Broke down and bought another camera

[TxCowboy]

Well, the camera bug bit me and I decided to break down and buy another digital camera. I bought an Olympus C-2100 back around Christmas and it is a super camera but I was just dis-satisfied with the 2.1 MP. The more photos I had printed, the more I studied them, and the more serious I got about photography, I just wasn't happy with the 2.1 MP print quality, even shooting in the higest res.

I've really been getting serious about my photography and a digital SLR was really calling my name. I wanted full manual control of the camera with SLR ease. So being on a budget and being on Olympus man, I opted for an Olympus E-10. The E-10 is 4 MP and has a fixed lens. (4x optical) I also bought the optional Li-po grip and battery which, on a full charge, will last for over 300 flash photos. The camera is big and pretty heavy but she shoots like a dream. It won't be something that you throw in your back pack and forget about on a hunting trip but it will serve me well.(I hope)

Here are a few photos I took of it the other night. I used my C-2100 for the photos. I made two mistakes: I should have put something in the photo as a size refernce and my lighting on my soft box was a bit dull. Oh well, live and learn. The camera has the optional Li-po grip attached in these photos.

http://www.applebyoutdoors.com/E10photos.html

 

[AnnieAK]

I'll bet you'll like it; I have a friend who has the E-20 and he loves it.
I think camera are kinds like guns; there just no such thing as having too many of 'em.......

 

[spectr17]

Hello TxCowboy,

I've got the same thing gripping me, I want one of the digital SLR cameras. Congrats on your new toy, let us know how you like it.

 

[TNDEERHUNTER]

Ditto here. I have been looking at the E20 and the sony 717. can't decide which one to go with. Then you throw in the Minolta 7i and to many choices. Congrats on the new camera. I wish I had one.

 

[TxCowboy]

Thanks for the kind words folks. I know many people are wondering why I didn't choose the E-20 which is the same identical camera with 5 MP instead of the 4 MP the E-10 has. Here is my reasoning. The E-xx series cameras are very well known to have slow write times. They have a 4 shot buffer but after 4 shots are taken, the whole camera is locked up until the first shot is completly written, then you can take one more shot and so on. But there can only be 4 shots processing at one time. The E-20 is slower than the E-10 because of the extra MP. I read and researched the cameras for a couple months to find out all I could on them.

I will admit one thing. I was pleasantly suprised with the write times once I actually got the camera in my hands. The write times are near as bad as people had made them sound. Don't get me wrong, if I was a pro it might be unacceptable but for me it's pretty dang good. I will admit that the write times would definatly be too slow for a serious sports photographer but I don't have to worry about that.lol In doing some testing, I can honestly take photos almost as fast as I can compose them, zoom, focus and snap them off and never fill the buffer. I do not think it will be a problem for me.

Like I said before, I wanted to get an SLR to help me learn photography. I want to learn to shoot full manual and this camera will do that while giving me some great images. The best part is, I got a pretty good deal on the system. When I decided I need another camera (even if it is a couple years from now) I think I will be able to get out of the E-10 without totally loosing my rear.

I looked at the body cameras but I just can't justify buying the lenses. I don't have that much $$ and I honestly am not at a skill level that I need anything that nice. However, I hope that changes in the future.lol

The new Olympus 4/3 body camera they are un-vieling this summer is going to be interesting. The digital camera world is buzzing waiting to see what this camera will be like. It could be revolutionary or it could be a dud. The price will have alot to do with it's reception. The Canon 10D is sweeping the digital SLR world like a fire and the 4/3 will have to be very special and priced right to beat it out. I can't wait to see...... The price of high quality DSLR's is coming down every day and I'm loving it. They are getting closer and closer to my reach.

 

[AnnieAK]

Yeah, I saw on one of the photo websites that they think the Canon EOS 10D will come down to about $1000 (from the $1500(?) it's at now) and that in turn will bring down the Nikon D100 at least several hundred $. It's so hard to wait!!!!

 

[TxCowboy]

Annie, if the 10D is driven down to $1,000, I might be looking for some Canon lenses in the future.lol At it's current cost the 10D is really a good deal; that is the reason their is a mass exodus of people trying to get their hands on one. Right now I just can't afford the good Canon glass lenses.

It will be interesting to see what happens with this new 4/3 system. I think the price tag is going to be the deciding factor. If it costs $2,200-$4,000 like some of the other high end DSLR's, it won't be near as popular. But if they keep it around the $1,500 range it could be big.

I guess we'll know this summer.

 

[copilot]

When did Cannon start making glass lenses? This is something new to me. All they advertise and sell to my knowledge (which is little) are plastic lenses. My freinds Cannon g2 has plastic. Is this something available on certain digitals?
Just wondering not that I will run out and buy one but Sooner or later I will replace my Oly e-10.

 

[TxCowboy]

Sorry copilot, I was just making a comment. I have no idea if their lenses are plastic or glass?

 

[AnnieAK]

On Canon lenses, I don't know about their point-n-shoot cameras, but they make some of the best lenses around for SLRs, and I know many of those are high-tech glass. (and expensive, their 600 mm f4, IS lens is $7100)