Why Olympus?

[NaturalWoman]

It seems as though the Olympus section is too quiet, let's make some noise about our fantastic cameras.

Why did you choose Olympus over the others.

Me:

Me well I have a Canon G-10 and that’s all I wanted and needed, so I thought. That camera is awesome by the way. One day I woke up and said let me buy a dSLR and see what the fuss is about.

Since I felt I didn’t really need another camera, I went with what was in my budget range. I saw the Oly E520 online at B&H used (around $350, don’t remember, maybe a little more) with two kit lenses and the rest is history.

I should mention, I am really a Canon lover, never used anything else, but I had a point and shoot 35mm Olympus Stylus and it was AWESOME. Another reason I picked Olympus. Their lens reputation was one I could trust and it was not to be overlooked. So for my first dSLR an Olympus seemed like a great starting point.

I’m always looking at Canons though, but that’s just because I love Canons and want to see if there is a difference in picture quality. Eventually I may get a Canon body and one lens, but I doubt there is much else I can do with a Canon that I can’t do with my Oly.

I do wish that my E520 had a few more features, but it’s nothing that I can’t live without. I’ve been doing well, sold several pieces of my work and I’m taking more orders. It has served me well and paid for itself several times over. Bought it in September/October. Sold six pieces in December, first sale.

Maybe on the lens spectrum, there could be more of a selection, but for me, that would be more stuff to buy. In a way, having a limited dedicated lens selection is a protection, for me. I have no restraint. It’s nice too that Oly doesn’t come out with a new body any sooner than I get to learn the one I’m using.

I also like having a less popular camera and producing a kick arse photo with it. Kinda makes people take note and when they realize it was not taken with a Canon or Nikon, and thus a seed is planted.

What do you love about your Oly? What else would you like to see in terms of lenses and features?

What's your Oly story, how did you two meet?

[NaturalWoman]

because olympus is great! no one? come on, share your story.

[StellaG]

I grew up with the OM1...so I guess that's how I started with Olympus. When digital cameras came out, my father got back into photography, and went with Olympus...he had a connection with the main company in NY, and was able to get some good deals on the early DSLR's. Subsequently, I now own about 5 Olympus cameras ;-) I really can't say whether Nikon or Canon are the better product...I just know that so far I've been pretty happy with my Olympus, I just got the E-520, and am tickled to death with it. I've just now got into some vintage lens's as well, and that's been a fun ride too ;-) And for what it's worth, the Olympus seems to stand up to everything I throw at it. I shoot outdoors 99% of the time. Shooting around flying mud (my dogs ;-) ) horses, sheep, sand (lot's of sand) I take it to sheepdog trials, no telling how often we get bumped or dogs knock over my camera bag, you name it...it's held up wonderfully, no complaints. ANyway that's my Why Olympus story ;-)

Betty

[NaturalWoman]

Originally Posted by StellaG

I grew up with the OM1...so I guess that's how I started with Olympus. When digital cameras came out, my father got back into photography, and went with Olympus...he had a connection with the main company in NY, and was able to get some good deals on the early DSLR's. Subsequently, I now own about 5 Olympus cameras ;-) I really can't say whether Nikon or Canon are the better product...I just know that so far I've been pretty happy with my Olympus, I just got the E-520, and am tickled to death with it. I've just now got into some vintage lens's as well, and that's been a fun ride too ;-) And for what it's worth, the Olympus seems to stand up to everything I throw at it. I shoot outdoors 99% of the time. Shooting around flying mud (my dogs ;-) ) horses, sheep, sand (lot's of sand) I take it to sheepdog trials, no telling how often we get bumped or dogs knock over my camera bag, you name it...it's held up wonderfully, no complaints. ANyway that's my Why Olympus story ;-)

Betty

thanks betty. i love hearing how people arrive at their brand of camera. i'm sooo very happy with mine.

[xinman]

Here's my story. Way back when I got my first digital camera, it was a Sanyo. This was way way back when when smartmedia cards were the thing. Then I stepped up to a Canon p&s. This was a 3.2 MP run of the mill camera. It was great, it lasted around 5 years and then died out. Then I got the Fujifilm S8100fd superzoom. I got this because I want a small camera that had a good zoom range. In the process of researching this camera I decided that I didn't need a DSLR as I would never get into photography that much and to spend that kind of money on a camera was crazy. Since this fuji camera was considerably bigger and more expensive than my old Canon I wanted another camera for the kids and wife to be able to use and take on trips without getting lost or broke. So I scoured ebay and found the Canon a-620. I knew this camera was nice because my dad has one and he really liked it. I figured the used price wasn't bad and it had some nice features to it. Once I got it and starting playing with CHDK I realized that I like this camera too much for the wife and kids to break it so I got a refurb canon a-560. Not a bad little camera great for the kids and wife and cheap so if they break it no biggie. The CHDK works on it too and it's small. I really love canon and they make some fine cameras. As the year went on I started thinking more and more about a DSLR and how I was getting to the point were I wanted one. I guess I talked about photography enough that my wife was getting to the point where she knew I wanted to step up too. She made a remark that if I got her pregnant that I could get my DSLR. So we planned when that would be good for us. I had a little less than a year before we were going to start trying so I started researching brands, bodies, and lenses. I spent a lot of time reading various reviews and articles, checking out prices and reputations. I had narrowed down to 3 models. The Nikon D60, Canon XSI, and the Olympus e-620. I continued to research these models, checking out the shots I found on flickr taken with the cameras and reading more opinions on forums like this. I ended up eliminating the Nikon pretty early. Then it was down to the XSI and the e-620. Now, I loved Canon and really didn't know much about Olympus. I had a few local friends telling me Olympus was a good brand. The e-620 had some great features that I really liked that the XSI didn't. The I knew it was a big decision and I wanted to take my time researching it. Someone told me go to a store and feel them in your hands. Ah, I hadn't thought of that. Someone told me the 620 had a small grip and it didn't work for their hands. I must admit that the grip of the 620 is one of the worst parts of the 620, but after feeling both of them I was still looking at both of them. As the time grew nearer I really started looking at the two and realizing that one of them had a lot of features that I really wanted that the other didn't. Also, that one of them was about a year older than the other. The T1I came out and I quickly dismissed it as most reviews said it was less appealing than the XSI. When it came down to the last 2 weeks before I could make my purchase I forgot that I had setup a trigger to send me an email if the Olmpus kit with two lenses dropped below a certain price. I got an email and it was over $100 cheaper than before. No other sites had dropped the price and it didn't say if it was just a sale or what. My wife said go ahead, so I order the 620 with two lenses. That is how I got started with Olympus. That was mid-November, and so far I have not been disappointed. My shots are great and I am very proud of my work. Feel free to check it out at www.flickr.com/photos/dmize let me know what you think.

[NaturalWoman]

Originally Posted by xinman

Here's my story. Way back when I got my first digital camera, it was a Sanyo. This was way way back when when smartmedia cards were the thing. Then I stepped up to a Canon p&s. ....

wow that is some story, enjoyed reading that. i have the same looking powershot, but 6 mpgpxl. i gave it to my daughter...i try to get her to take pictures, but she's not that interested. i guess at 10, not many kids are.

[xinman]

Originally Posted by NaturalWoman

wow that is some story, enjoyed reading that. i have the same looking powershot, but 6 mpgpxl. i gave it to my daughter...i try to get her to take pictures, but she's not that interested. i guess at 10, not many kids are.

Yeah my daughter just turned 11 and she likes to go on photowalks with me she doesn't do much in the way of shots. Sometimes she'll have 15 or so and sometimes she won't even turn on the camera. Oh well...

[velvet4269]

My first digital camera was an Olympus Point & Shoot (and was so long ago, I don't even remember the name of it - 1999-2000 era, where a 2MP P&S ran $400-$500), and I'd always had good luck with them. Unfortunately, that camera stayed with the ex in the divorce.

I had a Kodak bridge camera - something that almost did what I wanted, but not quite. Then, someone I knew got into Geocaching, and used to take me along with him while he was on his "treasure hunts." I frequently found myself in places where I wish I'd had a camera, so I started trying to learn the Kodak more, and just got frustrated - no matter what I did, it just wasn't enough.

I was fortunate enough to be able to borrow said friend's Olympus E300, and from the first clicks, I knew photography was the right hobby for me. Rather than plunk down a bunch of money right then, I spent some time researching & playing with different cameras in the store.

I went to many stores.

I played with many cameras; frequently, the same cameras in different stores in the same day.

After a couple of months, I decided on the Olympus E500. Of the three I had been considering (Canon somethingorother, Nikon D40, and the Oly), it was the one that not only felt right in my hand, but was also within my price range.

The only time I've ever questioned the decision is when I look at getting new gear - it's all expensive and difficult to find), but I've never regretted it

[NaturalWoman]

Originally Posted by velvet4269

My first digital camera was an Olympus Point & Shoot (and was so long ago, I don't even remember the name of it - 1999-2000 era, where a 2MP P&S ran $400-$500), and I'd always had good luck with them. Unfortunately, that camera stayed with the ex in the divorce.

I had a Kodak bridge camera - something that almost did what I wanted, but not quite. Then, someone I knew got into Geocaching, and used to take me along with him while he was on his "treasure hunts." I frequently found myself in places where I wish I'd had a camera, so I started trying to learn the Kodak more, and just got frustrated - no matter what I did, it just wasn't enough.

I was fortunate enough to be able to borrow said friend's Olympus E300, and from the first clicks, I knew photography was the right hobby for me. Rather than plunk down a bunch of money right then, I spent some time researching & playing with different cameras in the store.

I went to many stores.

I played with many cameras; frequently, the same cameras in different stores in the same day.

After a couple of months, I decided on the Olympus E500. Of the three I had been considering (Canon somethingorother, Nikon D40, and the Oly), it was the one that not only felt right in my hand, but was also within my price range.

The only time I've ever questioned the decision is when I look at getting new gear - it's all expensive and difficult to find), but I've never regretted it

great story, thanks for sharing. i still peep at canons, but i've invested enough money in olympus and besides, it does what i want, the rest is up to me.

[datiswous]

My first digital camera was a Canon Powershot A520 (the Canon camera of Xinman -the picture- is an A510) in 2005. Didn't make much pics with it, allmost only when on vacation. It's a camera for when the weather is nice (don't put it over iso 100!!!). Summer 2008 I was getting more into photography and found my camera lacking. I also found out when I was in Ibiza in Spring, that I liked a camera which I could put in my pocket, grip wasn't that handy. I also didn't like the toy-look of the A520. After some research I bought the Fuji F40FD for €130,- (new) which is realy cheap for such a camera. The controls are WAY better than the Canon and I can make noise-free images up to iso 400, it's also smaller than the Canon A520. General IQ is better and also no shutter lag (or whatever you call it).
Then after the summer I thought I still liked to have a dslr (missed the control over DOF and some manual controls and using different lenses). Did a lot of research, first coming with Canon Rebel. I found out that I wanted image stabilisation in body, so Canon, Nikon, Sigma and Fuji (S5 pro, also bit heavy) were no option (also didn't like them for other reasons). I wasn't going for the heavy camera's and didn't like Sony's offerings in the beginners segment. I only liked Pentax K20D, K200D and Olympus E520. Liked the Pentax offerings for teir better fiewfinder and bodyquality, but that made them also heavyer. When I finaly wanted to buy a Olympus, I thought, hey I have to see if the lenses are good enough... they were. I like the feel, controls, weight and amount of options of my Olympus camera (it was also cheap). It also dousn't feel cheap and the kit-lenses are of good quality.

After I bought it (february 2009) I found the fiewfinder a bit too small, so I bought the ME-1. It's allway on my camera. I got an amount of old lenses cheap (nikon, Olympus OM, Pentax, M42), which is also nice to work with, especially OM 50mm 1.4 and Nikon EE 50mm 1.8 are very nice). I bought the 25mm 2.8 pancake and took it into the montains:

clouds-sea

Recently I bought the 35mm 3.5 macro. Very good sharp lens:

http://wouterb.be/wbpress/wp-content.../240310_09.jpg