Is the Olympus E-3 dSLR unfashionably late?

Olympus highlights the E-3's splash-proof design.

(Credit: Olympus America)

Olympus shipped its first interchangeable-lens dSLR, the pro-level E-1, in the fall of 2003. Four years is a long time to wait for a new model, especially given the rapid pace of technological change in the dSLR category and a cast of photographic characters hungry for the latest and greatest to help boost their earnings potential. Consumers buying their first (and perhaps even second) dSLRs will follow where great technology leads, but pros must commit to a camera system that includes lenses and flashes. Once they've moved on, it takes more than just a snappy shutter and flashy LCD to lure them back.

That's a big burden to place on the shoulders of the new E-3.

It helps that the camera isn't a hardcore pro model; at $1,700 (body only) it's priced and suited for entry-level professionals and wannabes. But it will compete directly with the Nikon D300, which has an obvious growth path and huge accessory system behind it.

How do the E-3's specs stack up? First, here's an overview:

	Alpha DSLR-A700	Olympus E-3	Nikon D300
Sensor	12.2-megapixel CMOS 23.5 x 15.6mm	10.1-megapixel Live MOS 17.3 x 13.0 mm	12.3-megapixel CMOS 22.2 x 14.8mm
Sensitivity range	ISO 100 - ISO 6400	ISO 100 - ISO 3200	ISO 200 - ISO 6400
Focal-length multiplier	1.5x	2.0x	1.5x
Continuous shooting	5 fps 8 (Extra fine) or unlimited (Fine) JPEG	5 fps unlimited JPEG	6 fps 100 JPEG
Mechanical image stabilization	Yes	Yes	No
Viewfinder	95% coverage 0.90x magnification 25mm eye point interchangeable matte focusing screen 2 optional focusing screens	100% coverage 1.15x magnification 20mm eye point changeable to grid matte at service center	100% coverage 0.94x magnification 19.5mm eye point fixed matte focusing screen with optional gridlines
Autofocus	11-pt AF two cross-type sensors in center (one f/2.8)	11-pt AF all cross-type (aperture info unavailable)	9 51-pt AF all cross-type to f/5.6
Live View	No	Yes	Yes
Wireless flash controller	Yes	Yes	Yes
LCD size	3 inches/307,200 pixels	2.5 inches/230,000 pixels	3 inches/307,200 pixels
Shutter durability	100,000 cycles	150,000 cycles	100,000 cycles
Price (body only)	$1,499	$1,699	$1,799.95

Olympus E-3 back

(Credit: Olympus America)

So, it uses the same 10-megapixel Live MOS sensor as the Panasonic DMC-L10. Personally, I crop a lot and tend to print at 13x19, so that resolution disappoints me a bit. The full 11 cross-type AF sensors, with slightly offset focusing points, sounds like it should provide a fast focusing system when shooting both horizontally and vertically, but only testing will tell. That goes triple for Olympus' claim that the image stabilization system can deliver up to 5 stops latitude, which the company says is more applicable to long, heavy lenses.

The rest looks pretty encouraging, however. It offers a few things the D300 doesn't: a splash-proof (and dust-proof) design; built-in, independent x/y sensor-shift stabilization; huge viewfinder; and a flip-out display, which (to me) improves the usefulness of Live View mode from "so what?" to "Whoa, yeah!" In addition to a standard 2 percent spot meter, the E-3 also offers high-key and low-key spot meter options, which will meter at something other than 18 percent gray to boost highlights or shadows. And you'll be able to set the matrix metering system to evaluate its 44 points worth of data in a spiral or loop scheme. It all sounds nice and whizzy, but just how useful these really are remains to be seen.

For all you strobers, the E-3 also includes an impressive-sounding flash system. It includes a built-in wireless flash controller that can support three flash groups of four channels each. Maximum X-sync speed is 1/250 second and there's a super FP (focal plane) mode which enables sync speed up to 1/8,000 sec.

New Olympus Four Thirds lenses

(Credit: Olympus America)

Without lens announcements trailing it like a caboose, a new dSLR camera announcement just wouldn't be the same. Four with the Zuiko Digital ED brand follow the E-3:

• f2.8-4.0 12mm-60mm SWD (Supersonic Wave Drive)
  24mm-120mm-equivalent; $999.99; available November 2007
• f2.8-3.5 50mm-200mm SWD
  100mm-400mm-equivalent; $1,199.99; available December 2007
• f2.0 14-35mm SWD
  28mm-70mm-equivalent; $2,299.99; available Q1 2008
• 2x Teleconverter EC-20
  $479.99; available December 2007

Olympus hasn't indicated whether or not it's planning to sell a kit version of the E-3. If so, it certainly won't include any of these rather pricey optics.

I don't know for certain, but I doubt there are hordes of E-1 owners who've tenaciously spurned all dSLR suitors while waiting for Olympus to release a new pro model. Then again, for those who invested in the Four Thirds lenses, the E-3 is likely a momentous release. Once we've got one in for evaluation, we'll let you know if it was worth the wait--or too little, too late.

[evarten]

Incorrect specs.

The article says the D300 has a 9 pt. AF system but it actually has the same 51 pt. AF system that the D3 will have. I'm not sure how many of the sensors are cross type though.

Other than the splash/dust proof body, I don't see anything compelling about the E-3. You can get similar specs and a larger sensor in the Canon 40D or Sony A700 for $400 less or pay $100 more and get the superior D300. The Canon and Nikon don't have built-in stabilization but I'd gladly trade that for the larger sensor sizes. The 2x crop factor is the reason I don't like Four Thirds system cameras. The E-3 is great news for Olympus shooters but seems very ho-hum to the rest of the industry in light of the 40D/A700/D300. I might be more enthusiastic if the price tag wasn't $1700.

[make_or_break]

Late is better than not at all

I think it's good that Olympus has finally put a new rig on the market, particularly for new dSLR buyers. Choice is always great, and so is the subsequent competition that follows. For the 4/3rds crowd, it has to certainly be welcome news. Whether its specs are enticing enough to attract new buyers to the 4/3 way of life remains to be seen, but at least the system is still in the game.

As for whether anyone who's already invested in a Canon or Nikon ecosystem would ever consider switching, that's a moot point. Without some sort of profound tech advancement spurring on a need to switch (bayonet vs. screw mount lens, for instance), it rarely if ever happened during the heyday of 35mm film SLRs. I sincerely doubt that it would be any different now in the digital age.

[guswfla]

Olympus E-3 dSLR

Since the normal lens won't be available until the 1st quarter of 2008, how can they say that the camera is now available? Unfashionably late or not, you're looking at a list price of $4,000.00 for the body and a `normal' (zoom) lens: the f2.0 14-35mm SWD (28mm-70mm-equivalent) $2,299.99. Finally, the other lenses listed exceed the 2.7 :: 1 zoom ratio quality rule and have to be optically suspect.

[fionndruinne]

E-3 dead in the water

Not to bash Olympus, but I see this camera as not only late on the market, but priced to fail. I mean, the Canon 40D is a worthy piece of gear, and at a surprisingly more affordable price than the others. The Sony isn't special, but, well, it's Sony, so it'll survive. But the E-3 is priced above both of those, in line with the D300, and the D300 has just about smashed any competition with its array of features. Given the advantages of owning a Nikon system over the still-coughing 4/3 system, no one in their right mind (unless they've already dropped a fortune on high-end 4/3 glass) would buy the E-3 for its initial list price. Just look at the difference in sensor size between the two - APS-C 12MP or little 4/3 10MP for the same price - your choice.