This group is dedicated to the Olympus E-xxx series of cameras, including the E-500, E-510, E-520, and E-620, as well as the 300 series and 400 series.
Why E-xxx cameras? I am not affiliated with Olympus other than that I own an E-500 and E-620 and a few lenses. But I believe that Olympus’ engineers have made an honest attempt to design a better DSLR system and to continue to provide users of Olympus DSLR cameras with the best value and most advanced features.
Olympus DSLRs have the largest lens mount size to sensor size ratio of any other brand of DSLRs. This is because ever other brand of DSLR is really a 35mm film system that has been retrofitted with digital sensors, while Olympus was designed from the ground up to be a digital system. The larger lens mount of the Olympus system allows for telecentric lenses, which work better with digital imaging sensors. I believe that this advantage will become more apparent down the road when imaging sensors become even more pixel dense—the Olympus lenses will be better able to provide the resolving power needed to take advantage of higher megapixel sensors.
Olympus was the very first camera company to incorporate anti-dust technology in its cameras. The technology seems to work, because I seldom read complaints about dusty sensors, a problem which has plagued other DSLR brands.
Olympus was also the first camera company to incorporate Live View in its cameras.
Another key feature of the Olympus E-5xx and E-6xx series beginning with the E-510 is in-body image stabilization. In-body image stabilization means that every lens you attach to the camera is image stabilized. In-body image stabilization is a feature currently lacking in Canon and Nikon DSLRs.
The Olympus system also offers the affordable professional quality 14-54mm F2.8-3.5 lens. I think you’ll find that this lens offers you a wider aperture and better image quality than any similarly priced wide-angle to short-telephoto zoom lens in any other manufacturer’s lens lineup. (However, I wish that Olympus would make an affordable f/1.4 portrait lens and f/1.4 normal lens.)
GROUP RULES
Please feel free to discuss any aspect of Olympus DSLRs and lenses in the discussion area. And post your best examples of photographs taken with Olympus E-xxx DSLRs to the group photo pool.
