Olympus E-3 Review
Review Date: January 9th 2008
Author: Gavin Stoker
Leave
a comment about this Review
Specifications
| Type |
| Body
material |
Magnesium
alloy body |
| Lens
mount |
Four
Thirds mount |
| Image
Sensor |
| Type |
4/3
'' Hi-Speed Live MOS sensor |
| Effective
pixels |
10.1
Megapixels |
| Filter
array |
Primary
colour filter (RGB) |
| Aspect
ratio & area |
4:3
/ 17.3 x 13.0 mm |
| Full
resolution |
11.8
Megapixels |
| Filter |
| Dust
reduction filter |
Supersonic
Wave Filter |
| IR
cut filter |
Hybrid
type |
| LPF
filter |
Fixed
type |
| LCD |
| LCD
type |
Multi-angle
HyperCrystal LCD (semi-transmissive TFT colour LCD) |
| Monitor
size |
6.4
cm / 2.5 '' |
| Pixel
number |
230,000
pixels |
| BrightCapture |
Yes |
| Brightness
adjustment |
15
steps |
| Viewfinder |
| Viewfinder
type |
Eye-level Pentaprism type optical view finder |
| Field
of view |
Approx.
100 % |
| Magnification |
Approx.
1.15 x with a 50mm lens set to infinity at -1 dioptres |
| Depth
of field preview |
Yes
Preview button |
| Eye
point |
20
mm |
| Diopter
adjustment |
Yes
-3.0 - +1.0 diopter / built-in type |
| Focusing
screen |
Interchangeable
type |
| Mirror |
Quick
return mirror |
| Viewfinder
Information |
Yes |
| Eye
piece shutter |
built-in
type |
| Top
Display |
| Displayed
information |
| Activated
AF points |
| BKT
notification |
| B/W
mode notification |
| Drive
mode |
| Exposure
compensation indication |
| Exposure
mode |
| Flash
mode |
| Focus
mode |
| ISO |
| Metering
mode |
| Number
of storable frames |
| Record
mode |
| White
balance |
| White
balance compensation value |
| Back
light timer |
8s |
| Super
Control Panel |
| Displayed
information |
|
| Metering
mode |
Yes |
| Exposure
mode |
Yes |
| Aperture
value |
Yes |
| Shutter
speed |
Yes |
| Exposure
level view |
Yes |
| Flash
compensation value |
Yes |
| Exposure
compensation indication |
Yes |
| AE
bracketing |
Yes |
| ISO |
Yes |
| Colour
space |
Yes |
| Picture
mode |
Yes |
| Gradation |
Yes |
| Colour
saturation compensation value |
Yes |
| Sharpness
compensation value |
Yes |
| Contrast
compensation value |
Yes |
| White
balance |
Yes |
| White
balance compensation value |
Yes |
| Noise
reduction |
Yes |
| AEL
notification |
Yes |
| Flash
mode |
Yes |
| Focus
mode |
Yes |
| AF
frame |
Yes |
| Drive
mode |
Yes |
| Record
mode |
Yes |
| Number
of storable frames |
Yes |
| Memory
card |
Yes |
| Battery
indicator |
Yes |
| Super
Control Panel (Flash) |
| Displayed
information |
| AF
illuminator disactivated notification |
| AEL
notification |
| Aperture
value |
| Bracketing |
| Built-in
flash intensity |
| Colour
space |
| Exposure
compensation indication |
| Exposure
mode |
| Flash
compensation value |
| Group
settings |
| Noise
reduction |
| Shutter
speed |
| Wireless
channel setting |
| Live
View |
| Information |
100%
field of view, exposure adjustment preview, white balance
adjustment preview, gradation auto preview, gridline
displayable, 5x/7x/10x magnification possible, MF/S-AF,
AF frame display, AF point display, shooting information,
histogramme |
| Image
Stabiliser |
| Type |
Sensor
shift |
| Modes |
Two-dimensional
or one-dimensional activation |
| Effective
Compensation Range |
Up
to 5 EV steps |
| Focusing
System |
| Method |
TTL
phase difference detection system |
| Focus
areas |
11
points / fully biaxial, automatic and manual selection |
| AF
illuminator |
Yes
Built-in flash (external flash available) |
| AF
lock |
Yes
Locked by first position of shutter release button
in single AF mode, AE/AF lock button (customised) |
| Focus
tracking |
Yes
Available in continuous AF mode |
| Manual
focus |
Yes
Available by rotating focus ring, available for setting
manual focus operation in AF mode (customised) |
| Single
AF |
Yes |
| Single
AF + MF |
Yes |
| Continuous
AF |
Yes |
| Continuous
AF + MF |
Yes |
| Detection
range |
-2
- 19 EV (ISO 100) |
| Light
Metering |
| Method |
TTL
open aperture light metering |
| Zones |
49
zones Multi-pattern Sensing System |
| Detection
range |
1
- 20 (50mm, 1:2, ISO 100) |
| ESP
light metering |
Yes |
| Spot
metering |
Yes |
| Centre
weighted metering |
Yes |
| Highlight |
Yes |
| Shadow |
Yes |
| Exposure
Modes |
| Auto |
Yes |
| Programme
automatic |
Yes |
| Aperture
priority |
Yes |
| Shutter
priority |
Yes |
| Manual |
Yes |
| Exposure
System |
| Exposure
compensation |
+/-
5 EV / 1, 1/2, 1/3 steps |
| Exposure
bracketing |
3
/ 5 frames / +/- 1/3, 2/3, 1 EV steps |
| ISO
bracketing |
3
frames / 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps |
| Sensitivity |
| Auto |
in
1/3 and 1 EV ISO steps |
| Manual |
ISO
100 - 3200 in 1/3 and 1 EV ISO steps |
| Shutter |
| Shutter
type |
Computerised
focal-plane shutter |
| Shutter
release |
Soft
Touch Electromagnetic |
| Self
timer |
12
s / 2 s |
| Anti
Shock |
Yes
Release delay: 1 - 30 s |
| Shutter
Speeds |
| Shutter
speed range |
1/8000-60
s (in 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps) |
| Bulb
mode |
Up
to 30 minutes (selectable longest time in the menu,
default: 8 minutes) |
| Shutter
speed P, Ps |
1/8000-60
s |
| Shutter
speed A priority |
1/8000-60
s |
| Shutter
speed S priority |
1/8000-60
s |
| Shutter
speed scene mode |
1/8000-60
s |
| White
Balance |
| AUTO
WB system |
Hybrid
detection system with High-speed Live MOS sensor and
dedicated external sensor |
| Manual
White balance (One-Touch) |
Yes |
| Selectable
steps in Kelvin |
7
steps (3000 - 7500 K) |
| Overcast |
Yes |
| Shade |
Yes |
| Tungsten |
Yes |
| Sunlight |
Yes |
| Flourescent
1 |
Yes |
| Flourescent
2 |
Yes |
| Flourescent
3 |
Yes |
| White
balance adjustment |
Yes
+/- 7 in each R-B / G-M axis (in Auto WB and preset
WB mode) |
| Custom
WB |
1
setting can be registered at Kelvin temperature (2000K
- 14000K) |
| One-touch
white balance |
4
custom settings can be registered |
| White
balance bracketing |
3
frames / +/- 2, 4, 6 mired steps |
| Internal
Flash |
| Guide
number |
13 |
| Flash
compensation |
+/-
3 EV / 1/3 EV steps |
| AUTO |
Yes |
| Red-eye
reduction |
Yes |
| Slow
synchronisation |
Yes |
| Slow
synchronisation 2nd curtain |
Yes |
| Fill-in |
Yes |
| Slow
synchronisation with red-eye reduction |
Yes |
| Off |
Yes |
| Bracketing |
3
frames / 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps |
| External
Flash Control |
| X-sync
speed |
1/250
s / 1/8000 s |
| Type |
TTL
AUTO, AUTO, MANUAL, FP TTL AUTO, FP MANUAL |
| Synchronisation
modes |
Auto,
Manual, Red-eye reduction, Slow syncro with red-eye
reduction, Slow syncro, 2nd curtain and slow syncro,
Fill-in for exclusive flash |
| Intensity |
+/-
2 EV / 1, 1/2, 1/3 steps |
| Built-in
flash and wireless flash control from the camera
body |
| Compatible
external flash |
FL-50R,
FL-36R |
| Control
method |
Triggered
and controlled by built-in flash light |
| Modes |
TTL
Auto (TTL pre-flash mode), Auto, Manual, FP TTL Auto,
FP Manual |
| Number
of channels |
4
channels |
| Group
setting |
3
groups |
| Sequence
Shooting |
| Sequential
shooting mode (high speed) |
5
fps / 16 frames RAW buffer |
| Sequential
shooting mode |
5
fps / Up to card capacity in normal mode with SanDisk
Extreme III |
| Image
Processing |
| Colour
space |
sRGB
/ AdobeRGB |
| TruePic
III |
Yes |
| Sharpness
+ Contrast |
5
levels |
| Saturation |
5
levels |
| Contrast |
5
levels |
| Black & White
filter |
Yellow,
Orange, Red, Green |
| Black & White
toning |
Yellow,
Orange, Red, Green in Black & White and Sepia mode. |
| Picture
mode |
Vivid,
Natural, Portrait, Muted, Monotone, Custom (default
setting: Natural) |
| Gradation |
4 |
| Image
Editing |
| RAW
data edit |
Yes |
| Red-eye
reduction |
Yes |
| Sepia |
Yes |
| Black & White |
Yes |
| Resize |
Yes |
| Correction
of saturation |
Yes |
| Shadow
Adjustment Technology |
Yes |
| Erase
/ Protect / Copy Function |
| Erase
modes |
Single,
All, Selected |
| Image
protect mode |
Single,
Selected |
| Copy
mode |
Single,
All, Selected |
| View
Images |
| Index |
4,
9, 16, 25 frames |
| Calendar |
Yes |
| Zoom |
Yes
2 - 14 x |
| Slide
show |
Yes |
| Rotation |
Yes |
| Light
box |
Yes |
| Histogram
in playback mode |
Yes |
| Shooting
information |
Histogram
( independent luminance / RGB available), Highlight
/ Shadow point warning, AF frame, Shooting information |
| Still
Image Recording |
| EXIF |
Yes |
| PIM |
Yes |
| DPOF |
Yes |
| DCF |
Yes |
| Recording
Formats |
| RAW |
12
bit |
| RAW & JPEG |
Yes |
| JPEG |
Yes |
| JPEG
compression |
1/2.7,
1/4, 1/8, 1/12 SHQ 1/2.7, 1/4, 1/8, 1/12 HQ 1/2.7,
1/4, 1/8, 1/12 SQ |
| Image
Size |
| RAW |
3648
x 2736 compressed / 11 MB / frame |
| Large |
3648
x 2736 Super Fine (compression: 1/2.7) / 6.8 MB / frame |
|
3648
x 2736 Fine (compression: 1/4) / 4.7 MB / frame |
|
3648
x 2736 Normal (compression: 1/8) / 2.2 MB / frame |
|
3648
x 2736 Basic (compression: 1/12) / 1.5 MB / frame |
| Middle |
3200
x 2400 Super Fine (compression: 1/2.7) / 5.3 MB / frame |
|
3200
x 2400 Fine (compression: 1/4) / 3.7 MB / frame |
|
3200
x 2400 Normal (compression: 1/8) / 1.7 MB / frame |
|
3200
x 2400 Basic (compression: 1/12) / 1.1 MB / frame |
|
2560
x 1920 Super Fine (compression: 1/2.7) / 3.6 MB / frame |
|
2560
x 1920 Fine (compression: 1/4) / 2.2 MB / frame |
|
2560
x 1920 Normal (compression: 1/8) / 1.1 MB / frame |
|
2560
x 1920 Basic (compression: 1/12) / 0.7 MB / frame |
| Small |
1600
x 1200 Super Fine (compression: 1/2.7) / 1.3 MB / frame |
|
1600
x 1200 Fine (compression: 1/4) / 0.8 MB / frame |
|
1600
x 1200 Normal (compression: 1/8) / 0.5 MB / frame |
|
1600
x 1200 Basic (compression: 1/12) / 0.3 MB / frame |
|
1280
x 960 Super Fine (compression: 1/2.7) / 0.8 MB / frame |
|
1280
x 960 Fine (compression: 1/4) / 0.5 MB / frame |
|
1280
x 960 Normal (compression: 1/8) / 0.3 MB / frame |
|
1280
x 960 Basic (compression: 1/12) / 0.2 MB / frame |
|
1024
x 768 Super Fine (compression: 1/2.7) / 0.5 MB / frame |
|
1024
x 768 Fine (compression: 1/4) / 0.4 MB / frame |
|
1024
x 768 Normal (compression: 1/8) / 0.2 MB / frame |
|
1024
x 768 Basic (compression: 1/12) / 0.1 MB / frame |
|
640
x 480 Super Fine (compression: 1/2.7) / 0.2 MB / frame |
|
640
x 480 Fine (compression: 1/4) / 0.2 MB / frame |
|
640
x 480 Normal (compression: 1/8) / 0.1 MB / frame |
|
640
x 480 Basic (compression: 1/12) / 0.1 MB / frame |
| Interface |
| Media |
Dual
slot for CompactFlash card (Type I and II), Microdrive
and xD picture card |
| USB
2.0 High Speed |
Yes |
| Video
out |
Yes
NTSC or PAL selectable |
| Infrared |
Yes |
| DC
input |
Yes |
| Synchro
socket |
Yes |
| Menu |
| Menu
languages in camera |
English,
German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Czech, Dutch,
Danish, Polish |
| Menu
languages by download |
Additional
one language from 15 further languages by download
via the internet. |
| Customisation
Options |
| Fn
Button |
Off,
one-touch WB, test picture, preview, Live View, AF
home setting, MF, record format, exposure mode, My
Mode, underwater modes |
| Custom
preset options |
2 |
| My
Mode |
2
settings storable |
| Power
Supply |
| Battery |
BLM-1
Li-Ion battery (included) |
| Battery
life |
Approx.
610 shots with BLM-1 under CIPA testing standard (optical
viewfinder). |
| Sleep
mode |
Available
( 1, 3, 5, 10 min., off) |
| Environment |
| Temperature |
0
- 40 °C operating temperature -20 - 60 °C storage temperature |
| Humidity |
30
- 90 % operation humidity 10 - 90 % storage humidity |
| Size |
| Dimensions
(WxHxD) |
142.5
x 116.5 x 74.5 mm (without protrusions) |
| Weight |
810
g (body only) |
| |
|
PhotographyBLOG
is a member of the DIWA
organisation. Our test results for the Olympus E-3 have been submitted to DIWA
for comparison with test results for different samples of
the same camera model supplied by other DIWA
member sites.
Compare Prices
Support PhotographyBLOG: Buy the Olympus E-3 from
one of our affiliate retailers:
