First, let's start with the Olympus Evolt E-300, a camera I really wanted to like for the following reasons:
- SIZE: Reviews consistently cited the small size as making the camera ideal for travel and walking around. And unlike with reviews of the XT, I don't recall complaints that the small size made the Evolt difficult to use.
- DUST FREE SYSTEM: As a newbie, the idea of dust getting onto the mirror or sensor and ruining every picture is a nightmare while having to open up my camera and stick someting in it - a blower or brush - is intimidating.Still can't believe non of the other digital makers have added such technology to their cameras.
- PRICE: The Evolt can often be found at prices $100 to $200 less than . . . .
First, let's start with the Olympus Evolt E-300, a camera I really wanted to like for the following reasons:
- SIZE: Reviews consistently cited the small size as making the camera ideal for travel and walking around. And unlike with reviews of the XT, I don't recall complaints that the small size made the Evolt difficult to use.
- DUST FREE SYSTEM: As a newbie, the idea of dust getting onto the mirror or sensor and ruining every picture is a nightmare while having to open up my camera and stick someting in it - a blower or brush - is intimidating. Still can't believe non of the other digital makers have added such technology to their cameras.
- PRICE: The Evolt can often be found at prices $100 to $200 less than the Canon XT and $700 to $800 less than the Canon 20D.
However, I decided against the Evolt for the following reasons:
- LOW LIGHT PERFORMANCE / NOISE AT HIGH ISOs: Articles, posts, and reviews overwhelmingly agreed that noise was unacceptable at iso 800 and above, ruling out both cameras for lowlight-non flash work.
- LENS SELECTION: It is well recognized that Canon along with Nikon have a much wider selection of auto focusing lens than all the others, especially fast lenses. Look for follow up comments about exactly what lenes I wanted that Olympus did not have.
- LENS MAGNIFICATION FACTOR: At 2X, Olympus has the highest of all the the DSLRs (turning a 50mm into a 100mm). The Canon XT has a 1.6X factor (turning a 50mm lens into an 80mm) and Nikon a 1.5x factor (turning a 50mm lens into a 75mm).
- PHOTO QUALITY: Last but not least, professional reviews consistently referred to Olympus' photo quality as below that of the Canon series as well as others.
Expect high iso, low noise performance and availability of fast lenses to be constantly repeated.
For those that don't need lowlight, indoor non-flash capability, and would like to save a further $100 to $200 plus from an entry Canon XT kit, the Olympus should be looked at; though I would look at the Pentax *ist DS also.
Nonetheless, If Olympus comes out with a next gen Evolt with competitive iso 800 and 1600 ability, I would seriously look at it as a second kit.
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