Size matters- looking to purchase dSLR

[contempory4me]

I, like others are looking to purchase my first dSLR camera. I know a little about photography, in the dark ages I owned a Pentax k1000.
I want the lightest smallest SLR so I'm thinking the Olympus E420. BUT I want it so that I can talk pictures of my kids at their swim meets (sometimes inside) Is this going to work? Has anyone ever used the E-420 at sporting events?
Thank you in advance for the assistance!!

 

[ukcatfan]

If size and weight are an issue, you do have one problem. Indoor sports shots call for a fast zoom lens. A fast zoom lens = a large heavy lens. That is unfortunately a fact. If you are not going to go for a fast lens and just depend on high ISOs, then go for the one that feels best to you.

 

[contempory4me]

I really appreciate the input from the experts!

 

[Groucho]

If you still have your K1000 in a closet somewhere, you can use the lenses on the modern Pentax DSLRs.

The downside to the Olympus E420s is that there's no image stabilization, you have to move up to the E510/E520 for that.

Size-wise, most of the entry-level DSLRs are similarly small, with only a few millimeters difference. The E410/E420 are a good bit lighter than most others, though.

 

[contempory4me]

Thanks Groucho! That is good news that I can use my older lenses, my husband has some also. I looked up the E510 and have a question (forgive me if it illuminates my ignorance), if the IS is in the body then does that mean that when I take photos with the older lenses they will be less blurry also?
Thanks!

 

[Groucho]

Well, I haven't used the Olympuses so I can't say for sure. With the Pentax, every lens (including screw-mount lenses from the '50s) can have image stabilization, you just have to manually enter the focal length since it has no way of knowing it. (It prompts you when you turn the camera on with an older lens.)

With the Olympus, there really are no "old" lenses as it uses a new, designed-for-digital "4/3rds" mount. However, there are adapters available to use lenses from many different mounts, and a recent firmware update made mention of IS for older lenses - but I'm not sure if that meant that it can do IS on all adapted lenses, some adapted lenses, and is it's only for some DSLRs and without this, there's no IS on adapted lenses. I'm sure an Olympus expert could answer that question.

If you do use older lenses, the Olympus' smaller sensor means that they have a 2x crop rather than the 1.5x crop of the Pentax (and Nikon and Sony, 1.6x with the Canon.) This means that a 50mm lens on the Pentax DSLR will have a similar field of view as a 75mm lens on a 35mm camera, whereas on the Olympus, the same lens will have the same field of view as a 100mm lens on a 35mm camera.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

dpreview just reviewed the E-420 last week.

You might want to review threads and ask your question over there on the Olympus SLR forum as there aren't too many Olympus users here.

I agree, you should also consider the E-510/520 (the latter of which should be available soon) for the in-body IS. It may take you a while to get good at these types of shots no matter what you buy because you'll need to experiment to learn which settings work best. The sports mode is very quick and responsive on my 510.

I guess you'll need to ask yourself what your highest priority is, because with any dSLR you buy, you always have to weigh all the pros and cons. If it's truly that you need the lightest camera possible then you will have a winner with the 420 - it's a fine general dSLR. If you need light size but also want to capture the best indoor swim meet shots at all costs, then there might be another that would work better for you given that situation. One of the known cons to the Olympus is noise at higher ISOs, so if you have to rely on using higer ISO, then it might not be the way to go. The fact that you already have lenses adds another element to consider. Image quality using adapted lenses may not be what IQ is using the 4/3 lenses designed just for use with that system. So it really depends on your needs.

 

[ukcatfan]

That is good news that I can use my older lenses, my husband has some also.

The fact that you already have lenses adds another element to consider.

What Pentax lenses do you have? That could make a huge difference. If they are just some basic kit zooms from back then, you are only saving about $50 and giving up wide angle b/c the new kit lenses start at 18mm due to the already mentioned crop factor. If you happen to have a few good primes, then it might be foolish to go with anything other than Pentax.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

there are adapters available to use lenses from many different mounts, and a recent firmware update made mention of IS for older lenses - but I'm not sure if that meant that it can do IS on all adapted lenses, some adapted lenses, and is it's only for some DSLRs and without this, there's no IS on adapted lenses.

I'm not positive, but I should think it would because the in-body IS is sensor based, as in the sensor sits in some type of cradle.

ETA, according to the IS info on their website, IS does work with all lenses. IS on the E-510

A quick google yielded a few favorable tidbits of info from people who've used Pentax lenses on Oly E system dSLRs using adaptors, FYI. Whether you want to go that route or not is something you'll need to think about.

 

[Groucho]

Well, all the DSLRs with in-body IS do it with the sensor, so that shouldn't matter. I don't really trust Olympus' own site as I'd bet that they're referring to all 4/3rds mount lenses, not adapted ones (which I don't think are officially supported?)

Actually, here is a page that describes installing a special chip ("dandelion") in order to get IS and focus confirmation on adapted lenses with the 4/3rds mount. This is specifically noted as being necessary for the E510. I'm not sure if this is obsolete with a newer firmware or if the latest Olympus DSLRs need it.

For reference, this isn't necessary with the Pentaxes, which will do focus confirmation and IS on any lens that you can put in front of it.