Conclusion Get the lowdown
Features How it compares
Performance Real world benchmarks
Differences Technical showdown
Reviews Word on the street
Competition Others to consider
Discussion Answers and opinions

Full specs

Olympus E-450

10 MP
Four Thirds NMOS
2.7" LCD

older Released March, 2009

The Olympus E-450 is a very compact, lightweight yet fairly robust feeling little DSLR that comes with a lot of features for an entry-level camera.

Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

Conclusion Check out the Olympus E-450

Olympus E-450

Nikon D800

Canon EOS 650D

55%

94%

84%

FeaturesView Details

21%

56%

93%

Popularity

48%

94%

56%

PerformanceView Details

83%

89%

82%

ReviewsView Details

SortableScore

First reviewed December, 2011

Features Key features of the Olympus E-450

10 MP

Four Thirds

Just like its predecessors, the E-450 is better constructed than you'd expect given the diminutive size, light weight and low price.

Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

megapixels

0 MP

EOS 650D17.9 MP

E-45010 MP

Nikon D80036.2 MP

40 MP

All of the sample images in this Review were taken using the 10 megapixel Super Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 7Mb.

E-450 by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

The tiny E450 is based on the FourThirds standard, offering a 10 megapixel sensor, 2.7 inch LCD screen and brand new Art Filters for creating your own digitally enhanced master-pieces.

E-450 by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

sensor size

Olympus E-450

Four Thirds sensor

E-450 Four Thirds sensor

Nikon D800

Full frame sensor

Nikon D800 Full frame sensor

Canon IXUS 230 HS

1/2" sensor

IXUS 230 HS 1/2" sensor

One of the best Olympus features has been their sensor dust reduction system, consistently rated as the most effective currently on the market, and I've had no sensor dust issues so far with Olympus DSLR.

E-450 by John-Trent (Nov, 2009)

The exception is shooting at ISO 1600 in incandescent light, when the boost given to the blue channel to neutralise the predominant yellow cast can result in a more obtrusive noise pattern.

E-450 by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

viewfinder size

Olympus E-450

0.46x

E-450 0.46x

Nikon D800

0.72x

Nikon D800 0.72x

Nikon D90

0.63x

Nikon D90 0.63x

body size

E-450130 x 91 x 53 mm

Nikon D800146 x 123 x 82 mm

EOS 50D146 x 108 x 74 mm

Photographers who have never used a manual SLR – or one of the earlier Olympus E-4x0 DSLRs – will initially have a hard time figuring out how to hold the E-450 securely and comfortably, but the recipe is as simple as it was 30 years ago: hold the camera's weight in the left hand, clutching the lens, and use your right hand for balance and operating the controls.

E-450 by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

It isnt pocketable but it is very portable.

E-450 by OzzyCoop--Nate (Oct, 2009)

Performance Real world tests of Olympus E-450

DxOMark image quality

Olympus E-450

56.0

E-450 56.0

Nikon D800

95.0

Nikon D800 95.0

Nikon D90

73.0

Nikon D90 73.0

As far as image quality goes the 450 is right up there.

E-450 by OzzyCoop--Nate (Oct, 2009)

Colours were vibrant without being over-saturated even in Natural picture mode, and you can also choose Vivid if you want even more punch.

E-450 by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

DxOMark low light performance

Olympus E-450

512 ISO

E-450 512 ISO

Nikon D800

2,853 ISO

Nikon D800 2,853 ISO

Nikon D90

977 ISO

Nikon D90 977 ISO

The Olympus E-450 lets you dial in shutter speeds of up to 60 seconds and has a Bulb mode as well for exposure times as long as 30 minutes, which is very good news if you are seriously interested in night photography.

E-450 by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

Tonal range is quite natural, with open rather than too dark or blocked up shadow areas, yet retaining good snap and contrast to make bright, sunny days look bright and sunny.

E-450 by John-Trent (Nov, 2009)

continuous shooting

E-4503.5 fps

EOS 40D6.5 fps

EOS 50D6.3 fps

Other key features of the Olympus E-450 include a 2.7-inch LCD screen, contrast detection autofocus and and face detection in Live View mode, continuous shooting speed of 3.5 fps, wireless flash control for studio shooting, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Supersonic Wave Filter for dust reduction, ISO 100 to 1600 and dual memory card slots for xD-Picture Card and CompactFlash, and Perfect Shot Preview for previewing camera adjustments before you take the photo.

E-450 by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

Our analysis How does it stack up against its top 10 competitors

pros

Has a flash hot shoe

Generic
Has a viewfinder

Gives you more flexibility when framing your shot
Has a viewfinder mirror

Opaque
Quite long long exposure

60 s
Really thin

53 mm
Quite small

130 x 91 x 53 mm
Light

426 g

cons

Quite small sensor

Four Thirds
Significantly worse overall image quality

56.0
Quite low resolution screen

230 k dots
Quite small screen

2.7"
Quite low light sensitivity

1,600 ISO
Quite less recently announced date

Mar, 2009
Quite low resolution

10 MP
Significantly less dynamic range

10.5 ev
Slow rapid fire

3.5 fps
Much worse noise at high ISO

512 ISO
Much less color depth

21.5 bits
Image stabilization

None
Small viewfinder

0.46x
Lacks a flip out screen

The screen is fixed in place
Doesn't support HDR

No automatic HDR
No phase-detection focus points

0
Less viewfinder coverage

95%
Doesn't have a touch screen

Use buttons to access features and menus
Can't capture 3D scenes

No automatic 3D
Isn't weather sealed

You'll have to protect your camera from the elements
Doesn't support panorama

No automatic stitching
Not as highly rated

82.77%
Slow max shutter speed

1/4000 s

full specs

Reviews Word on the street

	Rated 80% Read the review (May, 2009) In summary, the E-450 is a compact, lightweight and feature-laden DSLR, which could nonetheless be improved by the addition of a bigger finder, more autofocus points and direct access to AF mode, white balance, metering mode and ISO sensitivity via the four-way pad.

	Rated 85% by 3 users at amazon.com I've long liked Olympus's auto tone correction feature in their software, and now it can be applied in-camera at the time of capture (now called shadow adjustment technology and set by choosing auto gradation in the menu). Rated 100% by by John-Trent (Nov, 2009) I don't like having to post-process to get image quality I like, and the E-450 has been very good in this respect. Rated 100% by by John-Trent (Nov, 2009) The liveview isnt great but it is very helpful when the circumstances require it. Rated 80% by by OzzyCoop--Nate (Oct, 2009)

Focus

Not only does it offer manual exposure and focusing modes for the advanced user; it also has features like highlight-, shadow- and midtone-based spot metering, user-configurable mirror lock-up (Anti-Shock), wireless TTL flash control, Shadow Adjustment Technology and contrast-detect auto-focus in Live View.

Olympus E-450 | Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

It's fine for framing but not so great for manual focusing, which is better done in Live View.

Olympus E-450 | Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

If you want more AF points, you will have to opt for the E-620 or the higher specified models.

Olympus E-450 | Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

Photography

The art filters produce special effects that would otherwise require you to spend a lot of time in the “digital darkroom.

Olympus E-450 | Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

The camera dosent have true IS but switch it to DIS through the art menu and it does a well enough job in underlit rooms and and places you cant take a tripod.

Olympus E-450 | Rated 80% by by OzzyCoop--Nate (Oct, 2009)

I have cameras that I like to take pinholes and pop art with so I use those.

Olympus E-450 | Rated 80% by by OzzyCoop--Nate (Oct, 2009)

Screen

As the E-450 lacks a separate monochrome LCD, the rear screen doubles as a status display, which can be called up by pressing the INFO button in record mode.

Olympus E-450 | Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

If you think these are things you need, you'll likely be happier with the E-620, which has them all, plus image stabilisation and a free-angle LCD, in a body that is only marginally bigger and heavier.

Olympus E-450 | Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

While the E-450 lacks the articulated screen of the E-3, E-30 and E-620 models, it can still be used to conveniently frame your photos when shooting from the hip or from above your head, owing to the wide viewing angle of the LCD, and manual focusing is greatly enhanced by the 'enlarged display' function.

Olympus E-450 | Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

Sensor

I believe it boosts the ISO and uses a faster shutter speed along with some other setting adjustments.

Olympus E-450 | Rated 80% by by OzzyCoop--Nate (Oct, 2009)

Full-resolution Super Fine JPEGs typically occupy between 6 and 7 megabytes on the card; while the – losslessly compressed – raw files are between 10 and 11 megabytes each.

Olympus E-450 | Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (May, 2009)

Do note however that in artificial light, where the camera needs to boost gain in the blue channel to neutralise or at least reduce the predominant yellow cast, the noise pattern is less appealing, as you can see in one of our Sample Images, taken at ISO 1600.

Olympus E-450 | Rated 80% by by Photography Blog (May, 2009)