In a lot of ways, the Olympus E-620 is a very appealing camera, providing nearly all the key features of the company's E-30 model at a $600 lower price. The two cameras share a 12.3-megapixel resolution, a pivoting LCD screen that provides the freedom to shoot at odd angles with ease, and a set of six Art Filters that make adventurous beginners look like Photoshop masters. The E-620 is much smaller than the E-30, which for many users is a big plus, providing improved portability. And the E-620 offers a strong novice-to-sophisticated user path, with an effective auto mode and lots of Scene Modes for newcomers and an extensive array of customization options for experienced users wanting to tailor the shooting experience to their personal preferences.
The results of our lab testing, though, throw some cold water on our initial enthusiastic response. Color accuracy is first-rate, resolution is good, and the burst rate is a solid 4 frames per second, but as with the E-30 before it, image noise is our biggest concern. We found it easily visible even in photos taken in decent lighting conditions, and intrusive when the lights are low. Yes, you can pump up the noise reduction filter to remove some of the intrusive speckling, but the high levels necessary to accomplish this takes a heavy toll in lost image detail.
Performance:
Color accuracy surpassed the other four cameras we used for comparison purposes, a strong start to our testing. Resolution didn't test as well as the E-30, but was quite respectable, with low distortion and chromatic aberration that's particularly impressive given the inexpensive kit lens used. The problem areas we uncovered are all related to image noise, and they're significant. Dynamic range, the ability to maintain detail in both light and dark areas of a photo, suffers when image noise obscures those details. Our long exposure testing combines color accuracy and image noise measurements, and the noise is what dragged down the E-620 score. And when it came to straight noise testing under bright studio lights, noise is clearly visible even at relatively low ISO levels, enough to be visible in all but the smallest image reproduction.
Components:
There's a lot to like here; a solidly constructed camera that's small but still substantial, with an articulated LCD that works well at a variety of angles and different lighting conditions. The Live View screen doesn't keep up with fast panning as well as the E-30 does, though. While Olympus continues to support its antiquated xD memory card system, the E-620 also accepts CompactFlash cards, so there's a problem averted.
Handling:
Your reaction is going to depend largely on how large your hands are. Our reviewer prefers a larger camera body, but those with more delicate digits will be grateful for the small size of the E-620. Portability is a plus either way. However, the short grip, which doesn't stick out very far from the camera body, will be a negative for most shooters, since it isn't large enough to fill the palm and provide a secure grip.
Controls:
The camera is easy to simply pick up and shoot, but those who prefer to tailor settings to fit their personal preferences will find a full complement of customizability options. Bracketing is provided not just for exposure but also flash, white balance and ISO, a welcome convenience. The extensive selection of scene modes will help newcomers adjust to different shooting conditions without tinkering with manual settings, and the six Art Filters are a fun way to experiment with visual effects with no fuss at all.
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