DailyTech - Olympus Introduces New E-620 Entry-level DSLR

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Gadgets Olympus Introduces New E-620 Entry-level DSLR
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - February 24, 2009 10:31 AM

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18 comment(s) - last by teldar.. on Mar 9 at 9:25 PM

Olympus E-620 DSLR (Source: DPReview)

New Olympus DSLR makes taking artistic photos easy

Olympus today announced a new entry-level D-SLR camera which features an attractive price tag and a plethora of features. The camera is called the E-620 and it offers a good starting point for those new to the D-SLR world and has features that make taking artistic photos a snap.

Olympus' John Knaur said in a statement, "Experimenting and creating your own unique masterpieces has never been easier or more fun. Pop Art, Grainy Black & White, and Pin Hole are just a few creative options that can be effortlessly found on the camera’s mode dial. The access is easy, and the results are fun and limitless."

The integrated Art Filters include Pop Art to enhance color to make them more saturated and vivid mimicking the Pop Art style of the 1960's. A Soft Focus filter creates an atmosphere that Olympus says puts subjects in a heavenly light. A Pale & Light color filter puts the foreground in a flat gently light with pastel colors like flashback scenes in a movie. Other filters include Light Tone, Grainy Film, and Pin Hole.

The Art Filters are activated with a mode dial on the left side of the camera and the effects are viewable on the cameras 2.7-inch Live View LCD. The camera has an 18.9-ounce body and features in-body image stabilization that helps reduce blur with any attached lens. The image stabilization system has three settings with an IS-1 mode for general shooting that adjusts the sensor horizontally and vertically. A second mode called IS-2 reduces blur in the horizontal mode for image panning and an IS-3 mode does the same thing for the vertical plane.

The E-620 has a resolution of 12.3-megapixels and uses a Live MOS image sensor with the Olympus TruePic III+ Image Processor. The rear LCD swivels to make shooting using Live View easier. The autofocus system uses Phase Detection with the optical viewfinder and a Fast Imager in Live View. Other features of the camera include Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Perfect Shot Preview, and wireless flash compatibility.

Olympus integrates a dust reduction system that uses ultrasonic technology to vibrate the dust off the image sensor. The manufacturer will offer a full line of accessories for the camera including a battery grip and an underwater housing.

Olympus says that the E-620 will be available in May 2009 and the body only kit will include the camera body, BLS-1 battery pack, battery charger, shoulder strap, CD, and cables selling at $699.99. Buyers wanting a full kit can get the E-620 with an ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zukio Digital Zoom lens for $799.99.

DPReview has a hands-on with the camera and reports that it captures images in RAW, RAW + JPEG, and JPEG formats. ISO sensitivity is from ISO 100 to ISO 3200 and the shutter speed is 60 to 1/4000 of a second. Continuous bursts can be shot at four frames per second for five frames maximum in RAW mode.

The camera lacks the ability to record video like the Nikon D90 introduced last summer.

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Hmm

By DeepBlue1975 on 2/24/2009 11:53:13 AM , Rating: 3

Isn't the price a bit steep for an entry level dslr?

$700 for the body only is not that attractive, and I think there could be better options among non entry level dslrs without having to fork a lot more, and entry level ones costing less (ie sony a350 = $699 including lens)

RE: Hmm

By Shibathedog on 2/24/2009 12:57:44 PM , Rating: 1

Only fools pay MSRP, You'll be able to get it for 500/600. Which I still think is expensive for something entry level.

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RE: Hmm

By tdawg on 2/24/2009 2:57:00 PM , Rating: 2

The Olympus E-420 and E-520 are going to be a little more basic than this offering, so the E-620 isn't really the bottom of the barrel in their lines, so to speak. With all the features it offers, it seems fair competition for the likes of the D90, K20D, A350, etc. In this competition, I think it's MSRP is pretty reasonable.

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RE: Hmm

By teldar on 2/24/2009 3:18:29 PM , Rating: 2

I think the k20d is still significantly beyond this. The craptacular auto focus of Olympus alone makes the pentax cameras superior. Then there's also the body sealing as well as image processing which makes the k20d better. The k20d is a serious camera with many high end features.

Did you mean the k200D?

And I think the Nikon D90 is significantly higher end than what this camera would be as well. The resolutions may be similar, but the rest of the hardware is significantly of different levels.

Cheapest K20D with a lens is around $1000. And that's not even a good lens. Cheapest D90 with a lens is around $1150.
These are DEFINITELY not the same class. Unless Olympus has decided to give their cameras away.

The A350 IS probably similar.

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RE: Hmm

By Screwballl on 2/25/2009 1:37:22 PM , Rating: 2

Entry level = under $200
starter kit level = $200-400
professional level = over $400

You can call XP/Vista Home an entry level OS, but that does not mean it wil much cheaper or easier to use than any of the other versions...

If they want an "entry level" DSLR, then they need to get the prices down to around $200, even if it is just a 3-5MP updated version of an older DSLR...

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RE: Hmm

By teldar on 3/9/2009 9:25:38 PM , Rating: 2

I don't think that even comes close to realistic when talking about cameras.
You're prices are off by at least a factor of 2

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RE: Hmm

By teldar on 3/9/2009 9:25:39 PM , Rating: 2

I don't think that even comes close to realistic when talking about cameras.
You're prices are off by at least a factor of 2

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? Pop Art setting

By PAPutzback on 2/24/2009 11:25:02 AM , Rating: 2

Is this similar to a HDR picture? If not do any of the DSLR have a setting that will snap off a sequence of shots at different exposures to create a HDR photo. I think that would be a great option. OTherwise you ahve to break out the tripod and change settings between shots. It would be nice to either have that function built in or the ability to program a macro.

RE: ? Pop Art setting

By Visual on 2/24/2009 12:18:43 PM , Rating: 2

No, I don't think this has anything to do with HDR.
I really can't wait for proper HDR cameras to start appearing, it is high time. And no, I don't mean anything like the current existing hacks to normal cameras that take a sequence of separate shots. Instead it is quite possible to make a sensor that can be read out non-destructively multiple times throughout the course of a single exposure, giving you extremely wide dynamic range and low noise.
I am sure this will be the next big advance in digital photography, let's just hope we don't have to wait a whole decade for it though.

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RE: ? Pop Art setting

By mahax on 2/24/2009 12:58:56 PM , Rating: 2

Just how does "multiple reads trough single exposure" differ from just one long exposure? You could fit two ISO200 frames in a single ISO100 exposure, but the lower iso has less noise by default and to change the light getting in to the sensor in any other way would require moving the lens elements and thus require the shutter to close in between.

The default mode for "HDR" is exposure bracketing that is found even on good superzooms. The only viable "in-camera" method of HDR would be to create some new type of sensor, like the Fuji Super-whats-it-called sensor, but even more extreme. And it definately has it's downsides as well.

Obviously the camera is capable of squeezing the dynamic range into the sensors range. HDR images are being generated from single RAW or even JPG files, since the toning algorithms can work with cruder data. And this actually proves that often the "HDR" photo is not about the color in extreme ends of sensitivity, but about the distinct style achieved by the toning. In my mind, it's far beyond "photo enhancing" and in the realm of "photo manipulation".

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RE: ? Pop Art setting

By Visual on 2/25/2009 4:54:40 AM , Rating: 2

Multiple reads, without zeroing the cell at each (thus non-destructive) doesn't make it two ISO 200 frames. It makes it an ISO 200 and an ISO 100 frame, and they all take the same time delay as an ISO 100.

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RE: ? Pop Art setting

By tdawg on 2/24/2009 2:24:47 PM , Rating: 2

Most if not all cameras have an exposure bracket feature that allows you to take three shots rapid fire at three exposures that you can set, say -1 EV, 0, +1 EV. More professional cameras will allow you take many more bracketed shots at preset ranges to deliver multiple shots that can be combined into one HDR image.

However, while I don't do HDR image composites, I'd imagine the best results will come from using a tripod and manually selecting the exposures you want to cover a scene.

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Comparison?

By InfantryRocks on 2/24/2009 12:00:37 PM , Rating: 2

So how does it compare to the Canon XSi?

RE: Comparison?

By 7thSerapHim on 2/25/2009 12:25:04 PM , Rating: 2

I think Canon still has the better sensor for high ISO in regards of noise, given that the pixel density is lesser than the one on the E-620, which should be the same as the Panasonic G1.

The E-620 has a smaller LCD screen, 2.5" vs. 3" of the XSi.

Viewfinder wise, the E-620 has slightly more magnification (0.96% vs 0.92% of the E-520) The XSi should be offering just a slightly bigger viewfinder.

Other features:
Wireless Flash, Articulated LCD screen, 4fps burst speed vs. 3.5fps of the XSi, 7 AF points vs. 9 AF points of the XSi.

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digital lense

By uibo on 2/24/2009 4:30:42 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zukio Digital Zoom lens

What the [H] is a Digital Zoom lens?

RE: digital lense

By MrDockery on 2/24/2009 10:11:54 PM , Rating: 2

Zuiko Digital is the brand name. Zuiko was the name for Olympus Film lenses and when digital came out, they gave it the Digital tag to let you know that it is for digital SLRs

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Auto Exposure Bracketing

By stlrenegade on 2/24/2009 12:43:12 PM , Rating: 2

Is the current technology on some DSLRs to create HDR photos. WIth AEB, you don't need a tripod, because it takes the pic at normal exposure, then drops the exposure one stop and takes the pic, then raises it back 1 stop above normal to take a pic. So you have 3 shots at -1, 0, and +1. Then use a graphic program that is specific for HDR and merge the three together.

A nice little camera but...

By ChipDude on 2/25/2009 3:14:32 PM , Rating: 2

No question this looks like a nice offering.

All the manufactures now have very nice offerings. Each has there unique angle or feature.

If you hope to own a camera and add lots of lenses and also hope to still be using those lens for another 10 years I'd say there are only two manufactures to consider.

If you are only going to the DSLR and a couple lens and thats it, all the brand are pretty darn good. Who you pick at any time can be easily swayed by who just annouced the next gee wiz.

I'm a bit surprised Olympus didn't have HD video. With Canon and Nikon already offering to not have it is really missing the boat on the next feature. You can argue if someone really needs it but it is a feature that is there really for free.

In 10 years like the computer industry and many others there will only be a few manufactures left; Canon and Nikon will be there.