Thanks to everyone for their contributions on this so far. I used the term 'legendary E-1' in the title because I know this camera has a real following, but I wanted to hear directly from users. However, taking in what some of you have said, I'm now even more convinced than ever that the E-1 is indeed a legend in digital SLR development. What has become clear is that it is still a completely viable camera for use 5 years after its launch; a remarkable achievement when one considers the unrelenting, whirlwind pace of DSLR advances. It seems the E-1 can somehow squeeze a degree of image quality out of its modest 5 megapixels which has rarely been surpassed since and that printing up to A3 is no problem at all, even when compared against more modern competition.

When I bought my E-500 2 years ago, E-1s were still being sold off and I seriously considered buying one. In the end, the small screen of the E-1 lost out to the E-500 but in so many ways, I regret not seizing the opportunity when I had it.

One thing is clear, this is a camera still worth buying and I know if I find myself with the cash available and one presents itself to me at a good price, I will snap it up. The advice to anyone already with one must be to hang on to it as apart from being so useable, it appears to be gaining classic status.