Olympus E420 Blackened White

[clay stewart]

I've had this camera now for a couple of months and really like it for not only the size, but it actually has very nice image quality in my opinion. I mostly use the 25 pancake.

 

[clay stewart]

Here are a couple straight out of the camera, just converted from Raw.

 

[clay stewart]

As much as I'm enjoying the size and image quality of the 420/pancake, I find myself excitedly checking the internet, often, (too often) for news of a micro 4/3 camera. I think the idea of a GRD sized camera or a bit larger, with a 4/3 sensor and interchangeable lenses, is just what the doctor ordered for me. I sure hope they have 14 mm prime for it.

 

[Brian Mosley]

Hi Clay,

I particularly like your first shot, above...

I have the Sigma DP1 to keep me going on the ultra small / prime lens front, but I can't seem to shake the thrill of using Olympus ZD lenses! here's a shot I took this week on holiday in Norfolk, with the E-3 + 7-14mm... not exactly compact, but not hideously large or heavy either (considering the alternatives)

And another B&W conversion, this time with the addictively flexible Leica 14-150mm fitted to the E-3 (the Leica isn't weather sealed - so I was under shelter)

I really prefer LightZone for my B&W conversions... very powerful indeed.

Kind Regards

Brian

 

[clay stewart]

Hi, Brian, nice shot of the lady in the rain.

I haven't tried Light zone, but may have to give it a try one of these days. I pretty much do everything in ACR and have for the past few years. It would be nice if the next version lent itself to better conversions, somehow.

I like the idea of a weather sealed camera and lens, as well, so I got the 11-22, to try. I like the lens and I'm sure it would be great on an E3, as a weather proof combo, but it rarely gets any use now on the 420, because of the size and weight. I may end up selling it. With the promise of even smaller 4/3 stuff on the horizon, it's hard for me to get excited about larger things.

 

[Jorgen Udvang]

Cool lady in rain, Brian. Like it a lot

 

[Brian Mosley]

Thanks Clay, the 11-22 works great on the E-3...

An hour or so before I took the shot above, my E-3 + 11-22 rolled off my quick release tripod into a river! I fished it out, dried it off with my t-shirt and carried on... yes, weathersealing on Oly kit rocks! lol

And thanks Jorgen, it's great to shoot in a rainstorm!

Kind Regards

Brian

 

[Terry]

Clay,
The fourth shot down is my favorite.

 

[helenhill]

Adore your first shot /Clay
and Brian the shot of the kids running in the rain is Fab

Best to You-H

 

[clay stewart]

Thanks, Terry and Helen.

Wow, Brian, That looks like a HDR image-pretty cool and great capture of the kids.
I wish Oly would make a weather proof 400 series, because as much as I like the features of the larger cameras, I always seem to migrate to the smaller ones, then I wonder why I have so much money wrapped up in stuff I'm not using. This is about the third round on that deal and I'm trying to keep it in mind, so I don't have a E3 or D700 laying around collecting dust.

 

[Lili]

Brian, terrific shots all of them.
The rain ones are my favs.
Lot to be said for weatherproofing

 

[Lili]

Clay, your B&W images both rock.
Have really been tempted by the 420/25mm package, your work shows the combination performs superbly in the right hands

 

[clay stewart]

Thanks Lili. I don't think you can go wrong with that combo. Even before there was Raw support and I was shooting Jpeg, I was impressed by the out of camera Jpegs. The lens is a gem as well.

 

[Brian Mosley]

Hi Clay,

if you're using a PC, Qimage Studio is well worth a look... the RAW converter is excellent - I used Qimage to convert this shot to TIFF, and then finished the B&W conversion in LightZone.

E-400 + 14-35mm f2
1/150s, f2 at ISO100

Kind Regards

Brian