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- Pentax K10D
- Samsung GX-10
- Sigma SD14 (vs. Nikon D200)
- Olympus E-410
- Canon EOS-1D Mk III
- Canon EOS 400D
- Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro
- Nikon D40
- Nikon D40x
- Nikon D200 (vs. Sigma SD14)
Olympus E-410
The small size and neat design makes the E-410 a really nice camera to use and an ideal choice for travel photography. It’s easy to get around its controls once you’ve played with it a little, which is in no doubt helped by the decent size and clear icons on the various controls and the informative but nicely laid out menu system. In terms of its specification, there isn’t much that is missing for the beginner, with a wide range of shooting modes and options. For the more advanced user, there are plenty of overrides but the lack of a depth-of-field preview and no image stabilisation (a feature found on the soon-to-be-released E-510) may sway some to rival models offering these features. That said, the Live View will prove a real bonus for those with specialist needs such as underwater photographers. Its general performance is very good and on a par with other ten-megapixel models, so it’s certainly worth adding to your shortlist.
Features 22/25
Performance 21/25
Value for money 22/25
Final Score 87/100
RRP: £600
User: aimed at beginners through to enthusiasts
Handling & ease of use
Like its predecessor, the E-410 is a dinky little number, with a shape and style that's more like a classic 'OM' 35mm model than a digital SLR. While its size may not suit all' it does mean it's small and lightweight enough to be taken with you almost anywhere. It's tough too and doesn't feel cheap or plasticky. The handgrip lacks the bulk of some but its rubberised texture does help you secure a good hold. There are a fair number of buttons and controls, but they're well marked out with icons and words so it shouldn't take too long to work your way around its operation, especially as the LCD can be used to provide a wealth of information. One area that lets it down a little is the viewfinder, which while bright, is small compared to its rivals. SCORE 22/25
Features
While this Olympus has the same resolution as the older E-400, the original sensor has been replaced by a newer Live MOS sensor, which not only allows for Live View, but, along with updated imaging processing, also promises better noise performance and images with finer detail. The E-410 also boasts the Supersonic Wave Filter sensor cleaning system, so it's loaded with some pretty impressive technology.
As with its main rivals, the Olympus has a range of features and modes that will appeal to all levels of photographers from beginner right through to dedicated enthusiast. The camera has been designed to be used fully automatically or leave every area of its functionality down to user control. As you’d expect then, there is quite an array of features to choose from, with the LCD menu system making it easy for you to review and select the camera's settings. There are no less than 32 shooting modes and a range of metering patterns, including a 49-segment pattern and spot. An integral flash offers a range of modes including auto pop-up, slow-sync and red-eye reduction, the shooting rate is a respectable three frames-per-second and dual slots allow the use of CompactFlash and xD cards. Where the E-410 can’t match its competitors is in its autofocus system, which only offers three AF points. Apart from this though, the specification of the Olympus closely matches those of its main rivals. SCORE 22/25
Performance
The Olympus E-410 is an enjoyable camera to use. Switch it on and initially you have to wait just under a couple of seconds for it to be ready, so start-up lags behind its quickest rivals, but we're talking less than a second’s difference, so it's nothing to be too concerned about. In use, the autofocus is fast and reasonably quiet and responsive in most lighting conditions. Its continuous AF however, isn't as accurate as the likes of the Canon EOS 400D or Nikon D40x with moving subjects. In dim light, the AF illuminator built into the flash can be used to aid focus and works well, but its rapid-fire strobe output will be disconcerting to the subject if you’re taking an indoor portrait. It’s size makes it a good choice for hiding away to shoot candids, but its mirror action makes quiet a clunk, so might alert your intended subject. Image quality is very good, with good colour reproduction and excellent detail. Also, there is certainly less noise at higher ISO ratings than with the original E-400. The quality of the lenses is one area where the Olympus system excels. The 14-42mm and 40-150mm zooms used in this test deliver very crisp results and the E-system lens range continues to grow, with some very interesting optics to choose from. SCORE 21/25
FOUR-THIRDS SYSTEM
The E-410 boasts a full frame Four-Thirds sensor that at 17.3 x 13mm is around half the size of a 35mm film frame. To find the effective focal length of its lenses, multiply it by 2x; for example a 14-42mm lens is effectively a 28-84mm.
What's it cost?
You can buy the E-410 in a variety of kits. We've stated the Olympus guide prices but shop around & find it for less: E-410 body £500; E-410 with 14-42mm £600; E-410 twin kit (14-42mm and 40-150mm) £700
Lenses
As the launch of the E-410, Olympus announced four additional zooms in its lens range, bringing the total number of Olympus Zuiko E-System lenses to 17 Media compatibility
The Olympus E-410 has two slots and can be loaded with a CompactFlash (maximum capacity 16Gb) and xD card (maximum capacity 2Gb) at the same time.