Olympus Evolt Series

[kim]

I'm going to start some classes next week at Wolf Camera. I've had my E510 for a year now--just playing around and trying to become familiar with some of the stuff on it. I'm looking forward to learning more about how to use it better.

 

[oogieboogieman]

First day with some time off and no rain, had to take the 510 and 50mm for a little fun. First shot is straight JPEG from the camera, second and third photo is RAW. Why do I need to shoot in RAW format? I'm not seeing much difference in these photos.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Why do I need to shoot in RAW format? I'm not seeing much difference in these photos.

Hey, they look just like mine! LOL How do you like using the 510? How does it compare to all of your other cameras?

I think the advantage of shooting RAW is having more creative control after the fact, as the camera compresses the information for JPEG, whereas with RAW, nothing is changed. So in pp JPEGs, you'd be forced to work with information that's already altered (and thereby limited), whereas in RAW, you have a blank slate.

I find it very handy especially for adjusting WB, +/-sharpening, +/-contrast, and a few other tweaks. It's helped me save some pictures I would have otherwise thrown away. I've gotten to even like the Oly Master software for this (but I sometimes also use PS which can fine tune a little better; eventually will probably move to just PS or LR, but not completely sure at this point. For now, what I'm doing works).

Fool around with some RAW shots - try a whole session. Shoot in Auto WB. Set sharpening, NR and such to zero. Then use the OM RAW development tool to pp. Play with all the options just to see what they do. They're actually the same as in camera, so in some ways it's easier in pp, and it also helps you understand the controls on the camera, too.

The one thing I haven't tried yet is bulk processing. That would make it very easy, I suppose, in doing batches, however I like to look at each picture and see whether it needs to be changed or not. (Auto WB actually does a pretty good job, especially in sunlight.) As I mentioned upthread, I've been doing a ton of baseball pictures and some of them can be a little challenging. With RAW, I can help them along a bit so they look pretty darn good most of the time (if I do say so myself ). I send out links of all the games to families so they can enjoy (and print) the pictures also.

I just realized in SmugMug that when they print pics, they change the colors a bit. "Enhance" I think they call it. I figured out how to reset it so that doesn't happen. If they only knew how much time I spent already enhancing.

The other thing is that the RAW files take up a huge amount of space. I have a relatively new computer and a lot of times I get the pop up that says my C drive is running low on space. This drives DH nuts so I have to try to keep up with my pics as much as I can, but I have about 600-700/weekend just with baseball (two double headers per w/e plus town games) and others for various events and stuff. We got an external HD (our second) and I move them there, but still, space is a challenge. But one that's worth it, I think. I still have a lot of work to do with my Disney pics from January, just basically organizing and finalizing, going through them one more time to see if there's anything I missed, then putting them to disc and finishing them on SmugMug, etc. Then I have to go through all of my pics and do the same. So that's the only thing, the pp has added a lot of extra time to all of this, but again, I think it's worth it.

However, with all that said, if you're getting results you like with JPEG, then I wouldn't bother with the whole RAW thing. I'm probably going to do an experiment with JPEGs now that I know what I'm doing more so with the camera. If you can get it right from the outset, it would make life a lot simpler. I guess it's just up to each individual what they like the most.

 

[oogieboogieman]

How do you like using the 510? How does it compare to all of your other cameras?


Well the 510 is just like the 410, but with a lot more functions at your fingertips. Ex. To changes ISO, WB, etc. you just push one of the arrow keys. On the 410, you have to go into the menu to change those settings. I'm finding it easier with the 510 to change things faster. I like the fact I have Image Stabilization now. My images with the 70-300 are much more sharper now.

My favorite is the E1!!! I'm still amazed how easy it is to use. The function buttons are right at your fingertips. Alot of these features are now back on the newer models. I guess Olympus has figured ways to cut costs in other areas so they can add these items on the newer models. I used the E1 this past weekend at a dance recital and it nailed the WB without any problems. Notice on the newer models the little white box near the top of the grip, it's a WB sensor. With this camera I usually shoot only JPEGs

I don't know if I'm doing this correctly when shooting RAW. I upload my memory card and the photos automatically goes into the Windows Photo Gallery. At this point I can view the photos, just can't edit until I open the Olympus Master program. I can also delete the photos in Windows. DW thinks this is eating up alot of hard drive space, which it is. Oly Master saves RAW image and creates a JPEG, so now I have 2.

Have to figure something out before trip or DW won't allow me to upload photos on her laptop. I can just buy MORE memory cards!!!

 

[kim]

 

[oogieboogieman]

Had the day off and needed to go shoot at something. There were thunderstorms the night before and a good bit of rain. Today was beautiful!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It appears I've somehow lost my external flash unit.

 

[oogieboogieman]

It appears I've somehow lost my external flash unit.

So where did you loose it?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

So where did you loose it?

If I knew that, it wouldn't be lost.

I am seriously bumming out.

 

[oogieboogieman]

If I knew that, it wouldn't be lost.

I am seriously bumming out.

After some thought, that would be true. I didn't know that you bought an external flash. That's why I'm confused.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I didn't know that you bought an external flash. That's why I'm confused.

Yes, I've had it for a while (probably since at least last fall, maybe even summer). I didn't use it for a long time, then I figured out how to use it but didn't use it very often. It did come in handy once in a while, though. And I really needed it this past week. I was asked to take some photos for the elementary yearbook. I figured I'd do them outside, but wouldn't you know, the day I went in it was RAINING outside. Ugh. I know I had it in school before when I previously did some pictures there. Not there now. The other possibility was at a First Communion/restaurant several weeks ago. But I don't remember taking it out there. I'm wondering if it somehow could have fallen out of my bag, but I doubt it. Those are the only two places that I think it could be. I'm going to call the church and the restaurant. I hate to have to buy a new one. I'd rather put any extra funds I have toward a new lens.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Just popping in to make sure DH isn't planning any "surprise" purchases that he "forgot" to mention.

Pea-n-Me, I hope you can find your flash!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Ha!!

Hey jsg!

 

[oogieboogieman]

It's not that funny!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

OK guys, need help. What should I buy for an external flash?

Would like one that's SIMPLE if possible (the last one was kind of tricky to use, not sure if they're all like that).

A professional photog at a work event used my camera to take a picture recently. She took her "wireless flash" off her Nikon and stuck it on my Oly, and it worked - very simply, it seemed. I'd like to look into one of those but I have no idea what it was, or the costs involved. (Didn't have time to get into detail just then.)

Help enlighten me with your knowledge. What do you all use?

 

[Pugrpooh]

I have the FL-36R. I'm certainly no expert with it, but there is a TTL mode (it took me a while to learn that TTL means "through the lens"). What that means, is that it communicates with the camera and automatically knows the ISO, WB, shutter speed, etc. and adjusts accordingly. The operative word here is "automatically".

From what I understand, with other flashes you need to tell them what settings are on the camera.

There's a zoom button that, I think, lets you tell the flash how far away the subject is. I need to read up on that one still. One problem is that I don't wear my glasses when I'm taking photos, but then I can't read the little numbers in the display on the flash.

There is also an FL TTL mode, which is for a fill flash.

I used it a lot last weekend at DD22's graduation. I'll try to post pics with and without the flash later. I only use photobucket to upload photos I'll put on here, so it's kind of a hassle to go through and select ones that I want, then upload them to photobucket, resize and put in a post. Can you tell I'm not into post processing too much?

So far, I like the FL-36R more than I thought I would.

 

[oogieboogieman]

I use the Olympus FL-36 that I got from the Circuit City that closed in my area. I set the camera and flash to the settings recommended on the Fourthirdsphoto website. Never had any problems with it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

So today I get a call from the school nurse. DD isn't feeling well.

I go in to get her, and on the way to the nurse's office, the secretary stops me, holds up a lens cover and says, "By the way, is this yours"?

"Why yes it is. Thanks so much, I'm forever losing that thing."

Pleasantries are exchanged.

Before I left the office, I said, "Now, if I could only find my external flash".

"You lost a flash? We found one - about a month ago, in the computer lab".

"You're kidding me!"

She calls the custodian and within a minute he enters the office carrying my flash!!

Not happy my DD was sick, but sure glad I found my flash!!

(Thanks for the info, guys. So glad I didn't have to buy another one.)

 

[oogieboogieman]

You are soooo lucky to have found your flash! I can say that would have never happened in my sons school. Things around here just vanish into thin air, even from behind the teachers desk.

We hope DD starts to feel better.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

YAY for finding your flash and your lens cover!!

DH told me about your post. I sincerely hope he never loses anything at school, because it would be in the pawn shop before he even realized it was gone.