Digital Camera Reviews

Olympus announces the new Olympus E-3, which is the flagship of its Digital SLR line and provides the high-precision performance demanded by professional and enthusiastic photographers. It combines speed and weatherproof durability for capturing exceptional

 Front view of the E-3 fitted with the optional HLD-4 Power Grip.

images in any situation. Olympus pioneered Full Time Live View and Dust Reduction technologies for digital SLR cameras, leading where others have followed. Now, the new E-3 enhances those technical innovations and raises the performance bar with the fastest autofocus in the world. Body-Integrated Mechanical Image Stabilization to stabilize every lens, a 10-megapixel Live MOS image sensor to capture beautiful images, and a magnesium alloy body for dust-proof and splash-proof durability join the impressive innovations developed for the E-3, including:

Olympus is targeting professional photographers and ‘advanced enthusiasts’ with its E-3 DSLR model, which replaces the four-year-old E-1, the world’s first Four Thirds system DSLR. However, the promise of smaller, lighter cameras claimed for the Four Thirds system is not delivered in the E-3, which is one of the heaviest DSLR bodies in the under-$5000 category. (Only Nikon’s D200 and D300 weigh more.) But size and weight aren’t the only factors influencing camera choice and the E-3 has plenty to recommend it.

Top view showing the data LCD, flash hot-shoe and button controls. 

For starters, it’s very well built, with a robust magnesium-alloy body that is manufacturer using the ‘Thixomold’ process, which produced lighter and stronger mouldings than die-casting. The E-3’s body is splashproof and has dust-resistant sealing, making it usable for outdoor photography in testing conditions. Its shutter mechanism has been tested to 150,000 cycles, putting it into the ‘professional’ category. Olympus provides no details of the release time lag but, in use, the camera has a similar ‘feel’ to the EOS 40D, Nikon D300 and Sony A700, which have similar price tags (but not nearly as responsive as Nikon’s D3).

The Olympus E-3 is a 10 megapixel professional DSLR (announced 16 October’07) features a built-in image stabiliser to stabilise all lenses, 5fps sequential shooting with 19 image RAW buffer, 5x/7x/10x magnified view for precise focusing – especially for macro shots, ISO 100-3200, Supersonic Wave Filter, Dual memory slot, pop up flash and a 2.5”/6.4cm pop-out LCD with live view.

A new shutter mechanism in the Olympus E-3 delivers 1/8,000 second speed, and 1/250 flash sync, and an expected lifetime of 150,000 cycles. Mirror blackout time is also said to be low, but there are no official numbers yet. Three dedicated processors handle three separate functions: one for image stabilization, one for autofocus, and the TruePic III for image processing. A UDMA-compatible CompactFlash slot promises fast write times, and the additional xD-Picture Card slot adds extra storage.

Body-based image stabilization is built into the Olympus E-3, taking advantage of the company’s Supersonic Wave Drive motor technology to drive the anti-shake system. A separate motor drives the Supersonic Wave Filter to remove dust.

PhotographyBLOG reviews the Olympus E-3 and writes - ‘I was surprised at its bulk given the inherent – and much boasted about – properties of the Four Thirds system allowing for smaller and lighter construction. Given both the heft of the camera body and also its supplied optic you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for a Canon or Nikon from a distance, which I guess could be kind of the point. It makes sense given that Olympus has pinned its hopes on the E-3 as its most serious digital contender to date. Still, the amount of time you’ll spend penitently wading through the manual will reward you with some seriously good images. Colours are lovely and true-to-nature, and although Olympus may not have quite cracked the old white balance conundrum when faced with tricky conditions, at least you can work around it. The 12-60mm Supersonic Wave Drive lens is also a cracker. Not sure about the suggested retail price though – feels slightly high to me when a Canon EOS 40D can be picked up for £899 body only, though internet prices will undoubtedly narrow that price differential. Other than that though, the E-3 presents a viable option for those not already wedded to a particular system. ‘