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Olympus E510 or Canon Eos 400/450D
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Hello all.
Newbie here, so hope I’m posting in the right section. About to take the plunge and am torn between the above two cameras. Both have received great reviews, and the Olympus comes with two kit lenses (Zuiko 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 and ED 40-150mm F4.0-5.6).
The kit lens with the Eos is generally criticised everywhere I read, but both olympus lenses receive very good reviews. However, the downside is that there is not as great a selection of lenses available for the Olympus and those that are come in at a hefty price.
I’ve used a camera for years (currently own a Fuji s5000 which has always delivered on quality) and am looking at moving up a little in order to gain some experience. I usually leave everything set to AUTO on the Fuji. :oops:
I will use it only for family occasions and the odd scenery shot. Would the two Olympus lenses suffice for the job? I don’t see myself buying a fist of peripherals or upgrading to different lenses. To be totally honest the whole lens thing is a minefield and, in some cases gibberish, to someone like me.
Thanks for the help in advance.
All opinions welcome!
Regards,
Freddie.
Personally I would go for a Canon system because I honestly think it gives you more room for growth if you get truly bitten by the bug. I was in a room full of amateur photographers earlier this week and all the talk was about Canon and Nikon cameras so out of sheer curiosity I called out to see if there was anyone in the room using something other than these two brands. Not one person raised their hands. Yet Olympus, Pentax and Sony all make fine cameras. You will probably pay a bit more for something from Canon or Nikon, but the upside is that there is a much bigger used market to select from. Always remember that you are really buying into a whole system, not just a single camera.
Sound advice there from Thorsten, Freddie. If you do get bitten by the bug,
which (take my word for it) is very likely, Canon would certainly give you more
room for growth. Don’t get me wrong; I’m a dedicated Olympus user, but I’ve
bought into the system and changing over would be more torture than my
already beleaguered credit card could tolerate. The range of Olympus four thirds
lenses is fairly small yet, though there is a decent range, but as you say, the
top glass is pretty expensive.On the other hand, if you’re damn sure you have no intention of getting bitten
by any bug, then I’d opt for the Olympus with the kit lenses and stick with just
that. As kit lenses go, the Olympus Zuikos are the sharpest you’ll get at the price…Rob.
Rob wrote:
Sound advice there from Thorsten, Freddie. If you do get bitten by the bug,
which (take my word for it) is very likely, Canon would certainly give you more
room for growth. Don’t get me wrong; I’m a dedicated Olympus user, but I’ve
bought into the system and changing over would be more torture than my
already beleaguered credit card could tolerate. The range of Olympus four thirds
lenses is fairly small yet, though there is a decent range, but as you say, the
top glass is pretty expensive.On the other hand, if you’re damn sure you have no intention of getting bitten
by any bug, then I’d opt for the Olympus with the kit lenses and stick with just
that. As kit lenses go, the Olympus Zuikos are the sharpest you’ll get at the price…Rob.
Thanks for that Thorsten and Rob. Looks like the Canon Eos 450D for me then (?745 on http://www.komplett.ie). Just a couple of questions if you can possibly oblige:
1. There is an IS 18-55 lens supplied with the camera. Is this a wide angle lens which would suffice for group shots, etc?
2. This lens ( http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=308992 ) is also available. Would this suit for so-called ‘walkabout’ purposes?
3. Finally, is this a reasonable Telephoto lens:
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=321661
I realise both do not have IS, but I don’t think this would be too much of an issue (or would it?).
Many thanks in advance for all your help.
OK folks. Looks like I’m going with the new Eos 450D. It will come with an 18-55 IS lens. Can anyone recommend a good walkabout lens? What about the 50mm 1.8? Most of my shots are at family events (50% indoors). Would I need an add-on flash? I like to do an odd landscape (and am looking for a WA lens later on). Is there a general purpose lens I could use in conjuction with the kit 18-55? I can stretch to about €400 for the additional lens.
Sorry for all the questions.
Thanks in advance.
Freddie.
Hi Freddie,
To answer a couple of your questions and give you my experience.
1. I think the kit lens is, in term of field of view, fine for in-door group shots.
At its widest angle it has the same field of view as wide angle compacts.(The field of view is confusing – it is expressed in terms of the focal length of a lens on
a 35mm camera with the equivalent field-of-view – someone else might explain it better.)
Wide angle compacts usually call themselves around “28mm” and the near end of the kit lens it is about that (a 18 to 55 lens on the 450D, has to be multiplied by 1.6 18×1.6=28.8 )2. I have the “Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II”, I tend not to use it much as it has a narrow field of view (equivalent to the field of view of an 80mm lens on a 35mm camera), but has famous image quality
I found the 30mm prime to be much more practical, and an excellent lens too.3. I don’t have experience of this lens but the reach seems very long unless you are doing bird watching or sports. It would be hard not to get blurred shots at the long end.
You would probably get better shots with a shorter zoom, and cropping, if you were snapping something far away.~~~~~
You are looking at 2 inexpensive lens here, it may be best to put your budget on 1 (a zoom with a shorter range).
I didn’t really know what range and what effects I wanted until I had shot for a while.I used the kit lens for some time when I got my 300D Canon but as I got an slr to
try to improve my results I upgraded to a
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
which is a very good cheapish walkabout lenes with a very practical range. It gets good reviews.Now, after a couple of years I switched to
Tamron SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)
which is also a cheapish lens. It is a very good lens in my experience.IS is useful but not nessesary, I changed from a IS lens (Canon) to non-IS (Tamron), but the Tamron has less zoom and can let in more light (so faster shutter) so is maybe doesn’t suffer from the lack of it (as well as being lighter). IS is a good thing but other factors can be just as important.
I bought the “Canon 50mm f/1.8 II” but didn’t use it much, but then got the “Canon 30mm f/2” which I find great.
My experience may be very different to someone elses, try to read around on the web and get a few opinions.
Martin
freddie59 wrote:
OK folks. Looks like I’m going with the new Eos 450D. It will come with an 18-55 IS lens. Can anyone recommend a good walkabout lens? What about the 50mm 1.8? Most of my shots are at family events (50% indoors). Would I need an add-on flash? I like to do an odd landscape (and am looking for a WA lens later on). Is there a general purpose lens I could use in conjuction with the kit 18-55? I can stretch to about €400 for the additional lens.
Sorry for all the questions.
Thanks in advance.
Freddie.
Hi Freddie
Have a look at 7dayshop re the Canon 450D it priced at £529 with 18-55 lens (With the strong Euro might work out cheaper?)
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/default.php?cat=1&type=1010&man=8&filterwords=&go=SEARCH&comp=
Steve
MartinOC wrote:
Hi Freddie,
To answer a couple of your questions and give you my experience.
1. I think the kit lens is, in term of field of view, fine for in-door group shots.
At its widest angle it has the same field of view as wide angle compacts.(The field of view is confusing – it is expressed in terms of the focal length of a lens on
a 35mm camera with the equivalent field-of-view – someone else might explain it better.)
Wide angle compacts usually call themselves around “28mm” and the near end of the kit lens it is about that (a 18 to 55 lens on the 450D, has to be multiplied by 1.6 18×1.6=28.8 )2. I have the “Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II”, I tend not to use it much as it has a narrow field of view (equivalent to the field of view of an 80mm lens on a 35mm camera), but has famous image quality
I found the 30mm prime to be much more practical, and an excellent lens too.3. I don’t have experience of this lens but the reach seems very long unless you are doing bird watching or sports. It would be hard not to get blurred shots at the long end.
You would probably get better shots with a shorter zoom, and cropping, if you were snapping something far away.~~~~~
You are looking at 2 inexpensive lens here, it may be best to put your budget on 1 (a zoom with a shorter range).
I didn’t really know what range and what effects I wanted until I had shot for a while.I used the kit lens for some time when I got my 300D Canon but as I got an slr to
try to improve my results I upgraded to a
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
which is a very good cheapish walkabout lenes with a very practical range. It gets good reviews.Now, after a couple of years I switched to
Tamron SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)
which is also a cheapish lens. It is a very good lens in my experience.IS is useful but not nessesary, I changed from a IS lens (Canon) to non-IS (Tamron), but the Tamron has less zoom and can let in more light (so faster shutter) so is maybe doesn’t suffer from the lack of it (as well as being lighter). IS is a good thing but other factors can be just as important.
I bought the “Canon 50mm f/1.8 II” but didn’t use it much, but then got the “Canon 30mm f/2” which I find great.
My experience may be very different to someone elses, try to read around on the web and get a few opinions.
Martin
Thanks very much Martin
Advice much appreciated.freddie.
ossie13 wrote:
freddie59 wrote:
OK folks. Looks like I’m going with the new Eos 450D. It will come with an 18-55 IS lens. Can anyone recommend a good walkabout lens? What about the 50mm 1.8? Most of my shots are at family events (50% indoors). Would I need an add-on flash? I like to do an odd landscape (and am looking for a WA lens later on). Is there a general purpose lens I could use in conjuction with the kit 18-55? I can stretch to about €400 for the additional lens.
Sorry for all the questions.
Thanks in advance.
Freddie.
Hi Freddie
Have a look at 7dayshop re the Canon 450D it priced at £529 with 18-55 lens (With the strong Euro might work out cheaper?)
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/default.php?cat=1&type=1010&man=8&filterwords=&go=SEARCH&comp=
Steve
Hello Steve.
Yeah – saw that alright. It’s about €80 cheaper than komplett.ie, but there might be a problem with duty, as 7dayshop (whom I’ve traded with since 2001) are technically recognised as being outside the EU (even though you can import to the UK).
Cheers,
freddie.
hi there freddie
have been caught between the E-510 and 450D myself, was wondering if you
took the plunge and went with the canon?
How are you finding it?
Anyone else have any advice on choosing between the two above and
the Pentax K10D?Since I changed over to digital photography in 2003 I have used nothing but Olympus. Their E1 system was superb …… had a few adjustments to make as their set-up recommendations were a bit off but fro once I got that sorted I happily shot all my work for years. Problem was they just did not move with the times and the advances were just too much …….. now they are just playing catch up. Just a year and a half ago I bought the Canon 1Ds Mk II and while I’m still not 100% happy with the colour as it comes off the camera the image quality is second to none. 3 weeks ago I added the Canon 5D to my kit – its colour is even better than the 1Ds MkII and on Friday I ordered the 450D as a backup unit and for doing less critical work.
While I still like the Olympus I believe that Canon and Nikon will be the big players into the future so for this alone I would stick with either and I just happened to come down on the side of Canon as most other professionals here have got them and we share info and advice.
danand82 wrote:
hi there freddie
have been caught between the E-510 and 450D myself, was wondering if you
took the plunge and went with the canon?
How are you finding it?
Anyone else have any advice on choosing between the two above and
the Pentax K10D?Hello again Dan.
I pondered for over three months. I was leaning heavily towards the E510 for three main reasons:
1. I had previously had an Olympus P&S C2020Z for a few years and the quality was stunning. I then had a Fuji s5000 which was also tremendous.
2. The dual lens kit supplied with the camera, which receives great reviews.
3. Live View.
I would point out at this point that I am not a diehard Canonite – even though I own one. I recognise the Olympus for what it is – a wonderful camera.
However, a few things swung me to the Canon:
1. Olympus charge for software that comes as standard on the Canon.
2. The amount of peripherals and lenses available for the Olympus is smaller and more expensive.
3. The crop factor results (and this is the best way I can decribe it) in the Olympus shots looking like a normal 4:3 TV picture – while the Canon looks like a widescreen TV.
4. The big one for me was that the e510 apparently can suffer badly in low light conditions, with the flash strobing for several seconds before shooting. ( http://www.flickr.com/groups/e510/discuss/72157605027843863/ )
Coming from the s5000 which worked 1st time every time this was a clincher for me.
But it’s down to personal preference at the end of the day. Here’s a link with sample photos from both which gives a good insight into them. BTW, you can now purchase the Eos 450D for €660 delivered (approx) from http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=345550 It’s a great deal.
Her’s the comparison links:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1010&message=27416940&changemode=1
http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/olye510_samples/
http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/canoneos450d_preview/
Whatever you choose enjoy it.
Cheers,
freddie.
Hi freddie, sorry I must seem like some kind of stalker – I never thought to connect
the user name here and on boards.
Now I just look like an idiot asking the same question all the time ;)Just trying to get as much info as I can, as I don’t really know anyone
who has ever even considered buying a DSLR.If we’re honest, I’m sure all of these cameras are capable of producing
great pictures, so long as the photographers is up to the challenge.
I’ll just have to choose one :)Thanks for your quick and indepth replies as always.
All the best,Daniel
danand82 wrote:
Hi freddie, sorry I must seem like some kind of stalker – I never thought to connect
the user name here and on boards.
Now I just look like an idiot asking the same question all the time ;)Just trying to get as much info as I can, as I don’t really know anyone
who has ever even considered buying a DSLR.If we’re honest, I’m sure all of these cameras are capable of producing
great pictures, so long as the photographers is up to the challenge.
I’ll just have to choose one :)Thanks for your quick and indepth replies as always.
All the best,Daniel
No problem Dan. Anytime. :wink:
I know very little “tech” stuff about the cameras in question but wanted to say that the Canon is a dream! And as my passion grows, it grows with me :)
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