Olympus Evolt Series

[Pugrpooh]

Hi All! How's everyone's summer shooting coming along?

I'm having fun with my E30. Still lots and lots to learn, but pleased with my results. (Have posted a lot of pics on Scavenger Hunt thread.)

I wrote this on another thread and wanted to preserve it here. Feel free to add to it or discuss - for anyone who might be following along here.

I'm taking lots of pictures but not doing much with them. The summer has been consumed with planning my daughter's wedding, which was Saturday night, so now that it's over I'm hoping to have some more time on my hands. I've taken lots of pictures, just haven't had time to do anything with them.

Also, I bought Lightroom 3 along with Scott Kelby's book about it. In his first chapter, he recommends moving all the pictures into a Lightroom folder. I've been doing that and deleting LOTS of pictures. I'm almost finished with it, then I'm going to burn them onto DVD's and move them to my external drive which I bought a year ago and is still in the package and then move them also to my smugmug site. Then hopefully I can move on to Chapter 2 in his book and really learn LR3. From what I've learned so far, I think I'm really going to like it.

I'm not even going to look at all the pictures I took at DD's wedding until I finish going through all the pictures on my computer now. I also have a lot for the scavenger hunt that I need to post on here.

Joe, your workflow sounds like I want mine to be. I also use Topaz sometimes, but LR3 seems to have about everything I need for most of my pictures. I did learn how to make collages last week on PSE7. I made a 4-photo collage of DD from when she was a baby through her teen years and the same of her new DH, then I made a collage of them together and put all three collages on each table at the reception.

Can Topaz be accessed through LR3 if I already have it on PSE7? I haven't looked into that yet.

Someone at work asked my advice on cameras because his wife really wanted a DSLR. They had gone to a camera store and she really liked the Nikon D5000. I told him what I liked about Olympus and showed him the DPreview site and how to compare the different models. They found other reviews of the E620 and went back to the camera store and ended up getting the 620 with the 14-42 lens. So far she really likes it and has just been using it in auto for now. She's taking a class through the camera store in a couple of weeks.

My niece just messaged me on FB that she wants to get a new camera because it doesn't do well in low light or action shots. I'll give her a few tips but I think I'll recommend the E-PL1 to her. She and her DH just bought into DVC and are going in December. I'll tell her the E-PL1 will really help to capture the Christmas lights. Doing my part to help Olympus get a better foothold in the market.

I feel like I've written a book so far! But I'm looking forward to getting back to normal. DD8 starts school tomorrow and gymnastics twice a week now for a total of 3 hours. I get a lot of photo editing done while waiting for her there.

 

[Pugrpooh]

Welcome Spike! I like the Darth Vader shot too, but my favorite is the turtle. I'm not a big Star Wars fan and it looks like you can reach out and touch the turtle.

 

[Spike]

Welcome, Spike. Beautiful Vader shot.

Thank you.

 

[zetachi]

another dedicated Oly user here.

Started out with the E-510 with the 2 kit lenses (14-42 and 40-150). I'm now up to the 70-300, 11-22, 14-54 and an FL 36.

Next on the list is upgrading to a new body this coming holiday season most likely the E-30.

 

[JoeDif]

another dedicated Oly user here.

Started out with the E-510 with the 2 kit lenses (14-42 and 40-150). I'm now up to the 70-300, 11-22, 14-54 and an FL 36.

Next on the list is upgrading to a new body this coming holiday season most likely the E-30.

Welcome to the Oly thread.....quite an impressive lens line up!!

As a heads up, the E-30 body can be had at some of the online stores for a great price ($750). Of course you may want to wait until Septeber to see what Oy has up it's sleeve. That E-30 may drop even more.

 

[zetachi]

That's what I'm hoping. Will wait to @ December Holidays to see if prices fall. Then I need to decide whether to sell of the E-510 or keep as a 2nd body. Not sure the wife would appreciate me with 2 cameras though

Welcome to the Oly thread.....quite an impressive lens line up!!

As a heads up, the E-30 body can be had at some of the online stores for a great price ($750). Of course you may want to wait until Septeber to see what Oy has up it's sleeve. That E-30 may drop even more.

 

[Pugrpooh]

As I stated in a previous post here, a coworker's wife was bent on getting the Nikon D5000 and I suggested they check out Oly. They did and ended up getting the E620 from our local camera store.

My niece said she and her DH wanted a new camera. They had gone out and liked the Canon T1i and asked what I knew about it. I said that it gets great reviews but they really should go handle the different makes and models. They went to our local camera store and ended up with the E-PL1!

I told her she had to let me play with it. A Pen is definitely in my future.

Both of these people knew nothing about cameras. They just gravitated to Canikon because they're so prevalent. Or in my case, I thought I wanted a Sony.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Let us know how you like the PEN, Lynn. They have the same sensor as the E30/620. I've found the E30 to be awesome.

Joe, since your posts last week I've had a little time to read around a bit about these rumors you mentioned. It seems to me like all the other times the rumor mill was running - some say "the sky is falling" and others say "hogwash". Good everyone's talking and speculating about Olympus. I'm glad they've done such a great job with the PEN (kind of renewed their photography enthusiasm, I think) and am interested to see what this hybrid technology is all about.

BTW, I was a little seeing your name associated with a Nikon post. Say it ain't so, Joe!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

That's what I'm hoping. Will wait to @ December Holidays to see if prices fall. Then I need to decide whether to sell of the E-510 or keep as a 2nd body. Not sure the wife would appreciate me with 2 cameras though

I had decided to give my 510 to my DS when I got my E30. But this summer we went out shooting together with both and when I was pp them I realized there was quite a bit of difference in the IQ between them. Because of that, as a family we decided to go the PEN route (same sensor as E30, as I mentioned above) so that we'd have small and large for any situation, and I told my DS he could use the E30 if he wants to use a dSLR. He was happy with that even though it meant he didn't have "his own". Truth is, he wasn't using it much anyway. I think he'll really enjoy the PEN.

 

[JoeDif]

Let us know how you like the PEN, Lynn. They have the same sensor as the E30/620. I've found the E30 to be awesome.

Joe, since your posts last week I've had a little time to read around a bit about these rumors you mentioned. It seems to me like all the other times the rumor mill was running - some say "the sky is falling" and others say "hogwash". Good everyone's talking and speculating about Olympus. I'm glad they've done such a great job with the PEN (kind of renewed their photography enthusiasm, I think) and am interested to see what this hybrid technology is all about.

BTW, I was a little seeing your name associated with a Nikon post. Say it ain't so, Joe!

No worries...true blue Oly user here!! It was more a public service announcement for the Nikon users

 

[Pea-n-Me]

No worries...true blue Oly user here!! It was more a public service announcement for the Nikon users

Phew. That's what I thought but I wasn't sure.

How's shooting going?

 

[JoeDif]

I had decided to give my 510 to my DS when I got my E30. But this summer we went out shooting together with both and when I was pp them I realized there was quite a bit of difference in the IQ between them. Because of that, as a family we decided to go the PEN route (same sensor as E30, as I mentioned above) so that we'd have small and large for any situation, and I told my DS he could use the E30 if he wants to use a dSLR. He was happy with that even though it meant he didn't have "his own". Truth is, he wasn't using it much anyway. I think he'll really enjoy the PEN.

Good choice on the PEN. I originally had no interest in that format but the more I read and see the more I want one!!

BTW.....looks like an E-P3 is on the horizon so hopefully we will see a price drop in the earlier models

 

[JoeDif]

Phew. That's what I thought but I wasn't sure.

How's shooting going?

Going out today to shoot a cricket match Should be interesting.

Anything planned for you?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Good choice on the PEN. I originally had no interest in that format but the more I read and see the more I want one!!

BTW.....looks like an E-P3 is on the horizon so hopefully we will see a price drop in the earlier models

I was just going to post that. I was wondering about waiting for next models, etc. But then the price goes up. I think before I buy anything I need to take a really close look at the specs of each and decide what will work best. And then I'm not going to worry too much about it. We can always upgrade, right?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Going out today to shoot a cricket match Should be interesting.

Anything planned for you?

Nothing special, really. I do have a neice's wedding in a few weeks but I won't be the photographer. Just fun stuff. But maybe some family shots or something.

I did a lot of baseball this year including team portraits (which I was really happy with) and team photos (which I was pretty happy with). Midday games are tough with the blaring sun and large fields with no shade. Plus most coaches don't want to stop practices or what not to "take pictures", lol.

My home addition is well underway, finally. Once I have the space finished I'm planning to run some photography classes this fall or winter. (I was asked to, and the list of people wanting to attend is growing. I hope I can do it justice!) It might be something fun and give me some extra cash. Kind of looking forward to it since I've been on my real job for well over two decades so a change of focus (pun intended) will be refreshing.

 

[Pugrpooh]

Nothing special, really. I do have a neice's wedding in a few weeks but I won't be the photographer. Just fun stuff. But maybe some family shots or something.

I did a lot of baseball this year including team portraits (which I was really happy with) and team photos (which I was pretty happy with). Midday games are tough with the blaring sun and large fields with no shade. Plus most coaches don't want to stop practices or what not to "take pictures", lol.

My home addition is well underway, finally. Once I have the space finished I'm planning to run some photography classes this fall or winter. (I was asked to, and the list of people wanting to attend is growing. I hope I can do it justice!) It might be something fun and give me some extra cash. Kind of looking forward to it since I've been on my real job for well over two decades so a change of focus (pun intended) will be refreshing.

That sounds exciting! I'm thinking of taking an advanced DSLR class put on by a camera store here. It's 4 hours and will probably be helpful. I took a lot of pictures at my daughter's wedding, the reception and everything leading up to it. I didn't take any of the actual ceremony though. I got some good ones but really wish I could go back and do some things I missed. I'm just thankful there were two photographers there hopefully getting everything. I haven't seen those yet.

I just took a break from cleaning my house to take a picture. I thought the dust on my dresser would be good for the scavenger hunt! There are a lot of pictures I need to get together to post on that thread.

Which PEN did you get? I like the E-P2 but I'm waiting for the next generation to see what there is.

 

[JoeDif]

The latest rumor is the E-5 announcement will be made on Tuesday. If the rumored specs are correct then it looks like a weather sealed e-30 with video capabilities. For the sake of all the Oly users who have been waiting to buy the new Oly flagship, I sure hope it's more than that.

 

[Pugrpooh]

The latest rumor is the E-5 announcement will be made on Tuesday. If the rumored specs are correct then it looks like a weather sealed e-30 with video capabilities. For the sake of all the Oly users who have been waiting to buy the new Oly flagship, I sure hope it's more than that.

I saw that too. My current plan is to upgrade to the E30 successor and get a Pen as a smaller option sometime around the beginning of next summer. So if these are the true specs, I'll be happy with that, especially with the weather sealing. I just don't want it to have a pricetag of an E-3 successor.

The E-5 has been rumored to have so many different specs though, I won't count on anything until it's introduced.

Joe, do you know which lenses are weather sealed? I tried to do a quick search on Olympus's site the other day but couldn't find anything definitive. There's not much point in having a weather sealed body but not the lenses I guess. Specifically I want to know about the 12-60 and the 50mm. The 12-60 is on the camera most of the time, but I was very impressed with the pictures I took at my daughter's wedding with the 50mm.

Maybe we'll find out tomorrow if it's announced Japan time. I think they're 13 hours ahead of us (EST).

 

[JoeDif]

Lynn - I believe that all of the High Grade and Super High Grade lenses are weather sealed so both the 12-60 & 50mm would be.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Looking forward to seeing the E-5.