Olympus E410

They don’t come any smaller or lighter than the Olympus E410! It’s a virtually pocket sized Digital SLR camera. But can this tiny Olympus model really compete with its bigger ‘full fat’ rivals? Here’s what we thought of Olympus’ new model.

In almost every physical respect, this tiny Digital SLR camera is identical to the Olympus E400, launched barely six months ago. It’s both still supremely small and light, and it noticeably lacks the bulge of a battery grip that appears to be a standard fixture on all current digital SLRs. This slim line appearance makes it feel much more like a traditional compact SLR camera model.

As well as its good looks, the Olympus E410 has an excellent LCD interface. This doesn’t just show the current settings, it also enables you to select and adjust them directly with ease. Inside the camera, though, some major changes have taken place. The biggest is the incorporation of a Live View mode, where you can choose to compose pictures using the LCD rather than in the viewfinder. Olympus pioneered Live View in the complex and ugly E330, which had a secondary ‘viewing’ sensor within the camera. The E410 dispenses with this. It simply flips the mirror up, opens the shutter and feeds the image from the sensor to the LCD.
Olympus was first to introduce an anti-dust system, and the E 410’s ‘Supersonic Wave Filter’ vibrates the sensor to shake dust off each time the camera is started up. We were pleased to see that none of our test shots showed any visible signs of dust or debris. The Olympus E410 also boasts a new image-processing engine. We previously noted that the E400 didn’t have the ‘bite’ of other 10MP D-SLRs, but the Olympus E410 seems to be a significant step in this area.

The Olympus E400

Price: $504.90

Meet the Olympus E400, Olympus’ latest addition to the E-System range and the World’s Smallest & Lightest D-SLR! This is Olympus’ ultra-compact Digital SLR with an interchangeable lens system

It may be small, but Olympus has certainly been busy filling the Olympus E400 with features. The Four Thirds Standard model features a new CCD with 10MP and a fast, state-of-the-art amplifier circuit to combat noise. The E-400 can shoot up to three frames per second with a five image RAW buffer in burst mode, and weighs in at just 380g with measurements excluding protrusions of W129.5 x H91 x D53mm.

The E-400 takes both CompactFlash and xD-Picture Cards and is powered by a new high-power rechargeable battery. Beingreleased with the camera are two new compact Four Thirds lenses; the EZ-1442 ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 (28-8′ equivalent) and the longer EZ-4015-2 ED 40-150mm f4.0-5.6 (80-300mm). These light lenses weigh 190g and 25 respectively and feature a blue ring design, which is the new insignia fort) E-system lens line-up.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A200

Price Range: avg $589.21

Basic Specifications

Resolution: 10.20 Megapixels
Kit Lens: 3.88x zoom
18-70mm
(27-105mm eq.)
Viewfinder: Optical
LCD Size: 2.7 inch
ISO: 100-3200
Shutter: 30-1/4000
Max Aperture: 3.5
Mem Type: CF1 / CF2
Battery: Custom LiIon
Dimensions: 5.2×3.7×2.8in
(133×95x71mm)
Weight: 22.0 oz
(625 g)
MSRP: $600
Availability: 02/2008

Sony’s Alpha A200 is a relatively minor revamp to the electronics giant’s first digital SLR, the A100, which itself was a more significant step up from the Konica Minolta 5D. The Sony A200 is lighter and smaller than the A100, and a good deal easier to use.

Sony claims improvements to the Sony A200’s AF system that will make focus acquisition 1.7 times faster, thanks to the high-torque AF motor and improved AF sequence borrowed from the A700, and our test results do indicate a significant improvement.

Sony’s Alpha-mount lens system is the oldest SLR autofocus system in the business, going back 28 years, so there’s a broad and growing selection of lenses to choose from.

The Sony A200’s 10.2-megapixel sensor is the same resolution as its predecessor, but it’s said to let more light reach each pixel for lower noise and more detail.

Shaped to better match the sensor’s 3:2 aspect ratio, the Sony A200’s 2.7-inch “Clear Photo” LCD has an anti-reflective coating for easy viewing in the sun, and 230,000 pixels.

A new LCD-based function menu replaces the old dial-based function menu on the A100, and many of the menu functions and systems from the Sony A700 have made their way into the Sony A200.

New to the Sony A200 is a pop-up flash, rather than the old “pull-up” type. Now this consumer camera can deploy the flash in auto modes when necessary. Like most other digital SLRs, the user deploys the flash with a button on the left side of the lens mount housing, by the Sony A200’s big orange Alpha logo.

The old battery icon has been augmented with a “percent remaining” indicator on the Sony A200, which reads “100%,” in addition to displaying four bars to indicate battery status. Sony has created a new vertical battery grip (VG-B30AM) for the Sony A200 that duplicates many of the controls necessary for vertical shooting, and holds two InfoLITHIUM batteries, making the camera capable of shooting up to 1,500 shots.

Eye-start Autofocus, also from the A100, starts up the autofocus system so the Sony A200 is ready before you even match your eye up to the frame in most cases. Super SteadyShot sensor-based stabilization reduces blurry images with any lens mounted. Sony claims up to 3.5 stops of extra exposure with their body-based image stabilization system. Anti-dust is also built in, with a static-free coating on the CCD’s filter that is shaken each time the camera is powered off.

The Sony A200 kit (DSLR-A200K) comes with a DT 18-70mm (3.9x) f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens for an estimated US$600.

A separate Sony A200 kit (DSLR-A200W) includes two lenses: the DT 18-70mm mentioned above, and a 75-300mm f/4.6-5.6 telephoto zoom for an estimated US$800.

Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera With 18-55MM F/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR And 55-200MM

Price Range: $869 to $1,089

SLR - 10.2MP - SD/MMC Memory Card - 2.5in.

Product Descriptions

18-55mm VR AFS DX Nikkor and 55-200 Lenses / Fast Start-up / Active Dust Reduction / 2.5″ LCD / Up to 3 Frames per second / SD and SDHC Memory Slot Up to 36 characters of alphanumeric text input available / Date imprint - Date, Date and Time, Date Counter, or None (selectable) Eye-level penta-Dach mirror single-lens reflex viewfinder File system - DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif 2.21 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras), PictBridge Focusing screen - Type B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark V Compatible lenses - AF-S and AF-I NIKKOR - All functions supported; Type G or D AF NIKKOR not equipped with an autofocus motor - All functions supported except autofocus; Non-Type G or D AF NIKKOR not equipped with an autofocus motor - All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II and autofocus; IX-NIKKOR and AF-NIKKOR for F3AF - Not supported; Type D PC NIKKOR - All functions supported except some shooting modes; AI-P NIKKOR - All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II; Non-CPU - Autofocus not supported. Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function; Lens with maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster - Electronic rangefinder can be used Frame advance up to 3 fps Self-timer - Can be selected from 2, 5, 10 and 20 second duration Metering method - Matrix - 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); Center-weighted - Weight of 75 percent given to 8mm circle in center of frame; Spot - Meters 3.5mm circle (about 2.5 percent of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used) Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20 degrees C/68 degrees F); Matrix, Center-weighted, and Spot metering Dimensions (W x H x D) - 126 x 94 x 64mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 inch)/ 1.1 lb

Nikon D80 SLR Digital Camera Body Only

(10.2MP, 3872×2592, SDHC/SD Slot - MPN: 25412)

Price Range: $659.99 - $799.99

The Nikon D80 digital SLR is the successor the D70s. Announced in August 2006, it’s positioned between the entry-level D50 and semi-professional D200, squarely targeting photographic enthusiasts or those who simply want a step-up from a budget model.

The D80 inherits or tweaks many aspects from both the D50 and D200, along with introducing a few new features of its own. Starting with the headline specifications, the Nikon D80 shares the same 10.2 Megapixel resolution, 2.5in screen and user interface of the D200, although as we’ll explain in the review, there are some differences. The body itself is physically very similar to the D50 and inside there’s the same metering system.
While the D80 is pitched at the next-step up from entry-level digital SLRs, its 10.2 Megapixel resolution and price tag will inevitably see it compared against Canon’s EOS 400D / Rebel XTi and the Sony Alpha A100. There’s certainly many similarities between the three bodies, although it’s interesting to note the D80 has no in-camera anti-dust feature (it’s performed in optional software later), and there’s also no anti-shake solutions in its standard kits.

Depending on your region and supplier there may be three different D80 lens kits available, with either the DX 18-55mm f3.5-5.6, the DX 18-70mm f3.4-4.5 or the new DX 18-135mm f3.5-5.6; the latter, while costing significantly more than the budget kit options of the Sony and Canon models, delivers a considerably longer and more useful 7.5x optical zoom range.

Compare Prices & More about Nikon D80 on the right
( sidebar)

Nikon D40 SLR Digital Camera Kit

(6.1MP, 3008×2000, SD/SDHC Slot - MPN: 25420)

Price Range: $439.33 - $599.00

Description: The D40’s high-resolution image quality is made possible by Nikon’s high-performance 6.1 megapixel Nikon DX format CCD imaging sensor and exclusive Nikon image processing engine which assures stunning sharpness and color.

The Nikon D40 is a 6 Megapixel entry-level digital SLR aimed at general consumers, family users and photographic students. It’s designed for first-time DSLR buyers who may be upgrading from a budget film SLR or who’ve outgrown their digital compact. It replaces the D50 at the bottom of Nikon’s current DSLR range and shares aspects of both its predecessor and the higher-end D80

The D40 takes the 6 Megapixel sensor of the D50, adds the menu system and in-camera retouching options of the D80, throws in a decent-sized 2.5in screen, and packs it all into a light, compact and affordable body. The D40 is typically supplied as a kit with a new DX 18-55mm II lens which delivers a general-purpose range equivalent to 27-83mm.
In order to achieve the D40’s size and weight, Nikon made the decision not to include the internal motor required to auto-focus older Nikkor lenses. As such the D40 can only auto-focus with newer Nikkor lenses which feature built-in motors of their own. This decision horrified many enthusiasts with collections of older lenses, but since the D40 is targeted at first-time DSLR owners, it shouldn’t affect them too much. Just know that if you go for the D40, you should equip it with AF-S or AF-I CPU lenses if you want the camera to autofocus; be particularly careful to check for compatibility with third party lenses. Other lenses will still work on the D40, but you’ll need to manually focus them.
At the time of writing, Nikon also announced its own 10 Megapixel version called the D40x and we’ll be considering that model here too; in fact since the D40x is identical other than its higher resolution sensor (and subsequent minor differences in ISO range and continuous shooting)

Price Range: $1,049.99 - $2,157.15

Product Features:

Canon’s EOS 40D is the company’s latest DSLR designed for enthusiasts and semi-pros. Announced in August 2007, it’s the successor to the EOS 30D, and continues Canon’s 18 month cycle for this product line. While the EOS 30D represented a minor upgrade over its predecessor though, the new 40D features significant improvements – and not a moment too soon considering arch rival Nikon’s leadership in mid-range DSLRs over the past two years.

Canon’s bumped the resolution from 8 to 10.1 Megapixels, added anti-dust features, increased continuous shooting to 6.5fps, and improved the viewfinder, AF system and weatherproofing. The A-D conversion and RAW files now work in 14-bits, the colour monitor is bigger at 3in, and perhaps most notably of all, the EOS 40D now features Live View facilities. Finally, the EOS 40D supports interchangeable focusing screens, an optional wireless transmitter and even shows the ISO in the viewfinder by popular demand.

Canon also launched two new zooms with the EOS 40D: a new version of the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens now with Image Stabilisation (although sadly no USM focusing), and an EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS budget zoom, again with stabilisation but no USM.

So what we have with the EOS 40D is a camera which appears comfortably superior to Nikon’s D80 and better in many respects to the D200. Indeed the EOS 40D is arguably a mini version of the EOS 1D Mark III with a cropped-frame sensor. Canon clearly took Nikon’s success over the last generation very seriously and after resting on its laurels with the EOS 30D, is now back and fighting.