Using the Four-Thirds lens system, the Olympus E-620 has got to the lightest, most compact mid-range DSLR camera on the market. Okay, so it won’t fit in your trouser pocket (unless you’re MC Hammer or a circus clown), but in comparison to the equivalent models from Nikon, Canon and Pentax, it’s surprisingly dinky.
Despite the small size, the Olympus E-620 feels like a serious camera in your hand: sturdy and tough. And unlike some streamlined rivals such as the Sony A380, there are plenty of controls on the back and top. That means you can instantly adjust almost any setting, from ISO to auto focus point to white balance, without having to duck into the menu.
Specs–wise things remain impressive, with the 12.3-megapixel sensor backed up by in-body image stabilisation (i.e. anti-shake tech for any lens you fit), a respectably quick 4fps continuous mode and a 2.7-inch screen with live view. On the flexibility scale, this brilliant screen sits somewhere between a Russian gymnast and Stretch Armstrong: it can be twisted to face any direction, even the front.
There really isn’t much to criticize about the specs, expect perhaps the piffling seven auto focus points, all squeezed towards the centre of the viewfinder. This makes it tricky to lock onto a subject in, say, the top right. It’s a bit annoying at times, but not a deal breaker. Also, there’s no room for HD video, which is a shame considering this is going up against movie-ready models like the Canon 500D and Nikon D5000.
The usual shooting and scene modes are on offer, so veteran snappers can go 100 percent manual, while noobs can flick the dial to auto and fire away without having to worry about aperture or shutter speed. The Olympus E-620 also offers a new Art Filters mode, six arty settings (pin hole, soft focus, pop art) which deliver instant results with no need for post-processing on a PC. One of the best things about them is that you can preview the results using live view – particularly useful for the moody monochrome “grainy film” filter.
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Photo quality is solid, with eye-popping colours and lots of detail. The low light performance isn’t up to what we’ve seen from the Canon 500D and Nikon D5000 though: there’s more speckly noise, so it’s best to keep ISO settings low if you can.
Of course, how good your photos turn out depends as much on the lens as the camera, and the 14-42mm kit lens makes for a decent jump-off point into photography. After finding your feet you’ll probably want something a little more impressive, and any of the Four-Thirds system lenses from Olympus, Panasonic and Sigma will fit the Olympus E-620 body.
