Today I saw in my local Currys window an offer for an Olympus "E-600" at £329. I've never heard of such a model, and since i'm looking to upgrade my E-500,this is intriging. Has anyone heard of this model, and if so are the specs different from the E-620?
Thanks
Jon
Journeyman photographer since 15, loves technology and photographic skill
For all practical purposes it is a slightly modified E620 that is on sale only at the Dixon owned stores.
I think that the illuminated buttons are missing, there are fewer scene modes and it does not qualify for any cash back etc. promotions. There may be other differences but they will be insignificant.
Image quality should be identical to the E620 but the exif data says E600 and some image processing software does not recognise the raw format files. On the four thirds websites there are discussions on how to hack the model number so that all software can process the raw data.
Apart from that I think the models are identical
Roger
Thanks Roger,
After further research, I have discovered that the E-600 has been designed as a "E-620-lite" for the US market and has been exclusivly been licensed to the Dixons/Currys Group in this country as the E-600. The loss in respect of the E-620 is a few picture modes and not a lot else.Since I (and I suspect a lot of Oly users) would love to have a E-620 at a cutdown price then this model seems to be the answer. I note from the promotion from Curry's that this is soon to be discontinued, the price of £329 including the 14-42 standard zoom is fantastic value, especially as the E-620 is going for £569.99 (Warehouseexpress.com)incl the 14-42 Zoom.
I seem to have answered my own posting after further reasearch, but isn't this always the way!
Anyway, the E-600 will not be around for much longer, and at £329 is incredible value.
Jon
Journeyman photographer since 15, loves technology and photographic skill
Have you checked that it is equipped with Image stabilisation? I vaguely seem to remember reading something about it a while ago, and I have a feeling that may have been omitted. Otherwise it seems a good buy.
John
I believe that it does have the full spec IS. Obviously it would do no harm to ask before anyone took delivery but I am sure that it has
Roger
I thought that it might be usefull if I quoted Wrotniak's comments on the E600. He seems slightly underwhelmed, but of course if the price is right............
RogerThe E-600: not really a new model from Olympus, but rather a very slight modification of the E-620, supposedly intended to bring the cost a bit down in order to make the camera more competitive in price.
While Olympus does not explicitly list the changes, the specs indicate that most of the changes (simplifications) are just in the firmware: omission of some (three?) "creative modes", of aspect ratio cropping, and of in-camera double exposure. Actually, I will not be missing any of these features, although I do not quite understand how would a removal of some tertiary-importance code from the firmware make a camera cheaper to make.
The only visible (and cost-saving) change is that the control buttons in the back are no longer illuminated. I know this is 70% cosmetics, but the illumination looked good, and it could be quite helpful under some circumstances. (Well, at least fewer things may go wrong now.)
Otherwise both cameras seem to be identical, so, with those minor exceptions, all I wrote about the E-620 applies to the new model as well. It remains unclear if both will be manufactured concurrently, but I don't expect this to happen.
This the second such non-event from Olympus this year, after the E-450. Perhaps the market would not buy a camera model more than six months old? Certainly, a disoriented consumer is a good consumer; at least many marketing people (Olympus or not) seem to think so. Are we going to see an E-610 in March, with one more "creative mode" added?
Dear All,
I have now tried to access the E-600 online, but to no avail. It seems that Dixons/Currys incl PC World have withdrawn this model from its stock and it can only be picked up if your local store still has it in place.
I have checked with Olympus USA where it is still on sale with them as a twin lens kit at $749.99. Still, if Olympus are ending this model in the UK now, It indicates something new is on the immenent horizon perhaps?
Regards
Jon
Journeyman photographer since 15, loves technology and photographic skill
Hi, just joined here to tell you that Currys appear to have the E600. Just ordered and checked by phone - they said 'we have plenty of stock' I hope theyre right! Also, use 5ALL at checkout - still works and price is £312 with 14-42 lens.
A further update. Currys definitely have the E600 - I received it today along with the 14-42 lens. It looks like a lot of camera at the price.
Congratulations. I don't think that anyone said "welcome to the forum" so I will say it now. Let us know how you get on with the new toy
Roger
Got one last week from Currys for £273 inc 14-42.Thanks Roger,
After further research, I have discovered that the E-600 has been designed as a "E-620-lite" for the US market and has been exclusivly been licensed to the Dixons/Currys Group in this country as the E-600. The loss in respect of the E-620 is a few picture modes and not a lot else.Since I (and I suspect a lot of Oly users) would love to have a E-620 at a cutdown price then this model seems to be the answer. I note from the promotion from Curry's that this is soon to be discontinued, the price of £329 including the 14-42 standard zoom is fantastic value, especially as the E-620 is going for £569.99 (Warehouseexpress.com)incl the 14-42 Zoom.
I seem to have answered my own posting after further reasearch, but isn't this always the way!
Anyway, the E-600 will not be around for much longer, and at £329 is incredible value.
Jon
Tried it out a bit and impressed.
Virtually noise free at 1600 ASA.
Rick
That is a real bargain!
Thanks
Nick
I have had one for about 6 months now. It does have image stabilisation and pretty well everything else you might sensibly want. At the time I got mine they were actualy selling at a higher price than the 620 in the USA! The only snags are common to the 620. Its a bit small in the hands, curable with a battery grip, shop arround the price varies a lot. Also the side hinged screen can be awkward if you use it swung out with the canera horizontal a lot. On the other hand the only alternative is the D5000 and then you have the same problem verticaly. The kit lenses are flimsy but optical performance is good for the price.
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