A pocket-sized SLR - well not quite (Olympus E-410)

Member Name: rabidbadger

Product:	Olympus E-410
Date:	31/08/09 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Small and compact, Inexpensive, Dust reduction

Disadvantages: A bit "noisy" in low light, Manual/AF switching is done via menus, Limited range of lenses

One of the first things you notice about the Olympus E-410 is that it is not much bigger or heavier than some zoom cameras, being dwarfed by the Canon EOS 50D that I have purchased since. The body measures 130mm x 91mm x 53mm and wieghs in at around 420g (including battery), making it the smallest, lightest digital SLR at the time of release.

This has obvious advantages when carrying and holding the camera for handheld shots, which was great for a newcomer, but some seasoned Canon or Nikon users might find it a little too small - especially those who are used to grip attachments.My kit came with a wide neck-strap, which makes carrying the camera a doddle but it does have a tendency to tilt forward when the 150mm lens is fitted, making it more awkward.Being so light also makes it a little more susceptible to wind movement than my Canon when taking outside shots from a tripod.

What does it have?
- 10 megapixel LiveMOS sensor (2 x crop factor)
- 2.5" HyperCrystal LCD display with Live View
- SSWF Dust reduction system
- TruePic III Image Processor
- Dual Memory Card slots (XD and Compact Flash)
What doesn't it have?
- Image stabilisation
- Secondary LCD info panel

Unlike earlier Olympus cameras, the E-410 isn't fitted with a secondary sensor to handle Auto-focus when in Live View mode. Therefore, you either have to use the AEL/AFL button to Auto-focus or you have to push the button fully and trust the camera to Auto-focus correctly as it takes the picture. Either way, there is a penalty in terms of shutter-lag when shooting with Live View.

When using Live View, you can magnify the view by cycling through the Info modes until you see a green rectangle appear on the screen and then press OK. The area in the green rectangle will be magnified by either 7 or 10 times (change with the dial). The position of the green rectangle can be moved using the direction cursor buttons, enabling you to magnify any section of the Live View screen.

In dark conditions, if the Live View screen becomes too dark to view, you can turn on the Live View Boost option on the menu - although this switches to black and white when the light is poor.

The kit Zuiko lenses that came with the camera are very good quality and the two combined give a great range of focal lengths. However, there is one thing that I can't get my head round. On my Canon EOS camera, you can switch between auto-focus and manual by simply flicking a switch on the side of the lens. On the Olympus, the auto/manual switching can only be done through the camera. As well as being less convenient, this means that you can't use the lenses on manual focus without a signal from the camera body - so simple macro tubes can not be used. I have also noticed that when the camera can't Auto-focus, it sometimes just sits there doing nothing rather than searching like my Canon EOS 50D does.

The main dial has options for Manual, Programmed, Shutter Priority and Aperture Priority shooting as well as preset modes for Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sport and Night Time. It also has a Full AUTO option and a SCENE option, allowing you to choose between 20 preset modes including DIS Mode (Digital Image Stabiliser), which partially makes up for the lack of a true Image Stabiliser by boosting the ISO, allowing for a shorter exposure.

The menus and camera settings are easy to navigate and well explained in the accompanying documentation.

Noise is a problem at higher ISO settings and the Noise Reduction software can be painfully slow if you are taking long expusures.

The hotshoe works with a variety of flash units but there is no PC socket for a remote flash.

Battery life is quoted at around 500 shots (without Live View) - battery and charger supplied with camera.

Features the SSWF Dust Reduction system that cleans the sensor every time the camera is switched on. Startup is still reasonably quick.

Non OE infra-red remote control units for the Olympus E-410 are incredibly cheap.

Summary: A great entry-level SLR, capable of producing some outstanding pictures, and at a reasonable price.

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