A blast from the past? Olympus E20p...

[Janet]

Bit of an odd one, but I'm sure there's someone on here who can advise me!

I've just been offered an Olympus E20p...been sitting in a cupboard for umpteen years but believed to be in good working order. I'm not looking for prices here...I've been offered the camera for free but I don't want to take it if the owner can get a decent price on EBay...

I've tried Google for information but I'm still unsure...is it a fixed lens or could I use my existing Zuiko and M42 lenses with it? Is it worth taking to have a play with?

I don't have a clue what I'm on about, but I'm having a whale of a time with my Oly and some rather nice M42 lenses...I'd hate to see this camera sold for pennies on EBay if I could make use of it!

Janet

[DerekW]

Re: A blast from the past? Olympus E20p...

In March 2002 I bought a E20 - a great improvement on the Nikon Coolpic 9xx circa 2000 I had.

You could get screw on wide angle and telephoto adapters for it.

Focusing was frustrating and hit and miss in some situations - it needed either vertical or horizontal contrast lines to focus on (I can not remember which) It was very poor in low light situations.

When it worked it was OK to good - colour was better than the Nikon prosumer jobbie.

It was a camera of great promise - but the promises were not delivered until the E1 came out.

I would advise any one to not get side tracked into an E20 - get an E1 - OK so it will cost more but it will frustrate less.

[francois]

[Pjphoto59]

Re: A blast from the past? Olympus E20p...

I had one and enjoyed it very much, the build quality and controls seemed marvelous at the time. Even so, I often preferred to use my C5050 which was smaller and lighter and produced results almost as good.

My advice would be to say thanks but no thanks.

This was one I took with the E20:

[Janet]

Re: A blast from the past? Olympus E20p...

Oh well, the camera's arriving tomorrow - as I'm being given it for free, it would have been rude to say no!

Just another something for me to play around with...the girl who's giving it to me can't be bothered to put it on e-Bay...it's been sat around for so long she forgot she had it!

Hopefully it will be small enough to slip into my handbag as a change from my Samsung compact which I use daily.

I'll let you know how I get on with it! It may be a waste of time, but who knows?

Janet

[Who's_E]

Re: A blast from the past? Olympus E20p...

Hopefully it will be small enough to slip into my handbag as a change from my Samsung compact which I use daily.

Janet,

You must have a handbag the size of my good wife's. An E20p is a fair size. It is a bit slow in operation but takes good photos and has a great lens.

Nick

[Janet]

Re: A blast from the past? Olympus E20p...

Well, I can get my e520 and 40-150 lens in it comfortably, but only if I cut down on some of the crap I tend to carry around with me! I thought the e20p was a bit smaller? However, looking at the specs, it seems a bit on the heavy side?

I really don't mind if it's slow - it'll only be used on my trips to and from work, just for fun.

Janet

[francois]

Re: A blast from the past? Olympus E20p...

The E-20 is much bigger than your E-520!

[Janet]

Re: A blast from the past? Olympus E20p...

The E-20 is much bigger than your E-520!

Ooops! Oh well, I'm sure I'll still have some fun playing with it...may need to take up weight training though!

Janet

[Chevvyf1]

Re: A blast from the past? Olympus E20p...

Janet we have two E20-P ! I have some awesome shots from it - I esp. like the big WCON lens and MACRO setting ... here is a frog shot a FAV of mine
its only ever been a jpeg but great CLARITY !



It is painfully slow ... but I do still use it ! So have fun with yours !

[Janet]

Re: A blast from the past? Olympus E20p...

The camera has landed...it's a monster! Weighs a ton and has far too many buttons to press...

Still, it's working fine and it was free (including a superb bag!) so I'm not complaining. Took a few quick shots before the light went, then a few using the onboard flash...

All straight OOC - this one taken through my rather dirty kitchen window! (Those are vertical blinds, not bars, although there are some who think that's where I belong!)



Just random shots of my bookshelf - we'll photograph anything when we have a new toy to play with, won't we?







I have absolutely no idea about the settings, (I just put batteries in and rattled off a few shots) but I've just downloaded a PDF manual for it - it'll give me something to read on the bus to and from work! It's lovely and sharp, so I'm rather looking forward to taking it out in decent light and having a play with it.

It certainly makes me appreciate how light and easy to use my e520 is! I know I'm probably wasting my time, but the girl who discovered it was so pleased when she found it that I've simply GOT to use it!

Can't wait to let her know about the shots that were on the memory card when I got it...looks like someone had a fun Christmas with a fur coat!

Janet

[Chevvyf1]

Re: A blast from the past? Olympus E20p...

Great shots ! and I can "hear" the fun your having in your voice/words ! I still LURVE mine and DH his ! its just slow ...

[Janet]

Re: A blast from the past? Olympus E20p...

Oh yes...I'm having FUN! That's what it's all about, isn't it?

Just discovered a wee button that makes the LCD screen pop out! I thought I'd broken something! How cool is that?

John's link was most informative, but I'm amazed at how much this camera cost when new! It's not hard to see why though...it's built like a Sherman tank! You can buy it for peanuts now...

The viewfinder is simply horrid, but I'll work round that! I'm looking forward to taking it out on my way to work tomorrow, just for a play.

This camera is strictly for fun, but I suspect I will get some good shots from it, given a little time and patience. Several people have advised me that I'm wasting my time, but as with my collection of MF legacy lenses, I'll take great delight in proving them wrong!

Janet

[DerekW]

Re: A blast from the past? Olympus E20p...

The arrangement for the LCD screen in how it was hinged at the top of the screen made it a more stable method of using it in "live view mode" than the rotate to the side method with the E5 and E3 which puts the camera in a less stable position.

[Ulfric M Douglas]

Re: A blast from the past? Olympus E20p...

I'm late to the chuckle but ;

...Hopefully it will be small enough to slip into my handbag ...

Ho ho ho ho ho!