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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Olympus Reputation?
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 06/05/2008 10:24:04 AM · #1
Hey all,

So I'm new to the whole artistic photography thing, and currently own an Olympus EVOLT E-300 (I guess it says that by my name though) as my first DSLR. I like it fine enough, but all I ever hear about is Nikon this, Canon that.

My next camera purchase I think is going to be either a Nikon or a Canon, but I was wondering if there is any reason I SHOULDN'T get an Olympus? I never hear anything about them (Sony too) and am wondering what their reputation is like.

Second question, and I'm sure this'll start a forum war, should my next camera be a Nikon or a Canon? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each? Furthermore, for an intermediate photographer who wants to spend maybe $1000 on the next camera, what's a good model to go with?

Hope this isn't too loaded a question for these forums, you guys have seemed pretty helpful in the past, so I thought you'd be a good group to go to.

-Zack
 06/05/2008 11:03:09 AM · #2
I put all three on the counter, played with the controls, noted the "feel" My choice was the Olympus. No regrets!

Your "peers" may sway your choice as they may offer a chance to try different lenses/problems/tips etc. if they are local.

At your price range, you can't lose!

There are lots of forums on this if you do a search....

Bruce
 06/05/2008 11:06:46 AM · #3
I have no complaints so far.
 06/05/2008 11:37:41 AM · #4
I don't have any experience with any of the dSLR brands, but FWIW I am still regularly using my Olympus D-490z, which I bought in 2000.
 06/05/2008 11:52:46 AM · #5
while now on my 3rd Oly I pondered this question awhile back too (Olympus thread).

I love my Olympus but maybe cause I know all the menu's and find them very easy to manuever through and find what I want. I have only used Nikon's and Canon's for very short periods when I wanted to see what they were like and had a great deal of difficulty finding what I wanted, again that is mostly because I don't have much experience with them. I sometimes wonder if my camera is soft on the focus but don't have another camera to compare it with. I really think I will stay with Olympus and am really wishing I could upgrade to the E3 but know that isn't going to happen for a VERY long time (will probably have an upgrade from that before I can buy it lol).

Stick with the Oly, be a rebel (oops that's Canon ;) be different, stay with the underdog lol.
 06/05/2008 11:53:45 AM · #6
I did a ton of research before I settled on my Olympus C-8080. One of the cameras I had on my list was a Nikon (sorry I can't remember which one). Bottom line you have to decide what features are most important to you and the feel & weight of the camera in your own hand (do you feel comfortable handling it and are the controls placed such that they 'fit' right). The site I poured over is Digital Photography Review . You can look over any camera and choose from the drop down menu what features you want to read about (such as body & design, Operation & controls, or compared to) What sold me on the Olympus is the quality of the lens, the sharpness of photo detail was better than the Nikon AND that it felt good in my hand (I felt that it wasn't so light weight & tiny that it was going to break in my hands & the controls were easy to reach). I have had no regrets with my camera. I love my camera.

Message edited by author 2008-06-05 15:54:31.
 06/05/2008 11:59:37 AM · #7
My Oly was on sale and it was the best deal at the time so that's why I have it lol. Now I want an E-3 so I don't have to get different lenses. I have nothing to compare it to but I'd say I'm pretty happy with this camera.

The only thing I really dislike about this camera is the high noise level which kind of starts at ISO 400 and then really becomes apparent at ISO 800. That's probably about the only thing I'd change.
 06/05/2008 12:16:03 PM · #8
Zack, you might also check out the forums over at DPReview. They have a forum specifically for Olympus DSLR users (as well as forums for Canon and Nikon). If nothing else, it will make you feel good about your choice.

Edit: Oops, I see someone has already mentioned that site. :-/

Message edited by author 2008-06-05 16:17:44.
 06/05/2008 12:16:28 PM · #9
Is Olympus known for having high quality lenses? For all I've heard that's Nikon's territory...How do the two compare? If I could stick with Olympus, it would be nice to be able to keep my lenses...I only have one 4/3 lens, and have been staving off buying more because of a thought that I might be switching to Nikon in the future.
 06/05/2008 12:18:08 PM · #10
Originally posted by colorcarnival:
My Oly was on sale and it was the best deal at the time so that's why I have it lol. Now I want an E-3 so I don't have to get different lenses. I have nothing to compare it to but I'd say I'm pretty happy with this camera.

The only thing I really dislike about this camera is the high noise level which kind of starts at ISO 400 and then really becomes apparent at ISO 800. That's probably about the only thing I'd change.


Oh yeah..I want that E-3 too!!
 06/05/2008 12:42:03 PM · #11
I love love love my E500. It's much lighter than the similar sized Canon and Nikon cameras I've tried, but it still takes amazing pictures.

But I, too, have been thinking about switching to Canon or Nikon. My reason is the availability, variety, and price of the lenses. Since Canon and Nikon are so huge, their lenses are everywhere, with every length, and at all kinds of cheap prices (one good thing about flooded markets: sales and pre-used re-sales). I've always had trouble finding Olympus lenses, especially high quality ones. I know the lenses exist, but they are never in stock! I doubt I'd have that problem with Canon or Nikon.

Even if I do switch, there is no way I'm giving up my E500.
 06/05/2008 12:52:30 PM · #12
Originally posted by zackdezon:
Is Olympus known for having high quality lenses? For all I've heard that's Nikon's territory...How do the two compare? If I could stick with Olympus, it would be nice to be able to keep my lenses...I only have one 4/3 lens, and have been staving off buying more because of a thought that I might be switching to Nikon in the future.


According to Klaus from photozone, Olympus is no. one for overall lens quality... and he reviews ALOT of lenses. The sensor format gives them a huge advantage in exploiting the optically best area of a lens, the centre. Even on their entry level zooms, the corner to corner quality is rather astounding.

All of their current mid range and up lenses are weather sealed, and most of these lenses are a stop faster than their Canon / Nikon counterparts (to make up for the increased depth of field and worse noise characteristics of the smaller sensor). I mean, how sexy are the 2.0 zooms?
06/05/2008 01:32:20 PM · #13
Been using Oly's for 30 some years and I haven't had any breakdowns yet. My E3 is just fantastic, I love its feel and speed. One tip I would give is if you stay with Oly, buy the super high grade or high grade lenses, not the standard ones. There is a big difference, just as there is with Nikon's and Canon's standard lenses. Pay for top quality glass, the bodies you'll be changing anyway but good glass remains, good glass and that's how you go get that quality image you've been after for so long. ;\
 06/05/2008 01:48:02 PM · #14
Thanks guys, you're definitely making the new camera decision a very tough one...

So then comes the question of money...
Which make do you find (in terms of lenses/bodies) has the best quality-price ratio?
 06/05/2008 01:55:37 PM · #15
Originally posted by zackdezon:
Thanks guys, you're definitely making the new camera decision a very tough one...

So then comes the question of money...
Which make do you find (in terms of lenses/bodies) has the best quality-price ratio?


There used to be a big difference in price from brand to brand but I don't see that anymore in similar sized lenses. They all have their specialized lenses with crazy prices but all in all I would say there's not much of a difference anymore. I'm talking about their top quality lenses, not their kit or standard ones btw.
 06/05/2008 06:03:20 PM · #16
jjbeguin

Score one for our team - this guy can't be wrong.
 06/06/2008 10:02:53 AM · #17
Everybody always says the same old thing: go fiddle with the various brands and see which feels the best to you, because the ergonomics of each company are vastly different. There's good reason for this suggestion, and it's largely to the point because pretty much everybody with a DSLR becomes a fanboy/girl because they liked the feel of their camera and can't ever imagine going with the other. That, and, like yourself, they spent tons of time looking for one and nitpicking at every other option, which is great. I think it's also important to suggest you consider the camera brand as a SYSTEM. Bodies come and go (especially digital, though at this point that may slow down slightly since the quality is so much higher and the individual advances in bodies aren't so vast), but your lenses can be used for much longer, like Jac said. Unfortunately, in contrast to

Originally posted by geinafets:
... I know the lenses exist, but they are never in stock! I doubt I'd have that problem with Canon or Nikon.

there are still problems at times getting certain lenses. Look at the fiasco of the release of the 18-200mm for Nikon, and people waiting 6+ months for theirs to ship. I wouldn't say this is the case for most lenses for Nikon or Canon, but on release supplies can always be tight, so keep that in mind. In terms of bang for buck, it seems to me that you get the biggest bang jumping from P&S to DSLR, then the gains get increasingly smaller in relation to their cost as you go on up, regardless of the brand. The jump from a Nikon D80 to a D200 or D300 is massive, and so is the price jump. Does the D300 have some advantages over the Canon 40D? Yeah, but are they justified by the huge price difference? Depends who you ask. The gap gets narrower the higher you go. They all have to compete with each other at each price level and so, although each manufacturer has different specialties, they are all built to similar quality in a given price range. If you're on a budget, getting older Nikon and Canon lenses may be a big plus as far as expanding your range, since they are so readily available. If you intend to buy new though, I honestly don't see much of a difference for going Oly vs Nikon or Canon, or even Fuji for that matter (especially if you like portraits... I hear the S5 kills everybody in that area). Also, Fuji's run a Nikon mount, so you can put used Nikon glass to use.
 06/06/2008 11:16:57 AM · #18
Not a thing wrong with Olympus, Canon and Nikon are just the 800 pound gorillas is all it is. If you already have a lot of Olympus lenses and accessories, it might be better to stick with that make. I ran across a Canon at a really good deal, but if I had paid full price, the Olympus E-510 is what I was looking at. I liked the way it felt in my hands and all the controls just seemed to be where my fingers landed when they wanted them.

06/06/2008 02:57:04 PM · #19
I shot with Olympus stuff for quite some time. Used an E300 and an E1 both. Had great results, and no matter what anyone tells you the noise is not an issue even at 1600ISO if exposed properly. The main reason I went with Canon was the fact I wanted a 300mm lens with F2.8 and the Olympus lens was just way out of range. I shot and sold many images for publication with my Oly stuff. I'm not a bit disappointed with my Canon stuff, but had the Olympus lineup been able to provide me with the lens I needed to use I likely wouldnt have switched.

Matt
 06/06/2008 06:03:14 PM · #20
Originally posted by MattO:
I shot with Olympus stuff for quite some time. Used an E300 and an E1 both. Had great results, and no matter what anyone tells you the noise is not an issue even at 1600ISO if exposed properly. The main reason I went with Canon was the fact I wanted a 300mm lens with F2.8 and the Olympus lens was just way out of range. I shot and sold many images for publication with my Oly stuff. I'm not a bit disappointed with my Canon stuff, but had the Olympus lineup been able to provide me with the lens I needed to use I likely wouldnt have switched.

Matt


Yup that 300mm @ 5K is way out of it for me, ever. I would love to rent it along with a 2x converter one day but not a single local shop rents that equipment.
 06/07/2008 06:03:23 AM · #21
I had an E-300 that I had A LOT of trouble with, but I think it was that individual camera and not Olympus as a brand. I also must admit, I prefered Olympus' controls.

The main thing in favor of Canon and Nikon is that there is a much wider variety of accessories (lenses, flashes, whatnot) to go with them than there is with Olympus.
 06/07/2008 06:29:57 AM · #22
I have 2 Oly's, a E500 and E510. Next year I am planning on getting the E3. I have no regrets on getting my Oly. Love it!!!
 06/07/2008 07:06:56 AM · #23
I love my Olympus Evolt because its light and I can carry the camera and an extra lens in my purse. Guess thats a girlie thing tho!
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