The first pictures that I took with the E-620 were taken on Auto. I had forgotten about the Gradation filter that all the Olympus E cameras have. My excuse for this is that I NEVER shoot in Auto mode with the E-3 or E-30. 🙂 When the camera is set to the Auto mode the Gradation Filter is set to Auto as well. What this filter does is to try and retain the details in the highlights and shadows. As it does this, it tries to extract more details in the shadows, which increases the noise. My suggestion is that this filter should be put in the normal mode, especially if shooting at higher ISOs. Even at 100 ISO, some noise can be seen in the shadows with the filter set to Auto.
Here are some more shots taken in Aperture Priority mode at 1600 ISO with the Noise Filter and the Gradation Filter set at normal. I have included one shot with the Gradation Filter set to Auto so that you can see the difference that this mode makes. Some fine details have been lost by the noise filter, but I think that even so 1600 ISO is usable (as long as the Gradation Filter is set to Normal.)
The lens used was the 14-54 mark II.
1/60, f2.8, 1600 ISO, Gradation Auto
1/50, f2.8, 1600 ISO, Gradation Normal
1/160, f11, fill flash (on board flash), 1600 ISO, Gradation Normal
1/640, f5.6, 1600 ISO, Gradation Normal
E-620.com 