Sigma SD14 14MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) Review

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(More customer reviews)The SD10 had problems. The battery charge system was just weird. The camera was not up to the hype when light was poor. But the images with good light were stunning. So it was with some angst, sustained by a delayed product release, that I opened my camera SD14. Very early on I knew I had a problem in that the camera hung... motion? But I got off some really spectacular images before sending it to NY repairs. They got it back quickly. I suspect something loose.
Well the images are simply wonderful. Just so you know, I have cameras at 5 & 6 times the price considered high end professional. I can get lots more pixels, but the color quality is not better.
The real test was low light. All the digital cameras fail in low light. So just a matter of how bad. OK, something is new here. This camera is far better in dim light than the SD10. When it starts to fail to low light the images become blotchy - like camoflage - rather than sandy as the GRGB cameras tend.
The SD14 X3F RAW images do well in Adobe's new Lightroom, and interestingly with the many controls for image modification in that program, there are none that set this camera aside (for punishment for being different).
The SD10 used a 1 GByte card but did not take larger. I tested the SD14 on 1 Gig (mechanical IBM type) and on 2 Gig, and 4 Gig, and 8 Gig CFII cards. Though, beware, some cards do badly with certain cameras across the board. So, I cannot say that ALL CFII's are OK. But I was able to find cards that worked a large range of memory capacity.
The camera saves images as RAW or JPEG. You can select two "color spaces", sRGB or AdobeRGB. I found that odd. Why not a 16 bit option? I suspect that is simply understood for RAW.
The booklet that comes with the camera may be the clearest such booklet of any camera. There were a few minor areas where referring the user to other sources seemed lazy(C1----v C2----v C3----v for camera strobes might be obvious to those who have these but ought to be explained to those who don't and maybe might want to).
Also the SD14 can shoot "tethered" - a huge fact that gets barely any mention other than an arrow pointing at the port. Those who do that, know, but maybe some need to learn how?
The camera body is nicely shaped, the controls are very logical, and shooting is easy.
There is something about the color. The SD10 drove me nuts because I had to charge batteries in shifts (they didn't all fit in the charger at once... grrrr). I almost dismissed this camera from that experience alone. The low light limits of the SD10 were also hard to take. But, that color. Seems even better in the SD14. It is not like other cameras. Just isn't. Very pleasing rich deep textural color.
So, down side? Well Sigma is not a magnet for lenses made by other manufacturers. So you will probably be a Sigma all the way person. But the Sigma lenses I used were quite good and cost way way less than other brands. There is a specific flash kind for the flash shoe. So, maybe your current flash might not work? The built-in flash, does what built in flashes do.
The SD14 battery system is quite nice. There is a built-in dust protector to assist lens swaps - very nice.
Want to do very high end photography with a wide array of lenses without going broke? Look at this model.

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Capture the beauty of the world around you with the Sigma SD14 14 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera. The image sensor captures pure, rich light efficiently and gives the SD14 its high resolution and richly graduated tones. The mirror lock-up mechanism raises the mirror thus preventing vibration when the shutter is released. This prevents camera shake, and is especially effective for macro photography. FOVEON X3 Direct Image Sensor (CMOS) - 20.7mm x 13.8mm - approx. 7-12x larger than the image sensors used in ordinary compact digital cameras Lens Mount - SIGMA SA bayonet mount Compatible Lenses - SIGMA SA mount interchangeable lenses Angle of View - Equivalent to approx 1.7x the focal length of the lens for 35mm cameras Manual & Auto Focus Fast & precise focusing with 5-point AF Shutter Speed - 1/4000 - 30 sec. + bulb (up to 30 sec.) Image Sensor Dust Protector High speed continuous shooting at 3 frames per second 3 metering modes - 8-segment Evaluative Metering, Center Area Metering, Center Weighted Average Metering Built-in Flash Hot shoe (contact X synchronization at 1/180 sec. or less, with dedicated flash linking contact) Storage (Not included) - CompactFlash (Type I/II), Microdrive (FAT32 compatible) Recording Mode - Lossless compression RAW data (12-bit), JPEG ISO Sensitivity - Equivalent to ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 USB 2.0, Video Out (NTSC/PAL) Li-ion Battery BP-21, Battery Charger BC-21, Optional AC Adapter White Balance - Auto, Sunlight, Shade, Overcast, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom Exposure - Program AE (Program Shift is possible), Shutter Priority AE, Aperture Priority AE, Manual 144mm/5.7 W 107.3mm/4.2 H 80.5mm/2 D & 700g/24.7 oz (without batteries)

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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 Camedia C5500 5.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)This is my second Olympus Camera. I have been using it for 2 months now and it is an exceptional camera. The camera is very easy to use if you give a quick review to the advanced manual on the cd it comes with. The pictures are beautiful quality. I have a cheap photo printer and you really can not see any quality difference between these and ones you would have printed. Set the camera to auto, and ANYONE can use it. The "Mode" settings are great. If you want to take pictures of your kids running around playing, set the dial to scene and the mode to sport, and the camera is automatically set to take pictures in motion. Like I said, just review the guide! Great for begginners to frequent users. Lots of options for setting it up manually also. Seems very sturdy and I love not having a lens cap to keep up with. Videos are nice and sound is clear. I do wish the flash would pop up on its own instead of having to manually do it. PictBridge makes it incredibly easy to print photos from the camera instead of having to transfer them to the computer first :) The red eye and cropping features on the camera are easy to use and work great. It fits nicely into your hand. It will not fit into your pocket, but you wont loose it in your purse either. (I would loose a credit card sized camera in 2 minutes) Off, the camera is 4 1/4" wide and 2" deep. On and with the lens fully extended, the camera is 3 1/4" deep. The 2" screen is clear and bright. You should purchase a larger XD picture card, the included card is waaay to small. You may also want to get an XD card reader that plugs into your USB port. This will allow you to trasfer your pictures to the PC much quicker. It comes with software, wrist strap, all the cables you need to connect to your PC, TV, & printer. Use rechargable AA's to save money, but if you get in a bind, the best feature is that you can stop at the gas station and pick up batteries :) Hope you enjoy it as much as I :)

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If you want great-looking shots in a compact, easy to use camera, then Olympus C-5500 SportZoom is for you. The 5.1-megapixel CCD delivers outstanding image color and clarity. With its 5x optical Sport Zoom and 4x digital zoom captures every detail of your image. The 2" LCD makes image framing, recording, and viewing easy, and its 15 shooting modes produce optimum results for any shooting session. Record nice and steady video with the Anti-Shake function or print your photos directly without fussing around with cables or drivers. Super Macro mode enables shooting from as close as 0.8 Histogram reviews and adjusts exposure settings prior to image capture Autofocus (AF) Target Selection focuses on any area of your composition Organize, find and view images with the Calendar function Slideshow features play back pictures on the LCD screen USB Auto-Connect - no software required Ergonomically designed for comfortable extended use PictBridge compatibility for quick and easy photo printing Takes xD-Picture Card (1 16MB card included) Includes OLYMPUS Master image editing/management software Requires 4 AA batteries (not incl.) Dimensions(WxHxD) -4.9 x 3.3 x 3.9 (110mm x 67mm x 47mm) Weight -8.6 oz (267g) without battery and media card

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Lowepro Topload Zoom 1 Camera Bag (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This holster fits a D200 with 18-200mm lens perfectly. Some other reviewers have complained that the case is too big, but with a higher quality DSLR and a medium length telephoto this bag really shines. The front pocket holds plenty of CF cards and spare batteries. There is a little pocket on the underside of the lid which is perfect for holding filters and polarizers when not attached to your camera.
I use this bag clipped to the shoulder straps of my Arc Teryx Bora 80 backpack. In my setup I have the bag hanging across my chest just below my sternum. During a trip across Glacier National Park (51lbs pack, 6 nights) the case always had my D200 ready. I typically leave the top flap zipped a couple inches on each side to keep the camera secure. Even while crossing rough terrain, scrambling over scree and kick stepping across snow fields this bag left little to be desired. It hangs steady and does not bounce too much.
If you are looking for something to hold your camera while out backpacking I don't know of any better solutions out there.

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The Lowepro Topload Zoom 1 is a compact carry bag with a sporty design. It holds a compact SLR with a wide-angle lens or compact zoom.

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Olympus Trooper 10x50 DPS 1 Binoculars Review

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(More customer reviews)For several years I owned a pair of Bushnell binoculars that I just didn't get along with. Nothing I did improved focus (yes, I followed the directions) and for some odd reason I seemed to suffer from double vision when looking through them (again, configuration was correct). So I finally gave up and invested in these Olympus Trooper 10x50 binoculars. All it took was a couple of seconds to make them perfect for me. The optics are clear and bright, focus is a piece of cake to obtain, the magnification and range are great and they fit very comfortably and securely in my hand. The carrying case is padded and well made. My one criticism (maybe) would be the strap, which although strong is thin and not so comfortable to sling over the neck or shoulder for longer periods of time. But I don't think the quality of these binoculars can be beat for their very reasonable price.

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10 x 50mm - Prism Binoculars

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Zing 502-205 SXGY1 Large SLR Cover (Gray) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased one Zing 502-Grey for my dad and one Zing 502-Blue case for myself.
We both have Olympus E-520 bodies and this case fits with the zuiko digital 14-42mm, 40-150mm, and 50mm macro lenses.
Since no camera bag is capable of suiting every photography purpose, I decided to get a slim neoprene case so that I could throw my DSLR in my backpack for hikes. I usually use a Kata 3N1-10 for the rest of my photography needs, but it's nice to be able to stick my camera in a regular bag and not worry too much. The neoprene is 1/4" thick and seems to provide sufficient padding. Of course, I'd still be weary of dropping my camera, case or no case... The Olympus lens-mount is a little off-center on the body, but the case fits fine. The neoprene can stretch so it accommodates a bit.
I noticed that other reviews did not mention the dimensions of the Zing 502 Large-Size Case, The case can fit Camera bodies that are 6.5" to 6.75" Wide. If your body is on the 6.75" side, it will be a little snug.
Along the bottom, my Oly E-520 body is 2.25" from the back of the camera to the start of the lens, and my hand grip is about 2.5" from the back of the body to where my right hand sits. My camera is 4" from the bottom of my attached tripod quick-release mount to the top of my hot-shoe. My lenses are all about 3" long, including lens cap and 1 filter.
One cool thing about the case is that it's reversible. The interior is black, so if you buy Grey or Blue, you can still flip to Black. It comes with a removable leash so you can attach the case to your camera's neck-strap so you don't have to worry about putting the case somewhere case while shooting. There's also an eyelet on both the inside or outside of the case, so you can hook up the leash on either side, depending on what color you decide to sport. Hope this review helps, check out the pictures I uploaded for more details on the dimensions and look.

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Zing slr large slr cover gray 502-205

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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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Hoya 67mm RM-72 Infrared Filter Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this filter a couple years ago, after reading about digital infrared photography in several acticles and webpages. I have used it on a couple different zoom lenses and it works, after some fiddling and setup on the camera. You will not be able to just screw it on a lens and snap away. You will need at least a tripod, relatively long exposures and some post processing of the images but it's not that hard with all the free info available out there - just do an online search on "IR" or "infrared photography". This filter got me interested in IR enough that I just converted one of my old digital SLRs over to full time IR.

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Used for photography with infrared films. R72 passes only infrared rays above 720nm.RM90 passes only that above 900nm.Often used in crime detection, medical photography, detection of distribution of vegetation, etc.

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Eyecup, Large EP6 Review

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(More customer reviews)This eyecup works very well for the glasses wearer. It is well made, and not too expensive. The only problem is in the detent design. It is easy
to knock off in the field. I have lost two in six months.

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Bigger eyecup made of flexible rubber which gives better protection when using the camera in strong backlight condition. Also ideal for users wearing glasses. It can be used for E-300 and E-500. Manufacturer: Olympus Model Number: 260229

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Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP Live MOS Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization and 2.7 inch Swivel LCD (Body Only) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had the E-620 for a few weeks now and am quite pleased. Other options I considered were the Nikon D5000, Canon T1i & XSi, Panasonic G1, Sony A300 & A350, and Pentax K200D & K20D. Some comments with comparison notes:
1) SIZE & WEIGHT -- There's no point in having a camera that is so bulky that it doesn't get much use. Only the Panasonic G1 is smaller than the E-620 but not by much. There is a more dramatic difference in the size of the lenses, with Olympus being much smaller than all but Panasonic. Makes for a very compact outfit. For anyone used to the size of film SLRs, the E-620 is very similar. My wife also found it the most comfortable for her to hold.
2) BUILD QUALITY & HANDLING -- Very impressed with Olympus here. Solid, dense and with lots of sensibly placed buttons for direct access to settings. The other cameras had a less solid, plasticy feel, and their larger grips still weren't large enough for a comfortable pistol grip with my average size hands. The Sonys, in particular, had awkward button placement. The E-620 has a different style of grip where you hold the camera in the same way as old film SLRs, and is more appropriate to such a small camera. I carry the camera comfortably in my *left* hand, grasping the body and lens barrel with my fingers on the zoom ring; this frees my right hand from having to support the camera while working controls, and leaves my good hand open (I'm a righty).
3) LENSES -- The kit zooms from Olympus are reputed to be of higher quality than the others, as well as being more compact. So far I have been very impressed. I didn't want to buy a camera only to feel the kit lenses needed replacing; I'd rather spend on lenses that offer new capabilities, like fast primes or dedicated macro lenses. For anyone interesting in using legacy manual focus lenses, inexpensive adapters are available to attach virtually any MF SLR lens to Olympus bodies; used lenses can be quite inexpensive on eBay. Panasonic is limited by a very small range of lenses. For a two lens kit, the E-620 was the cheapest option.
4) IMAGE QUALITY -- I wanted to spend my time taking pictures, not fiddling with them in post-processing; Olympus has the best out-of-camera JPGs of the bunch (Canon and Pentax, in particular, fall short here). Although the smaller Olympus sensors are reputed to be a bit noisier, what noise there is is primarily luminance noise, giving images a film-like grain, rather than the colored blotches of chroma noise. I've found noise very well controlled through ISO1000, even with noise reduction set to LOW. For printing up through 8x10 and monitor display, I don't think noise is a concern up through ISO1600 (certainly with noise reduction set to standard). One caveat: be sure to keep gradation set at NORMAL (the default), not AUTO, unless you really need it; using AUTO gradation will noticeably increase noise.
5) IN BODY STABILIZATION -- I prefer in body stabilization to lens-based stabilization for two reasons: in body works with all lenses, and lenses can be more compact. You only carry one body but you are likely to carry multiple lenses, so it pays to keep them small.
6) LIVE VIEW & LCD -- Olympus has the best live view implementation (maybe tied with Sony) with quite quick autofocus. This is very important if you want anyone, e.g. my wife or random bystanders, who's used to compact cameras to use your SLR for snapshots or the like. The tilt & swivel LCD is very handy and seemed more natural than Nikon or Sony's implementations.Overall, I found the E-620 to be the best value for a two lens kit.Here are a few notes on the other cameras I considered:
Nikon D5000 -- Good build & handling, but a bit bulky. Live view isn't great. Much more expensive for a two lens kit than the Olympus.
Canon T1i -- Not impressed by the build quality, felt plasticy. Not comfortable for me to hold. Out of camera JPGs not so good. Inferior kit lenses. Much more expensive for a two lens kit than the Olympus.
Canon XSi -- Not impressed by the build quality, felt plasticy. Not comfortable for me to hold. Out of camera JPGs not so good. Bulkier than the Olympus. Inferior kit lenses.
Panasonic G1 -- Limited lens selection; will take legacy MF lenses but doesn't offer image stabilization with them since it isn't in the body. Plasticy. Not much smaller than the Olympus. More expensive than Olympus for a two lens kit.
Sony A300 & A350 -- Hated the button placement--ruled them out on that alone. Live view is very good though.
Pentax K200D & K20D -- Poor out of camera JPGs. Great handling and build quality. Short on features. Kit lenses aren't great. No live view / live view useless.

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Olympus E-620 Digital SLR Camera 262160 Digital SLR Cameras

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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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Olympus Evolt E300 8MP Digital SLR with Zuiko 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Digital SLR Lens

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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Olympus Camedia C-4000 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)Four primary factors pushed me to buy the Olympus C-4000.
1. I already own an Olympus D460 Zoom and have been very happy with it. The Camedia software is the best I have found for fixing pictures that are under-exposed or off color, and that is saying a lot. I have used many of the main image software including Microsoft and Adobe and the Camedia is still the best in my opinion.
2. Cost - when compared to the Canon G2, which in my opinion is the only other camera close in the 4.0 MP league, there was a $200 to $250 price difference. The on-camera ease-of-use features are slightly less on the Olympus C-4000, meaning you need to go into more menus and adjust things manually instead of turning a dial or pushing a button, but overall the camera will do all the same things that the G2 can.
3. Batteries - The largest cost savings advantage is the savings you get in batteries. The G2, and many other cameras like it, require special batteries. The C-4000 will run on 4-AA batteries. Of course standard alkaline will run out quickly, but using NiMH rechargable batteries works EXCELLENT. They last a very long time and you can use them over and over again. The camera comes with 2-CVR3 batteries, but don't let that scare you, the literature clearly states you can use standard AA batteries.
4. Maximum PC Magazine put the Olympus C-4000 head-to-head with the Canon G2 and several others and the C-4000 came out on top. Their review is worth reading. Their motto is (and it is on the cover of each magazine) "Maximum PC, Minimum BS" and they certainly live up to that claim in my experience so far.

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With exposure options ranging from automatic to manual control, as well as six innovative scene program modes, it's easy to customize the Olympus C-4000 digital camera for any shot you line up. The C-4000 features a 4-megapixel CCD sensor, a 3x optical zoom lens, and expandability via SmartMedia cards.
Optics and Resolution Featuring a CCD sensor with 4 million effective pixels, the C-4000 can capture digital images up to 2,288 x 1,712 pixels for 11-by-14-inch prints and beyond. The C-4000 features an Olympus aspherical glass lens (6.5-19.5mm, or 32-96mm equivalent in 35mm photography) that's designed exclusively for digital photography and provides vibrant color and sharp detail. It features an aperture range of f2.8 to f11.
Shoot both wide-angle and close-up shots easily with the 10x total zoom lens (3x optical and 3.3x digital). Use the macro mode to shoot a flower from a distance of 8 inches, or use supermacro mode to shoot a dewdrop on a petal from just 1 inch away.
Storage and Transfer The 16 MB SmartMedia memory card supplied with the C-4000 can store 16 images at the default high-quality setting (2,288 x 1,712 pixels). You can save images as either a TIFF or a JPEG. We recommend purchasing an additional high-capacity memory card.
Movie Mode In movie mode, the C-4000 produces digital videos in two formats--320 x 240 and 160 x 120 pixels--for QuickTime movies at 15 frames per second. You can shoot movies up to 2 minutes in length.
The limited resolution of your movies guarantees that this feature won't replace your camcorder, but it's perfect for when you just want to capture a quick movie and e-mail it to a friend or relative.
More Features The advanced manual controls let you take the picture you envision. Or choose full-auto mode for point-and-shoot simplicity. The C-4000 also includes six scene modes, including portrait, self-portrait, sport, landscape, landscape-portrait, and night scene. There are even four customizable "my modes" for instant access to your favorite combinations of camera settings. The new virtual-dial interface provides quick, easy, and intuitive access to all shooting modes, including the six scene modes.
For extra-large prints, choose the optimum image enlargement mode to increase image size to the equivalent of 7.6 million pixels (3,200 x 2,400). And with 3:2 aspect modes, you can print photos in traditional 35mm format. Olympus's noise-reduction technology helps prevent the image noise that could otherwise appear in longer exposures taken in low light. The C-4000's USB autoconnect enables you to connect to your PC automatically--no driver software is required to transfer photos to most computers
Power The camera is powered by two CR-V3 lithium-ion battery packs (included). We recommend getting a set or two of rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries (you'll need a total of four AA NiMH batteries to power the camera) and a charger. A digital camera will kill a set of alkaline batteries extremely quickly, especially if you're using the camera's LCD display, so they aren't recommended except in a pinch.
Size The C-4000 measures 4.3 by 3.0 by 2.8 inches and 10.5 ounces (without battery).
Contents This package includes the Olympus C-4000 digital camera, a 16 MB SmartMedia card, AV and USB cables, two CR-V3 lithium-ion battery packs (model LB-01), carrying strap, lens cap and retainer cord, Camedia Master software CD-ROM, drivers for Mac and Windows, and a printed instruction manual.

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