Product Reviews

In a little over the four months since we reviewed the E-400, Olympus has released the E-410, still carrying a 10-megapixel sensor with the superb SSWF (Supersonic Wave Filter) anti-dust system but boasting several additional features. Firstly, the sensor is now a LMOS type similar to that seen in the E-330 and Panasonic's L1 DSLR and boasts a Live View option. Other improvements include a new image processing engine with a user selectable noise reduction option, slightly higher continuous shooting rate and an enlarged buffer. This and the new lower pricing has put the E-410 in direct competition with the Canon Eos 400D and Nikon's D40x.

The body hasn't changed a great deal, it's the same highly portable plastic shell of the E-400, reminiscent in looks of Olympus's OM models from the 70's and 80's. Although around the same height and width as rivals, the body's depth is substantially reduced. Minus the bulky handgrip it's smaller in size overall than the diminutive Eos 400D and at 375g the E-410's body is a good deal lighter. Like its rivals, the Olympus-made Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom uses a less durable polycarbonate lens mount, but helps keep the whole package just under 600g and ideal for travelling. Build quality is very good, rivalling the Canon at least, but it looks a little less durable than the Nikon.

Like previous DSLRs from Olympus, the E-410 adopts the Four Thirds standard lens mount, allowing full compatibility with third-party offerings such as the superb Leica-branded optical image-stabilised 14-50mm zoom as well some more affordable types from Sigma. Olympus makes a wide range of lenses, though, including some wide-aperture pro-level optics but as it has announced the E-510 with a body integral anti-shake system we're unlikely to see any image-stabilised lenses.

Smaller than APS-C size sensors, the Four Thirds Matsushita-made (Panasonic) LMOS chip means the bundled zoom becomes the 35mm equivalent of a handy 28-84mm. Like others that adopt the

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physically smaller Four Thirds sensor, images are remarkably free of blooming and fringing but the viewfinder image is usually much smaller and darker than rivals.

Fortunately, the viewfinder in the new E-410 is at least as bright and clear as the superb D40x's, but as a result of the cropped 4:3 ratio format the image is still small. Users of the E-410 have another alternative though in the form a Live View option. Unlike a digital compact, the image isn't displayed by default, but with one push of a tiny button located between the camera's 2.5-inch monitor and D-pad, the camera's screen changes from displaying handy shooting info to the live view.

Full autofocus is maintained but the reflex mirror has to be returned briefly, as it's locked up out of the way of the sensor. This is pretty neat but it causes the image to blackout for a fairly lengthy second and a half. Under some circumstances, such as macro-photography, this could be an issue, especially as the three focus points are located in the centre of the screen.

Fortunately, the E-410 has a manual focus option with a user-selectable focus area complete with a handy choice of either x7 or x10 magnification. Rather bizarrely, the manual focus option has to be selected beforehand, otherwise you simply can't alter focus at all and it's the same for viewing the depth of field - these should really be on by default but the options are welcome all the same.

Thanks to a new image processor, TruPic III, the E-410 is the fastest DSLR in its class. With a high-speed memory card in one of the dual slots, the E-410 can shoot an unlimited number of high-quality Jpegs at just under 3.5fps or as many as 11 Raw files at the same rate, dropping to around 1.5fps thereafter. Focusing operation was blazingly fast and shot-to-shot times were equally impressive.

Meanwhile, the image processor also allows a choice of noise reduction, a feature normally associated with high-end models. Left to the default settings, the E-410 has clean-looking files up to ISO400, with noise levels similar to rivals. However, from ISO800 to the maximum ISO1600, images sorely lack detail. Although this can be improved in-camera, albeit with an increase in the distracting coloured speckles, novices may not relish the advanced control.

In the right hands, the E-410 is every bit as capable as the Eos 400D or D40x, more so perhaps, but ultimately the Olympus is held back by its defaults. If you're prepared to work at it a little though, the E-410 is an attractive alternative to the usual Canon or Nikon models.