Olympus D-SLRS

no.

Why not?

use old grandma google and check out the specs, and then see if it aligns with what sort of photography you do. i did not find their cameras to be suitable for photojournalism, portraiture, or much else beyond family pictures.

I think paolo pellegrin (and many others, myself included, who have used similar cameras) would disagree. and I’d say that sure, this or any specific camera may have limitations from the ‘pro’ models we’re all expected to use, but overcoming these things might just produce something different or new, which would not come to someone using the ‘easy’ camera.
Its a cliche that I don’t claim to be entirely true, of good pictures not coming from the camera but the photographer, but I think it is pretty silly to say ‘Y camera isn’t suitable for X’ and dismiss something out of hand. Using 4×5 for street photography might be crazy, but I wouldn’t say its stupid.

Amit – if this is the camera that you can afford, or the one you want for one reason or another, then I say make it work. It might not be the easiest camera to use (i.e. it might have have been designed for use in every-day photojournalism) and thus might not produce the same kind of pictures of other cameras, but if you make that yours and embrace it, more to you.

i wouldn’t say it’s stupid either, matt. that’s why i didn’t say that.

my point is this: i’ve used this camera and the other model (believe it starts with a 5 or something?) and did not like the setup, coming from using nikon and contax, and ultimately found the technical results to be subpar as comparable to my previous experiences. that does not mean some people will find the camera useful, but the style and method in which i photographed, and the results i sought to yield, did not find compatibility with these cameras.

of course the person behind the camera affects the outcome entirely, but it’s a bit naive to think the tool hasn’t much to do with it. i could make a sarcastic comparison to how every photograph you made wasn’t done with the complete opposite of what you used, but that’d be logic and common sense, and not particularly sarcastic to some people (me).

.. thanx guy’s

Amit,
The Olys are small and light, controls are well thought, color rendition/saturation is IMHO superb, and the 4/3 format can lead to great compositions. Better be running with Olys around your neck, than with their Nikon/Canon counterparts.
The 4/3 sensor gives you a 2X crop, meaning that you get a 2+ “advantage” when you want DOF, yet keep the lens open for available light. Good for street and PJ stuff.
Downside of course is that it is a problem to achieve shallow DOF/selective focusing if that’s what you want (and I suspect, led Mustafah to frustration). Definitely not the best camera for portraits (although to can produce great results with a 50mm prime).
Zuiko pro lenses are built like tanks and can take a hell of a beating. Kit lenses are quite nice in terms of results, and very compact as well.
Noise at higher ISO looks like film grain and does not bother me.

If you are going to try one, look at the slightly larger larger E510 which is not much heavier that the 410 and might fit your hands better with added inbody stabilization, and IIRC a better viewfinder (I have worked with a 410 but not with the 510, so I am not sure here).

You might or might not like it, but it is definitely worth checking if it fits your bill and works with what you want to produce. You won’t get the pluses of a FF camera with a huge VF, but there are other benefits.

Might also want to see what Morten Hvaal, who is on LS does with it:
http://www.olympus.co.jp/en/magazine/pursuit/feature_article/jan2006/index.cfm
Hopefully he’ll see your post and might add to it.

Hope this helps.

after selling cameras retail for more than a few years, my advice is always, buy the camera that feels good and handles well for you. a camera that i like, and feel is a perfect fit, you may hate. if you pick up a camera and you naturally go to the controls, and, very simply, like it, then that is your camera. unfortunately, that means going to the store and holding the thing.

assuming, of course, the files are good, and frankly most of the files out there now are pretty incredible. especially, (and this is really gonna get people going…) when you compare them to 35mm film. Shoot RAW, even with the point and shoots that can, and you’ll be astounded.