4.2The Olympus E-620 is a close cousin to the company's recently introduced E-30, sharing 12.3-megapixel resolution and six elaborate Art Filter special effects modes, but priced $600 apart, with the E-620 body selling for $699.99. We had the opportunity to shoot with a pre-production version of the E-620 and were impressed with the range of capabilities offered, making this a camera suited for both SLR newcomers and more sophisticated shooters. A detailed First Impressions review follows.
The Olympus E-620 is a close cousin to the company's recently introduced E-30. Both models provide 12.3-megapixel resolution, six elaborate Art Filter special effects modes and in-camera multiple exposures. When it comes to price, though, the E-620 body runs just $699.99, while the E-30 sells for $1299.99. We had the opportunity to shoot with a pre-production version of the E-620 to prepare this First Impressions review. Since the camera was not final (it won't ship until May), we couldn't evaluate image quality or provide you with sample shots here. Based on the features provided and our first-hand experience shooting with the E-620, though, we're impressed with the range of capabilities offered at a reasonable price. In addition to full auto mode, the E-620 offers Art Filters plus thirteen preset scene modes that let relative newcomers produce more dramatic photos with minimal effort. At the same time, more sophisticated shooters will find extensive customization options, including precise white balance control and Picture Modes with fine adjustments for contrast, sharpness and saturation.