Thinking of switching to E510

[DiGdUb]

i'm presently using nikon d40x. but would like more features, so look to either switch to e510 or sony a100. my hands are quite small so bigger cameras make reaching the controls not easy, so looking at the smaller models.

however, some of my concerns are that the 4/3 system does not seem to have any 'superzoom' lens that other manufacturers have, for eg, i have the nikkor 27-300 mm (35mm equiv) lens and i believe sigma and tamron have 3rd party options avail to canon, nikon, sony and pentax cameras. i know it comes at a price with distortion, but i like the flexibility without changing lens. i might get the 14-54mm F2.8-3.5 though. how much is the 14-54mm F2.8-3.5 and is it still avail in shops?

another thing is the flash. i'm using sb400 on my d40x. it is cheap and performs quite well. i read that the fl36 is awfully slow when refreshing, and that is an issue to me. the fl50 might be a bit of a stretch for my budget. how is olympus's flash system compared to others like nikon or canon? does it take a lot of effort to get correct exposures with flash?

what i like about the e510 is that the size fits my hands, acceptable noise level, dust removal and the IS, basically packed with features for a reasonable price.

please advise. thanks.

[dorts]

Originally Posted by DiGdUb i'm presently using nikon d40x. but would like more features, so look to either switch to e510 or sony a100. my hands are quite small so bigger cameras make reaching the controls not easy, so looking at the smaller models. however, some of my concerns are that the 4/3 system does not seem to have any 'superzoom' lens that other manufacturers have, for eg, i have the nikkor 27-300 mm (35mm equiv) lens and i believe sigma and tamron have 3rd party options avail to canon, nikon, sony and pentax cameras. i know it comes at a price with distortion, but i like the flexibility without changing lens. i might get the 14-54mm F2.8-3.5 though. how much is the 14-54mm F2.8-3.5 and is it still avail in shops? another thing is the flash. i'm using sb400 on my d40x. it is cheap and performs quite well. i read that the fl36 is awfully slow when refreshing, and that is an issue to me. the fl50 might be a bit of a stretch for my budget. how is olympus's flash system compared to others like nikon or canon? does it take a lot of effort to get correct exposures with flash? what i like about the e510 is that the size fits my hands, acceptable noise level, dust removal and the IS, basically packed with features for a reasonable price. please advise. thanks.

Welcome to the Four Thirds Forum. What do you mean by superzoom? You mean a all-rounder lens? Like with wide-angle and telephoto? Or telephoto? The ZD 40-150mm is 80-300mm, 35mm equiv. The ZD 70-300mm is 140-600mm, 35mm equiv. If you want a all-rounder lens/walkabout lens. There currently is only a ZD 18-180mm, which is 36-360mm, 35mm equiv.

The 14-54mm is still available, around $750-$800++.

About the flash, I'm not too sure. Wait for the rest to advice. But if you need fast refresh, get the FL-50R.

[DiGdUb]

Originally Posted by dorts Welcome to the Four Thirds Forum. What do you mean by superzoom? You mean a all-rounder lens? Like with wide-angle and telephoto? Or telephoto? The ZD 40-150mm is 80-300mm, 35mm equiv. The ZD 70-300mm is 140-600mm, 35mm equiv. If you want a all-rounder lens/walkabout lens. There currently is only a ZD 18-180mm, which is 36-360mm, 35mm equiv. The 14-54mm is still available, around $750-$800++. About the flash, I'm not too sure. Wait for the rest to advice. But if you need fast refresh, get the FL-50R.

thanks. still thinking about it. i probably get the single kit lens first and get the 14-54, then add a zoom with longer range later. decision decision decisions.....

[dorts]

Why not get the dual kit lens? It's pretty cheap actually. And the ZD 40-150mm performs very well for a kit lens.

[marky]

Originally Posted by DiGdUb i'm presently using nikon d40x. but would like more features, so look to either switch to e510 or sony a100. my hands are quite small so bigger cameras make reaching the controls not easy, so looking at the smaller models. however, some of my concerns are that the 4/3 system does not seem to have any 'superzoom' lens that other manufacturers have, for eg, i have the nikkor 27-300 mm (35mm equiv) lens and i believe sigma and tamron have 3rd party options avail to canon, nikon, sony and pentax cameras. i know it comes at a price with distortion, but i like the flexibility without changing lens. i might get the 14-54mm F2.8-3.5 though. how much is the 14-54mm F2.8-3.5 and is it still avail in shops? another thing is the flash. i'm using sb400 on my d40x. it is cheap and performs quite well. i read that the fl36 is awfully slow when refreshing, and that is an issue to me. the fl50 might be a bit of a stretch for my budget. how is olympus's flash system compared to others like nikon or canon? does it take a lot of effort to get correct exposures with flash? what i like about the e510 is that the size fits my hands, acceptable noise level, dust removal and the IS, basically packed with features for a reasonable price. please advise. thanks.

The Kit lens and the 40-150mm lens is good enough, with the SSWF in the camera, there's not a need to be scared of changing lens anywhere. Read up on the reviews of the cameras first.. i'm sure u will like it..

[Kirika]

Well, I am using the E510 with the new 14-42 and the "old" 40-150. Between the two I think it does the job pretty darned well. I don't know about you, but I really do tend to use the 14-42 more than the 40-150. I mean, it's one lens for long range and another for wide. You could try the combination at some Harvey Norman and see how it suits you. E510's are also falling out of the sky as people upgrade to the E3 =p Body wise, I'd say it is an upgrade to the D40/40x 'coz it has stabilization and (seldom used for me) Live View. My friend with the Canon 400D realized just how useful stabilization is when she suddenly found herself without it.

As for flash...I guess you could chance it and get the 2nd hand FL-50, but I hear there are 3rd party TTL compatible flashes out there. Cheaper than the FL-50. I don't use flash much at all, so I can't give you a review on those.

[headfonz]

there is the upcoming Leica D 14-150mm OIS (equiv 28-300 in 35mm format). but it costs a bomb. much cheaper solution would be to get the dual kit lens set since there is SSWF. you could hang on to your D40x until the 14-150mm is available to decide.

i came from Nikon system, personally, i still think the nikon speedlights are much better than what olympus offers. the panny flashes are rebranded olys, only true alternative is the Metz Mecablitz.

Since you already have the D40x + 18-200, any reason why its not meeting your needs? the e510 would provide you with live view, in-body IS, SSWF and full AF compatibility with 4/3 mounts lenses. only you would know if the switch costs is worth it.

[DiGdUb]

Thanks for the advice. The attraction is mainly with the live view as i sometimes find that i need live view. The in body IS is also very attractive, and i'm looking for a 2.8 and wider lens. Maybe i get the dual kit lens and flash first.

[dorts]

Originally Posted by DiGdUb Thanks for the advice. The attraction is mainly with the live view as i sometimes find that i need live view. The in body IS is also very attractive, and i'm looking for a 2.8 and wider lens. Maybe i get the dual kit lens and flash first.

You will definitely love the IS.

If you have the budget, how about the ZD 12-60mm SWD f/2.8-4.0? It's pretty wide.

But the kit lenses will do just fine.

[Kirika]

Well just to give a little dose of reality, Live View currently only has manual focus when it's activated. In order to AF, the mirror must flip back down, focus, then flip up again to take the shot, causing about 0.5-1sec shutter lag. So if you're thinking of using LV for shooting anything that moves, it may not be the best choice. That said, I do use it when trying to take shots at odd angles and it's especially useful for composing infrared shots.

As for wide, the 7-14mm is currently the widest available and it's pretty darned expensive. 11-22mm is a sharp and popular lens at the moment for wide. 12-60mm is...well...wide, too =p I hear there would be a consumer level super wide lens coming out in 2008, so keep your eye out for that one. Some believe it may be an 8-16mm.

[harper]

well... the live view really comes in handy... i was at marina square the other day trying to take photos at the "luo zi xiang" dancing competition and being very far away, i have no use of the eye piece and had to hold my cam up high to take the photos.

If not for live view, i'll not have known how to compose my shots except to just shoot blindly...

[dorts]

But the shutter lag, not a problem?

[harper]

well... was just using it to compose the shot...

switched it on to compose, off it, holding cam in same place and snap i go...

[Kirika]

I think that's a very legitimate way to use the LV. Pure LV in a PnS style won't work so well. Once you understand the strengths and limitations of the camera, the E510 is quite a joy to use.

Originally Posted by harper well... was just using it to compose the shot... switched it on to compose, off it, holding cam in same place and snap i go...

[DiGdUb]

bought it! with fl36r flash. the flash recharge time not that scary afterall. quite ok to me. love the colors.

[Kirika]

haha well, have fun with the Silenced Pistol.

[marky]

Originally Posted by DiGdUb bought it! with fl36r flash. the flash recharge time not that scary afterall. quite ok to me. love the colors.

Enjoy the camera, i know you'll just love it..

[harper]

Originally Posted by Kirika I think that's a very legitimate way to use the LV. Pure LV in a PnS style won't work so well. Once you understand the strengths and limitations of the camera, the E510 is quite a joy to use.

Yap, a joy to use...

[DiGdUb]

i noticed that there is a vibration when turning the camera off. may i ask if this is normal and if so, what is the camera doing? thanks.

[drakon09]

Originally Posted by DiGdUb i noticed that there is a vibration when turning the camera off. may i ask if this is normal and if so, what is the camera doing? thanks.

It is the IS locking into park position.