What’s Your Preference?

OhSnapPhotos · #1 (**permalink**) 08-20-2008, 04:13 PM

Hi all. I am hoping to get some info on the new 520. I have a 510 that I am still learnign new things about, but I shoot a lot of weddings and with all the action and group shots that come with them I am wondering if the 520 with its face detection would be something I should add to my gear (or trade my 510 for).

If anyone has any experience with the 520, or particularly a comparision of the two, I'd love to hear it.

Ideally I think I'd rather invest in more lenses (I'm still working with the 2 kit lenses primarily), but ...

KodiakStar · #2 (**permalink**) 08-20-2008, 04:24 PM

I think there are a couple flicr groups about the 520 specifically, you can ask them there. Haven't seen anyone here with the 520 yet. I saw one in a store, but no battery charge so I didn't get to play with the new features.

Cuegeee · #3 (**permalink**) 08-20-2008, 11:30 PM

I am actually on my E500 still...& it is going ot be used till it dies...or the sudden increase in cash finds me & I upgrade to an E3

I myself would not upgrade from my E500 to an E520 jsut because it has the new technology unless I find it for...$400 or less. I have the 50mm so I will upgrade eventually & stay with Olympus but the difference between the 510 & the 520...not that big of a jump to warrant a buy...IMO

Tram

velvet4269 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-22-2008, 01:11 PM

I have an e500, too, and still don't feel the need to "upgrade" just for new tech; about the only feature I'm seeing that I'd like is image stabilization.

Now, if we're talking jump from my E500 to the E3 ..... that's a whole other ballgame.

OhSnapPhotos · #5 (**permalink**) 08-22-2008, 01:26 PM

I understand the comments about not upgrading to new technology just for the sake of having new technology. And normally I would be the person still using the same camera 5-10-or 20 years down the road, assuming it was possible to keep it running.
But, I continue to stuggle with having multiple moving figures all in focus, so I thought the face detection might be worth the upgrade in this case.

I'm going to try the suggestions here on ISO, flash, etc. Even having the wedding party actually stop at a pre-determined location as someone mentioned. I just don't have a lot of access to locations and models for practice shots in similar conditions and don't like to 'experiment' during my paid shoots. Back to the thought that face detection might be a big enough draw to get me to buy 2 cameras in a year.

Thanks for the input thus far. Would love to hear more.

KodiakStar · #6 (**permalink**) 08-22-2008, 02:02 PM

What do you set your focus on? Have you tried Constant Auto Focus?

ttosifa · #7 (**permalink**) 08-22-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhSnapPhotos

But, I continue to stuggle with having multiple moving figures all in focus, so I thought the face detection might be worth the upgrade in this case.

One consideration is that face-detection cannot be magic -- it can only work with the same things you could do yourself in manual mode. For a given exposure, it can only work with the aperture (choosing depth of field for two faces not on the same plane as the sensor) and with choosing the focal point. The focal point might be a compromise in which nobody is really in true focus, but which the camera deems acceptable given the aperture it would choose.

Multiple moving objects would be harder. There shutter speed (with the above considerations) is important. Lighting is a big influence on that, as is ISO. Whatever face-detection would do, it would have to make compromises based on what the camera sees. Quite frankly, I think my E510 is pretty dumb even with auto exposure and white balance.

If I were in your shoes, I would want to test the camera before I buy it. Maybe even rent it for a day if you can. Technology like this really seems oriented towards amateurs who just want to point and shoot. Like so many things, it probably works flawlessly with the proper lighting, but otherwise gives erratic and unpredictable results. I would approach it with pessimism for your professional purposes.

velvet4269 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-23-2008, 01:36 AM

If it helps, I'm mostly a manual person (focus, aperture, ISO, WB, EV, the works), but Continual auto-focus allowed me to get this lovely photo of a dragonfly (moving object) on a small branch blowing in a breeze (moving object). It's still not as sharp as I'd like (but I'm overly-picky), and I still had to take a few shots in order to get a couple that were passable, but I think it came out relatively well, all things considered.

.oO(and yes, I'm still hand-holding my macro shots)

Foxcow · #9 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 08:51 PM

I'm new to the forum and my camera (E-520) which I bought at the beginning of the month. I am getting very comfortable with it but it has only been a month. I haven't used a 510 so I can' comment.