Introduction
Newly crowned by TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) as the best entry SLR range the Olympus E-620 has a reflex response to the standard 4 / 3, both lightweight and compact equipped with a sensor 12 Megapixel and a nice LCD screen mounted on the head referred to direct.
The E-620 has a major changes in reflex input from Olympus range including a new module with AF 7 collimators (5 cross) which replaces the previous system which did AF 3 AF areas. A more efficient auto will make the most of new optical engine sonic SWD.
The Olympus E-620 works with a new chip information processing: TruePic III +. I expect a better treatment of electronic noise on the sensitivity range that extends from 100 to 3200 ISO. A beach in the background of most people who do not go up to ISO 6400 or 12800. The burst rate is correct with 4 fps 5 views in RAW mode. Finally the E-620 still allows the management of flashes (model FL-50R, FL-36R) wireless remote (3 groups with 4 channels and up to 99 flashes per group). Note the presence of modes art that can create JPEG files directly with the effects more or less attractive as pinhole mode or soft focus.
The method of direct referred LCD does not change much. It still has the recognition of faces but remains far too slow for daily use. The lack of HDMI video output to connect the camera to an HDTV or Full HD.
Design
Olympus DSLRs have always presented a good quality of slr. The E-620 is no exception to this rule and the box is rather qualitative. The finish is very correct and it is very light. The E-620 is a very compact model that will satisfy photographers in search of a discreet lightweight. Equipped with optical pancake 25 mm f/2.8 the reflex is easily conceal under a coat. Hold ding on E-620 is not much good . Orders are easily accessible while I would like to preferred that the adjustment wheel is positioned a little lower, closer to the thumb. This entry model does not provide protection against moisture or dust.
Enjoy the rotating LCD screen mounted on ball joint which allows, under direct shots original and more discreet. It will nevertheless be familiar with the responsiveness on the auto detection of contrast. The outbreak of E-620 is not really silent and there is no trigger mode silencers referred directly, that limits the noise to the movements of the shutter. Worse, in Live View mode as like previous models the mirror of the E-620 drops 2 times (the first time to reset the sensor) that is used by the AF detection contrast or phase difference.
Interface
On the short handle of the Olympus E-620 is the conspicuous presence of the witness timer who also serves as a cell for remote control. The small gray circle is a unit for measuring the white balance which is complementary to the measure through the lens.
The other side of the button is use to disengage the lens. The E-620 does not have a tester of depth of field.The top of the reflex is very similar to the E-420. On the left shoulder you will find a command to the flash and a key to the engine. This is customizable menus. On the right shoulder are concentrated controlling exposure correction, selection of exposure modes, the shutter and adjusting. You will note the presence of the lever is turned in the barrel.
One of the main features of the Olympus E-620 is the presence of an LCD screen of 2.7 inches (230 000 points). Even if the definition of the screen is not extraordinary, the possibility to tilt the screen under direct mode is a real advantage for macro shooting up to waist.
The interface of the E-620 is fairly dense (there are no fewer than 18 controls on the SLR) and the novice photographer will be confused by this wealth. The most experienced will be delighted to have provided many shortcuts some customizable. In addition to the commands it is possible to configure the device by clicking OK. It then enters a menu on the screen that allows you to set the main options of the device directly on the screen. Some commands are also used in playback mode.
Menus
The Olympus E-620 has no LCD screen on top of the device. If you want to check the configuration of your device, you have to go through the LCD screen by Pressing the INFO button will take you to a summary screen.
For a general public the E-620 offers a rather complex interface. The beginner is faced with a plethora of information that can quickly discourage. You will find many parameters: the saturation, sharpness, adjustment of tonal curves, color space or settings for the flash.
It is easy to change a setting, just press OK (center of the cross of selection) and choose the option screen to change. Apart from the speed or the opening that are settled through the wheel, all other parameters are directly and easily accessible. A mode of operation very intuitive than others. Menus E-620 are fairly linear and it is sometimes difficult to navigate. The designations are confusing and there is nothing to save the starting picture is drowned in impressive options.
Setting the E-620 on the screen LCD easy just click OK and choose the option by moving the screen on the back of the device (left). The number of options sometimes too impressive. The bracketing mode allows views shifted for exposure, white balance, flash or sensitivity. It is possible to use a single collimator AF (central) or set the autofocus system on one of 7 points (left). The menus are very linear.
Software
The Olympus E-620 comes with Olympus Master 2 which allows to manage images. With a Windows environment the software is quite reactive, much more reactive than the Mac OS X. Olympus Master suggests the conventional editing: resizing, cropping, text, contrast, tone curve, line, black, red-eye reduction … Interestingly. The software has the effect of view and compare against the original. Only problem is the changes are not applied in real time. You can also create emails, start printing or sharing images with your slideshow. It is with Olympus Master 2 can be achieved panoramic views by sticking multiple images. An operation that requires a specific card xD
Olympus Master runs perfectly Raw files and allows editing and retouching raw files using a very simple interface. Raw work requires a powerful and configuration changes on the file take several seconds to appear.
Battery
Camera use an Olympus Li-Ion battery so dimensions also reduced and the E-620 is lightweight but their autonomy is reduced. For info, this is the same battery that is already the model E-420. With a full battery i made about 500 clicks in the context of a classical use shooting with optical viewfinder, with referred LCD, viewing images on LCD screen, camera settings, Using the flash
Storage
Like all of the brand SLR, the E-620 has a dual slot for memory cards. You can find a CF card and another card slot xD. Note that to use the view, you must use a specific card xD. It is unfortunate that the two slots are not usable at the same time.
Connections
The E-620 has only two connections a USB port for unloading images, the deck using a PC and the video output and a record for the mains supply.
Stabilization
The Olympus E-620 is equipped with a new stabilization system that allows 4 states: off, IS1, IS2, IS3. The first mode stabilizes the sensor on both axes. The other two modes stabilize on a single axis (vertical or horizontal) to achieve yarn. The mechanical stabilization becomes really noticeable from 1 / 30 and still sensitive to 1 / 15 s.
Flash
The Olympus E-620 is equipped with a built-in flash guide number of 12 (ISO 100) and a correction (+ / – 3 EV) and conventional modes: red-eye reduction, slow sync. Sync occurs at 1 / 180 s. Daylight ( for example weddings), this speed will probably be inadequate and your images will probably be overexposed. To avoid this resort to external flashes that allow a strobe (FL-50 or FL-36) for fillings up to 1 / 4000 s.
Performance
The Olympus E-620 SLR has not the fastest power up with a small second latency before it can trigger. This is the price to pay for a sensor clean at each session. The initiation of the E-620 is accompanied by a short sequence of cleaning just delaying the operation. Despite the fast CF card (Lexar 300x), the SLR is a little slower than expected. It is good 4 fps on 4 Jpeg views, but the rate then declining slightly to 3.7 fps on a longer burst.
The 12 Mp sensor the resolution is almost identical to the E-420 with a 10 Mp sensor. The E-620 has a hybrid measurement system with the Live Mos sensor and dedicated external sensor. Despite this dual system the measure is not perfect and the images have a good red with a dominant tungsten lighting. Under a fluorescent tube, the balance is automatically satisfied.the E-620 is less efficient. Usually in automatic mode (right) SLR delivers an image with a strong dominant. The switch to preset (3000K) is much more convincing. Without noise reduction the images are very good at ISO 100 and 200. Screen and 100%, the sheep is virtually invisible at ISO 100 and can be quite discreet at ISO 200. I find that the E-620 is still far behind the competition like the Nikon D60, D90 or series 1000D and 450D from Canon.
Conclusion
The E-620 Olympus SLR offers a fairly well summarized models of midrange of the final mark and the new cabinet appears to be a nice evolution of the lineage to 3 digits. With a compact housing inherited from the E-4xx series, the E-620 incorporates technological refinements of the mark as the stabilization by moving the sensor a system dust performance an LCD display and efficient outdoor mounted head.
I especially appreciate the evolution of two critical points on the old models the auto and aim optics. A new module on AF 7 collimators double cross replaces the previous system development .This is very effective in bright light especially with a supersonic SWD and quite good, albeit slow in low light. Concerning the optical set, progress is certainly notable, but not enough to compete with the heavyweights of the moment.
The 12 Megapixel sensor delivers good image quality , but the management of high sensitivity remains below the level than that reached by the main competitors like Canon EOS 500D and Nikon D5000. Olympus E-620 has 16gb memory support.
Pros
- Good quality images up to ISO 400
- Stabilization by moving the sensor incorporated
- Parameter settings of shooting directly on the LCD
- LCD quality and legible even in direct sunlight
- Backlit in the back of the case
- Graphics filters sympathiques
- compact optical
- Good flash exposure
Cons
- Optical viewfinder too close
- No video mode
- Screen only 230 000 points
- No electronic level as in the E-30
- No HDMI output
- Limited range of sensitivities
- Battery life reduced
