Olympus E-520: Improved IS, Double Live View, and More
by Wesley Fink on May 14, 2008 12:10 AM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
New Super Wide-Angle Olympus Lens
Olympus has also announced a lens addition to the four-thirds system. The Olympus ED 9-18mm f4.0-5.6 provides a 35mm equivalent of 18-36mm. The new lens is just 3 inches long and weighs just 9.88 ounces (280g).
The lens’ lightweight design combined with In-Body Image Stabilization – available in the E-3, E-510 and the newly announced E-520 – makes capturing blur-free super-wide images possible even without a tripod. Olympus now offers two super-wide-angle zoom lenses. This new 9-18mm is designed as an affordable consumer lens and the existing 7-14mm splash-proof lens is targeted for the pro photographer. Both feature both a focal distance equivalent to less than 20mm on a 35mm camera. E-System owners can use either lens with Image Stabilization and Live View, which makes it possible to shoot from unique perspectives that are difficult with an optical viewfinder alone, including over a crowd or at ground-level to catch a toddler’s first steps.
Availability and U.S. Pricing / Product Configurations
The Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f.4.0-f5.6 will be available in the fall of 2008. The estimated street price will be $599.99.
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rgsaunders - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - link
You really should do a little research, and you will discover that it is quite common to see a marked shutter lag on point and shoot cameras, however, the DSLR variants do not have the same problem. This applies to most brands, not just Olympus. This camera is capable of shooting multiple frames at >3 frames per second. Auto Focus speed is another issue, and is to some degree a function of cost. Entry level cameras and lenses are normally not as fast as their higher priced brethren, better technology costs more money.teldar - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - link
I am well aware that there is some shutter lag on point and shoot (and I always have depressed the button half way to focus when trying to take pictures, for anyone else). I've been doing some research, and what I have read is that the Olympus entry level DSLR's are terribly slow on the auto focus. I don't have any experience with them, however, and I'm am (probably mistakenly) applying my poor experience with a fairly expensive point and shoot camera to the entry level DSLR's that are made by the same manufacturer. I have read in another article by Wesley that the auto focus has improved on the C-3, in terms of speed, but that the improved technology has not yet made it down to the entry level cameras, even though they have been improved somewhat as well.From what I have read, as of now, my ideal camera would be something like the Pentax K20, but something that sounds a little more beginner friendly, like the Sony 350, or perhaps by the time I am ready to purchase (it'll be another 1 1/2 years before I'm out of grad school) an improved auto focus entry level Olympus. I was expecting something like a 610 based on previous model numbering. We'll have to see.
T
Deadtrees - Thursday, May 15, 2008 - link
Your ideal camera wouldn't be Pentax K20D as it has quite slow AF under low light.