Evolt has landed

[Dan]

I just bought my “Evolt” (Olympus E-300) last Saturday and have been "toying" around with it since. Still trying to familiarize myself with it's tons of features, I’ve been test-taking pictures around the house and actually was able to use it during a Christmas party pretty much on default auto mode settings and boldly trying a bit of tweaks every now and then per manual.

So far, …taken a total of a little over 200 pics, 60% + using flash, and battery with still a lot of charge left after! Must say that I'm pretty impressed... The start time is virtually sub-second instantaneous with the supersonic self cleaning routine doesn't seem to stop you from pressing the button halfway, AF works quickly, resulting to overall lag time between shots probably sub-second fast, and images super-duper extremely sharp, without any noticeable aberrations (so far). Burst mode at HQ 3264x2448 image setting, I think, will go for as long as I hold the button down (on one occasion, took more than a dozen pics) and is only limited by the remaining memory (quite a bit of the 500 frames with the 1Gig Extreme CF I’m using).

I find it's ergonometric and usability great. For instance, control buttons are easy to use and learn, very clear (night/day) subject targeting and focusing through the viewfinder/parameters, very intuitive menu and screen display, easy to use startup and advance user's manual, trigger button right where it should be with excellent 2-step sensitivity, camera balance and grip is excellent and fits right into my (ave. sized right handed) hand.

Out of the box the camera comes equipped with 14-45 mm lens, battery and basic peripherals and tons of basic and advance photo features. I'm definitely impressed and falling in love with this camera (just next to God, wife and kids ), and am looking forward to having lots of good times with it... venturing through the vast permutations of its functional envelope! Though just an amateur photo-buff-hobbyist early on its learning curve, I think at 1,299.00 CA$, this is one heck of an SLR camera indeed, superb true color, super sharp high res capable at 8 MP, and is certainly more than what I had hoped or bargained for!

I certainly will appreciate receiving other's experiences, tips and feed back on the camera.

Best regards.

[Jim Last]

What camera are you upgrading from or is this your first?

I am interested to see how the Evolt fairs inrespect to the C-8080.

[Dan]

The "Evolt" is an addition to my Nikon (film based) SLR and 2 low-end (2.4 MP Casio and Canon) digitals (non-slrs), which are mostly for family use. I.e., I find "Evolt" features fantastic for simple (default auto modes) "fun-everday aim and fire" use, as well as "advance" enough for some future "serious" level of artistic photography. Thougts? Cheers.

[Jim Last]

The evolt looks like being a neat bit of kit, however, a couple of posts state that with the kit included lens the evolt is similar to the C-8080. It is only when buying the pro lenses that the evolt comes into its own. I guess I'll wait until Jeff has reviewed it.

[Jim Last]

On another issue, when you pick it up, were they stocking the FL-36 Flash?

[Dan]

The store where I got it from, have FL 20 and FL 50 in stock, and TF, STF 22s, as well, which are priced around 500+ CA$.

[Jim Last]

That FL-36 is sure elusive

[Dan]

Jim, your absolutely right. taking advantage of my visit here in NY, guess what, it's out of stock even at the biggest camera store in Manhattan! So just picked up a Sigma lens (18-120) instead and works fantastic.