Robert Watcher
Well-known member
After exhaustive shooting with my E-510 over the past several months in anticipation of my E3 purchase - - - I finally sprung for the E3 body after much deliberation over which choice I would make for my heavier duty camera body - the choices being the Nikon D300 or Olympus E3, as I have lenses and bodies for both systems. Each camera model had features that were stronger than the other one, and features that were weaker than the other one. While I can make good use of the lowest noise at high ISO's (within the price range that I wish to spend on a body) and fastest most accurate tracking auto focus - I also push my gear to the limit in other ways by using it in adverse conditions and while I do not abuse my equipment, I do not pamper it but use it well and am not afraid of it getting banged around at times - and so a durable body, some weather resistance and sealing of both body and lenses are features that I can benefit from (I have not had good success in this area with my Nikons - have made innoperative my D70's, an 85mm lens and a D200 in the course of a year and less of purchase as a result of sand, water, mud and tripping on a set of stairs with my shins, hands, D200 and SB800 smacking the floor with a serious thud. I also appreciate the Live View feature with my E-510 and while with the D300 I can benefit in the same way, the articulating LCD screen of the E3 makes it a more valuable tool with this feature and one I will use on a regular basis on my paid assigments.
So of course, I had to go out this evening on getting home with the E3 (i didn't even have to wait to try it out as it takes the same batteries as my E-510 which were already charged), and take a few extreme shots to see if there would be any images of use at slow shutter speeds and 3200 ISO. I shot a street scene in our small town and my dresser with the contents of my pockets on going to bed. Both shots were taken with the E3 and 12-60 Zuiko lens hand held with IS set to 1 - some processing in Adobe Lightroom:
1/13'th @ f8 : 3200 ISO : 12mm setting
1/15'th @ f4 : 3200 ISO : 52mm setting
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So of course, I had to go out this evening on getting home with the E3 (i didn't even have to wait to try it out as it takes the same batteries as my E-510 which were already charged), and take a few extreme shots to see if there would be any images of use at slow shutter speeds and 3200 ISO. I shot a street scene in our small town and my dresser with the contents of my pockets on going to bed. Both shots were taken with the E3 and 12-60 Zuiko lens hand held with IS set to 1 - some processing in Adobe Lightroom:
1/13'th @ f8 : 3200 ISO : 12mm setting
1/15'th @ f4 : 3200 ISO : 52mm setting
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