Olympus E 620 Review | 108 Data compared

The Olympus E-620 is a compact and well-built DSLR camera designed for advanced beginners, positioned between the entry-level E-520 and the expert E-30. Key strengths highlighted in the review include its highly practical articulated screen for shooting from unusual angles, a unique backlit button interface for low-light operation, an integrated wireless flash control system, and a highly effective anti-dust mechanism. Image quality is excellent at lower sensitivities, delivering clean results up to ISO 400, while its continuous burst shooting rate impressively exceeds 4 frames per second. However, the camera suffers from performance limitations inherited from its smaller 4/3-system sensor, which struggles with limited dynamic range and visible grain at high sensitivities, notably showing a manifest loss of detail at ISO 3200. Live View usage is a significant weak point, plagued by sluggish autofocus speeds and noticeable shutter lag compared to its competitors. Additional drawbacks include an overly narrow optical viewfinder, complex menu navigation, a lack of video recording capabilities, and uneven backlighting that leaves critical buttons like the Menu and Fn keys in the dark.

The Olympus E-620 with the Zuiko Digital 14-42 mm zoom lens is a compact, mid-range 12.3-megapixel DSLR camera designed for amateur photographers seeking high performance without paying the steep price of expert-level models. A key highlight of this camera is its robust, high-contrast articulated LCD screen inherited from higher-end models, which greatly facilitates shoots from difficult, creative angles. In daytime conditions, it captures sharp, high-quality images and features unique additions like discreetly backlit buttons for night use and a helpful exposure preview matrix. It is also quite reactive, managing a continuous shooting speed of 4 frames per second. However, the camera suffers from several functional drawbacks, starting with an extremely complex and un-intuitive menu system that complicates simple adjustments like changing JPEG quality. While its high ISO performance is vastly improved compared to previous generations, managing good quality up to 800 ISO and remaining usable at 1600 ISO, it still struggles with noise in low-light environments and lags behind rivals like Nikon and Canon. Furthermore, the autofocus system lacks speed, the automatic white balance produces highly unpredictable results indoors, and...

The Olympus E-620 is an entry-level DSLR that stands out for packing advanced, high-end technologies into a highly compact and lightweight body. A key strength highlighted in the Les Numériques review is its versatile 2.7-inch fully articulated, tilt-and-swivel LCD screen, which greatly expands creative shooting angles during Live View. Additional pros include its integrated in-body image stabilization (IS) that works with any attached lens, a robust sensor-based anti-dust system, the capability to pilot external wireless flashes, and fun, built-in creative Art Filters. The camera's ergonomics are highly praised, offering a comfortable grip and backlit rear buttons that improve usability in low-light environments. YouTube · However, the camera's compact design comes with notable trade-offs. To reduce the body size, Olympus utilized a smaller BLS-1 battery, which significantly limits shooting longevity—dropping to a meager 100 to 200 shots when utilizing the battery-draining Live View mode. While its updated 7-point autofocus system and 12.3-megapixel sensor perform quickly under normal conditions, the camera suffers from sluggish focusing and noticeable luminance noise in low light, especially when shooting above ISO 400. Furthermore, the construction leans...

The Olympus E-620 review from Les Numériques highlights it as a highly compact 12-megapixel DSLR tailored for "enlightened amateurs". A standout pro is its incredibly compact body, complemented by a fully articulated, swiveling LCD screen that drastically expands shooting versatility. Additionally, reviewers praise the unique and practical backlighting on the rear physical buttons for hassle-free operation in low-light environments. The camera also incorporates innovative, newly designed internal systems, including an upgraded viewfinder, in-body mechanical image stabilization, and a refined autofocus module. YouTube · However, the review points out clear ergonomic cons brought on by this miniaturization, specifically citing an ultra-reduced handgrip that may compromise holding stability and comfort for some photographers. It is also noted that the small grip represents a structural gamble that might alienate users moving from larger entry-level cameras.