An update to the E-420, the 10-megapixel E-450 is Olympus' key entry-level digital SLR, and one of the most affordable available. It's also the smallest fully-featured dSLR with an optical viewfinder that you can currently find. It costs around £315 for the body only, £390 with the 14-42mm standard kit lens, and £450 with the 14-42mm and 40-150mm lenses.
Dinky dSLR
While the E-450 may not be as dinky as Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds-based Lumix DMC-G1, it comes very close. Also, while the DMC-G1 relies on a rather unsatisfactory electronic viewfinder, the E-450 has an optical viewfinder, which, while quite small and cramped, is still much clearer for composition and focusing than the very best EVF. Combine those facts with the inclusion of a sensor of the same size as the DMC-G1's, albeit of a slightly lower resolution, and the E-450 starts to look very attractive.
If there's a fly in the ointment, it's that the standard kit lens, the 14-42mm zoom, is slightly bigger than the Micro Four Thirds alternatives, but it's not a massive deal.
Comfortable handling
The E-450's body, layout and menu system benefit from incremental improvements made over the course of several updates since the release of the E-400 in 2006. The E-450 lacks a substantial handgrip, but, thanks to its lightweight body and some well-shaped grips to the front and rear, it's quite comfortable to hold.
Used with the optional 25mm f/2.8 (50mm-equivalent) 'pancake' kit lens, the E-450 offers some of the sweetest handling you can find. Add on the much larger pro zoom lenses and handling takes a hit. If only Olympus had made a battery pack to offset those front-heavy optics, as it did with the E-620.
Good pictures
Perhaps the most important difference between the E-420 and the E-450 is that the later model uses a relatively new image processor, TruePic III+. Don't think this simply adds the over-hyped Art Filters (there are only three on the E-450: the super-saturated 'pop art', 'soft focus' and 'pin hole') -- the extra number-crunching power brings noticeable benefits to picture quality. There are fewer white-balance inaccuracies for one, and slightly lower noise levels throughout the range, with maximum ISO 1,600 having better colour and detail than usual, with fewer distracting coloured speckles. It's a much more sensible balance. Bravo.
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User reviews4
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Becky Inch 5 April 2011
Good: compact and light
Bad: doesnt take SD cards
Comment: I bought this camera as my first step into the world of DSLR shooting.
I love the small compact size and carried t around Paris for three days around my neck with no aching. Being female and only have little hands, the smaller buttons and layout doesn't really affect me however i can see how someone with bigger hands would struggle.
The viewfinder is small and requires some practice for manual focus however the auto focus work great. Even with only three spots it has, for me atleast, got it right every time.
I purchased the twin lens kit with the camera, as zuiko have some of the best kit glass (so i've read) and they do not dissapoint, the lenses are sharp and clear with a good range. I highly recommend a 4/3-OM adapter and the manual OM lenses are ripe for the picking on ebay which is very useful for picking up some cheap prime lenses.
Just please note the 4/3 sensor that this (and many Panasonic cameras) have means that you have to double the focal length to get the 'full frame' or 35mm equivalent. (ie kit lens 14-42 turns into 28-84)
The software is good, although the filters seem pointless if you have any sort of PP software. The on screen display shows correct/incorrect exposure and explains it simply. It has all the standard modes, aperture/speed priority and full manual mode. This also includes a bulb mode which always shutter speeds of up to a minute (twice as long as a Canon 450D)
Overall I think this is a great entry level SLR, although with companies pushing Micro Four-thirds systems its not certain how long new lenses for this camera will be around. It s a good job Olympus lenses are long lasting and well made.
I recommend this camera, it is cheaper than many other equivalents and performs just as well.
Becky Inch 5 April 2011
Good: compact and light
Bad: doesnt take SD cards
Comment: I bought this camera as my first step into the world of DSLR shooting.
I love the small compact size and carried t around Paris for three days around my neck with no aching. Being female and only have little hands, the smaller buttons and layout doesn't really affect me however i can see how someone with bigger hands would struggle.
The viewfinder is small and requires some practice for manual focus however the auto focus work great. Even with only three spots it has, for me atleast, got it right every time.
I purchased the twin lens kit with the camera, as zuiko have some of the best kit glass (so i've read) and they do not dissapoint, the lenses are sharp and clear with a good range. I highly recommend a 4/3-OM adapter and the manual OM lenses are ripe for the picking on ebay which is very useful for picking up some cheap prime lenses.
Just please note the 4/3 sensor that this (and many Panasonic cameras) have means that you have to double the focal length to get the 'full frame' or 35mm equivalent. (ie kit lens 14-42 turns into 28-84)
The software is good, although the filters seem pointless if you have any sort of PP software. The on screen display shows correct/incorrect exposure and explains it simply. It has all the standard modes, aperture/speed priority and full manual mode. This also includes a bulb mode which always shutter speeds of up to a minute (twice as long as a Canon 450D)
Overall I think this is a great entry level SLR, although with companies pushing Micro Four-thirds systems its not certain how long new lenses for this camera will be around. It s a good job Olympus lenses are long lasting and well made.
I recommend this camera, it is cheaper than many other equivalents and performs just as well.
Becky Inch 5 April 2011
Good: compact and light
Bad: doesnt take SD cards
Comment: I bought this camera as my first step into the world of DSLR shooting.
I love the small compact size and carried t around Paris for three days around my neck with no aching. Being female and only have little hands, the smaller buttons and layout doesn't really affect me however i can see how someone with bigger hands would struggle.
The viewfinder is small and requires some practice for manual focus however the auto focus work great. Even with only three spots it has, for me atleast, got it right every time.
I purchased the twin lens kit with the camera, as zuiko have some of the best kit glass (so i've read) and they do not dissapoint, the lenses are sharp and clear with a good range. I highly recommend a 4/3-OM adapter and the manual OM lenses are ripe for the picking on ebay which is very useful for picking up some cheap prime lenses.
Just please note the 4/3 sensor that this (and many Panasonic cameras) have means that you have to double the focal length to get the 'full frame' or 35mm equivalent. (ie kit lens 14-42 turns into 28-84)
The software is good, although the filters seem pointless if you have any sort of PP software. The on screen display shows correct/incorrect exposure and explains it simply. It has all the standard modes, aperture/speed priority and full manual mode. This also includes a bulb mode which always shutter speeds of up to a minute (twice as long as a Canon 450D)
Overall I think this is a great entry level SLR, although with companies pushing Micro Four-thirds systems its not certain how long new lenses for this camera will be around. It s a good job Olympus lenses are long lasting and well made.
I recommend this camera, it is cheaper than many other equivalents and performs just as well.
See all 4 user reviews