Olympus E-420 to E-620 - worth it?

[PatrickO]

I have the E-420 which I love for its small size. Even with the 14-42 lens it still goes in my coat pocket. I'm fairly happy with the IQ of this camera/lens.
I have some money burning a hole and am thinking of either:

1. 25mm f/2.8 pancake lens for the E-420 to make it even more pocketable.
or
2. Upgrade to the E-620. mainly for the image stabilisation and the flip out screen.

I mostly do family and sight seeing photography, but would love to improve my landscape work.

Has anyone tried the E-620? Which lenses do you use?

 

[Sabrestoof]

Has anyone tried the E-620? Which lenses do you use?

Hi Patrick

I use a 25mm on a e400 not the best lens Oly make but OK"

Regards
Roy

Staff Edit: Remove link to another forum

 

[wiganwez]

i have just moved from the olympus e-420,now im on nikon,i love olympus lenses but the bodys arent in the same leauge as nikon and canon,the e-620 is a good camera but for the money you could get alot better i think.

 

[OlyPaul]

I use a E-30 and E-620, I sold the 420 to get the 620 which in my opinion is big improvement over the 420, better IQ in body IS and a lot of other improvements. The articulated screen is a big plus for me as I like to do low angle shots.

I sold my 25mm pancake as it was not getting enough use to justify keeping it even though its a good lens but it may suit your style of shooting more than it does mine.

 

[PatrickO]

Hi Patrick

I use a 25mm on a e400 not the best lens Oly make but OK"

Thanks Roy, I'll take look there. Interesting about your experience with the 25mm - would you say that it's better than the kit lens other than the size advantage?

i have just moved from the olympus e-420,now im on nikon,i love olympus lenses but the bodys arent in the same leauge as nikon and canon,the e-620 is a good camera but for the money you could get alot better i think.

Hi Wez, I agree that it's rather over priced (around £500 with 14-42 lens), but I don't know any other DSLR this small. I previously had a Nikon D90 which was a great camera but was such a lump that I rarely took it out and about. Have you noticed a big improvement since going to Nikon?

I use a E-30 and E-620, I sold the 420 to get the 620 which in my opinion is big improvement over the 420, better IQ in body IS and a lot of other improvements. The articulated screen is a big plus for me as I like to do low angle shots.

I sold my 25mm pancake as it was not getting enough use to justify keeping it even though its a good lens but it may suit your style of shooting more than it does mine.

Thanks Paul, do you use your E-620 as a walkabout camera? What lens do you use with the 620

 

[OlyPaul]

Thanks Paul, do you use your E-620 as a walkabout camera? What lens do you use with the 620

As I have a fair selection of Zuiko Digital lenses that a hard on to answer as I have used them all on it at one time or another. But for me my definative light carry around kit would be the E-620 with two kit lenses and the 35mm Macro which all fits in a small lowepro bag and weighs less than a bag of sugar.

 

[gregll]

The articulated screen would be a huge plus for me

 

[jonah]

I use a E-30 and E-620, I sold the 420 to get the 620 which in my opinion is big improvement over the 420, better IQ in body IS and a lot of other improvements. The articulated screen is a big plus for me as I like to do low angle shots.

I sold my 25mm pancake as it was not getting enough use to justify keeping it even though its a good lens but it may suit your style of shooting more than it does mine.

E30 here too, kit lenses are good, but prime lenses really bring out the pictures that these cameras are capable of...

 

[wiganwez]

Hi Wez, I agree that it's rather over priced (around £500 with 14-42 lens), but I don't know any other DSLR this small. I previously had a Nikon D90 which was a great camera but was such a lump that I rarely took it out and about. Have you noticed a big improvement since going to Nikon?

massive improvement,i loved the size of the 420 but try shooting over iso 200 and pictures became so grainy,wonder if the latest olys have improved in low light,i also found lenses limited and expensive for me as i am a student.

 

[dd1989]

^ Grainy over ISO 200? Perhaps photographer should consider his own skill with exposure rather than blaming the camera. If I get the exposure dead on with my E-510 I can shoot fine at 800 and even 1600 with a run through Noise Ninja.

 

[String]

I hear what you say, but I won't usually go over 800.

In days of film ASA400 was about my limit

 

[magicaxeman]

Hi Wez, I agree that it's rather over priced (around £500 with 14-42 lens), but I don't know any other DSLR this small. I previously had a Nikon D90 which was a great camera but was such a lump that I rarely took it out and about. Have you noticed a big improvement since going to Nikon?

Canon 500D is only slightly larger and heavier, its pocketable in a jacket pocket with a 50mm F1.8 on it and as light as a feather.
It can be picked up for around £469 with kit lens at present, but you could ask to swap the kit for the 50mm.

 

[OlyPaul]

massive improvement,i loved the size of the 420 but try shooting over iso 200 and pictures became so grainy,wonder if the latest olys have improved in low light,i also found lenses limited and expensive for me as i am a student.

I was quite happy to shoot at IS0 800 on my E-420. Me thinks the photographer was more at fault than the camera.

And as for the E-30/E-620 heres a robin and black bird shot at ISO 3200 in very bad winter light and hand held.

Model E-30
Date/time original 01/12/2010 11:05:48
Shutter speed value 1/250 s
Aperture value f/6.3
ISO speed ratings ISO 3200
Exposure bias value 1.00 eV
Metering mode Pattern
Focal length 300 mm (angle of view = 600mm in 35mm)
White balance Auto white balance

 

[OlyPaul]

i have just moved from the olympus e-420,now im on nikon,i love olympus lenses but the bodys arent in the same leauge as nikon and canon,the e-620 is a good camera but for the money you could get alot better i think.

Wiganwez perhaps you should change your camera profile from "saving for a D90" now you actually have one.

 

[goldenlight]

I was quite happy to shoot at IS0 800 on my E-420. Me thinks the photographer was more at fault than the camera.

And as for the E-30/E-620 heres a robin and black bird shot at ISO 3200 in very bad winter light and hand held.

Model E-30
Date/time original 01/12/2010 11:05:48
Shutter speed value 1/250 s
Aperture value f/6.3
ISO speed ratings ISO 3200
Exposure bias value 1.00 eV
Metering mode Pattern
Focal length 300 mm (angle of view = 600mm in 35mm)
White balance Auto white balance

That's all very well, Paul, but you've got an unfair advantage - your skill and experience as a photographer. Mind you, I have to admit that my E-3 has made me a better photographer so the camera certainly does play a part and IMO Olympus are well up there with the best of the rest.

 

[cinders]

Patrick,
I use the E620 which is a great camera. No problems with slightly higher ISO, certainly up to 800 is ok for me.
I upgraded from the E410 last year and the improvement is staggering. Added to that is the superb lenses. Even the two kit lenses are fantastic for their price and weight.
I tend to use the 14-42 as my standard lens because it's small, light and very versatile. Ok, if I had a 12-60 I'd take that out more often - but I can't afford it just yet...

Cindy

 

[wiganwez]

i admit i may be a newbie but i did a few party's etc it quite low light and also a sea life center and the e420 just couldn't take decent pics at ISO 800 and 400. loved it in the day couldn't fault it. you can blame me if you like but i did try various settings including the ones recommended on here.

 

[Gazza_DJ]

I think it is naive to say that the E420 is up there with comparable offerings from other manufacturers such as Nikon and Canon in terms of ISO noise - fact is the E420 DOES produce more noise than say, a 400D/450D or D3000/D5000 - certainly more than the D90.
But, one must remember that the biggest advantage of the E420 is its size and weight, and that the shots are perfectly usable up to ISO 800 straight out of the camera with the approriate noise reduction settings, and at ISO 1600 using a decent noise reduction plug in.
Also bear in mind that the E420 retailed significantly cheaper than most of its rivals.

OP, the E620 is an improvement in every IQ respect over the E420. If you can stretch, have a look at the E-30 - you could pick one up used with warranty left on it for around the same price as a brand new E620.

 

[PatrickO]

Some interesting points being made here. Nice to hear from people who have actually used the cameras. I'm getting the impression that the only real advantage of the 25mm pancake is it's small size.

Out of interest I've listed below the size/weight of some of these cameras. I've also listed the GF1 which I was considering and the D90 which I used to own and the D3000 which is Nikon's smallest DSLR.

E-420 130 x 91 x 53mm 426g
E-620 130 x 94 x 60mm 500g
E-30 142 x 108 x 75mm 695g
E-3 142 x 116 x 75mm 890g

GF1 119 x 71 x 36.3mm 385g

D90 132 x 103 x 77mm 703g
D3000 126 x 97 x 64mm 536g

Looking at those numbers the D90 only looks a little bigger/heavier than the E-420, but I found a huge practical difference. I guess which lens you use is also a big factor. With the D90 I used the Tamron 28-75mm which is a lump on its own.

I think I'm coming round to the E-620 with kit 14-42. I must see if I can get a hands-on at the weekend.

 

[Yv]

Some interesting points being made here. Nice to hear from people who have actually used the cameras. I'm getting the impression that the only real advantage of the 25mm pancake is it's small size.

Out of interest I've listed below the size/weight of some of these cameras. I've also listed the GF1 which I was considering and the D90 which I used to own and the D3000 which is Nikon's smallest DSLR.

E-420 130 x 91 x 53mm 426g
E-620 130 x 94 x 60mm 500g
E-30 142 x 108 x 75mm 695g
E-3 142 x 116 x 75mm 890g

GF1 119 x 71 x 36.3mm 385g

D90 132 x 103 x 77mm 703g
D3000 126 x 97 x 64mm 536g

Looking at those numbers the D90 only looks a little bigger/heavier than the E-420, but I found a huge practical difference. I guess which lens you use is also a big factor. With the D90 I used the Tamrom 28-75mm which is a lump on its own.

I think I'm coming round to the E-620 with kit 14-42. I must see if I can get a hands-on at the weekend.

Those figures are quite interesting [I just know my kit weighs a ton for little ol me, but its what I want/need] but you also need to take into account ergonomics. I say this more for the benefit of first time time buyers that might fall over this thread, as I am sure its something you are already aware of. If a camera doesn't fit your hand properly, if the buttons aren't at an easy finger reach, and you are not comfortable using it, then you are probably not going to get the best out of it.

As you also mention, the lens choice can make a difference too as the 'balance' can be very important especially if we are talking about your day to day lens that you be using for a large percentage of the time. Its a difficult thing to define in words, but those that have been shooting for a while and possibly with diferent lens/body combinations will understand what I mean - where possible try out your chosen combination in the shop and ask yourself does it 'feel' right?

 

[goldenlight]

Those figures are quite interesting [I just know my kit weighs a ton for little ol me, but its what I want/need] but you also need to take into account ergonomics. I say this more for the benefit of first time time buyers that might fall over this thread, as I am sure its something you are already aware of. If a camera doesn't fit your hand properly, if the buttons aren't at an easy finger reach, and you are not comfortable using it, then you are probably not going to get the best out of it.

As you also mention, the lens choice can make a difference too as the 'balance' can be very important especially if we are talking about your day to day lens that you be using for a large percentage of the time. Its a difficult thing to define in words, but those that have been shooting for a while and possibly with diferent lens/body combinations will understand what I mean - where possible try out your chosen combination in the shop and ask yourself does it 'feel' right?

Yes, that cannot be stressed enough. In my view ergonomics and handling are far more important than IQ. I say that because there is no such thing as a bad DSLR these days; all are capable of producing excellent results in the right hands. But with regards to how a camera feels and operates it is definitely not a case of one size fits all! This should be top of everyone's priorities because ultimately it will effect how much you enjoy using your camera, how often you use it and, ultimately, the quality of your pictures.

I shudder at the number of people who seemingly buy on specification and test reports alone and this is not helped by the age of online purchasing, rather than through high street stores.

It would be wrong to buy, say, Olympus or Pentax just to be different or because you like what you've heard on a forum, rather than Canon or Nikon without trying hands on all the options first. Likewise, it would be wrong to blindly buy either of the two market leaders simply because they are just that and everybody else seems to.

This probably explains why so many people are constantly switching brands and why, when they finally find one that really suits them, they promote, advocate and defend it with undying devotion. At first sight a camera is just a tool, but on reflection it is probably more an instrument.

 

[strumstrum]

Some interesting points being made here. Nice to hear from people who have actually used the cameras. I'm getting the impression that the only real advantage of the 25mm pancake is it's small size.

where do you get that impression from? its easily my most used lens, cannot wait to get my MMF1 adapter at crimbo so I can use it on my EP-1 aswell..

50mm is a superb day to day length IMO and 2.8 is a handy aperture aswell, I can get more than adequate shots in low light/very low light ISO 100-400.

the only annoying thing about it is the lens cap is metal screw type so not as quick to take off but I guess if it annoyed me that much I would buy a generic pinch type.

 

[Gazza_DJ]

Strumstrum, I'm sure you could replace the cap with a generic 43mm clip on lens cap, assuming they exist?

 

[dd1989]

That's all very well, Paul, but you've got an unfair advantage - your skill and experience as a photographer. Mind you, I have to admit that my E-3 has made me a better photographer so the camera certainly does play a part and IMO Olympus are well up there with the best of the rest.

The E-3 is simply one of the most photographer friendly cameras out there, and the new E-3 continues with that trend. There's no headline grabbing spec, just utter devotion to ensuring the cameras are accessible and functional in every situation, whether it's raining, snowing or both, quite literally these cameras will cope with just about anything.