Ramon S wrote:.
(I've held both camera's and for me the Sony A100 feels beter, butfor my girlfriend the Olympus has the upperhand).
I wanted to go for the Olympus becuase of Live view (among others)but got stuck on the 3 point TTL autofocus. Is the Olympus-system upfor this task or should I consider the Sony or perhaps look further..
Bit of a contradiction here..
If you girlfriend also needs to use it why not look at something else? Pentax or samsung for example..
Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..
Here are a few examples from my very first motorsport outing last year with a E300, 2 generations older than the e510, and the e510 is reportably faster at autofocus than the e300. Im not saying these images are great, but as A first attempt I am very happy with the e300 and 50-200 lens. (I would highly recommend the 50-200 lens for motorsport).
First the V8 supercars @ QLD Raceway last July, I am going again next week as well..
These were before I learnt to use a slower shutter and pan with the action..
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After some critique by my friendly Oly forum members and I went back a few weeks later and tried panning. Nowhere near as many keeper shots, but when it works, it is a superior photo as you get the illusion of speed in the wheels and background..
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These were mainly done with the single AF, , but sometimes with the predictive af system, which is also reportably improved on the e510..
All said and done, these are entry level bodies. IF I was serious about motorsport I would look for a a body with >= 5fps , meaning a semi pro level like a D200 or 30D as I would consider faster fps as much more important than AF systems, but I am only a amateur and most of the entry bodies are pretty good..
The IS on both those bodies are a big bonus ...
... or Canon 400D, Nikon D40, Nikon D40x, Nikon D80, Pentax K100D, Pentax K10D .
All those cameras will do great job..
Edvinas..
But Popular Photography in it's most recent review of the E510 said that the E510 is better at handling noise than the Sony. In fact the E510 review was VERY positive. The world is truly upside down..
As an owner of the E510's predecessor, the E500, I would say the 3 point auto focus is more than adequate for just about any task. That being said, an 11 point auto focus system will likely be a bit more convenient, especially when you are shooting in portrait (vertical) mode..
I also think you'll find the Olympus kit lenses much better than the Sony ones as well. Something to think about if you expect to rely on the kit lenses very much. Also, I can tell you from experience that weight is very important. A couple extra ounces can feel like a ton if you have to lug a camera and kit around for several hours. Also the Oly's anti-dust measures seem to be the only ones on the market that actually work. That could be an imortant feature for you depending on the type of motor sports you want to shoot..
I disagree with the idea of buying something you BOTH dislike. That means neither of you will be happy with your choice. A new camera purchase ought to make SOMEBODY happy!.
Either will do the job you want it for, and do it reasonably well. The major differences are in features.STOP Global Stasis! Change is good!.
Now that you've judged the quality of my typing, take a look at my photos..http://www.photo.net/photos/GlenBarrington..
Both those cameras would do a great job. They each have their good and bad points but the bad points in each case are not really very bad. Ignore comments for the most part about noise as both are great in this respect until the upper reaches of the iso range and unless you specialise in low light work, you will rarely go there. I wouldn't buy a dslr without in-body image stabilsation, my experience with it on my konica Minolta 5D has been wholly positive and very useful. Both the cameras you are looking at have it, but you should also look at the soon to come Pentax K100D super or the current Pentax K100D..
Happy hunting..
Malcy.
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Http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcy/setshttp://picasaweb.google.com/lumachrome..
I have the A100 and I love it. Either of these cameras will do a good job. You need to decide which is best for you - and how it feels in the hand is very important.Greg.
When you've got a moment, have a look at my newly updated site:http://www.wrightphotos.co.ukalsohttp://www.wrightphotos.co.uk/FromeInFocus.
Winner of the South West Rural section of the BBC's Picture of Britain Competition...
IKB wrote:.
Ignore comments for the most part about noise as both are greatin this respect until the upper reaches of the iso range and unlessyou specialise in low light work, you will rarely go there..
Well that goes without saying! But you have no idea just how satisfying it is for an Oly guy to be able to say such things! Be forewarned, I'll probably qoute that review two or three more times!.
I look foreward to the day the review replaces Sony with Canon!.
STOP Global Stasis! Change is good!.
Now that you've judged the quality of my typing, take a look at my photos..http://www.photo.net/photos/GlenBarrington..
I have to say that I think that the latest range of Oly DSLR's look really good. If the E410 had a stabiliser, I would seriously consider one..
Malcy.
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Ramon S wrote:.
Like many I/m new to DSLR and have done a lot of reading on dpreview,camarelabs etc..
I'm considering 2 camera's:.
Sony a100 with lense Sony DT 18-200/3.5-6.3Olympus E510 with kit-lenses (14-42 and 40-150).
Widen your search to include the Pentax K100D....
(I've held both camera's and for me the Sony A100 feels beter, butfor my girlfriend the Olympus has the upperhand).
Comfort is VERY important! You should be glad that you are not both trying to get in the same shoes... .
Charlie DavisNikon 5700 & Sony R1CATS #25PAS Scribe @ http://www.here-ugo.com/PAS_List.htmHomePage: http://www.1derful.info'I brake for pixels...'..
Selection than Sony..
The zooms are as sharp as most high end primes and you only need a couple of mid grade lenses to make a complete set..
Plus there are a few nice Sigma lenses available as well as one Leica and more Leica lenses to come..
Sony either sells old rebadged cheap Minolta lenses with no in lens focus motor or REALLY expensive rebadged Minolta lenses with the SSM motors or some fairly expensive Zeis lenses..
You also have access to Tokina, Tamron and Sigma but the only ones offered use the in camera focus motor which at this price point is pretty slow..
Gene..
I must take issue with what you are saying about lenses available for the A100..
You say that Sony is supplying 'old rebadged Minolta lenses'. The vast majority of Minolta lenses are renowned to be of very high quality. Every manufacturer has a few lemons, but Sony has not chosen to rebadge these. Even the 'cheap' lenses in the range, the kit lens and the 75-300mm are decent performers for the price and as good or better than their equivalents from other majors..
The in camera focus motor is not slow, for most of us mere mortals it focuses quickly enough. I am sure that Sony will introduce more ssm lenses at lower price points as they enlarge the range..
Zeiss lenses are expensive, but so are Leica lenses. Top performance costs a lot but as an amateur, especially a beginning DSLR user will these really be on the shopping list?.
There is a vast range of very good second hand Minolta lenses (15 million +) in almost every focal length or zoom range range including some of the best lenses made by any DSLR manufacturer and some unique lenses such as the soft focus STF lens and the only AF mirror telephoto ever made. These can be picked up on ebay and other places, some are even designed by Leica such as the 70-210mm f4 beercan..
There is also a large range of new and second hand third party lenses to choose from..
So the bottom line is that if you have an A mount camera such as the Sony A100, there is no problem in getting high quality optics to do any photographic work that you would need to do for a decent price.Malcy.
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IKB wrote:.
I must take issue with what you are saying about lenses available forthe A100..
I was referring to new lenses as many don't feel comfortable buying used..
You say that Sony is supplying 'old rebadged Minolta lenses'. Thevast majority of Minolta lenses are renowned to be of very highquality. Every manufacturer has a few lemons, but Sony has not chosento rebadge these. Even the 'cheap' lenses in the range, the kit lensand the 75-300mm are decent performers for the price and as good orbetter than their equivalents from other majors..
If you go for corner to corner sharpness, distortion, color and contrast and other "lens" factors it's hard to beat the digital Zuikos..
Plus for most you only need 2 lenses to cover just about anything you care to shoot- the 14-54 and the 50-200- both together cost about $1200 and are weather sealed to a very high standard..
To get something somewhat close for the Sony- maybe the Zeis 16-80 and the Sony 70-200SSM both of which together would cost over $3000 and weigh twice as much..
The in camera focus motor is not slow, for most of us mere mortals itfocuses quickly enough. I am sure that Sony will introduce more ssmlenses at lower price points as they enlarge the range..
Sony will NEVER introduce something at a lower price point. Heck they double the price of the 1.4TC after putting their name on it. Isn't it like $600 or something?.
That's the problem KM users that want to stay with the system face. A consumer electronics company that has lost it's way. To wit the PS3, PSP and the multitude of failed MP3 players..
So the bottom line is that if you have an A mount camera such as theSony A100, there is no problem in getting high quality optics to doany photographic work that you would need to do for a decent price..
Perhaps are defenitions of what constitutes "high quality optics" differs. I see nothing offered in the A mount (zooms) that I would call HQ other than the 70-200/2.8. The others have been discontinued TTBOMK..
There does seem to be some really nice primes offered but primes are generally not of interest to beginners..
Gene..