Olympus Digital SLR Cameras |
Page updated: June 2009
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One thing's for sure about the Olympus digital SLR cameras: they're ground-breaking. What follows is a list of "firsts" associated with the Olympus digital SLR line:
The only missing "bonus" feature from these cameras was an image stabilization system. Well, not anymore. |
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The 4/3 System
All Olympus digital SLR cameras use what's called a 4/3 system, and this describes both the sensor (it is neither a CCD nor a CMOS sensor) as well as the connection from camera to lens (called the lens mount).
What's the big deal about this?
First, it is an attempt to move away from a lot of specialized digital SLR lenses toward a standard.
Today, if you get a Canon camera and a lens to go with it, that lens won't work with your Nikon camera. You've got to buy a separate lens for it.
But with the 4/3 system, any digital camera that follows the standard can use any 4/3 lens.
This means that you can use the same 4/3 lens on digital SLR cameras made by different manufacturers. For example, you could take your 4/3 lens and attach it to a Fuji, Kodak or Olympus digital SLR camera (provided they all followed the standard).
The 4/3 sensor is smaller than other digital SLR sensors, which provides two advantages:
- The camera is very quiet because of a smaller mirror in front of the sensor.
- The 4/3 lenses are smaller and lighter because they don't have to light up a huge surface area. The 4/3 sensor is about half the size of a 35mm negative. While this doesn't mean that 4/3 lenses are half the size and weight of regular lenses, it helps.
Drawbacks of the 4/3 System
Adopting a new standard never comes without a few drawbacks, and there are certainly some to be aware of before you buy an Olympus digital SLR:
- Old Olympus lenses aren't 100% compatible - since the 4/3 system uses a new mounting system, old Zuiko lenses won't attach directly to the camera. If you have old Olympus lenses, you'll need to get a MF-1 OM Adaptor, which limits the functionality of the lens (e.g. manual focus only).
- There aren't many lenses - all of the 4/3 lenses have to be developed brand new for any camera that uses the 4/3 system. While the number of new 4/3 lenses grows constantly, there aren't quite as many to choose from as there are for cameras made by Canon, Nikon and Pentax.
- The standard may not be adopted - it's anybody's guess whether or not 4/3 is here to stay. If other camera makers don't buy into it, then there's not much advantage to a standardized system of lenses.
The E-330 and Live Preview
In 2006, Olympus announced the follow-up to their EVOLT E-300 digital SLR, and the new camera was a first.
The EVOLT E-330 was the first digital SLR camera to display a live preview of the image you are about to take on the LCD.
While this functionality is common on compact digital cameras, it is not on digital SLRs.
Digital SLR cameras use mirrors to reflect the image captured byt the lens up to the viewfinder. This system of mirrors (called a pentaprism) poses a technical challenge when it comes to the live LCD preview.
The E-330 leaped this technical hurdle and is not only the first Olympus digital SLR with live preview, but the first from any manufacturer.
The Latest Olympus Digital SLR Cameras
Olympus E-P1 - NEW! |
Release Date | July 2009 |
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| Key Features | 12.3 megapixels, dust control, video capture, image stabilization | |
| Uniqueness | Old-school style | |
| Great For | Carrying at all times | |
| Level | Beginner | |
| Avg. Kit Price | $800  | |
| Competitors | Panasonic DMC-G1, Panasonic DMC-GH1 | |
| The Olympus E-P1 is a camera that really stands on its own. While its looks are based on the Olympus PEN camera originally released in 1959, it's innards are pure 2009: dust control, built-in image stabilization, HD video capture and a 3 inch live view LCD screen. What this camera lacks is any kind of viewfinder - but for those making the transition from point-and-shoot this is a feature that won't be missed. The E-P1 is compatible with micro 4/3rds lenses and can also use standard 4/3rds lenses (used for other Olympus digital SLRs) with a special adapter. | ||
| Compare prices for the E-P1 at Amazon, Adorama or B&H Photo Video | ||
Olympus E-420 |
Release Date | May 2008 |
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| Key Features | 10 megapixels, dust control, face detection, expanded dynamic range | |
| Uniqueness | Smallest and lightest | |
| Great For | Carrying anywhere | |
| Level | Beginner | |
| Avg. Kit Price | $430 | |
| Competitors | Canon Rebel XS, Nikon D60 | |
| The E-420 is billed as the smallest and lightest true digital SLR camera you can buy (see E-P1 above). This is especially true when you pair the camera with the new 25mm f/2.8 "pancake" lens. Despite its compact size, the E-420 includes a dust control system, live view LCD, face detection autofocus and expanded dynamic range. | ||
| Compare prices for the E-420 at Amazon, Adorama or B&H Photo Video | ||
Olympus E-510 |
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Release Date | July 2007 |
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| Key Features | 10 megapixels, dust control, compact and light | |
| Uniqueness | Live view | |
| Great For | Travel and low-light | |
| Level | Intermediate to advanced | |
| Avg. Kit Price | $510 | |
| Competitors | Canon xTi, Nikon D80, Pentax K10D, Sony A100 | |
| Identical to the E-410 in many ways, the E-510 includes one important enhancement: a built-in image stabilizer. The stabilizer will work with any Olympus lens that you attach to the camera, and will help when taking photos of still subjects in low light without flash. I've selected the E-510 as the best digital SLR of 2007. | ||
| Compare prices for the E-510 at Amazon, Adorama or B&H Photo Video | ||
Olympus E-520 |
Release Date | July 2008 |
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| Key Features | 10 megapixels, dust control, compact and light | |
| Uniqueness | Live view | |
| Great For | Travel and low-light | |
| Level | Intermediate to advanced | |
| Avg. Kit Price | $540 | |
| Competitors | Canon Rebel XSi, Nikon D60, Pentax K200D | |
| Coming out one year later than the highly regarded E-510, the E-520 builds on the features that were popular in the first generation of this camera: dust control, a live view LCD screen and built-in image stabilization. The improvements that the E-520 makes over its predecessor include enhanced live view, face detection autofocus, and the ability to increase shadow brightness in high-contrast images. | ||
| Compare prices for the E-520 at Amazon, Adorama or B&H Photo Video | ||
Olympus E-620 |
Release Date | May 2009 |
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| Key Features | 12 megapixels, dust control, image stabilization, live view, compact and light | |
| Uniqueness | Flip out and twist LCD | |
| Great For | High and Low angles | |
| Level | Intermediate to advanced | |
| Avg. Kit Price | $700 | |
| Competitors | Canon Rebel XSi, Nikon D90 | |
| The E-620 sits squarely between the E-520 and the more advanced E-30. It packs many of the features of the E-30 (including dust control, image stabilization, live view and Art Filters) into a camera that's more the size of the E-420. A special bonus for photographers who enjoy high and low-angle photography is an articulated LCD screen that flips out from the camera body and can be viewed from a variety of angles. | ||
| Compare prices for the E-620 at Amazon or B&H Photo Video | ||
Olympus E-30 |
Release Date | January 2009 |
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| Key Features | 12 megapixels, dust control, image stabilization, live view | |
| Uniqueness | Art filters | |
| Great For | Creative photography | |
| Level | Intermediate to advanced | |
| Avg. Kit Price | $1,400 | |
| Competitors | Canon Rebel XSi, Nikon D90, Pentax K20D, Sony DSLR-A300 | |
| The E-30 is the first Olympus digital SLR to include Art Filters: creative effects that can be applied to images without the need for editing software. The E-30 also includes a great feature for architecture and landscape photographers: a digital level display that appears in the camera's viewfinder and on the LCD. These two features are rounded out with dust control, built-in image stabilization and a live view LCD that flips out from the camera body. | ||
| Compare prices for the E-30 at Amazon, Adorama or B&H Photo Video | ||
Olympus E-3 |
Release Date | November 2007 |
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| Key Features | 10 megapixels, dust control, live view, built-in image stabilization, weather sealed | |
| Uniqueness | Fast autofocus | |
| Great For | Action and low light | |
| Level | Intermediate to advanced | |
| Avg. Kit Price | $1,265 | |
| Competitors | Canon 40D, Nikon D300, Sony DSLR-A700 | |
| The E-3 is the flagship Olympus digital SLR camera, designed with professional photographers in mind. Advanced amateurs with enough pocket change will benefit from the E-3's 5 photo per second shooting speed, dust control system, built-in image stabilization, live view LCD (that flips out from the camera body and rotates), weather sealing and an ultra-fast 11-point autofocus system. New accessories for the E-3 include the HLD-4 battery grip (for longer shooting) and two new flash units (FL-50R and FL-36R) that can be activated wirelessly from the E-3's main flash. | ||
| Compare prices for the E-3 at Amazon, Adorama or B&H Photo Video | ||
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