Panasonic Lumix DSLR

[Sidebyte]

Originally Posted by Raist3d

I have to say after realizing that the E-1 does indeed have superior tonal range to the evolts, and seeing now why, my next camera will be either an E-1, the new E-3 (or whatever name it is and assuming it improves on the E-1 in DR/tonal range) or a Fuji S3/S4.
- Raist

Raist,
You really struck a nerve with me with this post. I sold off all my older equipment (Kodak 14n and D1h and lenses) except all of my Canon FD series cameras and lenses. I am really taken with the reditions of the S3 and am seriously considering both a S3 and a D50 for light travel. But with the current price of the E-1 and the E-500 Oly's I'm really in a quandry. Got to buy new lenses anyway so no real committment there and from my past experience with Oly ( still have 2 Oly digicams), their lens are on a par with any others in the same price category. I've always loved both the overpriced E-1 and the same with the S3, both now
give-aways. Odd you have picked the same models as me. An E-1 AND a E-500 with the 2 lens kit is only about $1.200 USD, can't come close to that combo for that price.

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by Sidebyte

Raist,
You really struck a nerve with me with this post. I sold off all my older equipment (Kodak 14n and D1h and lenses) except all of my Canon FD series cameras and lenses. I am really taken with the reditions of the S3 and am seriously considering both a S3 and a D50 for light travel. But with the current price of the E-1 and the E-500 Oly's I'm really in a quandry. Got to buy new lenses anyway so no real committment there and from my past experience with Oly ( still have 2 Oly digicams), their lens are on a par with any others in the same price category. I've always loved both the overpriced E-1 and the same with the S3, both now
give-aways. Odd you have picked the same models as me. An E-1 AND a E-500 with the 2 lens kit is only about $1.200 USD, can't come close to that combo for that price.

Sidebyte, if you're looking for a quick win then the E-1 would seem to be ideal. It really does have great image quality for a 5mp chip - I often prefer the out of camera image to that captured with my Canon 5D. It is a bit lacking in resolution for really finely detailed prints above A4, but makes up for it in construction and usability. Oly lenses aren't as expensive as people make out for their quality, and there are more coming from Sigma and no doubt Pany/Leica. If you have a bigger budget then wait a few weeks to see what Oly announce at Photokina. The expectation's killing us Oly fans...

[Raist3d]

Originally Posted by Sidebyte

Raist,
You really struck a nerve with me with this post. I sold off all my older equipment (Kodak 14n and D1h and lenses) except all of my Canon FD series cameras and lenses. I am really taken with the reditions of the S3 and am seriously considering both a S3 and a D50 for light travel. But with the current price of the E-1 and the E-500 Oly's I'm really in a quandry. Got to buy new lenses anyway so no real committment there and from my past experience with Oly ( still have 2 Oly digicams), their lens are on a par with any others in the same price category. I've always loved both the overpriced E-1 and the same with the S3, both now
give-aways. Odd you have picked the same models as me. An E-1 AND a E-500 with the 2 lens kit is only about $1.200 USD, can't come close to that combo for that price.

There's certainly something to be said for the S3 and E-1 as tools. I am shooting jpegs nowadays and the jpegs of those two cameras are really good. That being said the jpeg engine of the e-330 is not bad... but lacks the "crispness" at times of the former cameras.

If I was going to buy an evolt today, it's very likely I would go S3.. if I was starting to build lenses. If I was on a budget, I would have defintively considered the E-1- with what I know now. At this point, I will probably go E-3 since I have 3 great Zuiko lenses, and I have come to appreciate some of the 4/3rd advantages, but I wouldn't rule out a Fuji S4 is the price is right and there's something big over the S3.

When it comes to supreme dynamic range, the S3 wins. When it comes to supreme handling/"will work" the E-1 wins - and the E-1 is not bad in pic quality either. I think both are great tools with pros/cons.

- Raist

[Sidebyte]

Thanks for the input...
I have a couple of questions regarding both cameras,
First the S3 I've noticed has a lot of post regarding small equipment failure like the usb plug falling inside the camera case. Second, no secret, it sure isn't rainproof. Not much about sensor failure like the S2.

I would like to see some figures on the repair history of the E-1, I've virtually never read much about failures or mechanical problems. I've had Oly cameras for a number of years and am amazed at some of the workmanship and quality, my old C-3030z has a full aluminum body and has never failed me, the same with the UZI. I never owned a E-10 or E-20 but understand they were a brick outhouse.

I want the camera for maximum 13 X 19 prints (Epson 2400) and from what I've been able to garner from several forums, is the fact that either will do a capitol job.

My immediate knee jerk reaction is to buy the E-1 while they are available for a song, then also add a 300, 500 or 330 as a second body. At the low end price of the E-1, I can sell it when the E_? comes out. I really haven't been able to get a comprehensive evaluation of the image quality of the 330 vs. the 500? Any of them are better than me :

[glenbarrington]

The problem with opinions on image quality is that everyone has one (an opinion, that is). The minute someone says Camera A is better than Camera B, someone else will angrily refute it.

I WILL say, the E500 image quality is as good as any of it's peers. I won't say it's better than the E330. I've never used the E330, but from the sample images i've seen from regular people, I would say they are identical in image quality.

I like my E500, it has provided as satisfactory traditional SLR experience as I can expect from a digital camera. And that was exactly what I was looking for. Maybe for my next camera, I will branch out a bit and get the E330 replacement, or the Panasonic, or the mythical Leica. But for my first DSLR I wanted something I could relate to and build on my prior non digital experience. In that sense I am pleased.

[Raist3d]

Originally Posted by Sidebyte

Thanks for the input...
I have a couple of questions regarding both cameras,
First the S3 I've noticed has a lot of post regarding small equipment failure like the usb plug falling inside the camera case. Second, no secret, it sure isn't rainproof. Not much about sensor failure like the S2.

I have also noticed that too. Given that I have seen trouble with my Fuji F700 camera with dust all the way from brand new, I honestly don't think Fuji's build quality is up to par with the likes of Canon, Nikon and particularly, Olympus, though from what I hear Canon has slipped a bit. AFAIK Olympus higher end cameras are tanks. The E-1 can probably survive a nuclear explosion and continue shooting

As for sensor failures on the S3, I haven't heard anything on that, though the S2 sensor started to fail later on so we'll see. Fuji not only had sensor failurs on the S2, but the F700 and other consumer/prosumers had the same problem.

I would like to see some figures on the repair history of the E-1, I've virtually never read much about failures or mechanical problems. I've had Oly cameras for a number of years and am amazed at some of the workmanship and quality, my old C-3030z has a full aluminum body and has never failed me, the same with the UZI. I never owned a E-10 or E-20 but understand they were a brick outhouse.

There you go. Same goes for say the C8080 which for a while was the standard as far as all in one lens go. The camera feels and is built like a tank. I am just a tad dissapointed the feel went a bit down from e-300 to e-500 and e-330 though I appreciate the weightlessness of the e-500. It's when you are out shooting all day you realize (or at least in my case) I rather let go of the "it weights there fore is good" cachet and have something lighter.

I want the camera for maximum 13 X 19 prints (Epson 2400) and from what I've been able to garner from several forums, is the fact that either will do a capitol job.

My understnading is that, such size is about the reasonable limit for the E-1. From what I understand shooting with the E-1 is like shooting 35mm film- try to get the frame right and not crop. Which is fine at least that the view finder has 100% coverage.

My immediate knee jerk reaction is to buy the E-1 while they are available for a song, then also add a 300, 500 or 330 as a second body. At the low end price of the E-1, I can sell it when the E_? comes out. I really haven't been able to get a comprehensive evaluation of the image quality of the 330 vs. the 500? Any of them are better than me :

I would say the e-330 has a better sensor by about 0.25 to 0.75 ev's for lower light / noise handling. I thought it was up to 1.25 ev's but that's probably a best case after some more testing I did. But it's better. I would say though if you don't care for live view, go e-500 because it still has all the jpeg tweakability, hopefully the jpeg resolve power of the e-330 or near so, and the metering of the e-330 and you will save $300+ USD.


- Raist

[Raist3d]

Originally Posted by glenbarrington

The problem with opinions on image quality is that everyone has one (an opinion, that is). The minute someone says Camera A is better than Camera B, someone else will angrily refute it.

I WILL say, the E500 image quality is as good as any of it's peers. I won't say it's better than the E330. I've never used the E330, but from the sample images i've seen from regular people, I would say they are identical in image quality.

I like my E500, it has provided as satisfactory traditional SLR experience as I can expect from a digital camera. And that was exactly what I was looking for. Maybe for my next camera, I will branch out a bit and get the E330 replacement, or the Panasonic, or the mythical Leica. But for my first DSLR I wanted something I could relate to and build on my prior non digital experience. In that sense I am pleased.

The e-500 is fine. It is the e-500 which introduced the myriad jpeg options and I think they did improve on the jpeg engine of the e-300. Personally, I would have loved if Olympus gave that firmware jpeg upgrade to the e-300... if possible.. I think it probably was. The e-500 is an unbeatable value as DSLR's come and go, imho.

- raist