Olympus E510/E520?

[Pugrpooh]

Does anyone have one of these? I went yesterday and handled Nikon, Sony and Canon, and the Canon XSi felt best in my hand. Then I came home and read some more and the Olympus gets very high marks and they mention the small size.

I think the Canon felt best to me because I have small hands and it fits me better. So now I wonder should I check out the Olympus? I also checked online and the E510 is going for less than $600 with 2 lenses. Are they any good? We've had both Sony and Canon p&s cameras and DH just got an Olympus 1020, but I'm not too familiar with Olympus.

Thanks!

Lynn

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Here's a link to an ongoing thread to get you going until some of the owners pop in to answer your questions...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1659521

 

[InsertWittyNameHere]

There are a couple of us on the DIS photography boards who have the 510. I bought it in July and haven't regretted it. Like you I looked at Canon, Nikon, Pentax Sony and Olympus. I narrowed my choice down to the Nikon D60 D80 and the E510. The Olympus felt best to me so thats what I got. I have average size hands so it wasn't a size issue for me.

Olympus also makes pretty good lenses but since they use the 4/3 mount you won't have the variety that you do with the other brands. Olympus and Sigma make 4/3 mount lenses.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I went from the Canon S3 to the Olympus E-510. I'd researched for a long time and liked what it had to offer. I was also considering the Canon XTi, but I kept coming back to the Oly, and it's been a good choice for me overall. As I said in your other thread, I'm still learning to use it (which would have been the case no matter what I bought, having never used an SLR before.)

It is a very light camera. I have it with 3 lenses and a bunch of other stuff in a Slingback and it's surprisingly easy to carry. That was important to me. Controls are fairly intuitive. The kit lenses are very good - I got the two and added a pancake. I have one more I'd like to get and that will probably be it for me. One good thing about 4/3 lenses these days is the introduction of the new micro 4/3 cameras that was announced last month. 4/3 lenses can be used with an adapter on the m4/3 which may be something you'd be interested in in the future.

If you want to visit a very active Oly forum, check out the Olympus SLR forum on dpreview.com. You'll find a lot of info there. As Witty said, there aren't too many of us here. Good luck with your decision.

PS thanks KAT!

 

[Pugrpooh]

I stopped by a local camera store today to check out the e510. They had just lowered the price on it by $100 today! They were offering it for $499.99 with the one lens. They haven't even gotten the e520 in yet. It felt good and I liked the size of it. It's just a tad heavier than the Canon XSi, but not a deal breaker, especially if I can get it for a great deal.

I found it on the internet with the two lenses for $427. I was pretty tempted, but I'm not ready to buy yet, plus I've never heard of that company, but they had good ratings.

I'll check out those Olympus threads and forums. Thanks!

Lynn

 

[ElizK]

I stopped by a local camera store today to check out the e510. They had just lowered the price on it by $100 today! They were offering it for $499.99 with the one lens. They haven't even gotten the e520 in yet. It felt good and I liked the size of it. It's just a tad heavier than the Canon XSi, but not a deal breaker, especially if I can get it for a great deal.

I found it on the internet with the two lenses for $427. I was pretty tempted, but I'm not ready to buy yet, plus I've never heard of that company, but they had good ratings.

I'll check out those Olympus threads and forums. Thanks!

Lynn

Where did you find it with two lenses at $427.00? I was all set to buy one a couple of weeks ago and did LOTS of research. I canceled for financial reasons... not because I don't still want the camera. Just wasn't the right time to buy. Be careful with the online stores. There are plenty of reputable companies, but at least as many that aren't. I bought (and canceled) thru Amazon.com Marketplace. Here's a good link to check for price comparisons:

http://www.pricespider.com/online-s...0-150mm---Black-online-store-deal-262072.html

Good luck! I can't wait to get mine (someday!).

 

[Pugrpooh]

Where did you find it with two lenses at $427.00? I was all set to buy one a couple of weeks ago and did LOTS of research. I canceled for financial reasons... not because I don't still want the camera. Just wasn't the right time to buy. Be careful with the online stores. There are plenty of reputable companies, but at least as many that aren't. I bought (and canceled) thru Amazon.com Marketplace. Here's a good link to check for price comparisons:

http://www.pricespider.com/online-s...0-150mm---Black-online-store-deal-262072.html

Good luck! I can't wait to get mine (someday!).

I found the good price at broadwayphoto. I've since done some research and it doesn't look like a company anyone would want to do business with. I should've known it was too good to be true, so it's back to watching and waiting ( and reading and doing research, etc.). It would be nice to have a new camera for our WDW trip next month and for Christmas, but it might be smart to see how Christmas spending is this year -- maybe there'll be good deals on cameras around the holidays. I definitely want a camera for our Alaska trip next summer.

 

[Mckymousefn]

I have the E500... and love it!!! You will not be disappointed with Olympus.

 

[ukcatfan]

I want to say one thing concerning Oly considering that price seems to be a major factor for you. The higher performance lenses (i.e. large aperture, better build, etc.) are typically much more expensive with the 4/3 system than with Pentax, Nikon, and Canon. If you do not plan on adding lenses, then it might be a good deal. If you do plan on adding some, then it might cost more in the long run. The D40/D40x/D60 are some of the smallest, so I do not know if you handled one of these or not. Also, Pentax just announced the K2000, which is smaller than their older models. It should be out very shortly.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Here are some threads you might find helpful:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=29538385

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=29496048

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=29575018

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=29511321&q=kit+lens+image&qf=m

 

[Code]

I want to say one thing concerning Oly considering that price seems to be a major factor for you. The higher performance lenses (i.e. large aperture, better build, etc.) are typically much more expensive with the 4/3 system than with Pentax, Nikon, and Canon.

This simply isn't true. While Olympus does have some very expensive lenses at their "super high grade" tier, they are expensive because they offer things that simply don't exist in any other brand.. two f/2.0 zooms, the longest f/2.8 tele zoom made, longest f/2.0 prime made, etc.. But in the "high grade" tier where you find the 14-54, 12-60, 50-200 and 11-22, prices are certainly cheaper than C/N, with value rivaling Pentax.

 

[ukcatfan]

This simply isn't true. While Olympus does have some very expensive lenses at their "super high grade" tier, they are expensive because they offer things that simply don't exist in any other brand.. two f/2.0 zooms, the longest f/2.8 tele zoom made, longest f/2.0 prime made, etc.. But in the "high grade" tier where you find the 14-54, 12-60, 50-200 and 11-22, prices are certainly cheaper than C/N, with value rivaling Pentax.

The Oly 50mm f/2 is ~$400 where the P/C/N versions are ~$100-200 and wider at f/1.4-1.8. That $200-300 might not be too much of a difference, but it looks like the OP is wanting to stay cheap. There are also many more inexpensive third party options for those three brands and Sony. It is hard to even compare the other brands to the 4/3 system though b/c the focal lengths and control of DOF is so different. I am not saying it is a bad system, but it is just not an inexpensive one for the budget shopper.