What do you guys think of the Olympus E-420

[CrackedButter]

I would like to hear from photographers here about this camera and your opinion of the 4/3rds system that it uses. I've read the wiki page about it but I'm interested in first hand opinions.

Does anybody find the 25mm F2.8 "Pancake" lens interesting? I do.

 

[Father Jack]

A friend had one and didn't like it.

Sorry he didn't say why he didn't like it, he just sold it and bought a Canon..

 

[jerryrock]

A friend had one and didn't like it.

Sorry he didn't say why he didn't like it, he just sold it and bought a Canon..

That's funny, the camera has a release date of May 2008.

 

[CrackedButter]

That is a weird first reply but maybe your friend had the E400 or the E410?

 

[Father Jack]

Sorry, I think it must have been E400 ...

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I'd gladly swap my E-400 for either the E-420 or the E-510, I'm just wondering where to get the money from...

The 25mm ƒ2.8 "pancake" seems quite interesting, but I think I'll rather get the Sigma 30mm ƒ1.4 (don't think I can afford the Panasonic 25mm ƒ1.4 that I really want) if I'm getting myself a single focal length normal lens.

 

[CrackedButter]

Dude, those links are amazing, I've heard about panasonic and other manufacturers lenses. Thanks.

Also, why did you get the camera in the first place?

As you seem to know about these cameras, why would you upgrade to the E-420. What differences are there between the 2? The Olympus hasn't standardised on feature sets between cameras but maybe you could fill me in?

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Also, why did you get the camera in the first place?

Seemed the best available, for it's price when I got it...that Zuiko/Olympus lenses are just awesome value for money...

I also loved my old Olympus OM-1, which I bought used, and wore that completely down back in the 90s...

As you seem to know about these cameras, why would you upgrade to the E-420. What differences are there between the 2? The Olympus hasn't standardised on feature sets between cameras but maybe you could fill me in?

Live view, faster shutter response, better low light focusing, the list is long... add the image stabiliser on the E-510, and my poor "old" E-400 seems antiquated...Olympus has really been busy packing technology into the E-410 and E-420...

Don't get me wrong, I love my E-400, and will probably use that as my main camera for quite a while longer...it's a very capable little camera...

...but if I had the money I'd gotten the E-510 or perhaps E-420 and let my girlfriend "inherit" the E-400...maybe I'll win the lottery just as the E-520 is released...?

 

[CrackedButter]

I lent my friend my Canon 5D for a month and when I get it back (he is in Sierra Leone) I'm going to sell it for the Olympus E-420 with either the pancake lens and a wide zoom or just go for the wide zoom (the 11-22mm). The 14-35mm at F2.0 would be lush but I'm being realistic .

I desire the portability this camera has to offer.

There is also a website selling the E-400 for only £200 with the kit lens. Seems like a good chance to test out the camera to see if I would like the E-420 further down the line.