Olympus EVOLT E-300 camera

[DesertEagle]

I understand that wide angle zoom lenses are expensive, but why can't anyone make a prime lens? So far there is a Nikon 10mm fisheye. Why don't they make a 14mm. That shouldn't cost more to manufacture than a 20mm 2.8.

 

[erichK]

Theoretically it would be good for the macro but Oly only has a 1:2 full frame equavalent 50mm lens so with 2x factor, basically you get equavalent to one 100mm lens that will do 1:1 at a very close distance. I think Oly really needs to provide more macro choices as well.
At this rate, if you can't afford the $1600-2000 wide angle lens, you are pretty much going to be using a camera with better glass and sensor than Oly C5050 but with only a bit better macro capability than C5050 with wetmount macro lens but significantly less wide angle capability than C5050 with wetmount wide angle/domeport.

If their 50/f2 macro is up to the quality of the one they made for the OM, or of their 100 f2 for that same camera, then this will be special glass indeed. Oly is a top drawer microscope and endoscope maker and had a wide array of offerings in the macro and supermacro area for the OM system, including some groundbreaking products. Let's hope that they build on that.

 

[erichK]

Whichever way you look at it, whichever brand you go with, this is un-deniably an expensive hobby!

If Olympus produced a half-decent housing like they did with the PT-015 at a reasonable price, even with just a flat port housing the kit lens to start with, I would go out and buy it today (actually I lie - I would let my mouse do all the walking). I think a lot of us looking to upgrade our prosumer digicams will.

For those curious, the E300 has been released in Japan. First pics (nothing exciting) are available on the net:

http://www.pbase.com/rkphoto/e300samples

and

http://www.pbase.com/higuma/e300

Actually, if you look at the ISO settings involved, and at the relative cleanness of the ISO 1600 pics, the pics on this site are quite exciting. After out budget recovers from my current purchase of an E1 and lenses lenses, I very much look forward to having a good look at the Evolt (despite the REvolting name!). Main concern is viewfinder brightness, though the super-bright LCD screen may compensate. At least we'll be able to see what we did/didn't get clearly and quickly!

 

[erichK]

If your dropping this sort of cash on a lens why bother with the E300. Much more sense in going for the E1 - body is no longer such a significant cost.

I see you point with the faster lens though but at double the price I would hope so.

The E-1 is arriving today. I probably should have got the 11-22 lens, which goes for $600+, and would be great for eventual underwater use. But the brightness, range and close-focusing general utility of the 14-54 seemed preferrable. Also found the speed and compactness of the (100-400 equivalent) 50-200 2.8-3.5 zoom and versatility of the 50 F2 macro (really sharp fast 1:1 macro of ideal "reach" and portrait tele) irresistable for our impending Dominica and Saba trip. Oly's lineup may be limited, but they've started well.

My images cannot justify the $1400 that Ikelite quotes for their E-1 housing. Nor are my diving skills sufficient to wrestle with the monstrous rigs some take down. Even if they were, wouldn't want to. As Dee Rags put it so well, on another thread, some of us are divers who takes pics rather than photographers who dive. Hope that the E-300 housing(s) will eventuallyu provide a smaller, cheaper alternative.

For now, I'll stick with a C5050, TT015 and the Ikelite DS50 system we just bought for it.