Is the Olympus E-450 just a minor refresh or a feature-filled model worth considering? What Digital Camera reviews the latest entry-level DSLR in the Four Thirds system.

Product Overview

Overall rating:

84%

Olympus E-450

Overall score:84%
Features:85%
Value:80%
Performance:85%
Image Quality:85%
Design:85%

Pros:

  • Small and light, excellent live view system with fast AF, dual card slots

Cons:

  • Ergonomics, noise levels still a little higher than competing models, some white balance inaccuracies

Product:

Olympus E-450 Review

Manufacturer:

Price as reviewed:

£400.00

Verdict

It?s easy to view the Olympus E-450 as a reheated E-420, because essentially that?s all it is. The inclusion of Art Filters and a marginally better LCD screen don?t exactly set the world alight, but to be fair to Olympus, other manufacturers have hardly been at the forefront of innovation with their own recent entry-level offerings either.

The omission of video capture and a high-resolution LCD are understandable given the model?s price point, but it?s worth noting that the model is almost the only recent release not to have image stabilisation included in either body or lens. Presumably, this is in order to keep the body small and light, as well as cheap, and to draw a further distinction between the more expensive E-620 model.

In isolation it?s a capable model, and with the exception of image stabilisation there isn?t really anything ?missing? that we may expect on a comparable camera. If it?s a model you?re considering, though, I?d suggest you look first towards the E-420 to see whether it will provide what you need for a little less outlay.

Details

AF Points:Three
Cable Release:Optional
PC Socket:No
Max Flash Sync:1/180 s / 1/4000 s (Super FP Mode)
Built-in Flash:GN 12m @ ISO 100
DoF Prview:Yes
Colour Temp Control:Yes
White Balance Bracket:Yes
Shutter Type:Electronically-controlled focal-plane shutter
Exposure Comp:+/- 5 EV in 1/3 steps
Colour Space:Adobe RGB, sRGB
Focusing Modes:AF, continuous, AF+MF, continuous AF+MF, MF
Dust Reduction:Yes
Built-in Image Stabilisation:No
Weight:380g (body only)
Dimensions:129.5 x 51 x 53mm
Live Mode:Yes
Power:Rechargeable Li-ion battery
Field of View:Approx 95%
Memory Card:CompactFlash / xD
Connectivity:USB 2.0 Hi-speed
Viewfinder Type:Eye-level pentamirror viewfinder
ISO:100-1600
Drive Mode:3.5fps over 8 Raw frames
White Balance:Auto, 8 presets, custom, manual
Metering System:49 zones multi-pattern, centreweighted, spot, highlight-spot, shadow-spot
Exposure Modes:PASM, Auto, 28 Scene
Compression:Four-stage JPEG
Shutter Speeds:1/4000 - 60s, bulb
File Format:Raw, JPEG, Raw + JPEG
Focal Length Mag:Approx 2x
Lens Mount:Four Thirds
LCD:2.7in TFT LCD, 230,000 dots
Output Size:4000 x 3000 pixels
Sensor:11.8MP total, 10MP effective, LiveMOS sensor 17.3 x 13.0mm
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. Olympus E-450 features
  3. 3. Olympus E-450 design
  4. 4. Olympus E-450 performance & value
  5. 5. Olympus E-450 image quality
  6. 6. Verdict
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