All About The Olympus E-510 Thread

[microcosm]

True true. I know that some regular harvey norman customers get special prices or freebies from the salesman that they regularly buy from. But that's a darn good price and got stock some more. Was at AP and CP on wed and they told me no stock. :dunno:

In the words of a famous ad "So what are you waiting for?"

 

[howeikwok]

must confirm got that price at harvey norman mah, if not run around like wild goose chase, haha.... :bsmilie:

 

[microcosm]

must confirm got that price at harvey norman mah, if not run around like wild goose chase, haha.... :bsmilie:

Confirmed that this price came from a staff at Harvey Norman. I sent him a PM. He works at Funan Centre branch. Just call them to check if they have stock. I suspect that HN made a deal with Olympus to stock a large number of E-510s during the launch and that is why the other dealers are not holding on to a lot of stock. Interesting how HN is paying so much attention to the E-510. But clever for them nevertheless.

 

[schon]

42mm is still 42mm regardless of what its 35mm format equivalent is.

2 stops image stabilisation compensation for 42mm means it can be handheld at about 1/10 if hands are not too shaky.

Usually, image stabilisation helps in about 2-3 stops below the 1/actual focal length guideline for not so shaky hands. At 42mm, the guide is about 1/5 -1/10 for handheld shots.

so does the reciprocal guide apply to actual focal length or equivalent focal lenght? :dunno:

i'm pretty sure shake is more apparent when you're zoomed in closer.

 

[howeikwok]

Confirmed that this price came from a staff at Harvey Norman. I sent him a PM. He works at Funan Centre branch. Just call them to check if they have stock. I suspect that HN made a deal with Olympus to stock a large number of E-510s during the launch and that is why the other dealers are not holding on to a lot of stock. Interesting how HN is paying so much attention to the E-510. But clever for them nevertheless.

wah mai tu liao, cheong arh!! ;p

 

[Clockunder]

so does the reciprocal guide apply to actual focal length or equivalent focal lenght? :dunno:

i'm pretty sure shake is more apparent when you're zoomed in closer.

The issue of whether to use actual focal length or equivalent focal length has been debated many times. Most of the websites will prefer to state the equivalent focal length.

There are arguments for and against using equivalent focal length instead of actual focal length. Every one of them has its seemingly valid theoretical arguments (I shall not get into the details of that).

However, practical experience is otherwise. Take for example, the Olympus SP550UZ which, at its max. zoom, is 507mm on 35mm format equivalent but people are able to shoot at 1/15-1/25 handheld with image stabiliser on. Is the image stabiliser good for 5 stops? No. The explanation is that the actual focal length is only 84mm and the image stabiliser works for about 2-3 stops. For DSLR, the practical experience is similar for different "crop factor" sensor sizes.

Look at the lowest shutter speed those compact digicams are capable of shooting handheld at and you will see why the acutal focal length in the reciprocal guide is more practical and valid than the equivalent focal length. In the past, without image stabiliser, compact digicams can be handheld at 1/15-1/30 at max 3x optical zoom easily even at 105mm equivalent because the actual focal length is no more than 20mm.

As long as the shutter speed is fast enough, the light signal is prevented from spreading itself across too large a sensor area to create a blur outline.

Zoom in = longer focal length means that, given the same amount of handshake, the light ray will shake more as it has to travel a longer distance from optical centre to the sensor/image plane. So a faster shutter speed is required to prevent the light signals from spreading across too many pixel pitches to create a blur picture.

So I would say : If you have average steady hands, use 1/actual focal length. If you have shaky hands, use 1/equivalent focal length. If you have very shaky hands, then use 1/equivalent focal length + 1 stop faster shutter speed.

 

[drakon09]

Interesting how we differ in opinion over the handling and feel of both cameras. I feel that the E-510 is more flimsy and plasticy than the E-410. The complain on the dials, though, I have to agree with you. I am constantly more cautious about "spinning" it unlike how I would freely do so on the E-1. For me, there is really no problem with the smallish size of the E-410 because my main support when holding the camera with lens is with my left hand. Not the right. Guess this is something cultivated from the film days.

Guess when we meet, I will have to look at your hands. I believe you have a much bigger hand than me.

Same here, somehow the 510 didn't feel nice in my hands, probably the grip was designed a little too large and angular

 

[CTN]

Confirmed that this price came from a staff at Harvey Norman. I sent him a PM. He works at Funan Centre branch. Just call them to check if they have stock. I suspect that HN made a deal with Olympus to stock a large number of E-510s during the launch and that is why the other dealers are not holding on to a lot of stock. Interesting how HN is paying so much attention to the E-510. But clever for them nevertheless.

Harvey Norman can bargain, but don't expect too much. Usually a little less than RRP or a few extra freebies, that's all. .

BTW, I was at HN Funan thursday lunch time, salesman told me E-510 no stock. Did not ask about the price though.

 

[schon]

Zoom in = longer focal length means that, given the same amount of handshake, the light ray will shake more as it has to travel a longer distance from optical centre to the sensor/image plane. So a faster shutter speed is required to prevent the light signals from spreading across too many pixel pitches to create a blur picture.

ah i see. thanks for the explanation.

 

[cjtune]

Hmm I wonder what sort of nice prices or package deals will be there for 410 and 510 buyers at the upcoming Comex? *rubs hands*
But likely there will be limited sets only. I think there were only like 100 sets of E-330 + goodies when I got that at the IT Show in March 2006 and I was told mine was like number 90+ already on the last day.

 

[Singapore21]

Managed to capture this Funan just now.. so cute...

:cheergal:

 

[Singapore21]

Oh, the above pic is just re-sized and cropped...

 

[cjtune]

Oh, the above pic is just re-sized and cropped...

ISO800 at 1/40 sec isn't really challenging even as a handheld shot.

 

[Singapore21]

i wasn't out to challenge anything.. just thought the gal was cute.

 

[cjtune]

i wasn't out to challenge anything.. just thought the gal was cute.

If it's not about the E-510's IS, I guess it should be elsewhere in its own thread?

 

[Singapore21]

"guess" is the correct word, i guess... as long as it doesn't irk the rest, guess it wouldn't start a riot.

 

[howeikwok]

Bought the package at HN funan. $1499, comes with dry box, bag, tripod(changed it for a filter). They do have the basic package at $1299 with 2 pieces of 2GB CF cards.

 

[tomcat]

Is it worth while to pay $200 for the dry box, bag and filter? :think:

 

[microcosm]

Bought the package at HN funan. $1499, comes with dry box, bag, tripod(changed it for a filter). They do have the basic package at $1299 with 2 pieces of 2GB CF cards.

Congrats for your purchase and the proud owner of the E-510!

 

[wind30]

ah i see. thanks for the explanation.

don't listen to him. I had a huge discussion over at

http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=256683&page=3&highlight=handshake

and he still believe the crop factor should not be taken into account. It should be 42x2=84mm.

At least that is what BOTH pentax and olympus OFFICIALLY says.

Pentax
http://www.digital.pentax.co.jp/en/special/digiichi/tech/vol_13.html

Olympus
Assumed by the fact that when we use flash, our beloved oly DSLR defaults the shutter speed to 1/(2xfocal length)

Are you going to trust Pentax and olympus or Clockunder....

Or just trust yourself and read the first thread I linked. I don't want to go through all the explainations again.