Olympus Evolt Series

[Pea-n-Me]

I know. I do like to keep my eyes open to see what's new (which I guess shows me what I'm missing, LOL).

I could see moving up to an E3 or it's predecessor someday, but the weight and size of that kind of takes away from what I like about Olympus. I do like the fact that it's weathersealed. And it seems fairly complicated to use (at least for me right now) and of course, pricey.

The E30 and the 620 have some nice features with the smaller size, but no weathersealing and presumably, high pricing where they're new. I've looked at the E30 but there wasn't enough there to justify an upgrade. The artsy stuff is cool, but doesn't do much for me personally. I'll have to keep my eyes on the 620. Having a swivel screen is a nice feature and more focus points but again, probably not enough to justify an upgrade. I also wonder about having more MPs and how that will affect the high ISO shots.

Of course, if any of these were to come my way at an irresistable price, who knows what could happen.

I'm intrigued with the micro 4/3 cameras and want to see what Olympus has in store there. With an adapter, all of our Oly lenses will work. It might be something to think about for the family so we have a good system in place that all of us can use, rather than the mish mash that we have going on now (The HP DD liked to use died on our trip and DH's S2 is in need of repair, too.) I think my DS (make that I know my DS) is itching for my 510 and I'd like to encourage the hobby for him since he likes it and seems to have taken to it pretty easily (unlike Mom ) so when and if I do upgrade, he'll be taking over the 510. (We saw a good deal on a 420 recently but we're holding off right now.)

I think for the time being I need to figure out lenses more than bodies. I'm fairly certain I'm staying with Olympus so I think it's time to start investing in great glass and I'll worry about the bodies later on.

That's my plan for this week, anyway.

 

[JoeDif]

LOL

The newer bodies are great but I'd like to see them put out a few more lens choices. As I'll most likely stick with Olympus also I'd like to get:

1) fast zoom or telephoto

2) good macro lens - anywhere from 50 - 100mm

3) new fast prime lens to replace the OM lens I just got.

 

[oogieboogieman]

I know. I do like to keep my eyes open to see what's new (which I guess shows me what I'm missing, LOL).

I could see moving up to an E3 or it's predecessor someday, but the weight and size of that kind of takes away from what I like about Olympus. I do like the fact that it's weathersealed. And it seems fairly complicated to use (at least for me right now) and of course, pricey.

The E30 and the 620 have some nice features with the smaller size, but no weathersealing and presumably, high pricing where they're new. I've looked at the E30 but there wasn't enough there to justify an upgrade. The artsy stuff is cool, but doesn't do much for me personally. I'll have to keep my eyes on the 620. Having a swivel screen is a nice feature and more focus points but again, probably not enough to justify an upgrade. I also wonder about having more MPs and how that will affect the high ISO shots.

Of course, if any of these were to come my way at an irresistable price, who knows what could happen.

I'm intrigued with the micro 4/3 cameras and want to see what Olympus has in store there. With an adapter, all of our Oly lenses will work. It might be something to think about for the family so we have a good system in place that all of us can use, rather than the mish mash that we have going on now (The HP DD liked to use died on our trip and DH's S2 is in need of repair, too.) I think my DS (make that I know my DS) is itching for my 510 and I'd like to encourage the hobby for him since he likes it and seems to have taken to it pretty easily (unlike Mom ) so when and if I do upgrade, he'll be taking over the 510. (We saw a good deal on a 420 recently but we're holding off right now.)

I think for the time being I need to figure out lenses more than bodies. I'm fairly certain I'm staying with Olympus so I think it's time to start investing in great glass and I'll worry about the bodies later on.

That's my plan for this week, anyway.

That is what I thought originally. The reason I looked at the E-3 was for the weathersealing. That's all. Then I was looking at some other forums and saw some of the most beautiful photos that were produced with a 5-6 year old camera with only 5 megapixels. There's alot of features that were carried over from that camera to the E-3. The main reason I like the E-1 is almost all of the setting can be changed very quickly without having to go into the menus.

I got the okay from my wife to purchase a new camera strap and I got the Op-tech strap, it really does make the camera feel lighter. It's a very comfortable strap that was recommended by lots of people on this photography board.

Just working on my wife for a new/different camera bag at this time. No-telling what it will be next week, or the week after.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

LOL

The newer bodies are great but I'd like to see them put out a few more lens choices. As I'll most likely stick with Olympus also I'd like to get:

1) fast zoom or telephoto

2) good macro lens - anywhere from 50 - 100mm

3) new fast prime lens to replace the OM lens I just got.

Originally I was thinking about a Sigma 30 or 50mm f 1.8, but it was about $500 and at that point, I wasn't even sure about anything when it came to lenses. So I picked up the pancake 25mm f/2.8 for $211 and it hasn't disappointed. It may not do great on some of the infamous dark rides (don't go by me necessarily, maybe one of the Oly Masters could crank something better out with it than I could), but I had to question if I really wanted to spend that much money just to get a few pictures on a ride anyway. For most of my usual low light situations, it does very well.

Too bad we didn't all live nearby so we could swap lenses to try them out and see if we like them.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

That is what I thought originally. The reason I looked at the E-3 was for the weathersealing. That's all. Then I was looking at some other forums and saw some of the most beautiful photos that were produced with a 5-6 year old camera with only 5 megapixels. There's alot of features that were carried over from that camera to the E-3. The main reason I like the E-1 is almost all of the setting can be changed very quickly without having to go into the menus.

So you think the E-1 does pretty well because of the lower MPs? It makes sense. Smart man.

 

[oogieboogieman]

We have had a couple of days of warmer weather and trees are starting to bloom.

 

[JoeDif]

Slacker that I am , I finally got around to ordering the OM to 4/3 adapter. Hopefully I'll have it this week and I can start testing the 50 F1.8

 

[ElizK]

We have had a couple of days of warmer weather and trees are starting to bloom.

You need to post this on the "Signs of Spring" thread!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2102945

 

[Pugrpooh]

Some friends of mine got together and gave me a gift card for my birthday from the local camera store. Yesterday I ordered the 25mm pancake (they don't stock it in the store for some reason).

This'll give me a good selection of lenses. I have both kit lenses, the 50mm f/1.8 OM, the 70-300 and now the 25mm. I think any new acquisitions will be to upgrade to a better quality lens, which would mean selling one of these that I already have. But we'll see if they come out with anything this year.

I'm getting anxious to take some spring pics too, but nothing here yet. It's in the teens this morning.

 

[oogieboogieman]

Went back to these silly trees today and they were blooming...E-1 w/ my favorite lens my 50mm F/2. I think it could be better with a camera with IS, but this is not too bad.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I am jealous that you guys are starting to get spring pictures (very nice, btw). We still have snow and ice here. I haven't seen one hint of spring anywhere.

Pugrpooh, I think you'll really enjoy the pancake. Let us know.

Joe, please share your thoughts/info about the adaptor when you can. I still don't know if that's the way I should go. Older lenses will not AF, is that correct?

I thought I almost got one of the 70-300 Circuit City closeout lenses the other day when a friend at work mentioned he'd seen one there in his neck of the woods. I haven't heard back from him so I assume it was gone. Bummer. I was going to get it and see what I could do with it at baseball. Oh well. Keeping all my options open.

I was going to ask your opinion of a deal I saw on CL. For $1000 they were selling an E330 (which didn't get great reviews (goot good ones, though), but I'm sure DS would have liked it regardless) and a bunch of lenses, some of which I didn't have, like the 70-300, and some other stuff. I thought $800 might be a good offer but it's a moot point because it's gone now. Thoughts anyway?

I haven't used my camera much as it's just too cold out here. Hopefully soon.

 

[Pugrpooh]

I went to Circuit City on Monday and they had a display 420 with the 14-42 lens for $325. The signs said it was the last 7 days. So I went back and forth and since I ordered the 25mm, I decided to go back and get the 420, rationalizing that I could play around with it and then sell it on ebay.

Yesterday I was going to go back and didn't make it. The CC is near DD6's school, so today I decided to go back before school let out and get it if it was still there. Well, I didn't leave work soon enough, so we stopped in after I picked her up.

The signs said the last 4 days and the 420 was still there, marked down to $225. A couple was standing in front of it and the clerk was taking it off of the display for them. I asked the guy if he was going to buy it and he said yes. I told him I was glad because I really didn't need it and he said he didn't either, but he was going to Iraq tomorrow and he thought he'd take it with him. I wished him luck and told him he had a good camera.

I'm glad I didn't get there before he did. If I had left work 10 minutes earlier like I had planned, I'd be happily playing with it right now, but I'm glad he got it instead of me.

Now I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my 25mm.

 

[JoeDif]

I am jealous that you guys are starting to get spring pictures (very nice, btw). We still have snow and ice here. I haven't seen one hint of spring anywhere.

Pugrpooh, I think you'll really enjoy the pancake. Let us know.

Joe, please share your thoughts/info about the adaptor when you can. I still don't know if that's the way I should go. Older lenses will not AF, is that correct?


I haven't used my camera much as it's just too cold out here. Hopefully soon.

OK...so the adapter arrived today and I've been playing around with it a little bit. You are correct that with the OM lens and adapter everything is manual. You need to focus wide open at 1.8 then stop the aperture down to what you want it to use. With it you can use either M or A mode. I've been using manual so far but I've read that if you use A mode the meter will pick the shutter speed. One other thing I noticed is that the camera display doesn't show the aperture being used.

Here is a test photo I took at f2.8

 

[JoeDif]

I went to Circuit City on Monday and they had a display 420 with the 14-42 lens for $325. The signs said it was the last 7 days. So I went back and forth and since I ordered the 25mm, I decided to go back and get the 420, rationalizing that I could play around with it and then sell it on ebay.

Yesterday I was going to go back and didn't make it. The CC is near DD6's school, so today I decided to go back before school let out and get it if it was still there. Well, I didn't leave work soon enough, so we stopped in after I picked her up.

The signs said the last 4 days and the 420 was still there, marked down to $225. A couple was standing in front of it and the clerk was taking it off of the display for them. I asked the guy if he was going to buy it and he said yes. I told him I was glad because I really didn't need it and he said he didn't either, but he was going to Iraq tomorrow and he thought he'd take it with him. I wished him luck and told him he had a good camera.

I'm glad I didn't get there before he did. If I had left work 10 minutes earlier like I had planned, I'd be happily playing with it right now, but I'm glad he got it instead of me.

Now I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my 25mm.

That is such a great story!!! I'm sure he will enjoy the camera.

We will need to see some photos with the 25mm when you get it

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Here is a test photo I took at f2.8

Looks great! (I have that same Mickey, btw.)

Do you mind if I ask how much the adaptor costs (roughly) and where you'd get one? What about the OM lenses?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I went to Circuit City on Monday and they had a display 420 with the 14-42 lens for $325. The signs said it was the last 7 days. So I went back and forth and since I ordered the 25mm, I decided to go back and get the 420, rationalizing that I could play around with it and then sell it on ebay.

Yesterday I was going to go back and didn't make it. The CC is near DD6's school, so today I decided to go back before school let out and get it if it was still there. Well, I didn't leave work soon enough, so we stopped in after I picked her up.

The signs said the last 4 days and the 420 was still there, marked down to $225. A couple was standing in front of it and the clerk was taking it off of the display for them. I asked the guy if he was going to buy it and he said yes. I told him I was glad because I really didn't need it and he said he didn't either, but he was going to Iraq tomorrow and he thought he'd take it with him. I wished him luck and told him he had a good camera.

I'm glad I didn't get there before he did. If I had left work 10 minutes earlier like I had planned, I'd be happily playing with it right now, but I'm glad he got it instead of me.

Now I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my 25mm.

Neat story! I guess it was meant to be that he got it!

(DH is sitting here reading with me, telling me I "should have stopped by CC today". What a guy!)

 

[JoeDif]

Looks great! (I have that same Mickey, btw.)

Do you mind if I ask how much the adaptor costs (roughly) and where you'd get one? What about the OM lenses?

I got both the adapter and lens from ebay.

I won the lens by auction and paid $16 plus $7 shipping,

I bought the adapter from Fotodiox on their ebay store for $24.95 with free shipping. You can probably get a cheaper adapter for about $15 from one of the Chinese or Hong Kong outfits on ebay but Fotodiox is based in Illinois so I figured I'd buy American. You can actually get an adapter directly from Olympus but those are about $100 and the quality of mine seems just as good.

One thing, make sure the adapter is all metal made because I've read some can be plastic. Also make sure they adapter allows focusing to infinity. I think some of the poorer quality adapter have some focus restrictions.

There are also adapters with electronic chips that contact with the camera body that beep when you are properly focused but I don't know much about those

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks, Joe. I will file that away.

I went to my local Circut City today and it was picked thread bare. All that was left it seemed was some boxes of wires. Bad timing on my part, LOL.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Is the adaptor the same as an extension tube?

 

[JoeDif]

Is the adaptor the same as an extension tube?

http://www.slrphotographyguide.com/camera/lens/extensiontube.shtml


This will probably explain extension tubes better than I can. An adapter and extension tubes are 2 different things. Just when we start to get a handle on things they throw something else in the mix