Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP DSLR with IS, 2.7-inch Swivel LCD with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Lens

Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP DSLR with IS, 2.7-inch Swivel LCD with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Lens

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• 12.3-megapixel Live MOS sensor for photo-quality, poster-size prints
• Lightweight ergonomic design; kit includes 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko lens
• TruePic III for superior image quality in all lighting situations; Supersonic Wave Drive (in-body sensor shift)
• 2.7-inch HyperCrystal III Swivel LCD; Smooth Live View allows you to change the frame rate of the Live View display
• Stores images to Compact Flash (Type I and II), Microdrive, xD Picture card (not included)

Buy Now : Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP DSLR with IS, 2.7-inch Swivel LCD with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Lens

Brand : OLYMPUS
Category : Electronics,Camera & Photo,Digital Cameras,DSLR Cameras
Rating : 4.2
Review Count : 35

Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP DSLR with IS, 2.7-inch Swivel LCD with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Lens

• I am an amateur photographer, not a professional by any means. But I\'ve been using an old Canon AE1 35mm film camera and/or a point and shoot digital for a quite few years and wanted to upgrade to a DSLR. After doing the research, I went with the Olympus. Everybody has their own preferences, so that plays into the equation. My friends with Canons say that Canon is the only way to go and every other brand sucks. My friends with Nikons say that Nikon is the only way to go and every other brand sucks. I compared this camera with the comparable Canons and Nikons and when it all played out, the Olympus was the camera that best matched my wants/needs.The Pros:One of the main selling points to the Olympus is that it has in body image stabilization, so you don\'t have to worry about buying lenses with IS vs. without. Pretty much, you can slap any lens on it and get image stabilization. This also cuts down on the weight of the lenses. This is something my Canon friends bitch about. They have lenses that do not have IS, so they get some blurred shots from time to time. Buying the lenses with IS is a lot more expensive. With the Olympus, you don\'t have to worry about it. For most amateur photographers, this is a big plus.The Zuiko kit lenses are top notch. I\'ve got the 14X42mm, the 40X150mm and the 35mm Macro lenses, and they are all very impressive.The other Zuiko lenses are all great quality and get great reviews, while Canon and Nikon lenses tend to either be damn excellent or nearly crap. Plus, since the E-620 has in body image stabilization, you can simply buy an adaptor and use Canon and Nikon lenses (the ones without image stabilization), or other old prime lenses (though, the autofocus will not work with these \'other\' lenses).The live view function is excellent, even though I hardly ever use it. I always use the viewfinder, but in playing with the live view, it rocks for what it is. If you are gonna use the live view function a lot, this camera has a very good one.The rotating/swiveling LCD display makes it easy to use the live view function (or the menus in my case) from odd angles if/when necessary. This is really helpful when taking macros, or using a tripod, or any other time you may need to be at an odd angle or attitude to the camera.Built in dust reduction system. This is a very handy feature to keep the sensor clean without you having to do anything but turn the camera on.The built-in art filters are excellent.The image quality is excellent. You have to play with the camera settings and learn how to get what you want out of it. It will produce stunning pictures, once you get the hang of it. This is true with any higher line DSLR. Right out of the box on \"Auto\", this camera produces nice images. But take the training wheels off, and this camera quickly gets even better.The controls are well laid out and pretty easy to use, plus they are programmable. So if you want to \'customize\' the buttons for certain features that you use often, you can easily do so.The body is smaller, compared to other comparable DSLRs. I also find it to be very comfortable to handle. This is nice because you can carry the E-620 around without too much hassle. It is still a full size unit, but less size and weight are a plus if you are gonna lug the thing around all day.The basic functions are pretty easy to learn/use with a little practice. But as with anything else, RTFM!The price. If you shop around, this camera is a LOT cheaper than the comparable Canon (50D) or Nikon (D5000). You can get the body, 2 kit lenses and a few accessories for what it would cost you to get the comparable Canon/Nikon body and maybe one kit lens. Why pay a lot more $$$ for the Canon/Nikon name, when the odds are, you\'ll never notice a difference anyway? Sure, the brand snobs will point out all kinds of things that they say make their brand of choice \"better\", but unless you are a pretty serious photographer, it won\'t mean a thing to you. And if it does, you are probably gonna buy a much more expensive/sophisticated camera anyway. If you are looking for the most \"bang for your buck\", this camera delivers.The Cons:Overall, the Canon 50D and the Nikon D5000 will have a slightly better picture quality at high resolution; but the difference is not really noticeable unless you are a professional or otherwise have a lot of experience in the field. Most entry level buyers will never notice the difference anyway. Or, they\'ll cover the difference in Photoshop/Lightroom, etc. If you ARE sophisticated enough where these minor differences are going to make or break your selection, the odds are that you probably were not going to buy into this price range anyway.The viewfinder is a bit small. This takes a little getting used to and is something Olympus could (and should) improve upon. This is a minor inconvenience, but still, it could (and should) be better.The camera does NOT have video recording capability. For some people, this is a problem. For me, it is not. I already have an HD camcorder that I like, so I didn\'t want (or need) one in my still camera. Plus, for me, it just seems wrong to be taking videos from this type of camera. But that is just personal preference. If I\'d wanted a camcorder/DSLR hybrid, I\'d probably have considered the Olympus PEN. But in any event, if you want a camcorder function, the E-620 doesn\'t have one.The XD memory card. This camera uses both XD cards and CompactFlash cards (one slot for each). I like the CompactFlash cards, but the XD is not ubiquitous. Plus, the panorama function on the camera will only work with an XD card installed. If you are switching from a point and shoot, unless you have a Fuji or Olympus (about the only two cameras that use the XD cards), your existing memory cards (SD, etc.) will not work. And here is a tip: Buying high quality CF cards will speed up the write times. So don\'t skimp.Selection of lenses/accessories. There are a lot more kit lenses and accessories for Canon and Nikon. Not all of them are necessarily good or useful, but they are out there. So if you want the widest selection of aftermarket goodies, Canon or Nikon is probably gonna win that race. Yes, you can always buy an adaptor to use other manufacturer\'s lenses, but this is not exactly the same as purpose built accessories because not all of the lens functions will work with an adaptor (autofocus, etc.).The autofocus can be a bit fickle in low light. If you use the built-in flash with the auto-focus in some low light situations, it will still sometimes take the camera a while to dial in the focus. This can be pretty damn frustrating. Using manual mode and manual focus solves this problem. Since I have progressed to using manual mode with manual focus almost exclusively, this is no longer an issue for me. But it is an issue that Olympus should work on improving. I am told that the Canon/Nikon cameras can also have this issue, but that they are less temperamental about it than the Olympus.Battery life. Personally, I think the battery life is fine. However, if you use the live view function, it drains the battery a lot quicker. I seldom use the live view function, so I don\'t notice much of a problem. However, I bought a spare battery to keep in the bag anyway, so this is moot for me. If you are gonna spend $500-$600 on a nice camera, go ahead and drop the extra $10 for a spare battery, no matter what brand you buy.Brand recognition. People know the names \"Canon\" and \"Nikon\" very well. Olympus, not so much. So if you are a \'brand conscious\' consumer who needs to go along and fit in with the crowd, then play it safe and buy a Canon or Nikon, and you\'ll be happy.The Bottom Line:I LOVE this camera. I\'d buy it again in a heartbeat. It is a pretty sweet rig. The truth is, at this level, you will probably be satisfied with whatever you buy. But for me, for the money, this is the best value for what I wanted in a camera. As with any DSLR, there is a learning curve. You HAVE to put the work into learning how to use the camera. If you are just gonna set it to \"Auto\" and snap pictures, then you may as well save the money and just buy a nice point and shoot because you are not going to enjoy or appreciate ANY complex DSLR. But if you are willing to put some time and practice into it, this camera will do whatever you want and more. It isn\'t a perfect camera, but none of them are. Do your research and make your decision based on the features and functions (and budget) that YOU want out of a camera. If the E-620 meets the criteria for what you want/need in a camera, then buy one and you will not be disappointed.
• I\'ll start with the good news: this is a great camera. It handles well, it shoots well, and it\'s a wonderful value.I have owned many bodies from multiple systems, and the E620 continues to fare well against competitors in its price bracket. The autofocus system (especially when matched with an SWD lens) is especially impressive, arguably better than its similarly priced APS-C competitors even now. Its size advantage is immediately apparent, being dramatically more portable than APS-C bodies. Even though it\'s long in tooth (over two years, now) it still remains a sensible purchase, as its price has dropped as well and it competes quite well against entry level units from the competition.The build quality of the E620 feels quite substantial; more than what I was expecting in this price bracket. The controls are all very solid and the unit feels tightly constructed. No creaks, no groans. I know it\'s plastic, but there\'s a difference between cheap plastic and good plastic, and this is clearly the latter.The E620 has in-body image stabilization, which is a clear win in my book compared to in-lens. Every lens you mount is stabilized, even old manual focus stuff; it comes in incredibly handy.Olympus is rightfully renowned for its jpeg processing engine, which continues to impress me in the E620. A lot of people think of jpeg processing as a \"meh\" feature, claiming that all shooting should be done in RAW, but to those people I say - well, I\'d rather be shooting than processing. This is a substantial advantage to Olympus which I think is commonly overlooked or downplayed.One of the most attractive aspects of the E series, other than its size, is the wealth of excellent and affordable Olympus lenses. Olympus glass is right up there with the big boys, and the cost is way lower; this is a marvelous system to be in if you\'re value-conscious.Of course, it\'s not all roses.There are several general disadvantages of Four Thirds when compared to APS-C that are manifest in the E620: poor high ISO performance (generally 1 to 2 stops worse than APS-C of similar class), poor dynamic range (again, 1 to 2 stops worse), and more limited DoF control (also 1 to 2 stops worse at a given FoV).Although the E-620 is usable at high ISO, the noise levels just can\'t compete with APS-C bodies in the same price range. Low-light also brings out the worst of the E-620\'s AF system, which suffers huge lag and hunts frequently below a certain threshold. This is only compounded by the fact that there\'s no built-in AF illumination lamp, making the E-620\'s low-light performance even worse. If you\'re shooting primarily in challenging lighting conditions, you should either consider a different system, or invest in some of Olympus\'s wonderful (but very expensive) f/2 zooms to compensate for these weaknesses.Speaking of lenses, although Olympus\' own lineup is superb and represents a generally good value, the number of 3rd party Four Thirds lenses out there is very small, so you\'re looking at minimal competition for the value sector. It\'s pretty much Olympus or the highway; there are a few Sigma and Panasonic Four Thirds lenses available, but not many.That brings me to possibly the most disturbing thing about the E620: it\'s the only consumer-level Four Thirds DSLR still on the market. Olympus has bet the farm on the mirrorless Micro Four Thirds system, and it\'s left a lot of question marks surrounding their DSLR strategy. Excepting the E-600 (a stripped-down version of the E-620), the  Olympus E-5 12.3MP Digital SLR  is the only new Four Thirds DSLR since the release of the E620 over two years ago, and that\'s aimed squarely at the high end; there\'s nothing to replace the E620 now and nothing on the horizon to do so in the future.Should that stop you from buying the E620? Not in and of itself, but it should certainly give you pause. There\'s a reason that Olympus is investing in the Micro Four Thirds system, and the reason is that it\'s *good*. Modern Micro Four Thirds bodies like the  Olympus PEN E-PL2  will give you a very similar feature set to the E620 at a very similar price point, which raises the question: why would you still buy a DSLR at all, when the future is clearly in mirrorless technology?The reason I personally own and use the E620 is the autofocus, which is still unmatched by the PEN series. I personally own the excellent  Olympus Zuiko 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital ED SWD  lens, and the PENs just can\'t autofocus it acceptably for sports; for such an application, you need a DSLR, and the E620 (or the E5) remains relevant due to this. Of course, with every new body release, the gap narrows, and eventually Olympus will surely remove DSLRs from its lineup completely.That brings me to the bottom line: who should buy the E620 now?That\'s a tough question to answer. If you already own Olympus Four Thirds glass (in particular, lenses that don\'t work with Micro Four Thirds CDAF natively) and need to upgrade from an old Ex00 or Ex10 series body, well, this seems to make a lot of sense from a cost/performance perspective. Micro Four Thirds won\'t provide you with the AF you\'re used to on those nice Olympus lenses, and there\'s not really anywhere other than the E620 to turn. That was my situation, and I\'ve been happy with the decision.If you don\'t have an investment in legacy glass, I\'m not sure that the E620 really makes sense now. It\'s a capable camera, sure, but why not think of the E-PL2 or the Panasonic GF2 instead? You have a much smaller kit with a very similar feature set. The DSLR is dying, and the E620 is the last of one such dying breed.

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