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[OM] Thoughts on IS - and a Confession.

Subject: [OM] Thoughts on IS - and a Confession.
From: Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2004 22:44:18 -0700
In my lengthy quest for my next DC, I've pretty much decided what my 
purposes are:

- A nice camera for general, casual photography, snapshots of family, 
friends, places I visit, etc. Important things are reasonable price, 
size and weight, good auto metering, good AF, etc.

- A digital back for my many OM mount lenses with sufficient imaging 
quality to compete with films like Portra 160 in OM bodies.

It immediatly became apparent that I would have to compromise in one 
direction or the other. A 5-8mp prosumer camera would nicely meet the 
first aim, but not allow use of my OM lenses. A DSLR would do 
everything, but would be bigger than I would really like. I left the 
issue of reflex finder vs. EVF to be dealt with further along in the 
process, as hands on testing would be necessary.

One of my main considerations has been the issue of camera and subject 
movement. I went through excitement over the in camera IS of the A1 and 
A2, but as I thought back on recent photography I've done, it became 
clear that I have far, far more problem with subject movement than 
camera movement. I like to photograph living things outside, 
particularly flowers and other plant parts, often at  magnification up 
to 1:1. Even on a rather still day, there are usually small air 
movements. Of course, I can brace the subjects in various ways, which 
often helps, but does involve much time fussing around and sometimes teh 
light has changed by the time I'm done. Or a stronger breeze has come up.

So I spent some time thinking the issue through and doing some research. 
Since aperture is being used for DOF selection and I already have rather 
fast macro lenses, that doesn't offer any help. I also tried out noise 
reduction software on sample images from A2 and E-1 reviews. While the 
software does amazing things, it really isn't good for much more than 1 
stop, certainly no more than 2 before it just has too great an impact on 
detail. Save a valuable shot, sure, but not an everyday, most images, 
solution for me.

I'd looked at some reviews of IS options Then the Aug Pop Photo reviewed 
both in-lens and in-camera solutions using what seems to me to be pretty 
good methodology for practical results. Interestingly, the butterfly 
used in their tests is a fake, to eliminate subject movement. What they 
found was that about the max gain IS gives in ordinary fl ranges is 2 
stops, ranging up to 3 stops for some long tele. The max advantage for 
the A2 is 2 stops.

Then looking at noise data for the A2, the E-1 and the D300, it seems 
pretty clear that the D300 has about the same or better noise at 800 as 
the A2 at 64 and 100 and about the same noise at 1600 as the A2 at 200, 
In both cases, about a 3 stop difference. So while the D300 would need a 
faster shutter speed than the A2 to stop blur from camera movement, it 
could do so in all cases by using a higher iso setting and do as well or 
better in noise performance. The big bonus, of course, is that the 
higher shutter speed would also reduce the effect of subject movement, 
unlike the IS.

The problem with this noise conclusion is that the E-1, while much 
better than the A2 (or any of the prosumer models), is distinctly 
noisier than the D300 at all speeds, gets sort of ugly at 400 and awful 
over that.

Thinking the thing through, I concluded that the real solution to my 
problem is in the sensor, film, CCD, CMOS, etc.

I suppose you can see where this is leading. A few more considerations:

I really want a built-in flash. I don't expect a lot from it, just the 
flexibillity of taking snapshots of grandkids, family and friends and 
some simple fill flash. The E-1 requires additional hundreds of dollars 
for any flash capability at all.

I have tried an E-1, and it had focus speed issues in dim light. Sure it 
gets there in most cases, but not very fast. Some on the list have had 
similar experience, others either don't runinto it or aren't bothered by it.

I like the idea of the 4/3 system and I would like to have an E-x and 
some of those neat lenses. But, I consider any DSLR or prosumer bought 
right now as an interim step as digital continues to develop, so I don't 
want to spend a lot on one. The other Can*n bodies have advantages over 
the 300D, but the price isn't right for my purpose. The 300D is readily 
available now for about $750 delivered. Oh, I already have an OM to EOS 
mount adapter that I got for a pretty good price to try out DSLR digital 
using OM lenses with a borrowed 60D a few months ago.

So the confession is that I am the so far happy owner of a 300D. I 
passed on the package lens. Too many reviews indicating it is just 
so-so. And If Oly doesn't deliver on the E series, what do I want with a 
lens that doesn't fit any other Can*n bodies? For casual use, I picked 
up a used 24-85/3.5-4.5 USM lens. It's roughly equivalent to 38-136, a 
good range for me (and I have 18 and 21mm Zuikos). So far, it has proved 
to be a pretty good lens, trading sharpness depending on fl, aperture, 
distance etc. with a couple of ordinary Zuikos, but certainly not up to 
the best ones. I've taken some more comparisons, but it takes time to 
evaluate them.

So my total cost so far is under $1,000 for DSLR and general purpose 
lens, and I already know it can do most of what I want from it based on 
use for a few days. Certainly the high iso, low noise options are 
proving to work. Of course, the option of adding IS to the high speeds 
is there too.

A couple of further observation for those considering a DSLR.

- I see mention on the list of the black 300D. Think carefully before 
going that way. I love the look of black cameras. I didn't think I could 
afford a black OM-1 in '73, and bought chrome, but my next camera was a 
black OM-2n in '76. However, digital is different. One of the real 
issues with noise from digital sensors is temperture. With the silver 
300D just sitting out in the yard on a tripod while I take some pics, 
there is a considerable difference in surface temperture between the 
silver parts of the body and the black parts of body and lens. I think 
the silver body is more practical, if not as attractive. I've taken to 
throwing a hat over it if it is going to sit in the sun for a few minutes.

- One of the drawbacks of the 300D and some of the prosumer cameras is 
that they only have USB 1.1. Downloading raw images is painfully slow. 
Looking around, I found that quite a few CF card readers being sold are 
still 1.1, even when described as 'high speed'. Check before buying!  
What I found that may be of interest to others here is the "All in 1" 
card adapter, which reads and writes to ALL 9 current card formats. B&H 
sells it under the GGI brand for $24.95. I like the idea of flexibility 
in using different cameras and cards in the future. So far, it is WAY 
faster than 1.1 direct from the camera and speeds up downloads from 
other DCs in the family.

- The Raw converter in PS CS is great. Much faster and more flexible 
than the one that comes with the camera. PS is too expensive,,,, except 
it just keeps getting better.

- The penta-mirror viewer on the 300D is no problem for me so far. 
However, I have 20/10 vision in my right eye, the one I view and focus 
with, so I can see that small detail pretty well. In dim light and with 
very wide lenses, I think that, like C.H. and others have said, manual 
focus in going to be tricky. Although I was able to do some dim light 
focusing with the D60 I borrowed, given time and a tripod.

Moose



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