I’m looking to buy a DSLR camera with a slim budget. Found a Olympus E-420 almost half price down, my hesitation is if this camera is way absolete and I should spend some more money and buy a Canon or Nikon, any suggestions?
Answer:
The Olympus E-420 is a good starter camera. You can get a decent and cheap wide as well as a tele zoom for it. I researched it for a friend of mine almost a year ago.
When you take the wide angle zoom pay attention to get the 14-42mm lens and not the 17-45.
And now comes the secret: this is a camera with a four-third sensor. This means you can buy professional old canon FD lenses for a damn fucking cheap price and mount them in manual focus mode. You just need the right adapter. Check it out on google!
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Because you want to take professional level pictures, I’m not sure a 4/3 sensor will do it. Generally the smaller the sensor the less quality and more low light problems.
Architectural and resort photography typically will require high quality equipment. Of course, if you just need small 5-10cm pics for the real estate listings, then anything will do.
For what you’ll be shooting, wide angles lenses will be important. And with 4/3 cameras, remember the magnification factor.
One issue you’ll want to consider, is this a self contained camera or do you want to build up a set of lenses and accessories?
Nikon and Canon each have about 40% of the market, all other manufacturers, including Olympus, split up the remaining 20%.
This means there is far less third party support. Far fewer new lenses available, far fewer used lenses available. Far fewer strobes and accessories. Far less support for repairs, virtually no support to rent a needed expensive lens, or second backup body.
Canon & Nikon have a range of expensive, top quality lenses, along with a large selection of good inexpensive lenses. And a large selection of lenses by third party manufactures. All with full automation.
Look on eBay, how many lenses are available for a Canon or Nikon? How many are available for Olympus?
If you already owned a selection of lenses, that you wanted to utilize even without the automation, it might not be a bad idea. I’m not sure starting a new system with the need to purchase them is a good idea. Many of the older (and non-automated) high quality lenses are still not cheap.
At least real estate is one area where non-automated lenses is probably not a big handicap.
———————— I think you missed the part on the “slim budget” + beginner. She’ll not need 24h support etc. And the two standard lenses should cover everything she might needs.
I think when you are beginning it’s good to start with a system where you don’t invest to much money into but can make decent shots and try out what you actually need. In addition most people do not feel well carrying around expensive stuff when they are still new to a subject.
E.g. my friend: she almost never uses the camera. It would have been a waste to tell her to buy Canon stuff. The Olympus price / quality ratio is much better in this price category (even if you take Tamron etc. lenses).
Indeed an idea would be to get a used one together with the lenses.
About the sensor: the noise level is fine for that category. Pretty much usable until ISO 800. And with the 12mm lens she has a nice 24mm, what is pretty much all you normally need for wide angle.
Think about what you want! Do you want something to try out if you’d like to approach photography on a more professional level, or do you actually know that you want to become a professional hobby photograph.
If for the first: you can still sell the equipment later and switch over to Canon or Nikon.
Exception are e.g.: if you can get the Canon or Nikon equipment for a very cheap price (e.g. used)
—————— I wouldn’t recommend Olympus even to my enemy. Actually this brand works the last 20 years with negative income and is with one foot in grave. Besides the technical quality is not comparable with equal budget Canon or Nikon cameras. So think twice before buying an Olympus! My recommendations for low budget cameras: Canon 1100D Nikon D3000 ——————— >>…which lens should I get next?
I’d suggest either the EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM (even with the price drop, the longer 1,200 may be a little much) or the EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM.
Or maybe go with Magnus’s alternative suggestion.
Learn to use the 18-55. When it’s not long enough, walk closer (unless subject bites, etc). When you need to see more, back up (watch for ledges). Many classic photojournalists did most of their work with one or two prime (fixed length) lenses. Your 18-55 covers more range than they probably had.
Many photographers use a telephoto as a crutch, because they are too scared to approach their subject. Or to look for the creative solution to not having the “ideal” lens. For panoramas, stitching will eliminate the need for wide-angles in many situations. And works best when not using too much of a wide angle lens.
After you’ve used the 18-55 for a while, you’ll have a better idea of what shots you are missing because of equipment and not just lack of experience or imagination.
If you are not already, I will suggest you shoot in RAW.
A couple of inexpensive accessories you may find valuable, and may tide you over till you get another lens.
A reversing ring (ok, ok, thanks to Magnus for reminding me about this little item). This will give you a very sharp, strong macro lens. (This in reality gives you another lens)
A polarizing filter. A rotating front lens element makes it inconvenient to use, which in itself, is a learning experience. (A polarizer is an optical element, i.e. part of a lens :-)
A small sturdy tripod. Unless I don’t want to draw attention to myself, I keep a gorillapod attached almost all the time. Comes in handier, the more I have it around. One advantage, many people will assume you’re a professional.
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