[Macworld]

Post your comments for Olympus rolls out E-520 DSLR here

[People_Eater]

I don't get it. You can easily buy a used Nikon or Canon DSLR for less than $599. So, why would you pay more, and restrict yourself to Olympus' poorly-supported lens and accessory system?
An SLR is a "system" camera, not something disposable like a point-and-shoot, where it doesn't really matter what brand you buy. You're investing in a system, not just a camera. And Olympus doesn't really have much of a system to speak of.

[seho]

After several years using the Olympus 4/3 system (following 30+ years working with Canon's FL, FD and later systems), I'd have to disagree. The Olympus system does the job, for me, better than either Canon or Nikon. Frankly, I prefer the results from Olympus' system. YMMV.

Sort of like how some people prefer MacOS X over Windows or Linux. Heck, Apple's offerings are just as "poorly supported" as Olympus in their market.

Olympus' optics are easily a match for Canon/Nikon glass, and the bodies that support those lenses are equally competitive.

Especially when dealing with subjects requiring long focal lengths, the Olympus gears is easier to schlep around, and the results are excellent.

Canon and Nikon have spent decades developing their wide range of lenses for their respective systems; it would unreasonable to expect a relatively new ab initio camera system to match them in five years or so.

[JeffDM]

Why does it matter what some other product costs used? That's being as unrealistic as the people that say they can assemble parts to make a cheaper computer than Apple can. But that's not Apple's product and Apple isn't going to support a product that's not theirs. By the way, I did buy a used Canon dSLR, it's OK, but not what I hoped for.
Olympus' system is overall pretty good. It's what I needed, and frankly, Canon and Nikon dSLRs couldn't do what I ask my Olympus to do, not at the same price, features, weigth and size combination.
As an aside, most brands have new dSLR cameras that street around the $500 point.

[clintox]

Why would a Mac user rail against a smaller market share company who take a different and inovative route in products? Isn't that what Apple does? Taking the stance that only the really big player, Canon, should be supported is similar to suggesting we should all use Windows.
Anyway, I use Olympus (though have used others) and, just as in the old film SLR days, their lenses are top notch. If you look at reviewers comments, you will see that confirmed. Their base lenses alone seem generally better rated than those from Canon etc. Their top lenses match the best from other manufacturers. The lens range covers fisheye and 14mm to 600mm (converted to old 35mm terms), so a vast range of focal lengths, many with fast lenses too. Particularly in the telephoto end, the Olympus lens will be smaller, lighter and faster than those from Canon etc, though maybe not much cheaper to buy. Quality costs, whoever makes it. Reviews indicate Olympus' dust avoidance system is better than any other, including Canon, and Olympus were the first to offer it, years ahead of Canon. The same applies for "live view" LCDs. The E 510/520, even more so the slightly less capable E410/420, offer a high level of useful features in a very small package. For pro-level weather resistance, the E1/E3 are probably as good as it gets, with lenses to match. There are a wide variety of flashes in the system, including, now, remote IR flashes, macro lenses, and the ability (with limitations - all manual operation) to use any of the old Olympus film lenses, including their incomparable macro line up.
The strength plus potential achilles heel of the Olympus system is the imager system, smaller than APC, said, in the past, to limit low light performance. Recent reviews suggest this is a decreasing issue, and irrelevant for most photographers (but not all). If low light work is your area, then Canon will likely be your choice at present.
It should be remembered that Leica and Panasonic also make cameras in the Olympus 4/3 format, using Leica lenses, interchangable between all three manufacturers cameras, plus independent lenses from Sigma, maybe others to follow. Also, with an adaptor, you can use old and newer Nikon, Canon etc lenses on the 4/3 system (albeit only in manual mode).
So hardly a "limited" system.

[bousozoku]

People_Eater said:

I don't get it. You can easily buy a used Nikon or Canon DSLR for less than $599. So, why would you pay more, and restrict yourself to Olympus' poorly-supported lens and accessory system?

An SLR is a "system" camera, not something disposable like a point-and-shoot, where it doesn't really matter what brand you buy. You're investing in a system, not just a camera. And Olympus doesn't really have much of a system to speak of.

You obviously don't get it.

Buying a four-thirds system camera means that you get better lenses than you can with other makers. Just like Macs don't have the most applications, the four-thirds system doesn't have the huge number of lesser quality lenses and accessories that Nikon and Canon have.

However, one huge item of note is that the latest Nikon D40, D40x, and D60 all require more modern, more expensive lenses if you want full functionality. It would seem that at least, Nikon is learning what Olympus already knew.

It's amazing that a Mac user wouldn't see that parallel between Windows machines and Canon and Mac OS X machines and Olympus.