Hands On: Olympus E-3 Digital SLR

Posted on November 11, 2007 - Filed Under Digital, Photo, Reviews | Leave a Comment | 43 views

If the Olympus E-1, the company’s first high-end DSLR, never caught on among pros, you can blame its painfully slow, insensitive autofocus system. But one look at the new Olympus E-3 ($1,700, estimated street, body only) was enough to convince us that, this time around, Olympus has come up with not just a much better AF system, but a much better camera all around.

Our impression comes from using a preproduction, fully operational camera that wasn’t ready for testing in the Pop Photo Lab.

We expect it to do at least as well on the image quality front as the company’s consumer-level Evolt E-510, since the E-3 packs a similar 10.1MP Live MOS sensor (manufactured by Panasonic). Because of its smaller size and 4:3 aspect ratio, the E-3 will also have a 2X 35mm lens factor. While 10.1MP isn’t on the bleeding edge of resolution in this price category, the E-3′s advanced image processing may suppress noise even further than the E-510 at ISOs up to ISO 3200.

• Product Gallery
• Key Features
• Spec Sheet
• Press Release
• New Zuiko Lenses

The E-3 feels rock-solid, well balanced and easy to hold. The body, comprising a three-piece, molded, magnesium-alloy shell and impressive gasketing and weathersealing, alone puts it in pro territory.

Olympus improved the pentaprism viewfinder — larger, with better eye relief and none of the E-1 ‘s tunnel-vision effect. The company claims the viewfinder offers nearly 100 percent accuracy and 1.15X magnification.

Another noticeable improvement: Unlike its predecessor, the E-3 has both a pop-up flash and wireless flash control for three flash groups (with four channels each).

Kudos to the 2.5-inch LCD monitor, which can be swung to the side and turned up and down (for overhead or waist-level shooting), as well as turned inward for protection.

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