The Digital Camera Store

Written on the 2011-05-23

rating of 4.0

I wanted another Olympus body to go with my E-410 and the lenses that I have acquired. The E-610 is nearly as small as the E-410. As I take the camera backpacking with me on extended trips, weight is one of my key considerations and both cameras are the lightest weight fully functional DSLRs you can get. The E-610 adds additional pixel count to the E-410, a nice flip out LCD screen, built in art filters, among other features. I use both cameras almost exclusively through the viewfinder to help conserve battery life. The E-610 has its data laid out along the bottom of the viewfinder instead of on the right hand side as in the E-410. I actually prefer the E-610s layout. Aside from the increase in number of pixels, the E-610 seems to focus faster than the E-410. The one one thing that I do not like about the E-610 is that my old version of Photoshop Elements (6) will not read the new Olympus RAW file format. I may need to upgrade or switch to another program. All in all, I am very happy with this purchase. And nobody could touch the price of this refurbished camera.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-05-15

rating of 5.0

Practical and useful light measurement and precise controlqable focussing. A good camera for experimental photography with non-stabilized lenses.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-05-15

rating of 4.0

This i my third Esystem and truly loving the equipment and the affordability that Olympus offers.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-05-12

rating of 5.0

The old E510 was starting to wear out - on/off switch broken and hand grip peeling off, so decided to take advantage of (refurb) purchase of E620 so I could continue to utilise my 4/3 lenses. The update has been worth it, for the additional features over the E510. <br />Compliments my EPL1 as well, and can be used as 'extra' body when travelling (interchangeable lenses with MMF2 adapter onto EPL1, and same battery.)
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-04-18

rating of 5.0

This camera, with the "kit" lens is a great deal, for a camera that shoots great photos. I also bought the 40-150 lens (was only [$] used here at B&H), for a combo that cost under $500. You can't get close to that with the other DSLR's. I had just sold a Canon 30D, and compared to that, this camera is so much lighter, and smaller, much easier to carry around. The picture quality is at least as good, and I really like the way the photos turn out. As a casual shooter I can't recommend this camera enough. It was exactly what I was looking for. I took it to a horse show last week, and the camera preformed up to my expectations. The lens were fast enough in full sun, and the pictures were so sharp.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-04-11

rating of 4.0

This was the first time I shopped at b&h online store. Amazing experience. I will definately shop again.[...] good producs as described[...]
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-03-28

rating of 3.0

I bought this on a bit of a whim, as an enthusiast.<br />I shoot scenery, buildings, interiors & family.<br />I love everything tactile about the camera. The ergonomics, weight, size, looks, features, & so on, are fabulous.<br />What I don't like is the apparently small viewfinder, which I have a lot of trouble seeing, as I wear glasses.<br />The low light focusing is IMO sub-par. The flash acts as the AF assist lamp, & will zap 3 or 4 times (meaning like taking 10 seconds) before it can lock focus.<br />Noise can use some improvement too. I'm sort of surprised as the 620 got great editorial reviews. Maybe it's the smaller sensor? IQ disappointing for my tastes.<br />For an SLR novice it's great. If your standards are beyond entry level there are better choices.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-03-22

rating of 5.0

I haven't had much opportunity to use the camera and lenses yet. I don't take a lot of pictures around home. I have managed to make a couple of outings around home just to try the new E-620 and lenses.<br /><br />I'm very pleased with the results so far. I expected from reviews I had read that the viewfinder would seem a little small and it did at first. I quickly got used to it, though.<br /><br />The hardest thing so far has been avoiding accidentally pressing buttons on the back of the camera. I shot a whole bunch of pics at +1 EV without intending to. I suspect that is a hazard of many digitals.<br /><br />There are lots of choices available that I probably won't use -- particularly things like the art filters that can be easilynadded in the available software, but some people might use them on the camera. I will seldom use many of the presets, but it's nice to have a starting point for things like fireworks that I might try to photograph occasionally and don't really know the best setup.<br /><br />All in all, I think the 620 and I will be come great friends once we have had more time to get acquainted.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-03-21

rating of 4.0

I use this camera mainly for personal use, with occasional semi-pro work. I've found it to be a pleasure to use.<br />Very few drawbacks. One is slow auto-focus and hunting in low light, and strobing the flash has got to be one of the silliest ideas invented. I bought an external flash with red focus light to overcome it.<br />This is my second E-620, and the orientation sensor on this one is slow to respond when switched from vertical to horizontal position, resulting in a few wrongly auto-rotated shots when reviewing them on the computer.<br />Only other gripe is that you have to remember to switch off the image stabilization when you are shooting on a tripod, otherwise you end up with unsharp shots. I usually forget, and want to swear at it when I review them later.<br />These small things aside, it's a pleasure to use, and all that I reasonably could want from a camera.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-03-08

rating of 4.0

After shopping for awhile for a DSLR replacement for my Minolta A-200, I couldn't find any thing that had the features I wanted and suited my needs more than the 620. The size is only slightly larger than the A-200, which is a plus for hiking/ backpacking. I like the way it processes jpegs in camera, minimizes fiddling afterwards. I've only had it a week, but what I've been able to shoot so far meets expectations. <br />I shoot mostly landscape/ outdoor stuff while hiking, sailing, etc. Minimal indoor use, just the occasional snapshot at a family gathering. The 620 does have a bit more noise at high ISO, but for my use it isn't a factor.<br />I miss having a distance readout when manually focusing, but few small DSLR's with kit lens have it now.<br />I don't shoot video, the A-200 had it and I don't thing I turned it on more than 3 times in 6 years, so I don't miss it.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-03-07

rating of 4.0

This is a back-up camera for my current underwater Olympus e620 camera system.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-03-03

rating of 4.0

I purchased the E620 as my E520 is apparently useless below 35mm due to poor focusing issues, even after sending it in for repair. A few quick test show that those issues aren't apparent with the E620. The E620 also improves on the E520 with its articulated LCD and the few extra megapixels that it offers. I do prefer the E520's handgrip though (the E620 is slightly too small for my liking) and it's a bit annoying but understandable that it uses a different battery. The E520 is going to remain my "knockabout" camera with the 18-180 lens, while I intend to use the E620 for events where a lower focal lengths are required. The low light performance, while not great, seems to be better than the E520, with less "hunting" and strobing of the flash while it tries to achieve focus.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-02-23

rating of 4.0

I run an online jewelry business and purchased this camera primary for taking pictures of faceted gemstones and beaded gemstone necklaces. I'm also a photo enthusiast and love bird and wildlife photography and the camera does deliver for all my needs.<br /><br />I considered several options before finalizing on this camera. I had a budget of around $400. The final decision had to be made between three 'cameras':<br />1. Olympus E-620<br />2. Olympus E-30<br />3. Canon 450D<br /><br />I compared the picture quality of E-620 and E-30 and couldn't find any significant difference in Jpeg mode. The E-620 was basically released after E-30, had similar features, much lighter and giving more bang for the buck, so I ruled out the E-30. Also must add the need to install battery grip was a must and the E-30 would have added a lot of weight. <br /><br />Now I had to decide between Canon 450D and E-620. I preferred sensor shift image stabilization so that I don't have to buy expensive IS lenses. Portability was always desired due to my interest in bird and wildlife photography. A Canon tele 300-600mm Lens with IS was out of my budget and was too heavy for me.<br /><br />I am more than happy with my purchase. I bought this camera with the 14-42mm kit lens and 70-300mm zoom lens to cover most of my needs.<br /><br />The image quality is excellent in jpeg mode and there isn't much difference in RAW mode so why take the trouble. Just a bit of custom setting with turning Noise filter off and increasing the sharpness by +1 does the trick. <br /><br />'Pros':<br />Compact size<br />Excellent image quality in Jpeg mode<br />Sensor shift image stabilization<br />Live view<br />AF fine tuning<br />Tilt LCD screen<br />Art filters<br />Quick shooting<br />Wireless flash control <br /><br />'Cons':<br />Image quality of RAW not better than the jpeg<br />Relatively small viewfinder than canon and nikon<br />Average flash performance<br />Panorama mode needs XD picture card<br />Could have been more consumer friendly like panasonic<br /> <br />So despite some of its limitations and not very easy to use, it is still the most loved camera after E-30. Once you learn how to use it it would far surpass your expectations for an entry level camera. If you want to avoid post processing in RAW or want RAW like result in Jpeg right out of the box then buy this camera!
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-02-20

rating of 4.0

Worth the upgrade from my e-520. Better response, AF fine-tuning, fewer missed shots, much nicer screen.<br /><br />I preferred the grip and larger battery of the e-520, but its no biggie.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-02-06

rating of 3.0

I mainly use the camera for scenery, travel & family photos, and children's pictures.<br /><br />There's so many things to love about this camera. Aside from the "pros" that I've marked, this is what I've come to 'love': <br />1. The 4/3 system is generally a lighter DSLR to lug around; yet all of the equipment is of good quality--even the kit lenses, with its plastic mounts are remarkably decent glass for the price. In fact, the high-end lenses are some of the best around bar none.<br /><br />2. The colors are spectacular. The skin tones I can get from late afternoon and early morning lighting is nothing short of breathtaking; without *any* post-processing.<br /><br />3. Enough can't be said about the one-touch auto-balancing function. For various reasons, I don't shoot RAW unless I have, and this features makes it possible even in mixed and tricky lighting situations.<br /><br />4. For an old photography student like myself, it's capable enough for me not to outgrow right away.<br /><br />5. Swivel LCD is really neat, for some posed-photos that needs to be taken at weird angles.<br /><br />Yet I can't recommend this camera to everyone because its shortcomings are rather glaring.<br />1. Focus hunting rears its ugly head, even a semi-low lighting setting; you really do need good contrast.<br /><br />2. The smaller 4/3 sensor means more noise at lower light levels; or rely on the noise reduction algorithms (and smear your pictures). Arguably this is where photo-editing software comes in but not everyone wants to spend time doing this.<br /><br />3. When using live view, there's significant shutter 'lag': Between pressing the shutter button and the camera actually taking the picture is on the order of 1/2 to 1 second. This makes manual focusing useless, except in a limited number of circumstances.<br /><br />4. No Zuiko prime. The 2.0 50mm is amazing, but it's a macro and the focus hunting is too much at times. That only leaves the expensive Panasonic/Leica or the Sigma 30mm. The Sigma is quite good, but it requires a bit of fiddling (focus adjustment). <br /><br />5. No video. For anyone traveling, not having to lug both a video camera & and a photo cam is a bonus. Since the e620 is a consumer grade camera, most buyers take this feature for granted.<br /><br />Overall, I love this camera but some of the cons are a bit hard to swallow.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-01-21

rating of 4.0

I use the E620 along with an arsenal of Zuiko Digital lenses and OM lenses for a wide variety of photography work. Landscapes, portraits, street, it's a good all around shooter. <br />My biggest advantage is the Stabilization. Built into the body enables stabilization on even my 30 year old OM's. <br />The size is great for long hikes in rural areas and large cities alike. The rotating LCD is great for odd angles, especially when you can't move like you used to. The extras such as the Art Filters are fun to play with. Noise control is a little improved over the previous e4xx and e5xx series cameras. Overall image quality and range of tones is great. There is not much to dislike about it, especially if you are accustomed to Olympus products.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-01-18

rating of 4.0

This camera is really lightweight and begs to be carried around at all times, especially with the 25mm 2.8 pancake lens. It is really easy to configure, custom white balance is really fast to setup . Colors have that olympus "analog" look, among the best out there. Camera features internal IS which applies to all lenses . 12 Mpix and 1600 iso performance are plenty OK, even if some other brands do better . Only regrets are the viewfinder which is really tiny, AF is so-so in low light (E4xx series does better ...) and lack of fixed/high speed lenses . Hope Olympus will get his act together and develop/enhance 4/3 slr cameras notably with a couple of fixed /lightweight pancake lenses
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2011-01-06

rating of 5.0

I've had other Olympus E series cameras and I've always liked the amount of features packed into a small package. Also the Quality of pictures and ease of use are very important. The one thing that I have missed is the rotating LCD. That was my reason for the upgrade and I'm not dissapointed.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-12-31

rating of 5.0

I have been shooting slides since 1967. I tested the digital waters with an Olympus super zoom (SP-570UZ) in 2008 and decided to go all digital now (the demise of Kodachrome had much to do with this). I have gone back and forth between Olympus and Nikon for many years (sorry, I don't care for any of the other brands), but after a careful study of what both have to offer at present, and actually handling Olympus and Nikon DSLR's, the decision was easy. The E620 is by far the better camera compared to similarly priced Nikons, or even to Nikons costing twice as much. Build quality, technical specs, performance, features, durability, you name it. Perhaps Nikon makes better top-end cameras, perhaps Olympus does not make anything comparable to Nikon's top of the line DSLR's, but I am not in that league and neither are, I suspect, most readers of these reviews. For us mere mortals the E620 is more than you will ever need, and it feels like it will last forever.<br /> <br />Let me address some other comments that I have 'read':<br /><br />Low light performance. Any complaints about this are just risible - it is 3200 ASA dude!!! What did you expect? Have you ever shot with the now defunct Ektachrome 1600 and pushed it to 3200? What this camera offers in that range is far superior. Up to ISO 400 I cannot see any grain (Ektachrome 400 was always horrible, re. grain and saturation). It is barely perceptible at 800. Beyond that you can definitely see it, but again, do you realize the ISO numbers that you are using? If you want to shoot good pictures with low light, repeat after me, use a tripod. If you want to be able to shoot in low light in the spur of the moment, then live with some grain, as we have always done. You cannot change the laws of physics (I know, as that is my profession as a matter of fact).<br />Related to the point above, the image stabilization is just spectacular. I have shot at 60 mm (120 mm equivalent) at 1/15 of a second with no tripod and you cannot see ANY image blur. Plus, because it is in the camera, not in the lens, any lens will do.<br />Ease of 'use': perhaps because my first exposure to digital was Olympus this was not an issue. The controls are clear and well located, the menu easy to use, I can get to any function I need in a couple of seconds.<br /><br />Excellent viewfinder and LCD (which I never use to compose, but it is there if you want it).<br /><br />Does not shoot video, this is a big plus for me. If you want to shoot video buy yourself a video camera. Many of us do not care about video, and prefer to have all of the resources devoted to image quality. Good for Olympus !! <br /><br />The kit lens is just fine, but I also bought the 12-60 and 70-300 (see separate reviews) and these lenses are simply mind boggling (both are made in Japan, which still is a big game changer for optics, even if not for electronics). This is another reason to buy the E620'': you can use Olympus lenses. Yes, they are better than Nikon, at least in this price range. And Nikon does not make anything comparable to the 70-300 (that is 600 mm equivalent, folks). The 12-60 by Olympus may simply be the best zoom lens ever in this price range. Nikon, Canon and Pentax have a thing or two to learn from Olympus (the thought of cameras and lenses by Samsung, Sony or Panasonic - and it is Panasonic, not Leica - is risible, but that is another story).<br /><br />My beloved all-manual Nikon goes to permanent retirement, to be fondly remembered together with Kodachrome.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-11-28

rating of 5.0

The art filters are great allow a lot of creativity
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-11-24

rating of 5.0

This was an upgrade to my E510 and the difference is pleasing. It hndles things smarter and easyer. the picture quality is outstanding. sitll learing the fetures and having a great time with it.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-11-22

rating of 4.0

I am using it as a beginner, but talking to some more ezxperienced photographer, they all say it is a nice camera thta does MUCH much more than basics.<br />I LOVE quality pictures, art filter and most of all the swiveling display, such a help in certain circumstances.<br />I don't like the manufacture's refurbished item have only 90 days warranty. I feel scared something is going to happen that waste my money.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-11-07

rating of 4.0

Great photos in a compact body. Use it while traveling on my motorcycle and it is rugged enough while producing outstanding results. Should have used one card slot for SD type memory card. Learning curve is a little long but once you have the basics down all works together well. Read the manual and you will be able to get great results. Photos produced are easily as good as my other DSLR.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-11-02

rating of 5.0

This camera is intuitive----easy to use without pouring through the manual. It takes great pictures using the auto settings. But I look forward to even better pictures as my knowledge of photography increases and I learn the use of the advanced settings. This is a camera I can grow with....
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)

Written on the 2010-10-31

rating of 4.0

The swivel LCD screen is very useful for setting up the shot. This camera packs a lot of features into an easy to use small platform. I plan to bring this camera on many backwoods and mountain adventures.
(Source: www.bhphotovideo.com)