Nikon-Canon, Nikon-Canon, but what about Olympus?

[Lovin]

Hey guys,

In every magazine you keep seeing reviews and tones of debates about Nikon and Canon. What about other brands?
Anyway, I want to start saving some money for a new camera, because on this one, I can't update the firmware and I don't know if the new lenses will work properly on it.
Now, my question is what camera?
I was thinking "big" and aiming for Olympus E3, for a lot of reasons. I searched the internet for reviews, the reviews are very good, and amazing about Zuiko lenses. The advantage for me is that Zuiko lenses are a bit cheaper than Nikkor or Canon, and the quality, as the professional photographer were saying ,is the same, amazing quality.
Now I have the E30 option, that is cheaper than E3, but should I go with Olympus, or switch to other brand?
I like Olympus, but my worries are about the noise on hight ISO, because of their smaller sensor.
Did anyone worked with an E3?
I mean how bad is the noise on high ISO? If I wanna take pictures of the sky in the night, or to a sunrise it's gonna look fine or... ?


Thank you !

http://www.olympuscanada.com/e3/index.asp

http://www.olympuscanada.com/cpg_sec...duct=1430&fl=4

[Lovin]

I'm wondering if it's better to switch to Nikon or Canon ?

...

[Barefoot]

I know the Canon shooter will be offended, but the general consensus is that the newer Nikon models are now the benchmark in High ISO performance.

Have a look at this site:

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/DxOMark-Sensor

[Iguanasan]

I think you'll find that this is another one of those small "r" "religious" wars -- a bit like Windows vs Linux or Windows vs Apple. Canon and Nikon are the two front-runners and each tends to do a little better than the other in certain areas so it depends a bit on what you like or are familiar with or what aspects of the camera are most important to you. If High ISO performance is a requirement because you do a lot of low light shooting then maybe Nikon should get the nod. If you are doing a lot of well lit studio work then I doubt it matters much as you would not likely go above 200 ISO.

The best advice I have heard about going Canon or Nikon instead of the "other" brands is that 90% of your photography clubs and/or courses, etc. tend to focus on one brand or the other and if you are not one of them then you may have to do a fair bit of learning about your camera as well as learning about the photography. If you share the same brand then it's easier for someone to show you how to use a particular feature.

[tirediron]

Don't be so quick to discount brands outside the "Big two". The Olympus line is generally regarded as being very good, and, as mentioned has outstanding, and (relatively) reasonably priced optics. One consideration with the 4/3 format is the crop factor. It's 2:1 vice 1.5:1, so your 50mm lens gives a FOV equivalent to that of a 100mm lens on a full-frame sensor. Great if you're doing tele work, not so much if you're doing wide-angle stuff. I can't comment on the noise aspect, but I suspect some on-line research at 'sites such as DPReview will give you some answers.

Pentax and Sony are both good names as well; Pentax is one of the original 'big names' in the consumer camera world, and their current line up is top-notch. As with Nikon and Canon, there is a vast array of legacy lenses, many of which can be aquired very cheaply, that you can use.

Your best bet is to figure out what your top two, three priorities are (eg low noise, high frame-rate, etc), determine a budget, and head down to your local camera store. Give the sales clerk the info and play with the different models that he shows you; ergonomics are very important, so DON'T buy one that you haven't played with. Once you've narrowed the field down to one or two, go home and spend a few days doing research before finalizing your decision.

[jjeling]

Ok, as a Sony(gift) and Pentax(k110d as soon as it was released) owner myself, I would never purchase a Canon or Nikon. Just my opinion. I know that they have the largest selection of OEM lenses available and great sensors but those should not be your only determining factors. The single most important part of your camera is the lens. Regardless of the sensor, your lens is really what takes the image. Good glass will make or break any image.
With Pentax being the original SLR, they still use the same lens mounting system as they always have. Any lens with the Pentax name on it will work regardless of the age and will mount onto any of their cameras. Not only that, they transmit 98% of all light coming through the lens. Higher than any other camera lens manufacturer. This is from their time spent focused solely on optical systems and means a more sharp and vivid image. It is easily noticeable when comparing them to other brands. Although they do not have as many lenses available, they have the most widely used lenses, so unless you are really planning on going to the extremes, Pentax offers everything you will probably need. The glass is a little more expensive than Canon or Nikon but you get what you pay for. I have also noticed that the Pentax is very well balanced compared to my Sony. Although more comfortable in my hand, the Sony is not balanced as well and shakes more than the Pentax.The image stabilization offered on the Sony is needed to achieve the same shots as the Pentax. Also, having such a high quality piece of glass on the front, faster shutter speeds, higer f-stops, and lower iso's can be used. I will honestly never buy another brand other than Pentax. Also, Pentax also uses AA batteries. This is good and bad. Bad, they dont last long. If you use your camera as much as I do, then even rechargable batteries last only a year, and a couple hundred shots to a charge. It forces you to keep several sets with you. On the plus side, if your on a shoot and run out, finding more is never a problem. The reason they are not as common as Canon or Nikon is because of marketing and price points. Ask around and find a few Pentax users, they are the most dedicated users will never suggest anything else.
The Sony I have is nice, but nothing too impressive. It was given to me as a gift, and I would never be uspet with a free camera. They come with a standard 18-70mm lens while most other manufacturers supply 18-55mm. With Sony purchasing Minolta for the technology in the camera's the older Minolta lenses will work for Sony as well. This makes the camera from the box a little more versatile. As always, the battery is propietary. Good and bad to this as well. Bad first, they are EXPENSIVE! And you must buy the current ones. I have the same battery from an old Sony camcorder that will not work since it is not the newest and latest. On a good side, you can pull some 700-800 shots on one charge. Sony cameras are good, but I have always hesitated with them. To me a company that gets into everything will never be great at anything. This might be a little different with camera's since the camera is basically a Minolta with a Sony name on it but it seems a company such as Pentax, Canon, or Nikon, who specialize in one industry will always produce the best in that field.
These are my experiences between the two different cameras I own. It helps to be able to use two different cameras over an extended period of time to allow you to fully compare. Either way, in no way am telling anyone to avoid Canon, Nikon, or Sony. They are great camera's and have a following for a reason. The best thing you can do is research before you buy

[Iguanasan]

Don't hold back jjeling, tell us how you really feel

Seriously, though. Thanks for the input!

[tirediron]

... With Pentax being the original SLR, they still use the same lens mounting system as they always have...

Ummm, sorry, going to challenge both of those points. Pentax may have been the first, successful, Japanese, widely-marketed 35mm SLR, but it was by no means the first. The Exakta line is generally given this credit (though there are a couple of other eastern European brands which claim even earlier ancestory) and second, Penxtax has most definitely changed their lens mount, their original was the M42 thread mount, later supplanted by the Pentax bayonet (or 'K' mount).

[jjeling]

You are correct. But, the M42 mount is long gone. Any used camera store you go to will have nothing but K mounts. The K mount has been standing for well over 50 years. Much longer than the rest of the other manufacturers. As far as Exakta taking credit that is fine, but Pentax is the first company to truly perfect the mass produced 35mm SLR. That is the reason why the Asahi 1000 to the day remains the most popular camera ever used. More of those units have been sold than any other camera, including the digitals. And the lenses from them, all K mounts, can be used on todays digital Pentax lenses.

[Lovin]

Don't be so quick to discount brands outside the "Big two". The Olympus line is generally regarded as being very good, and, as mentioned has outstanding, and (relatively) reasonably priced optics. One consideration with the 4/3 format is the crop factor. It's 2:1 vice 1.5:1, so your 50mm lens gives a FOV equivalent to that of a 100mm lens on a full-frame sensor. Great if you're doing tele work, not so much if you're doing wide-angle stuff. I can't comment on the noise aspect, but I suspect some on-line research at 'sites such as DPReview will give you some answers.

****

Your best bet is to figure out what your top two, three priorities are (eg low noise, high frame-rate, etc), determine a budget, and head down to your local camera store.

I already searched on internet some reviews about Olympus E3, and it seems that E3 is better than Nikon D300, up to ISO 800. The stabilization system in E3 makes the shooting way easy, like zooming at max and your hand shaking very smooth, you can take the picture with no problem.
Now, the dust reduction is the best on Olympus, E3 got also 11 full twin-cross points, and many other features.
I saw professional photographers using E3 in studious, Eli Reeds has an E3 for his outdoor assignments (wow).
My concern about what to choose, was because in every magazine about photography they recommend Nikon, Canon, and now also Pentax (because of the new line), Sony but not Olympus. Like Olympus should be your last choice. And I said to myself : what is wrong with Olympus ?
And that's why I was so confused.
Because the software from my E500 it's not working properly ( I can't update firmware) I'm afraid that maybe I can't use lenses from the new line.
I want to buy a lens, but what if it's not working?
Also, I'm starting saving money for a new camera, and my target still is the E3, and it costs a lot of money (for me) - $1,799 - body.

My priorities are landscapes, urban and later portraits.

Thank you for your advices Tirediron,
and thank you all for your advices !

Now it's better, I'll stick to Olympus, until I'll be so good that I'll need a Nikon D3 lol long long way