Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP Live MOS Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization and 2.7 inch Swivel LCD (Body Only)

#1: Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP Live MOS Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization and 2.7 inch Swivel LCD (Body Only) Reviews!

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I am an amateur photographer, not a professional by any means. But I've been using an old Canon AE1 35mm film camera and/or a point and shoot digital for a quite few years and wanted to upgrade to a DSLR. After doing the research, I went with the Olympus. Everybody has their own preferences, so that plays into the equation. My friends with Canons say that Canon is the only way to go and every other brand sucks. My friends with Nikons say that Nikon is the only way to go and every other brand sucks. I compared this camera with the comparable Canons and Nikons and when it all played out, the Olympus was the camera that best matched my wants/needs.

The Pros:

One of the main selling points to the Olympus is that it has in body image stabilization, so you don't have to worry about buying lenses with IS vs. without. Pretty much, you can slap any lens on it and get image stabilization. This also cuts down on the weight of the lenses. This is something my Canon friends bitch about. They have lenses that do not have IS, so they get some blurred shots from time to time. Buying the lenses with IS is a lot more expensive. With the Olympus, you don't have to worry about it. For most amateur photographers, this is a big plus.

The Zuiko kit lenses are top notch. I've got the 14X42mm, the 40X150mm and the 35mm Macro lenses, and they are all very impressive.

The other Zuiko lenses are all great quality and get great reviews, while Canon and Nikon lenses tend to either be damn excellent or nearly crap. Plus, since the E-620 has in body image stabilization, you can simply buy an adaptor and use Canon and Nikon lenses (the ones without image stabilization), or other old prime lenses (though, the autofocus will not work with these 'other' lenses).

The live view function is excellent, even though I hardly ever use it. I always use the viewfinder, but in playing with the live view, it rocks for what it is. If you are gonna use the live view function a lot, this camera has a very good one.

The rotating/swiveling LCD display makes it easy to use the live view function (or the menus in my case) from odd angles if/when necessary. This is really helpful when taking macros, or using a tripod, or any other time you may need to be at an odd angle or attitude to the camera.

Built in dust reduction system. This is a very handy feature to keep the sensor clean without you having to do anything but turn the camera on.

The built-in art filters are excellent.

The image quality is excellent. You have to play with the camera settings and learn how to get what you want out of it. It will produce stunning pictures, once you get the hang of it. This is true with any higher line DSLR. Right out of the box on "Auto", this camera produces nice images. But take the training wheels off, and this camera quickly gets even better.

The controls are well laid out and pretty easy to use, plus they are programmable. So if you want to 'customize' the buttons for certain features that you use often, you can easily do so.

The body is smaller, compared to other comparable DSLRs. I also find it to be very comfortable to handle. This is nice because you can carry the E-620 around without too much hassle. It is still a full size unit, but less size and weight are a plus if you are gonna lug the thing around all day.

The basic functions are pretty easy to learn/use with a little practice. But as with anything else, RTFM!

The price. If you shop around, this camera is a LOT cheaper than the comparable Canon (50D) or Nikon (D5000). You can get the body, 2 kit lenses and a few accessories for what it would cost you to get the comparable Canon/Nikon body and maybe one kit lens. Why pay a lot more $$$ for the Canon/Nikon name, when the odds are, you'll never notice a difference anyway? Sure, the brand snobs will point out all kinds of things that they say make their brand of choice "better", but unless you are a pretty serious photographer, it won't mean a thing to you. And if it does, you are probably gonna buy a much more expensive/sophisticated camera anyway. If you are looking for the most "bang for your buck", this camera delivers.

The Cons:

Overall, the Canon 50D and the Nikon D5000 will have a slightly better picture quality at high resolution; but the difference is not really noticeable unless you are a professional or otherwise have a lot of experience in the field. Most entry level buyers will never notice the difference anyway. Or, they'll cover the difference in Photoshop/Lightroom, etc. If you ARE sophisticated enough where these minor differences are going to make or break your selection, the odds are that you probably were not going to buy into this price range anyway.

The viewfinder is a bit small. This takes a little getting used to and is something Olympus could (and should) improve upon. This is a minor inconvenience, but still, it could (and should) be better.

The camera does NOT have video recording capability. For some people, this is a problem. For me, it is not. I already have an HD camcorder that I like, so I didn't want (or need) one in my still camera. Plus, for me, it just seems wrong to be taking videos from this type of camera. But that is just personal preference. If I'd wanted a camcorder/DSLR hybrid, I'd probably have considered the Olympus PEN. But in any event, if you want a camcorder function, the E-620 doesn't have one.

The XD memory card. This camera uses both XD cards and CompactFlash cards (one slot for each). I like the CompactFlash cards, but the XD is not ubiquitous. Plus, the panorama function on the camera will only work with an XD card installed. If you are switching from a point and shoot, unless you have a Fuji or Olympus (about the only two cameras that use the XD cards), your existing memory cards (SD, etc.) will not work. And here is a tip: Buying high quality CF cards will speed up the write times. So don't skimp.

Selection of lenses/accessories. There are a lot more kit lenses and accessories for Canon and Nikon. Not all of them are necessarily good or useful, but they are out there. So if you want the widest selection of aftermarket goodies, Canon or Nikon is probably gonna win that race. Yes, you can always buy an adaptor to use other manufacturer's lenses, but this is not exactly the same as purpose built accessories because not all of the lens functions will work with an adaptor (autofocus, etc.).

The autofocus can be a bit fickle in low light. If you use the built-in flash with the auto-focus in some low light situations, it will still sometimes take the camera a while to dial in the focus. This can be pretty damn frustrating. Using manual mode and manual focus solves this problem. Since I have progressed to using manual mode with manual focus almost exclusively, this is no longer an issue for me. But it is an issue that Olympus should work on improving. I am told that the Canon/Nikon cameras can also have this issue, but that they are less temperamental about it than the Olympus.

Battery life. Personally, I think the battery life is fine. However, if you use the live view function, it drains the battery a lot quicker. I seldom use the live view function, so I don't notice much of a problem. However, I bought a spare battery to keep in the bag anyway, so this is moot for me. If you are gonna spend 0-0 on a nice camera, go ahead and drop the extra for a spare battery, no matter what brand you buy.

Brand recognition. People know the names "Canon" and "Nikon" very well. Olympus, not so much. So if you are a 'brand conscious' consumer who needs to go along and fit in with the crowd, then play it safe and buy a Canon or Nikon, and you'll be happy.

The Bottom Line:

I LOVE this camera. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat. It is a pretty sweet rig. The truth is, at this level, you will probably be satisfied with whatever you buy. But for me, for the money, this is the best value for what I wanted in a camera. As with any DSLR, there is a learning curve. You HAVE to put the work into learning how to use the camera. If you are just gonna set it to "Auto" and snap pictures, then you may as well save the money and just buy a nice point and shoot because you are not going to enjoy or appreciate ANY complex DSLR. But if you are willing to put some time and practice into it, this camera will do whatever you want and more. It isn't a perfect camera, but none of them are. Do your research and make your decision based on the features and functions (and budget) that YOU want out of a camera. If the E-620 meets the criteria for what you want/need in a camera, then buy one and you will not be disappointed.

Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP Live MOS Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization and 2.7 inch Swivel LCD (Body Only) Features

• 12.3-megapixel Live MOS sensor for photo-quality, poster-size prints
• Lightweight ergonomic design; body only (lenses sold separately)
• TruePic III for superior image quality in all lighting situations; Supersonic Wave Drive (in-body sensor shift)
• 2.7-inch HyperCrystal III Swivel LCD; Smooth Live View allows you to change the frame rate of the Live View display
• Stores images to Compact Flash (Type I and II), Microdrive, xD Picture card (not included)