rroberto

I have had my E-3 since the first week in December. I was happy with the camera overall, however, I was

not impressed with the auto-focus which seemed to be no faster than my E-500.

3 weeks ago, the auto-focus stopped working completely. I called Olympus and since there are no repair

places in Portugal, (certainly not in the Azores where I live), I sent the body by post to Olympus in

Germany. Usually, to mail anything from our island to mainland Europe takes a week in each direction. I

need always to have 2 digital bodies in my job. So, on the advice posted here by Gary Siegel, I ordered a

Panasonic Lumix with 14-50 Vario-Elmarit from a shop in the UK, second hand (500 Euros).

To my amazement, the E-3 arrived back from Germany only one day after receiving the Panasonic (the

Panasonic arrived 8 days after ordering).

Meanwhile, I had used the Panasonic on an assignment in Sao Miguel and found that I liked it a lot.

However, the E-3 arrived back and the autofocus did not work. I called Olympus, and rather than send the

camera again for service, they air-posted me a new body immediately!!!!! They also requested I be sure

the new one was perfect before sending the old one back. I am totally amazed at the professionalism and

great service at Olympus!!

The other interesting point is that the new body auto-focuses in about 1/3 the time of the original body.

This is why I have used Olympus since 1974!!!!!!

I think the choice would depend on several factors: 1) what do you already have? If you are

building a system from the start, both are good choices, although the Zuiko 12-60 will

take advantage of the E-3 superior focusing system. 2) How much are you looking to

spend on the system? Currently, in USA prices an E-3 body is about $1600 and the 12-60

is about $850.

3) How complete a system will you need? I always have the need for 2 bodies in my work.

Therefore to me, an E-3 @ $1600, and a used Panasonic Lumix w/ Vario-Elmarit ($800)

gives you the lens you want, the E-3, and an extra body for attaching to either a Zuiko 50-

200 (about $700 currently) or a Zuiko 7-14 ($1350). Thus, you get 2 bodies and a non-

duplicating range of lenses from 7mm to 200mm at the least price. If you opt for a new

Vario-Elmarit with the Lumix body, it would be $1100 instead of $800.

However, if you are looking for a single body with "do everything" lens, then the E-3 with

12-60 is perhaps the ultimate answer.

I was asked to go into the magazine's photo studio and do some product shots Tuesday because one

photographer was out ill and the other was in the USA covering the Academy awards. Our studio is set up

so that all you have to do is mount the camera to the tripod, plug in the remote flash transmitter, and

shoot.

However, here comes the problem. When I looked at the shot, it was cropping the top and bottom of the

product, so I had to move the camera back to the very end of the wall and barely had room.

The two regular studio photographers both use Canon digital with 50mm Canon lens. When I used my

camera, (E-3) with 50mm f2, the image was too large for the frame. Am I correct in thinking that because

on a 4/3 system the equivalent focal length of a 50mm lens in 35mm would be 100mm, and that on the

Canon, it would be 75mm? Or is there also some problem with the sensor, and therefore the image size

being different?