Musings from the last best place - Thoughts on living and working in Montana

Reconsidering the Olympus E3

Since its debut in the fall of 2007, the Olympus E3 DSLR has been the object of my tech-lust. I've been shooting an Olympus E500 since early 2006 and have built up a fairly decent stable of Zuiko digital lenses that would work well with the E3. I also have an FL50 external flash that would work with the E3. Sitting at the top of the Olympus DSLR lineup, the E3 is a natural progression as my photography improves and I start to push the limits of my E500 (which I love, by the way).

That said, I'm beginning to rethink my commitment to Olympus. It all started when I read this post at Luminous Landscape. I am a big fan of this site and consequently place more credence in their insight than I might a review I find at Amazon. This review reinforced what's been nagging me for quite a while - the E3 just doesn't have the chops when you compare it against the other top-of-the-line cameras from Canon and Nikon.

First, the jump from 8 megapixel (my E500) to 10 megapixel (the E3) just isn't as great as I'd like to see when transitioning to a new body. Although I'm not a pixel chaser, I do like printing large prints - one of the few areas where additional megapixels really make a difference. Additionally, the E3 is capable of shooting only 5 frames per second. Respectable, but not top-of-the-line. Finally, the 4/3 sensor in the E3 (and the E500, for that matter) is just not great at higher ISOs. My kids are into swimming - a very challenging environment for shooting action shots. Having the option to boost ISO would really make my life easier. As it is, I have to resort to external flash - which is not great due to the glare you get off the water. I've also read some not-so-great information about the tendency for the camera to hunt when focusing in low light - a killer if you're trying to shoot action shots.

That said, the E3 has much to make it attractive. First, they've built image stabilization into the body. Therefore, every lens you strap on is going to benefit. Second, the E3 has a live-view, articulating LCD. This would be awesome for taking shots overhead, close to the ground, etc.

At the end of the day, it really comes down to what type of photographer I want to be when I grow up. If I'm shooting in a controlled environment (studio, outdoors in full light, etc.), I could probably get by with the E3. But if I want to venture into more challenging stuff, like sports/action/event photography, I'm thinking I'd be better off investing the cash in a camera that is more suited to the task, like the Nikon D3 or even D300. Of course, you're talking quite a jump in price: the D3 is just over $4k at Amazon.

I don't have the answers yet, but the fact that I'm even second-guessing my commitment to the Olympus lineup is interesting. Looks like I need to start doing my homework.

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Filed under  //   cameras   DSLR   Nikon   Olympus   photography  
Posted December 24, 2008
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Nikon D3X - Is it worth it?

On November 30, 2008 Nikon announced the new 24.5 megapixel D3X DSLR camera, which more than doubles the resolution of its predecessor (the 12.1 megapixel D3). The D3X has an ISO range of 100 to 1600 and is capable of shooting up to five frames per second (fps); seven fps if you shoot at a lower resolution of 10.5 megapixel. It goes without saying that this pro-level camera is also moisture, dust, and shock resistant. You'll need adequate hard drive space when post-processing images captured with the D3X - Nikon estimates finished file sizes in the neighborhood of 138 MB each. Yowza!

Now for the downside: the list price is...wait for it...$8000. That's right, $8000. I'm not the only one in sticker-shock. Several bloggers much more knowledgeable than me are registering their disappointment with Nikon's pricing. In fact, Michael Reichmann of the well-regarded Luminous Landscape site cancelled his standing order when he heard the price: at a premium of $5000 over Sony's new A900 and the Canon 5DII (both 20+ megapixel cameras), he just couldn't justify the D3X. Read his December 2nd "Judging Value" post to get the full scoop.

Reichmann also links to a very informative article from Thom Hogan that basically deconstructs the entire D3X marketing launch and feature set. If you're looking for encouragement to buy this camera, don't read his article.

When I read the D3X press release, I was initially excited - I'm itching to move up to a camera with higher resolution. As I researched the camera for this post, however, I realized that there are less-expensive alternatives already in the market place that are quite comparable to what Nikon is offering in the D3X. As Reichmann points out, dropping an $8K camera into an economy like the one we're in just doesn't make sense.

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Filed under  //   Cameras   Canon 5DII   Nikon D3X   Photography   Sony A900  
Posted December 4, 2008
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Nikon D90 - High Definition Video in an SLR?

By now, you may have seen the Ashton Kutcher commercial for Nikon's new D90. In fact, Nikon has set up a dedicated web site just for the Kutcher campaign.

I'm an Olympus guy myself, but this camera looks sweet. There was a time when SLR snobs turned their nose up at the mere suggestion that an SLR might include video. Yet that's exactly what Nikon has done. The D90 includes 24 frames-per-second HD video, along with a 12.3 megapixel sensor. Couple that with the 4.5 fps still shot, and you've got a camera that should be as at-home on the soccer field as in the studio.

Read DP Review's take on the Nikon D90, and then buy the camera at Amazon. If I were not already invested in Zuiko lenses for my Oly (or if I were independently wealthy), I'd take a serious look at this camera myself.

Update: I've just learned that Canon's 5D MARK II DSLR also shoots HD video (it offers 1080 resolution as compared to the D90's 720). The Canon is clearly targeted at a different consumer, however; its 21 megapixels (as compared to the D90's 12) and $2700 price tag put the camera out of reach of most amateurs.

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Filed under  //   5D MARK II   Cameras   Canon 5DII   D90X   DSLR   Nikon  
Posted October 3, 2008
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