Olympus Cameras and Four Thirds System Digital SLRs Forum

Olympus Cameras Forum Discuss Olympus film and digital cameras as well as Panasonic and Leica Four Thirds System digital SLRs - forum moderator is Greg McCary.
Olympus E-System Digital SLR Reviews >>
Panasonic Four Thirds Digital SLR Reviews >>
Leica Four Thirds Digital SLR Reviews >>
Official Four Thirds Web Page >>
Olympus OM-System 35mm SLR reviews >>
Olympus Cameras History Page >>
Results 1 to 20 of 20
  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Queensland
    Posts
    25

    Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    Hi I am about to buy my first dslr camera and have pretty much made up my mind (after hours of net research and looking around the shops) on the Olympus 620e.

    My dellema at the moment is choosing between two deals I have found with the twin lens kit. My options are:

    1. Harvey Norman can do the Olympus 620e with:
    -14 - 42mm (28 - 84mm equivalent with the 4/3 ratio sensor),
    -40 - 150mm (80 - 300mm equivalent),
    -2 x UV filters,
    -4G Extreme compact flash card,
    -extra 2 years warranty (3 years in total)
    for $1550.00.

    or

    2. Camera House can do the Olympus 620e with:
    -14 - 42mm (28 - 84mm equivalent with the 4/3 ratio sensor),
    -70 - 300mm (140 - 600mm equivalent),
    -4G Extreme compact flash card,
    -extra 2 years warranty (3 years in total)
    -$200.00 worth of prints done instore
    -an online course
    for about $1800.00. (UV Filters an extra $35 ea).

    I like the idea of the extra zoom with the 600mm lens in option 2 as I plan to take sports shots and landscape shots however, I'm concerned on the focal length I will get with the gap (84 - 160mm) between the two lenses. The lady at Camera House assures me that that gap is not an area which is used anyway. I don't plan on doing much wildlife shots so I dont know if the 600mm lens would be used to its full advantage anyway. If I go with option 2 would this gap be an issue? would option 1 be more suitable with what I want to do? Please help.

    Thanks,
    George.

  2. #2
    Member Don Kondra's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
    Posts
    353

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    Option #1 and then buy a used 70-300 for ~$300...

    You might want to think about buying just the camera body. The kit lenses regularly sell used for ~$100 each...

    Cheers, Don

  3. #3
    Member Atomic2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Chicago Il
    Posts
    331

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    Yea option 1... besides the 70-300 is MUCH less useful than the 40-150.
    E-3, E-510
    12-60 2.8-4.0
    40-150 3.5-4.5
    Sigma 30 1.4
    Zenit 58 F2 [with M42 adapter]
    Metz 48

  4. #4
    Senior Shooter Greg McCary's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Rome Ga.
    Posts
    10,550

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    I agree option 1 seems best. First lens upgrade I would suggest though would be the 14-54mm. The 70-300mm is a good lens but not the fastest. I have problems with mine focusing fast. I am not sure that it would be all that great for sports.
    You might consider buying body only and the 14-54mm.
    I am like Barney Fife, I have a gun but Andy makes me keep the bullet in my pocket..

    Sony a99/a7R

  5. #5
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    50

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    Georgeo, let us know what H.N and Camera House will sell body only for, then ask what about two . (am more than half serious) There are some businesses on the Net selling E620 body only under $1,000.00, just have to check them out ,will soon. I'd buy body only then get your lenses later, same with filters, generic batteries cards etc. Hunt all that up on the net and save$$$. lang

  6. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    50

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    You'll easy pick up a kit lens on EBay or other for less than $100.00 in good order, I got a 70-300 (good lens but fickle,read comments here) mint for half RRP., with the 7or 8 hundred dollars you save you could get a top lens to love and never part from.

  7. #7
    Member Don Kondra's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
    Posts
    353

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    http://www.mcbaincamera.com/products...t_type=Digital SLR&param=brand&attr=Olympus

    Check it out and consider the dollar conversion rate

    Cheers, Don

  8. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    50

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    Thanks Don, very decent of you. That's an E620 body for $760.00 au. (699.00 can), that's at least 250/300 au saving. I'm sending them an email tomorrow.. Thanks. lang.

  9. #9
    Member Don Kondra's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
    Posts
    353

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    Sorry I didn't think of it sooner, those bundles did seem high... my excuse is I'm trying not to look at the price of new bodies

    Cheers, Don

  10. #10
    Senior Shooter Greg McCary's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Rome Ga.
    Posts
    10,550

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    Also the 14-54mm does very good macros.......
    I am like Barney Fife, I have a gun but Andy makes me keep the bullet in my pocket..

    Sony a99/a7R

  11. #11
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Queensland
    Posts
    25

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    Thanks for the responses, I think I will go the camera house deal, I can probably save a couple of hundred $ by buying online but my fiance will definitely make use of $200 worth of prints plus good product support and without the hassle of having to send it away if it needs repairing, secondhand lens, etc.

    As far as UV filters, lens pen and lens hoods, bag, etc you can pick these up very cheaply on ebay. However I've found a million different makes of UV filters, lens hoods and lens pens - any recommendations as to which ones I should get for this camera?

  12. #12
    Senior Shooter Greg McCary's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Rome Ga.
    Posts
    10,550

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    Lenses hoods should be included with the kit lenses. As far as UV filters. Check Adorama. A Hoya or a Tiffen.
    I am like Barney Fife, I have a gun but Andy makes me keep the bullet in my pocket..

    Sony a99/a7R

  13. #13
    banished Asmarlak's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    TX
    Posts
    2,413

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    Both deals are very expensive. You can buy it with the two kit lens from Amazon for only $799.99. Look at this link:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/legacy-hand...749478-0706130

  14. #14
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Queensland
    Posts
    25

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    sorry, these prices are in Australian $.

  15. #15
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    1,094

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    Quote Originally Posted by Atomic2
    Yea option 1... besides the 70-300 is MUCH less useful than the 40-150.

    I agree option one, disagree that the 40-150 is more useful. A useless range, IMO

    70-300 with 1:2 macro? Much more useful to me.
    Erik Williams

    Olympus E3, E510
    12-60 SWD, 50-200 SWD, 50 f/2 macro, EX25, FL36's and an FL50r.

  16. #16
    Member Atomic2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Chicago Il
    Posts
    331

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    Quote Originally Posted by Sushigaijin
    I agree option one, disagree that the 40-150 is more useful. A useless range, IMO

    70-300 with 1:2 macro? Much more useful to me.
    Useless range? Food for thought, when I only had a 14-45 and 40-150, I used the latter almost exclusively.
    150mm is PLENTY of telephoto honestly. And 40mm is usable for regular photography more often than not. thats an 80mm eq, and any canon or nikon owner with a nifty50 use that as a prime.


    and 1:2 macro sounds good on paper, but I did a comparison between the macro capabilities of the 70-300 and my 12-60 and although I got a greater magnification with the former, the sharpness of the 12-60 was actually yielded better results.
    E-3, E-510
    12-60 2.8-4.0
    40-150 3.5-4.5
    Sigma 30 1.4
    Zenit 58 F2 [with M42 adapter]
    Metz 48

  17. #17
    Liz
    Liz is offline
    Moderator Emeritus Liz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    5,982

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    I purchased the 40-150 for my E-P1. I don't use it as much as the 14-42, but it really comes in handy when I need a longer lens. Actually I find it to be a nice lens - and for the price ($144) it works for me. I think it depends on what kind of photography we do. I would very seldom use 300mm (600mm on the E-P1).

    Liz

  18. #18
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    1,094

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    Quote Originally Posted by Atomic2
    Useless range? the sharpness of the 12-60 was actually yielded better results.
    Sure. I sold my "standard" lenses for a reason. They are good, but the 50/2 spoiled me. now my most common configuration is the 50/2 and ex25 or the 50-200 and ex25. I'd kill for a 300-400 prime in the mid-grade with weather sealing and a decent "macro" ability. I prefer to stay outside of striking distance of rattlesnakes, thank you very much.

    If I was picking among the "kit" lenses, I'd certainly choose the 70-300 over the 40-150. The later is WAY too short for wildlife and doesn't have nearly enough magnification for my style. Of course, that's just my style.

    A 70-300 in the mid-grade would be a great lens too. I just can't deal with water-sensitive lenses anymore, or compromises in IQ based on F/stop. The ZD mid-grade and pro-grade are sharp at every f/stop and focal length, period.

    Since you're in chicago and looking to sell your 70-300, we should meet up and swap lenses for a bit. I wouldn't mind seeing what that lens can do without dropping the money for it. Despite it's criticisms, I have the siggy 30/1.4 in my sights as my next lens.
    Erik Williams

    Olympus E3, E510
    12-60 SWD, 50-200 SWD, 50 f/2 macro, EX25, FL36's and an FL50r.

  19. #19
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Queensland
    Posts
    25

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    I've also noticed on ebay you can get replacement batteries 1800Ah for about $10. Are these safe to use ie. are they inferior products that may damage the camera? or are they perfectly safe to use?

  20. #20
    Member Atomic2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Chicago Il
    Posts
    331

    Re: Olympus E-620 - which lens kit? please help

    Quote Originally Posted by Sushigaijin
    Since you're in chicago and looking to sell your 70-300, we should meet up and swap lenses for a bit. I wouldn't mind seeing what that lens can do without dropping the money for it. Despite it's criticisms, I have the siggy 30/1.4 in my sights as my next lens.
    Im actually shipping the 70-300mm to a member on this forum TODAY, so its a bit late I'm afraid for that, however I do have the 30 1.4 if you ever want to give it a test run.
    E-3, E-510
    12-60 2.8-4.0
    40-150 3.5-4.5
    Sigma 30 1.4
    Zenit 58 F2 [with M42 adapter]
    Metz 48

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •