Camera Labs

Thanks so much for all of your help! I'm going to B&H tomorrow, where I can play around with both cameras before I actually purchase one. Seeing that both have their strengths and limitations, I'm going to choose the one that feels best to use. Again, thanks for everything!

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My Photos: http://flickr.com/photos/24648553@N04/
My Gear:
Olympus E-30
Olympus 14-54mm & 50mm Macro
FL-36
Lowepro Slingshot 200

If you're buying new, the E-30 will be considerably cheaper and will most likely be the way to go.

But if you don't mind getting a slightly used model, you can pick up an E-3 for 900 or even less on eBay for a demo body. Usually less than 1000 shutter actuations and perfect conditions, with warranty and all the associated parts and cables all new.

The E-3 is built like a tank so getting it second hand is pretty safe I think.

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E-3!
12-60 2.8-4.0
12-60 2.8-40 [Also going]
40-150 3.5-4.5
70-300 4.0-5.6
Fl-48

I did my own high ISO test earlier today. ISO3200 indeed has slight banding but its only noticeable on a flat colored surface. If you're taking pictures of a lot of things going on, it won't be noticeable.
The biggest problem though is the colorshift going into ISO3200.

However, ISO2500 does not have the shift and has no noticeable banding.

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E-3!
12-60 2.8-4.0
12-60 2.8-40 [Also going]
40-150 3.5-4.5
70-300 4.0-5.6
Fl-48

what's a professional port?

The E-30 is well constructed. The E-3 might be even better, but you pay with additional weight. Same with the viewfinder. I don't need both, and you won't see the viewfinder nor the construction quality on the taken shot.

About the noise: Yes, you loose details by removing noise, but blown out highlights have no details at all and can't be recovered.

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Olympus E-30, ZD 9-18mm 4.0-5.6, ZD 50mm Makro 2.0, ZD 14-54mm 2.8-3.5, ZD 70-300 4.0-5.6

Light travel equipment:
Olympus EP-2, µZD 14-42mm , Panasonic 20mm 1.7 pancake.

Cullmann Trento IT Daypack

Poor choice of words. Perhaps not a red herring, but I think it's blown out of proportion by some given that most people can't see it unless they are looking for it. I didn't even know about the banding issues until someone pointed it out to me.

However, the noise on the E620 jumps out as soon as you hit ISO200 especially in the shadows, which is unfortunate for a newer sensor. I am not sure if the same thing happens or not on the E30. Obviously, I am pixel peeping and if I keep the images of the E620 at 1024x768, I won't see any noise until ISO1600. But alas, I am a pixel peeper. That being said, I have been able to clean up the noise and still keep a decent amount of detail. It's just more work though.

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Olympus E620 | 25/2.8 | 50/2 | 12-60 | 14-42 | 14-54 | 40-150 | 70-300
Olympus E-P2 | Panasonic GH2 | 20/1.7 | 14-42 | 14-140
Leica M7 | M9 | 21/4 | 35/1.4 | 50/2.5 | 50/1.5 | 70/2.5 | 90/2
Sony NEX-3 | 16/2.8| 18-55
My FlickR!

Yes, it happens with the E-30 too

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Olympus E-30, ZD 9-18mm 4.0-5.6, ZD 50mm Makro 2.0, ZD 14-54mm 2.8-3.5, ZD 70-300 4.0-5.6

Light travel equipment:
Olympus EP-2, µZD 14-42mm , Panasonic 20mm 1.7 pancake.

Cullmann Trento IT Daypack

Yes I agree that Noise is present on the E30 in shadows at ISO 200, albeit it really does not seem any worse than my E520, if you account for the fact that you have more resolution.

I initially condidered the E30 as a replacement to my E510 and ebayed it shortly after aquiring the E30......however, I must confess even with banding I do prefer the E510 performance in low light to that of the E520 and E30.

So.....I have again purchaed an E510 and although the HL DR of the E30 kills the E510.....at dusk and for portraits the E510 rules IMHO.

Hat Eaten !

That was another thing I noticed... The E-510 had less noise than the E-520, which surprised the hell out of me. Softer AND noisier image... It seems that Olympus has been downgrading over time. Another reason why I always suggested getting the 510 over the 520 and saving a ton of money.

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E-3!
12-60 2.8-4.0
12-60 2.8-40 [Also going]
40-150 3.5-4.5
70-300 4.0-5.6
Fl-48

You get better results if you switch the graduation from auto to normal.

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Olympus E-30, ZD 9-18mm 4.0-5.6, ZD 50mm Makro 2.0, ZD 14-54mm 2.8-3.5, ZD 70-300 4.0-5.6

Light travel equipment:
Olympus EP-2, µZD 14-42mm , Panasonic 20mm 1.7 pancake.

Cullmann Trento IT Daypack

Hi PrinzMegahertz:

Thanks for the tip...I agree, I seldom use auto.

Cheers

Sorry but what is banding?

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Regards

Wayne


"We are not actually lost,....... just temporarily misplaced."

DSLR - Olympus E500

Digital lens 14-45 f3.5-5.6, 40-150 f3.5-4.5, Olympus C-750 + TCON-17,

Filters, Circular Polariser, Neutral Density

Photoshop CS4, Lightroom, Focus Magic,

SLR - OM1, Ricoh XR10
Lens - 135
My photos - http://www.pbase.com/cherryw

Well, its when your photo develops horizontal banding pattern across it from noise.

_________________
E-3!
12-60 2.8-4.0
12-60 2.8-40 [Also going]
40-150 3.5-4.5
70-300 4.0-5.6
Fl-48

Thanks Atomic,

I can see it now.

_________________
Regards

Wayne


"We are not actually lost,....... just temporarily misplaced."

DSLR - Olympus E500

Digital lens 14-45 f3.5-5.6, 40-150 f3.5-4.5, Olympus C-750 + TCON-17,

Filters, Circular Polariser, Neutral Density

Photoshop CS4, Lightroom, Focus Magic,

SLR - OM1, Ricoh XR10
Lens - 135
My photos - http://www.pbase.com/cherryw

Well, after a long and difficult decision, I finally opted for the E-30! This is the first photo I made with it:



Again, thanks for all of Your help!

_________________
My Photos: http://flickr.com/photos/24648553@N04/
My Gear:
Olympus E-30
Olympus 14-54mm & 50mm Macro
FL-36
Lowepro Slingshot 200