e1 or e300 for weddings

[blacktieman]

what is best choice to use as second camera or backup for weddings,another e300 or e1?Please help with answers if you have both or used both cameras.Which is best as far as build quality,longevity,white balance accuracy,Ability to make large prints,Auto focus speed, etc.Given the choice which camera would you choose if you could only have one.I know e1 is built like a tank and is more weather resistant.I am asking for subjective and objective opinions.I might not have the ability to buy again any time soon after making this purchase so need help making the wise decision .Thanks for your time.Also don't have ability to get any hands on time with e1 since there are none locally in stores.

[dougjgreen]

Personally, I think either one is fine. For quite large blowups, the E-300 is better because of the more pixels. For most everything else, the E-1 is better. But either one is perfectly capable, and the choice is yours. The e-300 is probably a couple hundred cheaper right now. Frankly, I would be inclined to buy another of whichever one I already use as my main camera. Because, as a backup, the most important thing is that you are entirely comfortable with it if you need to rely on it. What do you use now? I'd recommend another of the same.

[blacktieman]

I am using the e300 now and like it a bunch.I have the kit lenses and the vertical grip.Of course I would like to be able to go out in the bad weather and continue to shoot if necessary.Thank you for your interesting thoughts they help a lot,and thianks for your time

[eClix]

I would go with the E-1 just cause I love that camera lol.

[Paul Shields]

I only have the E-1 + the E-330 for comparison, but I'd go for the E-1 every time. I believe it's quite popular with some wedding guys, and I'm sure it would deliver the goods for this type of work, so long as light is good and the lenses are too.

[dougjgreen]

I currently own two e-300 bodies and an e-1. I can't see myself getting another 4/3 body until there is one with 12 Megapixels and better low noise performance, as the cameras I have now do what I need, and it would take the other two features to actually provide something significantly better that I could use.


Whoops - I meant to include this reply in the Panasonic Lumix thread

[Raist3d]

I have barely really used the e-1 but from what I have seen, it goes like this:

- The e-1 is without question, the best build FAR AND AWAY of any of the 4/3rd cameras. If you are looking for realiability as far as "it will work" this is the camera period. Also take into consideration if you may be in a situation where you are shooting a wedding where some rain may show up, and you still have to cover the event. As long as you have the E1 *and one of the weather proofed lenses* you have nothing to fear.

However....

- The e-330 focuses better than the E-1 in lower light. And I think a bit faster too. That was my subjective experience when I tried both at the local Samy's.

If you buy an e-300 you will probably end up shooting in RAW and postprocessing. If you already do this, then the following comment will not apply to you. If you want to avoid post processing then between the E-1 and e-300, the E-1 jpegs will blow away the e-300 ones. The e-300 has an issue with its jpeg engine where some detail of foliage loses more detail than it should, and I keep reading that the E-1 produces the best out of the camera jpegs after the Fujifilm S3.

Now, onto a consideration:

The e-330 produces very high quality jpegs too. And I would dare say that at least for some shots, the details captured in lower light competes fairly well with the E-1 and definitively at least between 0.75 EV to 1.25 EV's ahead of the e-300. Paul, I know you did those tests comparing the 330 vs E-1 but I am not convinced of the results - seems like DOF played a role. And when I did a test myself at the store with both the e-330 seemed to pull ahead.

I think my only concern would be if the e-1 is going to focus fast enough in some lower light situations you may have to cover. Of that I don't know. I am making the assumption that if at least there is "reasonable light" the E-1 will deliver.

Unless you are very tight on a budget, between the e-300 and E-1 I would definitively go E-1 for your needs. But between e-300 and e-330 I would definitively go e-330 and if you can't e-330 because of price but still want an e-volt I would then say pick up the e-500.

The e-500 has a superior jpeg engine to the e-300 and uses the same sensor, and has a lot of jpeg options (just like the e-330). I would only consider the e-300 in your shoes if you could get one for real cheap.

Hope that helps!

- Raist

PS: Remember to always and I mean always, go to a store and try both. It's really the best way to make sure you are going to like it, at least interface wise. (the E-1 interface blows away any of the other 4/3rds too).

[Paul Shields]

Great summary from Raist. I have to say that the E-1 is an almost perfect DSLR. I'm really looking forward to the E-X, which should be announced at Photokina in a month or so.

[tdoney]

Take a look at these beautiful photos to see just what you can do with the measley E-300, http://theresak.smugmug.com/gallery/969134 Theresa does absolutely gorgeous work with it.

Now tell me that the E-300 isn't good enough. I am very happy with it.

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by tdoney

Take a look at these beautiful photos to see just what you can do with the measley E-300, http://theresak.smugmug.com/gallery/969134

Now tell me that the E-300 isn't good enough. I am very happy with it.

They look fine Theresa - and great to see you here . Hope you can stick around, and I hope we can add some more Oly fans here as I think the Camel would be the better for it.

I think pretty much any DSLR of the last few years can create excellent shots, though it is often down to the photographer as much as anything else. Personally, the reasons why I favour my E-1 compared to my E-330 is down to ergonomics - it's just such a well thought out camera to use and so results in less missed opportunities. However, my friend has an E-300 and I would say is a better photographer than me (which isn't saying much). In the end, they're just tools and a better craftsman can create something special using 'lesser' tools compared to the average guy with the best stuff around his/her neck .