|
Reviewed by UK Guest, 9th Apr 2004. |
| Review Summary: A Professional Specification Camera@ a Price |
Overall Score: 4/5
 
|
Review: This Olympus E1 digital SLRcamera feels great. It fits comfortably into even my big hands. Handling is smooth and intuitive. The camera uses function-specific buttons to select the various options-unlike the majority of cameras that rely heavily on menus and multi-function buttons. As a result, the camera does rather bristle with buttons which seem daunting when first picking it up. The learning curve is gentle and it really doesn't take long to appreciate Olympus' design.
You will, doubtless, be aware that this is the first of, Olympus hope, a number of four-thirds cameras, using a lens mount that Olympus hope will be adopted by other manufacturers. The design produces compact-sized lenses [I do mainly outdoor stuff, so the combination of small/lightweight camera and small lenses is a definite plus]. The downside is that none of the lenses are particularly cheap. Here lies Olympus' central problem. By designing a wholly new lens mount, for which, at present, they are the sole suppliers of lenses, they are competing with the likes of Nikon, whose film users can simply use their lenses on new digital bodies. Unless Olympus lens prices drop significantly, or unless other manufacturers adopt the Olympus mount, I can imagine interest in the system falling away.
The 35mm equivalent of the E1 lenses is exactly double the length shown on the barrel-so the 300mm is a 600mm in 35 equivalent.
In use the camera is smooth and easy to handle. It suffers from a rather lengthy power-up delay, which might annoy action photographers. The metering system is generally accurate and intelligent, although I find that the exposure compensation function doesn't quite give the amount of compensation it is set for, erring on the darker side. There is a minimal shutter-lag; barely worth mentioning. Some users have found the viewfinder small and relatively dark. Persoanlly, I found no problems here, but I can see their point. Again, this may annoy sports/action photographers more than most.
I saw a brief review in the Guardian a few weeks ago, highly critical because the camera lacks an integral flash. Of course, this is a pro-specification camera and such models don't have integral flashes. That being said, the external flash units don't come cheap.
So, who will like this camera? Users wanting a lightweight, well-built camera with compact dimensions should love it. Social photographers will like it, too. I think those looking to shoot frame after frame [it can manage a 12 frame burst] of action shots will probably find something better suiting them in the Nikon or Canon ranges.
Overall, a well built, well specified and ergonomically well thought out camera. If it forms the core of a new stable of Olympus didgital SLRs and accessories, it will be a worthy foundation stone. Olympus certainly seem sure that this will happen, with further bodies and lenses planned for early UK release. It would be nice to think that some of the lenses and other accessories might be a little cheaper than those that have appeared thus far. |
Ratings
| Value For Money: |
|
4 |
| Review Score: |
|
4 |
| Recommended? | |
Yes |
|
|
Digital Cameras