Digital Camera Review

Digital Camera Review

Oct 01, 2006 - By Patrick Singleton
The E400 delivers many of the innovations Olympus has become known for in a compact Four Thirds DSLR. The E400 is slated only for the European market, for a list price of £700 ($1324) with a kit lens. At 5.1 x 3.5 x 2 inches, the E400 with its ultrasonic dust-control mechanism proves that Olympus doesn't have to make cameras as big as the E-300 or E-330 to remain competitive in the high-megapixel DSLR market.
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Likes
- Good LCD Color
- Good Viewfinder
- Solid construction
- LCD-based depth-of-field preview       
Dislikes
- Cramped controls
- Only one control dial
- Hard to get a secure grip
- Small-aperture kit lens
 
Conclusion
Timing can be very important. If the E-400 had been introduced two years ago, in the place of the E-300, it would have been very impressive to see all its features in such a small package. It would have made the Four Thirds format look like the next big thing. Small, high-resolution, not ugly, with dust control – it appears much more exciting than the E-300.
 
But it’s too late. The only distinction it has left is the Four Thirds format, and that shouldn't sway first-time DSLR buyers.
 
Without knowing about its image quality, it's not sensible to say whether this is a camera to buy or not. But it's sensible to say there's nothing about it that separates it from the pack.
Overall Impressions Page 10 of 10
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