Nikon D40x vs Olympus E410

[stw78]

Dear CSers,

I am a new to DSLR cameras, looking to buy one soon. Am currently looking at the Nikon D40x & Olympus E410. I have gone through similiar threads relating to these 2 models, but still quite undecided. Hope to get more feedback from current users. Thanks.

Cheers,
TW

[thinkvision]

should buy D40X or E510....
D40X and 18-200VR lens is perfect.
E510 use anti-shake CCD, but wether it can work perfectly with leica 14-150 OIS...dont know? If can, I will buy it,,,double anti-shake is powerful..

[Mikefellh]

Originally Posted by stw78 Dear CSers, I am a new to DSLR cameras, looking to buy one soon. Am currently looking at the Nikon D40x & Olympus E410. I have gone through similiar threads relating to these 2 models, but still quite undecided. Hope to get more feedback from current users.

You're never going to get an unbiased answer, not in ANY forum, as each user has their own emotional preferences. You also won't get an unbiased opinion in the store; the store usually recommends the camera that makes them the most profit, or one that they know the most.

For my own choice I made it years ago, and that was Olympus because of the SSWF and superior colour. I eliminated Nikon early on in my decision process because their cameras were unimpressive.

Unless you need a camera as small as the E-410, I suggest you look at the E-510...image stabilization on the body, and larger battery than the E-410 (the E-410 uses a smaller battery than all other E-system cameras in order to make the body smaller).

For lots of general E-system info check out this site:
http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/oly-e/

[Mikefellh]

Originally Posted by thinkvision should buy D40X or E510.... D40X and 18-200VR lens is perfect. E510 use anti-shake CCD, but wether it can work perfectly with leica 14-150 OIS...dont know? If can, I will buy it,,,double anti-shake is powerful..

The two IS systems would fight each other...the lens will sense the body moving down, but the sensor will see the image moving up. You'd have to disable one or the other.

While the IS/VR lenses may be nice, if you get IS in the body it should be able to work with ANY lens you own, even manual lenses (like Olympus OM).

[dorts]

Go to the store, get the salesperson to let you feel both cameras, decide which feels better, buy, fullstop. LOL.

[OlyFlyer]

Don't ask anybody.
Make up your own mind out of what you believe.
If possible, get one CF and one SD (I think D40 is only taking SD, no CF), go to a shop and try out in a few similar shots. Go home and check out the pictures.

There is no way you can get unbiased answers, not even a salesman is to be trusted. He is selling what he makes most money on or what his limited (often very very limited) knowledge makes him say. IMO a salesman is the last to trust unless you have a personal or long term relation. Sorry if I hurt some feelings.

Probably both cameras are good but the Nikon is very basic and more expensive than Oly, IMO not comparable at all with E-410. Pricewise maybe the E-510. Anyway, I would get the E-410 if those were the only options, but I would prefer to wait for the E-510. Again, that is me. Oly biased since about 25 years. I think we had several discussions like this many time before. Pls make a search for pros and cons. I will not repeat everything once again.

I know it is not easy to decide but once you have the camera, whichever it will be, spend time on learning it. Most of the results depends on the photographer and not the camera.

[boochap]

buy both lahh.. then u can make your own comparison and tell us your unbias story.

[Mikefellh]

Originally Posted by Mikefellh You're never going to get an unbiased answer, not in ANY forum, as each user has their own emotional preferences. You also won't get an unbiased opinion in the store; the store usually recommends the camera that makes them the most profit, or one that they know the most.

Originally Posted by OlyFlyer There is no way you can get unbiased answers, not even a salesman is to be trusted.

Is there an echo in here?

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by Mikefellh Is there an echo in here?

Sorry Mike, not intentional echo. Maybe expressions of same kind of life experience and age? Actually I did not even read your post before I answered.

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by Mikefellh ... if you get IS in the body it should be able to work with ANY lens you own, even manual lenses (like Olympus OM).

That is still to be verified. I hope you are right, but it may need some communication with the lens, since it may need that information to decide the possible level of shake. Long focal length lenses need larger anti shake corrections than wide angle lenses. So, unless the focal length can be entered via a menu it may not work with manual lenses.

But again, I hope you are right.

[huggable]

Agree. Try posting the same poll in the Nikon section, you'll see the votes swing the other way round.

Originally Posted by OlyFlyer Don't ask anybody. Make up your own mind out of what you believe. If possible, get one CF and one SD (I think D40 is only taking SD, no CF), go to a shop and try out in a few similar shots. Go home and check out the pictures. There is no way you can get unbiased answers, not even a salesman is to be trusted. He is selling what he makes most money on or what his limited (often very very limited) knowledge makes him say. IMO a salesman is the last to trust unless you have a personal or long term relation. Sorry if I hurt some feelings. Probably both cameras are good but the Nikon is very basic and more expensive than Oly, IMO not comparable at all with E-410. Pricewise maybe the E-510. Anyway, I would get the E-410 if those were the only options, but I would prefer to wait for the E-510. Again, that is me. Oly biased since about 25 years. I think we had several discussions like this many time before. Pls make a search for pros and cons. I will not repeat everything once again. I know it is not easy to decide but once you have the camera, whichever it will be, spend time on learning it. Most of the results depends on the photographer and not the camera.

[dorts]

LOL. He has already did so.

http://forums.clubsnap.com/showthread.php?t=279098

And the votes currently are not the other way round.

[obewan]

My answer to this kind of qns is alway neutral.
I love Olympus for their natural color.
I love Nikon for their speed and popularity.

I had chosen Nikon myself with no regret.
But sometimes I see posts by some Olympus shooters here, I think Olympus had
their strength as well. Recently, they are putting a strong fight by improving on their
AF speed, ISO and IS on body.

So 1 vs 1. The final results still depend on the person behind them.

[grantyale]

According to forum discussion and samples on dpreview, E410 does have pretty strong noise-reduction, while the raw signal to noise ratio may have been slightly improved.

[drakon09]

And according to samples in ClubSnap, NR can be turned completely off.

[grantyale]

True. There has always been the compromise between noise and detail and the ultimate solution is still sensor technology instead of signal processing. Anyway I don't think anyone would go wrong with either camera.

[Blu-By-U]

Originally Posted by obewan .....The final results still depend on the person behind them.

So very true. If the shooter is like me, then it does not matter what I hold. The results would be horrible. A person should learn and adapt to the system and use it to it's highest capabilities. Relying on hardware to improve is not the way.

Do hold both the cameras. Attend Clubs get-together/ fellowship...then try out the cameras. Be your own judge. Buy what you are most comfortable with.

[drakon09]

Originally Posted by grantyale True. There has always been the compromise between noise and detail and the ultimate solution is still sensor technology instead of signal processing. Anyway I don't think anyone would go wrong with either camera.

I would.

I don't own Nikkors...

[espion]

Originally Posted by grantyale ... the ultimate solution is still sensor technology instead of signal processing.

Isn't signal processing part and parcel of sensor technologies? There will be no sensor without processing.

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by espion Isn't signal processing part and parcel of sensor technologies? There will be no sensor without processing.

Yes, that is true, without signal processing there is no image at all. It is just about more or less noise cancelation. When the NR is off the NR processing is off, not the signal processing. There is always a need for noise handling, in all electronics noise is a fact of life. Not possible to create any electronic circuitry without any noise, so some kind of noise handling is always at present. When NR is on a more aggressive one is switched on.