Need a quick guide into Olympus.

audiobean · 27th October 2005

Hi to all Olympus experts here, I'm new to digital cameras but have been doing quite a lot of research on the net for my new cams (websites include dpreview, pbase, and of course clubsnap!), intending to buy one soon and use it for daily photographing.

I have preference for real life colours. Some forumers mentioned that Olympus cams are good for their real life colours performance. I've seen some sample pics from the web and it's quite appealing, I love real colour more than anything else. I particularly liked the E500, but it's over my budget.

Can you recommend any Olympus cams which is ~$500 and provide quite decent performance? I haven't know Olympus cams very well so would really appreciate a quick guide into this brand!

Thanks for any advice and cheers.

tao · 27th October 2005

Hi, are you buying just a P&S compact or a camera with manual functions? Maybe it is good if you can let us know your 'technical' needs so that a camera can be recommended. Also, are you buying used or brand new?

By the way, it is true that Olympus colour is something quite special, it has that 'punchy lifelike colour' without being oversaturated like some other makes.

audiobean · 27th October 2005

Thanks for your reply. Yeah I have seen other cams, just feel that most of them are kind of lacking in something or over emphasising on something in terms of colour... which my humble experience think it isn't quite right (say fujifilm, the rich colour initially look wow, then after a while it doesn't grow on me as nothing in the real life will be that rich - kind of redish in colour). Until I saw E500's pics and further search on Olympus cams, then found out that this is probably what I wanted.

Well for my need of this cam, it should be ~$500, and I need to take picture of people at indoor preferably without flash (as I don't want the kind of washout no background effect). Thus would say it should be good at low-light condition. And of course I want good real-life colour.

Oh yes, a P&S will be fine, buying brand new. Any recommendation?

tao · 27th October 2005

Hi, if you are looking for a compact, I will suggest you get one with manual functions to get more creative control over your picture taking.

Right now, the latest SP310 looks very good to me. $500 can't get you much but should be able to get you this. If you can fork out more, check out the SP350 but likely way out of your budget. You can check it out here:

If you want something more slim and compact, literally a P&S, check out the i:robe IR-300. I have seen images posted at DPreview by users of it and they looks great. Colours is as brilliant as we will expect from Olympus and macro mode is amazing. Check it out here.

hammer_400 · 27th October 2005

since u wanna shoot afap w/o flash maybe can look for a 2nd hand c5050? which has a f1.8 lens.. or the mju 800 which has iso 1600....

audiobean · 28th October 2005

I couldn't resist but to post this: the samples for 'other lens' for e500 at dpreview is simply, perfect...

If I can have the budget this cam will be the best choice... BTW does anyone knows what 'other lens' at dpreview means, what lens exactly are they using?

Simply superb...

chainsmoker · 28th October 2005

U better dont tempt yourself there, or else start saving abt 4k.

Save yourself, its too late for me.

audiobean · 28th October 2005

Now I got it, the focal length x-x mm shown in dpreview is related to the zuiko digital olympus lens (other than the kit lens given) used in taking their 'other lens' samples. Correct me if wrong...

And the few photos that I liked most in dpreview is taken by the 35-100mm lens. The 40-150mm kit lens however still doesn't look that good to me compared to the 35-100mm... just from the samples seen no professional comparison though. Just wondering how much are the 35-100mm...

At most if budget allows get the original e500 + 14-45mm kit lens, then buy the 35-100mm lens...

(I must be dreaming...)

audiobean · 28th October 2005

just saw from the other thread for the pricelist of zuiko lens the 35-100mm lens cost 4k+...!

no wonder they looks so good.

but way over my budget la this undoubtly is an expensive hobby...

raycsk · 28th October 2005

Well comparing the 40-150 and 35-100 is much like comparing an Merc C200 and an SLK500.

40-150 is in the hundreds whilst the other's price tag is in the thousands. The lens elements and construction, body are simply different.

Well do agree that its not a cheap hobby. But when you think of other hobbies (such as golf, scuba diving, RC model cars or planes) they're expensive as well.

Frankly its still rather affordable in some aspects if you limit yourself to the 45-150, 50, or even value for money Sigma range of 4/3 lens

chainsmoker · 28th October 2005

Get the younger brother 50-200mm, 1/3 of the price of 35-100mm.
Then again, u gotta know wat u need. Even photos taken with the kit lens is impressive.

nomuziknolife · 29th October 2005

hey,i am selling my olympus c-770 ultrazoom,its very new,with fullbox.and a tama 0.45 wide angle lens,interested msg to my email at billy_yuen86@hotmail.com

apex · 30th October 2005

Simple colour of SP350.

nomuziknolife · 31st October 2005

????????????

27th October 2005	#1
audiobean New Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 39	Need a quick guide into Olympus. Hi to all Olympus experts here, I'm new to digital cameras but have been doing quite a lot of research on the net for my new cams (websites include dpreview, pbase, and of course clubsnap!), intending to buy one soon and use it for daily photographing. I have preference for real life colours. Some forumers mentioned that Olympus cams are good for their real life colours performance. I've seen some sample pics from the web and it's quite appealing, I love real colour more than anything else. I particularly liked the E500, but it's over my budget. Can you recommend any Olympus cams which is ~$500 and provide quite decent performance? I haven't know Olympus cams very well so would really appreciate a quick guide into this brand! Thanks for any advice and cheers.

27th October 2005	#2
tao Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Land of the Vegetables Posts: 2,951	Re: Need a quick guide into Olympus. Hi, are you buying just a P&S compact or a camera with manual functions? Maybe it is good if you can let us know your 'technical' needs so that a camera can be recommended. Also, are you buying used or brand new? By the way, it is true that Olympus colour is something quite special, it has that 'punchy lifelike colour' without being oversaturated like some other makes.

27th October 2005	#3
audiobean New Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 39	Re: Need a quick guide into Olympus. Thanks for your reply. Yeah I have seen other cams, just feel that most of them are kind of lacking in something or over emphasising on something in terms of colour... which my humble experience think it isn't quite right (say fujifilm, the rich colour initially look wow, then after a while it doesn't grow on me as nothing in the real life will be that rich - kind of redish in colour). Until I saw E500's pics and further search on Olympus cams, then found out that this is probably what I wanted. Well for my need of this cam, it should be ~$500, and I need to take picture of people at indoor preferably without flash (as I don't want the kind of washout no background effect). Thus would say it should be good at low-light condition. And of course I want good real-life colour. Oh yes, a P&S will be fine, buying brand new. Any recommendation?

27th October 2005	#4
tao Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Land of the Vegetables Posts: 2,951	Re: Need a quick guide into Olympus. Hi, if you are looking for a compact, I will suggest you get one with manual functions to get more creative control over your picture taking. Right now, the latest SP310 looks very good to me. $500 can't get you much but should be able to get you this. If you can fork out more, check out the SP350 but likely way out of your budget. You can check it out here: If you want something more slim and compact, literally a P&S, check out the i:robe IR-300. I have seen images posted at DPreview by users of it and they looks great. Colours is as brilliant as we will expect from Olympus and macro mode is amazing. Check it out here.

27th October 2005	#5
hammer_400 Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sg Posts: 692	Re: Need a quick guide into Olympus. since u wanna shoot afap w/o flash maybe can look for a 2nd hand c5050? which has a f1.8 lens.. or the mju 800 which has iso 1600....

28th October 2005	#6
audiobean New Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 39	Re: Need a quick guide into Olympus. I couldn't resist but to post this: the samples for 'other lens' for e500 at dpreview is simply, perfect... If I can have the budget this cam will be the best choice... BTW does anyone knows what 'other lens' at dpreview means, what lens exactly are they using? Simply superb...

28th October 2005	#7
chainsmoker Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: GagalandCloud9 Posts: 451	Re: Need a quick guide into Olympus. U better dont tempt yourself there, or else start saving abt 4k. Save yourself, its too late for me. Last edited by chainsmoker; 28th October 2005 at 02:00 AM.

28th October 2005	#10
raycsk Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: NE Singapore Posts: 405	Re: Need a quick guide into Olympus. Well comparing the 40-150 and 35-100 is much like comparing an Merc C200 and an SLK500. 40-150 is in the hundreds whilst the other's price tag is in the thousands. The lens elements and construction, body are simply different. Well do agree that its not a cheap hobby. But when you think of other hobbies (such as golf, scuba diving, RC model cars or planes) they're expensive as well. Frankly its still rather affordable in some aspects if you limit yourself to the 45-150, 50, or even value for money Sigma range of 4/3 lens Last edited by raycsk; 28th October 2005 at 11:33 AM.

29th October 2005	#12
nomuziknolife Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: khatib Posts: 123	Re: Need a quick guide into Olympus. hey,i am selling my olympus c-770 ultrazoom,its very new,with fullbox.and a tama 0.45 wide angle lens,interested msg to my email at billy_yuen86@hotmail.com

30th October 2005	#13
apex Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 385	Re: Need a quick guide into Olympus. Simple colour of SP350.

31st October 2005	#14
nomuziknolife Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: khatib Posts: 123	Re: Need a quick guide into Olympus. ????????????