved because the red focusing light emitted by the external flash does a much better job than the white light given off by the built-in flash. Unlike the built-in flash which could take 4 or 5 flashes to focus, the FL-36R usually managed much more quickly.
2. The built-in flash has only about 1/3 the power of the FL-36R. Having said that, the built-in flash is certainly adequate for many situations. However, if you are constantly trying to fill a mid-sized room with light, either of the external flashes will be a big improvement.
3. The FL-36R has a flash head that can be swiveled and tilted. This allows the flash to be bounced off ceilings and walls, in many cases providing a softer and more pleasing light.
4. Because the FL-36R is raised over the lens, red-eye is not nearly as big a problem as with the built-in flash. Also, tilting the flash head just a little virtually does away with red-eye.
5. The external flash has the ability to synchronize with the camera at much high shutter speeds (Super FP mode) allowing fill light for action shots.
6. The external flash can be set off to the side and, in the manual mode, be triggered by the camera's built-in flash. Having multiple light sources can add interesting effects to pictures.
7. The flash gun seems to be sturdy, well built, and of reasonable quality.
There are a few minor negatives to this flash.
1. Using bounce flash sometimes resulted in underexposed photos even with the TTL mode and a white ceiling.
2. Although this is a small and compact flash, it is still a lot of extra weight to drag around.
3. The manual, although generally clear, is short on details and examples.
4. Initial start up time is slow, about 30 - 40 seconds even with freshly recharged batteries. I consider this to be minor. Some reviews complain about a slow recharge time or 5 or 6 seconds. For me this recharge time has been plenty fast.
5. Finally, two hundred dollars for a flash is a lot compared to the cost of the camera. I'd be tempted to really learn the built-in flash first before spending the money on an external flash.

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Olympus FL-36R Electronic Flash for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras

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Olympus Evolt E300 8MP Digital SLR with Zuiko 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Digital SLR Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the latest in my journey through Olympus Digital Cameras
(D340R, 460,560,2020z, 5060 -- some of which I have reviewed on Amazon). The choice of the E-300, used for some commerical work I do, was not so easy because I have a bag full of Pentax K lenses and was mightily tempted by the Pentax digitals. But, having batteries, familiarity with the menu system, and really very good experience with Olympus products and service over the years, I took the plunge and got the E-300 and its kit lens. Then got a K mount adapter for my Pentax lenses and set to work.
Ok, there are some quirks and I will get them out of the way:
- a slight magenta cast to some greens, easily fixed in post-processing or fiddling with WB, and the noise reduction system can just slightly dull grass in photos, also easily fixed
- now and then a bright spot will fool exposure slightly when using the full screen sensor (I've learned to use the center-weighted and spot meters to take care of this)
- I am not overly impressed by the lcd, which doesn't seem to have the brilliance of the one on my 5060.
- I wish Oly had added an xD slot for those of us with a collection of these cards, purchased for use with older models
Now to some good stuff:
- don't worry about some reviews claiming the camera is noisey and doesn't like 800/1600 ISO. I get fine results, which are easily fine tuned in Photoshop Elements, Neat Image or other programs, and which can be helped mightily by using a wide aperture prime lens at 400.
- colors are brilliant and resolution sharp
- the Oly jpg algorithms are very good, meaning that for most 'normal' shooting one can be perfectly happy using the best HQ mode -- lots of testing on my part discerns very little visible difference with SHQ. This is good to know when traveling or when you want to keep some disc space; triage carefully when you see that once in a lifetime shot coming and then use the highest modes
- Raw is very good but by all means avoid the Olympus Master converter, which is terribly unintuitive, in favor of Adobe's.
- battery life is excellent with the BLM1 battery (and yes, you can get good backups on that auction site for less than ten dollars each; and they work just fine); I've only run one battery down all the way and that was with multiple in camera editing and a download of 150 shots via USB.
- flash is fine (though watch lens hood shadowing at highest aperture); I've supplemented with the FL-36 and FL-20, both of which work flawlessly, even for the brain dead like me. Like many cameras this one will occasionally underexpose so I generally program the flash for a little extra oomph.
- the camera feels rugged and well made; a little tank that feels good in one's hand and thanks to lack of prism on top slides easily into a small bag.
- the kit lens is really quite fine
- K lenses, including a Tokina ATX telephoto zoom work easily and brilliantly, as does an OM lens with adapter.
-even for the 'advanced' among us, it is good to have the range of scene modes on this camera. They work.
-vastly improved instruction manual.
-burns very quickly, even to standard CF cards.
-finally, this thing really keeps dust off the sensor. I'm constantly fiddling between lenses in very different environmental situations and have yet to see a spec. Yes, some appear on the outer mirror, but that is easily and harmlessly cured.
Olympus does not have the cache or marketing power of Nikon and Canon. And the sensor on this 4/3d's camera is smaller than those on its main competitors. Yet, I find it to be a solid and
unflashly product in line with most Oly cameras I have owned. This company is good at miniaturization, glass, and compression algorithms. If you need it Oly service is excellent (quick and friendly as I found out when I screwed up something in my 5060, also a superb camera).
I'm sure that there are fine photos to be had with any of the major dslr's on the market and not having a lot of comparative experience with other brands probably don't know what I am missing. But if you want an elegant workhorse with high resolution and brilliant photos give this one a careful look.

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The EVOLT E-300 is a 100% digital SLR camera that eliminates any photographic limitations. A powerful 8 megapixel CCD combines with interchangeable Zuiko digital lenses, Olympusexclusive Supersonic Wave Filter and other cutting-edge technologies for world-class images. Advances in design make for a durable and portable compact camera you can take and trust anywhere. With impressively fast shooting and operating speeds that ensure you never miss a photo op, and the ability to switch lenses and add flashes so you never miss a beat. Features: Exclusive Supersonic Wave Filter eliminates dust and debris from the CCD for clear results Newly-designedflat topbody for increased portability Innovative new HyperCrystal LCD for clear viewing of images up to a 160-degree angle, even in bright conditions Three Metering systems Steel reinforced Lens Mount TTL Optical Porro Viewfinder Item Specifications: Product Description: Olympus EVOLT E-300 - digital camera Product Type: Digital camera - SLR Dimensions (WxDxH): 5.7 in x 2.5 in x 3.3 in Weight: 1.3 lbs Supported Flash Memory: CompactFlash, Microdrive Integrated Memory: 64 MB Sensor Resolution: 8.0 Megapixel Lens Aperture: F/3.5-5.6 Focus Adjustment: Automatic, manual Min Focus Range: 15 in Focal Length: 14 mm - 45 mm Optical Zoom: 3.2 x Camera Flash: Pop-up flash Red Eye Reduction: Yes Viewfinder: Optical - eye-level porro prism Display: LCD display - TFT active matrix - 1.8- color Supported Battery: 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery - 1500 mAh ( included )

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Olympus E-5 12.3MP Digital SLR with 3 inch LCD (Body Only) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've shot with lots of cameras over the years. Olympus cameras are an enigma. When you shoot with them you realize that they have weaknesses(well publicized) to other brands, but you also quickly realize they have plenty of strengths as well.
The biggest strengths are things that go unnoticed on a spec sheet: Exposure, white balance, color reproduction, and image clarity and sharpness. And a JPG engine that gets it right directly out of the camera so you don't have to spend hours making your photos look right. You also get in body IS that works on every lens, and a superior weatherproofing system that includes the body and the lenses.
The E5 is a perfect blend of everything Olympus has learned up to this point. It's not on the cutting edge of sensor technology, or movie making abilities, but it absolutely delivers in every sense of the word. Of course the build quality is spectacular. You can take this camera anywhere, anytime and not worry about it.
Picture quality is amazing. It's hard to describe properly but the images have a clarity I haven't really seen before. And I've shot with Canons and Nikons as well.
Noise control is the best of any 4/3rds camera yet. It's up there with a D300s and a 7D. Not quite as good but not enough to make a real difference.
It's expensive of course, but you know you want it so just get it over with and buy the darn thing. It's worth every penny in my book.
Great job Olympus.

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Built on our revolutionary E-System technology, the new Olympus E-5 adds powerful new features that let you do more than ever before. Designed to maximize the award-winning performance of Zuiko Digital lenses, the E-5 achieves the highest image quality of any Olympus camera--with astonishing detail, blazing speed, and true-to-life color. New options like user control in Art Filters and 720p HD Video give you more freedom to explore creative effects. And with its weatherproof design, the rugged E-5 can go anywhere. A New Dimension in Image Quality Pairing the new TruePic V+ image processing engine with a 12.3 megapixel High-Speed Live MOS Sensor, the E-5 optimizes the power of Zuiko Digital lenses. New "Fine Detail Processing" technology captures exceptional detail from shadow to highlight. The E-5's groundbreaking, in-body Image Stabilization enables blur-free handheld shooting. And its redesigned, 11-point High Precision Twin Cross AF system is one of the world's fastest and most accurate. Reliable Performance Under Any Condition The first Olympus professional camera to offer 720p HD video, the E-5 records at 30fps with high quality audio. While shooting high-definition video, photographers can capture stereo sound quality by plugging in any microphone with a standard 3.5mm plug into the camera's stereo microphone terminal. And 10 new in-camera Art Filters let you add dramatic effects to both still photos and HD video. All Art Filters can be used in Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Program and Manual exposure modes. And new to the E-5, the Multiple Exposure function lets you overlay up to 4 images in a single frame.

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Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM APO HSM IF Macro Lens for Olympus and Panasonic SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I had a Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro and it was working quite well for me but I longed for a little more working distance. When Sigma came out with the 150mm f2.8 Macro, I tried researching it but couldn't find much info because it was such a new lens, I found the MTF charts on the Sigma Website and it was amazing. This lens was very close to the performance of the Sigma 180mm macro and Canon's famed 180mm f3.5 L. So I went ahead and bought it. It was a little pricy but I thought I could always return it if I didn't like it.
My first impressions taking the lens out of the box was very positive. It was quite compact for the focal length and was very well made. It balanced quite well on my 20D. I never liked Sigma's EX finish but I could live with it. The EX finish looks cheap to me,particularly the golden ring, and the EX badge, but it's better than Sigma's old design. The only thing I like about the EX finish is that it seems very durable. Even after heavy use there are no marks or scratches on the lens body and every time I wipe the lens body with a damp tissue, it just looks like brand new. The focus ring is nicely ribbed and wide but it didn't have the kind of damping Canon L lenses have, so it felt a little loose. The tripod ring is made of the same material as the lens body itself, but it didn't feel as smooth as the Canon's L like the 70-200 2.8IS and the 300mm f4 IS. One advantage Sigma's tripod rings have over Canon is you don't have to take it off the tripod to remove the lens. You just pull a knob and the ring opens allowing you to remove the lens. This is good if you have it all set on the tripod and want to quickly remove it for some hand held shots.
As far as it's optical performance is concerned, it's an absolute gem. When I review the pictures from this lens, all worries and niggles about price, finish etc dissapear and I'm glad I own it. I compared it against Canon's 135mm F2L which is one of Canon's sharpest lens,and this lens compares very favourably against it. In fact it is just as sharp as the 135mm at comparable apertures. But the 135mm is a stop faster and has faster focussing but that's a whole different story.
In short the lens is everything one can expect out of a macro. Excellent build, very sharp, good colors, excellent bokeh (out of focus areas). What else would one want? The focussing is slow, but it's a macro lens and that's how macro lenses are. The minimum aperture is 22 which may deter some, but I don't shoot slower than 22 anyway because of diffraction limitations.
This lens is just perfect for it's intended purpose. Needless to say, I sold my Canon 100mm in a jiffy.

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Super Multi Coating reduces flare and ghosting that tends to occur when using digital SLR cameras.Super compact and lightweight, large aperture telephoto lens with life-size macro capability.This large aperture telephoto macro lens enables you to shoot up to 1:1 life size close-ups. Its large F2.8 aperture makes it an ideal lens for digital SLR as well as film SLR cameras. Two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements control various color aberrations and assure high image quality. Super Multi Coating gives superb color performance whilst cutting down flare and ghost. Its compact, yet advanced, construction has an overall length of Length 137mm (5.4in.), maximum diameter of 79.6mm (3.1in.), filter size of 72mm and weight of 895gr/31.6ounces

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Olympus EX-25mm Macro Extension Tube for E1, E300 & E500 Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)Using this with the 50mm 2.0 lens and the ring flash gives an excellent picture of the fine details - down to a postage stamp. 8 Megapixels spread over that small area (4/3 ") is a very high magnification. I use this with the 50mm f/2.0 lens to get very large photos of small objects (macro) - it's a good combination. I did try it for kicks with my 50-200 mm lens and found the lens had to be set to 200mm to get any focus success, which happened around 3-4 feet from the lens. That combination covered an area about the size of a credit card.
As the warnings state - you are going to be getting the lens close. Normally I snap on the ring flash anyways so it bumps before the lens filter does, but more than once I've looked around and said "wow - I'm right up on it" - note the support ring for the 50mm f/2.0 lens is a good protector even if you don't have the ring/twin flash yet. it will keep your lens protected inside the steel support as it focuses out.
It's best combined with the 50mm F2.0 but it does give you some close in ability with other lenses too. With the 50mm F 2.0 you are close to 1:1 in the image path to sensor. You'll find in the image file if you take a shot of your address on your utility bill that it shows extra specs of toner that dropped around the characters and got fused into the paper. You probably didn't even see them with the naked eye. Great for looking at small defects or combined with the 14-54 or 50-200 you can get a bigger image area.
Remember the lens is no longer bringing the image to focus at the sensor so distances are out of proportion. On the bright side no light loss! It's a great magnifier without any lens defects from a manification screw on filter.

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Olympus EX-25 Macro Extension Tube 261006 Lenses & Filters

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Olympus Evolt E520 10MP Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization (Body Only) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am coming from an Olympus C-8080 and a Panasonic DMC-FZ18. Both of these are decent cameras, but not quite SLR quality. Also, the Panasonic is the worst macro camera I have owned. Since I was looking for more options with macro/closeup photography, I wanted a DSLR. My old SLR was an OM2n (back in the prehistoric camera days). I considered getting the E-510 or Nikon D60. Both are decent cameras, but after seeing pictures, decided to stick with Olympus and wait for the 520. I am glad I did!
I normally have a problem with a bit of camera shake and don't use a tripod. I just shot 400 pics and not one bit of camera shake! I was surprised to find out that I didn't even have Image stablization enabled. It is very easy to hold this camera steady. The lens and the viewfinder are crystal clear. I stongly suggest that you get the fastest CF card you can to record your pictures, and at least 4GB. I should tell you though, that I am shooting in both raw and fine jpeg format. This typically takes longer to write. The xd cards are too slow when shooting raw and fine jpeg. Another thing to make yourself aware of: Liveview does not seem perfected in any camera yet. It may take some time, but it is a bit bothersome, because there is a wait between recording photos when using Liveview. If you don't mind using the viewfinder,or waiting about 2 seconds between pictures, it's not a problem. Also, my battery compartment door seems to stick a bit. May need broken in, or it's just tight.
On the plus side: I have only had this camera 36 hours and already feel totally comfortable with it. I have heard people say that it's not user-friendly. I disagree with that statement IF: you have previously owned and used Olympus cameras. This camera isn't that foreign when coming from Olympus. Yes, it takes getting used to the buttons a bit, and my thumb does accidentally hit a button, but heck, I haven't even had the camera a couple of days. I also suggest that you buy the telephoto lens. Unless you shoot all wide-angle pictures, you will not be satisfied with this lens package. Regarding the Olympus lenses ... Primo, very good quality for a zoom/package deal. Much better quality than I expected. I like my pictures to be as crisp as possible, with the lowest noise (who doesn't?), so I have experimented with shutting noise reduction off and using software to reduce noise. The results were good in my test results. The scene modes of the camera are good. I haven't used them all yet (I had to put the camera down and get some sleep sometime in the past 36 hours), but am impressed with face detection on, macro, night modes. The flash is fairly strong. I have never had a built in flash, which doesn't give some type of red eye or blue eyes in dogs, this has not happened yet with the 520. Impressive, but I would suggest if doing closeup, that you diffuse the flash, or stand back a bit and zoom on the subject. REVISION: If you use the Macro nature mode, it seems to adjust the flash a bit. Also, if you like to experiment, play withe the "Vivid mode" a bit. I'm usually not a fan of modes, but in bright sunlight, my colors came out exactly as they should be.
If you are considering buying a more expensive camera and are NOT doing professional studio work, I would say; don't waste your money. Get this camera, because you will be impressed. If you are doing studio work, I would still tell you to get this camera, but get a better lens. After all, it's not always about the camera, but it is always about the lens. Anyone who has ever bought a no-name, camera-store "pushed on you" lens, knows what I am talking about.
When my next lens arrives, I will post more information under the "40-150mm Olympus zoom lens". Highly recommend this camera!
REVISION: Today, I received the adapter to let me use my old OM-2N lenses. I bought a generic one through ebay and it works just fine. I attached my old Tamron 90mm SP macro lens and began shooting. First, be aware that everything has to be done manually. This may not be practical if you need speed when focusing, unless you have mastered, manual focusing. I find that I shake the camera more with the heavier, manual lens, but with practice, I think that can be overcome. In other words, if you own the old OM lenses and don't have the money to get a new lens, buy the adapter and be prepared to make some adjustments.
If you have a flash/lighting system and a tripod, those adjustments will be lessened. I don't think I would do this for the life of the camera, but I would use the old OM lens (especially if you have a high quality one), until I could afford a new digital lens. I also have the 40-150mm digital lens (the one they give in the package deals), and am very impressed with the quality. I have posted some pictures, so you can get an idea of what this camera can do. If you scroll over the pictures, you will see the pictures I shot with the old OM-2N lens. I didn't make any revisions, so that you can get an idea of how the pictures come out of the camera (no photoshop).


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Olympus EVOLT E-520 Digital SLR Body.10MP, 2.7" HyperCrystal II LCD, 20 Scene select modes, Built-in Image Stabilization (IS 1, 2 & 3) in a portable body, Autofocus Live View, Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Dust Reduction, Perfect Shot Preview, Truepic III, Wireless Flash, Underwater Housing.

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Panasonic DMC-L10 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-50mm f/3.8-5.6 Mega OIS Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a 'collector' of dslr cameras. I have just about every panasonic lumix camera available and quite a few canons, sonys, and nikons. This camera, by far, is my favorite. It is easy to handle, easy to use, totally stupid proof, and the pictures come out great. I have a Nikon d80 and it's a great camera but for me, this is still my favorite. It's just a funner camera and easier to handle. I am in no-way a professional photographer, I just love photography and this camera is a joy.

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The New Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10K 10.1-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera with Full-Time Live View, Face Detection, 2.50-inch Free-Angle LCD Screen and Four Thirds Standard is here. Full-Time Live View Redefines Digital SLR Photography - With conventional digital SLR cameras, you never know exactly how the photo is composed until after you shoot. The Lumix DMC-L10 changes all that with full-time Live View. When you look at the LCD screen, you see what the camera sees, making it easy to adjust and compose your shot just the way you want it. Greater Flexibility with a 2.5-inch Free-Angle LCD - The camera's 2.5-inch free-angle LCD gives you even greater flexibility with a screen that rotates 180-degrees left and right and 270-degrees front and back for shots at both high and low angles. In addition, the auto-focusing area can be chosen from as many as nine points while viewing the LCD before you take the shot so you can focus on your subject with exceptional accuracy. You can also use the LCD to check how any white balance or exposure compensation adjustments affect the shot before you take it, while Film Mode lets you adjust the photo characteristics. Face Detection Ensures That No One Gets Lost in the Crowd - This function, made possible by full-time Live View, recognizes up to 15 faces in the frame and optimizes the focus and exposure settings to capture them clearly and correctly. No More Blurry Photos - Intelligent ISO Control prevents motion blur by detecting if the subject is moving and adjusting the ISO setting and shutter speed accordingly. The camera's Leica D lens is also equipped with Panasonic's MEGA O.I.S. optical image stabilization system, which prevents blurring caused by shaky hands and helps you capture sharp, clear, beautiful images even when taking telephoto shots or shooting in dim lighting. Compact and Lightweight for More Fun, Greater Mobility - Featuring a compact design and weighing just a little ove

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Panasonic DMC-L1 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with Leica 14-50mm Mega O.I.S. Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)After holding out for years before making the switch from film to digital, I finally made the leap with the DMC-L1. I have used a variety of DSLRs and digital point-and-shoot cameras prior to this. Specifically, when I was considering the DMC-L1, I was also considering the Canon 30D, and the Nikon D80 and D200 (I already had a number of Nikon lenses).
After trying all of the above cameras, I was completely in love with the DMC-L1's feel and ease of use. The shutter speed dial and aperture ring are extremely intuitive to use. Overall, the camera feels much less "fiddly" than the other models I looked at -- I didn't like having to drill down through multiple menus on the other DSLRs to get to what I was looking for.
Probably the single greatest selling point to this camera is the lens. It's one of the crispest that I've ever used. I have a Nikon 80mm F1.8 that has been my favorite for years, and the Leica lens has almost instantly supplanted it. The zoom range is pretty good for general shooting, and situations where you want to travel light [...].
One of the other selling points include the simple but sensible live-view mode, which allows you to compose your shots on the camera's LCD screen. This is a huge advantage for shooting static or slow moving subjects -- you can really compose your shot, re-arrange elements, and use the depth-of-field preview to get a good sense of how everything is going to look. However, because the mirror has to flip down for the camera to focus and meter, it is too slow for most high-speed action work.
The Mega OIS feature on the included lens is superb -- I've never used anything like it. There are two modes, but mode "2" is the only one I use -- it corrects for camera shake only when you take the picture, rather than continuously as in mode "1". I've taken a number of hand-held pictures at 1/4 of second or slower that would have been disasters with a non-OIS lens. Remember to turn OIS off if you are using a tripod, though.
Being able to save RAW images was a selling point for me, too. This may not matter as much to others, but I like being able to edit the RAW file before "developing" it into an image file.
Ergonomically, the camera is good. I would say that the Canon 30D is a better fit in my hand, but since I'm not going to be holding the camera for 12 hours a day it's not been a problem. I find the buttons and their locations to be sensible, and the thumb-wheel although small, works very well. My favorite elements are the two programable buttons located near the shutter release. Depending on the type of shooting I am doing, I reprogram these to my most often used functions (say EV, ISO, or film type). The film "type" feature is also worth noting, and may have some appeal to those that don't want to both with RAW images. There are a number of pre-programed "films" and two user programable "films" that affect the color and feel of the final images. This is a nice way to generate some decent images without going through the trouble of developing RAW images.
So in summary:
Cons:
OK ergonomics -- people with large hands or short fingers may have difficulties.
View-finder takes some getting used to. Information display is good, but it feels smaller than others I've used.
This camera is not for people who want to take mostly pictures of very high-speed action. It is also not for people who want 20" X 30" prints (because of the lower pixel count).
Pros:
Very intuitive feel, particularly for converts from more traditional SLRs
Fantastic lens
Live View image composition on camera's LCD screen
Mega OIS image stabilization lens
Much less fiddling than with other DSLRs -- more time shooting, less time looking through menus.
RAW + JPEG file formats
Great expansion options with the Four/Thirds lens line
[...].

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Pan dmc-l1 w/leica 14-50mm

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Olympus Evolt E-3 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with Mechanical Image Stabilization (Body Only) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have toyed with the 4/3 digital SLR system several times since it was introduced in 2003, shrugged my shoulders and gone back to Nikon or Canon. Frankly, I had about given up on 4/3, but Olympus dropped the E-3 on us a few weeks ago and showed us it could be all they promised with 4/3 when it was first introduced over 4 years ago.

ANY DSLR system is about lenses in the end, and Olympus 4/3 is blessed with superb optics. To get an idea of how really great the new Olympus glass is you need to use some of the top lenses, or read a few of the big photo sites like dpreview, imaging-resource, or DCRP. They have all finally acknowledged in reviews of the E-420/410 and E-520/510 that Olympus has the best quality kit lenses of any camera maker, and that the Olympus claim that lenses designed for digital produce better quality images is proving to be true. www.slrgear.com even went so far as to test most of the current Olympus lens line after being so impressed with the kit lenses on the 510/410.
Olympus 4/3 is also by design an all-electronic lens mount - like Canon. Reviewers on the web tend to be so Canon and Nikon biased that they often forget really basic things like this. The 4/3 system has all motor driven lenses, and the lenses were ALL designed for digital photography. I am frankly tired of seeing reviews that talk of Canon as if they are the only company with all motor lenses. There are actually 3 - Canon, 4/3, and Sigma - although some of Sigma's other features are archaic and sales are very low so most just ignore them. Sony/Minolta and Nikon are not similarly blessed with an all-electronic lens mount, and many lenses are still noisily driven by screws on the lens mount in both systems. In fairness, Nikon has been moving rapidly to motor-driven lenses, but Sony seems stuck in their noisy and slower screw-drive AF even though they have used lens motors in a rare few long telephotos. The point here is that the 4/3 mount at least matches the best, and it is better than most.

The Olympus issue has never been glass or lens mount , it has really been the options you had (or rather didn't have) in camera bodies to use with this excellent Olympus glass on an all electronic mount. As great as the current E-410 and E-510 really are, they are still saddled with an ancient and not particularly low-light sensitive 3-point autofocus system. Shooting in truly low light was all but impossible and your Olympus searched for focus while Canon, Nikon, and Sony locked on focus. There just wasn't a choice of anything better from Olympus. That is until the E-3.
The E-3 takes Olympus AF from Sigma territory to state-of-the-art, and as soon as the new 11-point, all cross sensor, dual-plane AF module makes its way down the food chain, no one will ignore Olympus any more. I hope Olympus can also find a way to move the terrific E-3 feature of AF with manual touch-up down the food chain as well - because the other big Olympus issue is that stupid "Manual focus by wire" feature and Manual Focus select by menu - and it is mostly fixed in the E-3.

This time around I bought an E-3 and a 12-60mm - and the tiny little excellent-quality kit lenses for when the 12-60mm weighs too much and I can compromise just a little on quality. I have added other Olympus equipment to my E-3 system quickly, like the unique 70-300mm (140 to 600mm equivalent with 1:1 Macro), the superbly sharp little 35mm f3.5 Macro that does equivalent TWICE life-size macro right out of the box, and the E-3 grip.

I am completely and totally impressed with the E-3. All the lenses are designed for 4/3 mount and for best performance on a 4/3 camera - they aren't 35mm film designs. No other camera offers the combination of effective live-view, built-in image stabilization, the best auto sensor cleaning you can buy, an articulating LCD that can fold away for protection (AND a top LCD for basic data), a built-in pop-up flash, effective dust and splash sealing of the camera AND the lenses, a popularly-priced zoom that covers the equivalent of 140mm to 600mm and does Macro up to equivalent life size (70-300mm), MUCH improved noise reduction that goes to ISO 3200, user-programmable Auto ISO that can cover the full ISO range (Canon still stubbornly refuses to fully offer this option), and the best range of available lenses DESIGNED FOR a digital camera system.
The E-3 is a bargain for a true PRO grade camera - and it is easily built as well as the Nikon D3 or the top Canons which are $5000 or more. You will get real value for the $1699 you spend on the E-3 body compared to any competing system from any company. However, most will find the E-3 expensive unless they are serious photo hobbyists or Pros, and Olympus needs to move the E-3 refinements down to E-510 price levels as fast as they can.
The E-3 is a great piece of creative engineering, an area Olympus is known for. After all they invented auto-sensor cleaning and live view - which is now finding its way to every DSLR. This is the best Olympus camera EVER, and once you have used it you will be hooked.


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D1) OLYMPUS E-3 DSLR BODY ONLY

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Olympus E 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6 Zuiko Lens for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)Pros:
Very Small, Very Light, fits easily in a jacket pocket
Ultra-wide angle is very useful
Image stabilization available on-camera
Noticeably better construction than my other Olympus standard grade lenses
Wide filter ring prevents vignetting (use just one filter)
Good image quality, except for:
Cons:
Barrel distortion at wide end (correctable in Photoshop)
Last few pixels not quite as "sharp" as center
Practice required to keep horizon level, not create weird perspective
Construction not as good as Olympus "pro" lenses
There are wider lenses for other brands (that weigh 2x more... hehehe.)
There are better ultrawide zoom lenses (in the $1500 range... haHaHA!)
My stuff for reference: E-410, 9-18mm, 25mm pancake, 35mm macro, 40-150mm (small), 14-54mm, 70-300mm (14-42mm and 18-180mm lenses sold)
I bought the Olympus system to get great image quality at a small size and price, I wouldn't have if not for rumors of this lens. When it was announced it seemed better than I hoped! I bought it early for a trip to China (I normally wait for the price to drop), it is a good thing I did, because I used the 9-18mm about 70% of the time! I also took the 14-54mm and the 40-150mm kit lens, thus making a small, quality, versatile package that I always carried in my pockets and hand/neck.
The 9-18 is ideal for travel, it fits in a pocket or can be carried attached to your camera all day and not be tiring. More importantly, when you get to touristy places, you can stand very close to your subject (if you don't mind the perspective), thus you will be in other people's photos, rather than them being in yours! Plus, there are a surprising number of subjects that can only be photographed whole or with no obstructions with an ultra-wide angle lens. Great for "spy" pictures of people who think you are pointing the camera somewhere else. And, you can lower shutter speeds to 1/20s and still have sharp pictures, a huge benefit for cameras with no IS. Imagine what it would be like on a camera with IS!
Image quality is good, but there is noticeable barrel distortion towards 9mm. Otherwise I would say IQ is between the 14-54 and 40-150, but closer to the 14-54. Lens flare was not a big problem for me, but more than my 14-54 (and I like placing the sun in the frame). Keeping the lens clean helps a lot with flare. Contrast (something I like) is much better than the 40-150, but not as good as the 14-54mm. Chromatic aberration happens, and is slightly worse towards the edges, but is not too bad. Sharpness I am less attuned to because all Olympus lenses are sharp and I rarely view the corners of my pictures full size, but it is sharp from f/4 to ~f/10, about/nearly as good as the 14-54mm. The 14-54 seems to experience less corner variation from f/2.8 to f/8 than this lens from f/4 to f/8, but this is a very minor consideration.
Other thoughts: construction quality is better than my other Olympus standard grade lenses, including texturing on the whole exterior and a less plasticky sound when you hit the limits of the zoom range. Zoom travel is very short and is of the out-in-out variety. I now think my 14-54mm is too big, and got the 25mm pancake to anchor the gap between the 9-18mm and 40-150mm. With the 9-18mm, 40-150mm and any of the you will have a small yet extraordinary setup with the E-420, E-520, or E-620. Alternatively, use the 9-18mm, 35mm macro, and 70-300mm for landcapes/macro/wildlife. You will see many tourists walking past with a Nikon D300 or Canon 50D and a large lens, that weigh more than your camera and three lenses together despite having less zoom and smaller aperture. You will wonder what delusion they are under that they think they are making better pictures (of the same thing)!
Update: I returned to China for a longer stay, and have been using the 14-18mm range quite a bit to take pictures of people around town. I am glad that the good image quality occurs across the zoom range. I have found that this lens is now the anchor of my small lens collection. Things I notice even more after a few months are, the 9-18 is contrastier than the 40-150mm, and the construction quality is far higher than the 40-150mm or other standard grade lenses (except the 25mm pancake?). My 40-150 has a quite a few nicks in it. The 9-18 has just 3 hairline scratches which are difficult to see even on close examination.
Update #2: After a year and a half this lens has become widely traveled and I am getting better at using it with time. I have never had a complaint about the final image quality of pictures with this lens. The only complaint I ever had is barrel distortion, because I hate fixing it in Photoshop. Contrast still doesn't equal the 14-54, but that never seems to matter. It is still holding together perfectly, showing no signs of abuse, even though I have sometimes abused it (in a wide variety of ways).


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OLYMPUS 261058 Zuiko Digital 9–18mm f/4.0–5.6 ED Lens

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Olympus Evolt E500 8MP Digital SLR with 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 & 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5 Zuiko Lenses Review

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(More customer reviews)PP= Post Processing (Photoshop and other image apps)
PQ= Picture Quality
My older brother, who by no means is a professional but has been an enthusiast since my father gave him his old Canon F series 35mm SLR in the 80s, has been my mentor.
He currently uses a 20D with a 420EX flash and some ungodly multi thousand dollar L series lenses. I recently purchased the E-500 dual lens kit for a fraction of the cost and must say that my brother and I both agree it is by FAR the best bang for the buck.
At the level 98% of us are at it is all user error and not camera error when our pictures don't come out as we would like (most professionals even say its mostly user error or lack of knowledge). I still have a friend who uses a small 2001-Canon S230 and takes pictures that are far better then most of mine.
In low light I have noticed that my E500 does not focus as fast as my brothers 20D (but it definitely still focuses) but from reading online with firmware upgrades they remedied this problem in the E300.
We both also agreed that it felt better in our hands (grip and general ergonomics) and was quite a bit lighter then the 20D as well.
He ,just as myself, LOVED the rear LCD controls for everything from ISO to flash speed and exposure, far more easier and quicker then the 20D for a newbie such as myself. But he commented saying it would have been nice if it had the small simple LCD up top that the canons do as a supplement to the detailed and informative one of the back.
PQ was amazing requiring very little PP, and with the vivid setting we both agreed that the colors did feel better and more vibrant (of course with a small PP Tweak the 20D was right there but for the casual photographer as myself I shy away from PP).
Bottom line we were both floored at what a phenomenal deal this kit is for the price.
---------- UPDATED 3/29/2006 ------------
Everything said above still holds true, and I must say this is one of the few purchases that almost 6 months later Im still VERY happy with and use it frequently. Through no advertising or sales pitch I have created 3 new customers for Olympus's E500 kit up to date.
My brother has over $4000 now invested in his camera and he still finds it amusing that my little old $700 kit gets as much attention from all our friends as it does. He recently upgraded to the 580EX flash and a new Wide angel L series lens, and I must admit VERY VERY amazing hardware bursting 3 or 4 pictures WITH flash is very cool.
But we recently went to India to tour Agra, see the Taj Mahal, Sikhanders tomb, and other such sites on the way. At the end of the trip without PP during the day my pictures looked better (we both agreed) and thats all I cared about (mainly talking about color saturation and not detail, just over all presentation). I will admit though in a couple action shots from our speeding bus his camera did perform better, and in the evening some of mine didnt focus properly while his did on the same subject, but Im not a pro, I just enjoy the hobby.
One of my better purchases in recent years.
His camera IS better, mine is just a better deal, it's all about peace of mind..

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Premium picture quality and superb performance come easy with this comfortable to handle digital SLR. At a time when we want complex things to become simple, the EVOLT E-500 succeeds in doing so with a sleek, lightweight design for impressive portability and advanced controls and options that can be accessed with minimal effort. Bursting with speed and producing spotless pictures with exceptional color and detail, the EVOLT E-500 is tailor-made for anyone to use while capturing the imagination in the process. Features: 8 megapixel full frame transfer CCD Patented Dust Reduction System uses the Supersonic Wave Filter (SWF) to loosen and remove any and all dust and debris from the image sensor. Large, high-resolution 2.5LCD 25 shooting modes All digital lenses Dual media slots Automatic pop-up flash 7 available flash modes Stable and lightweight body with ergonomic styling and an advanced grip PictBridge-compatible Select from left, center, or right Auto Focus points either automatically or manually AF Illuminator to focus in dim light or darkness Shoot using any of five focus modes Exclusive one-touch White Balance button Eliminate unwanted image noise with Noise Reduction Five popular Monochrome modes Choose from sRGB or Adobe RGB color spaces Contrast, Sharpness and Tone Controls. Select the format that best suits your needs: JPEG, RAW, JPEG+RAW, TIFF Package Includes: EVOLT E-500 body 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 lens 40-150mm f/3.5 - 4.5 lens USB Cable Video Cable Li-Ion Battery Pack (BLM-1) Li-Ion Battery Charger (BCM-2) Shoulder Strap OLYMPUS Master Editing Software CD-ROM Manuals Warranty Card

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Fotodiox Lens Mount Adapter, Olympus OM Zuiko Lens to OM 4/3 (Four Thirds) Mount Camera Adapter, for Olympus E-3, E-5, E30, E-620, E-600, E-520, E-510, E-450, E-420, E-410,E-400,E-300, Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10, L1 Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the exact same thing you would by if you were to purchase the olympus adapter. (om-f1 i think is the model) Works excellent with my old om-zuiko lenses and teleconverters. Makes my old lenses even BETTER than my $500 digital lenses, but you have to shoot in full manual mode, which i always do anyway. Buy this one not the $100 olympus version. ITS THE SAME EXACT THING!

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If you have a SLR or DSLR camera and other maker/mount lenses, the Fotodiox Mount Adapters allow you to use your lenses on the film/digital camera body. Sharing lenses has some distinct advantages.Certain prime lens just can't be replaced, and you save cost of purchase lenses. ¡Fotodiox offers a range of adapter from large format to smaller format digital adapters.Adapting larger format lens, i.e., large format û medium format, medium format û 35mm, excellent edge-to-edge sharpness; and the smaller 24x36 mm image field helps minimize the effects of lens distortion and aberration.

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Click here for more information about Fotodiox Lens Mount Adapter, Olympus OM Zuiko Lens to OM 4/3 (Four Thirds) Mount Camera Adapter, for Olympus E-3, E-5, E30, E-620, E-600, E-520, E-510, E-450, E-420, E-410,E-400,E-300, Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10, L1