Olympus E-30

Olympus has introduced the E30, a first of its kind in pro-consumer digital SLR cameras from Olympus for the first time. With many advanced amateur photo shooters who really get knocked off by the plethora of Nikon’s D90 or Canon’s 50D camera intricacies, the Olympus E30 offers to be the better viable option in the “prosumer” or “semi-pro” segment.

The E-30 fits in the spectrum of the E-System lineup above the E-520 as a mid-range advanced DSLR, while the E-3 remains at the top as the flagship Olympus DSLR. The E-30 promises to deliver the same high-precision performance and imaging quality demanded by professional photographers who use the E-3, as well as the consumer-friendly features found on the E-520

The Image Sensor

The E-30 features a newly designed 12.3 megapixel Live MOS imager that works in conjunction with the same open-format Four Thirds lens and body system that previous Olympus DSLRs have participated in. A new TruePic III+ processor rounds out the system’s imaging hardware, with the E-30 borrowing a variant of the professional E-3’s 11 point AF system and offering an upgraded version of Olympus’s well-known live view technology. The E30 offers autofocus speeds with a fully-biaxial 11-point AF, 5fps sequential shooting and a shutter that’s as fast as 1/8000th sec.

E-30 Body

The Olympus E-30 body looks quite similar when it comes to the appearance of the E-3; however the housings of E-30 do differ vastly. Although the E-30 is built in a composite body whereas the professional E-3 is alloy, the mid-level Olympus carries several other design touches over from the advanced model in addition to its grip and its generally robust feel. A number of new buttons, and other buttons have either been replaced or have disappeared all together from E-3. The Olympus E30 digital SLR camera fits solidly and pleasantly in the hand. The buttons on the back of the camera next to the monitor are directly accessible with the thumb of your right hand, which adds to a swift operation.

LCD display and viewfinder

Framing can be undertaken through a conventional viewfinder which offers an approx 98% field of view and approx 1.02x magnification (-1m-1, 50mm, at infinity). Or, for greater flexibility, compositions can be framed using the 2.7” / 6.9cm HyperCrystal II LCD with 176° viewing angles. This offers complete framing freedom through its free-angle design which allows even the most adventurous perspectives to be captured. The effects of adjustments to settings can also be monitored in real time.  LCD depictions are extremely fast and faithful, making Live View framing significantly more comfortable than before. Views can be enlarged by a factor of 5x, 7x or 10x, enabling the photographer to close-in on subject details to check, for example, the focus.

Olympus also claims to have improved the E-30’s live view system – namely in the arena of contrast-detection AF, which allows you to focus in live view mode without blacking out the preview to do it.

Shooting speed with the E-30

Photographers can also look forward to an accelerated experience in situations when every fraction of a second counts: up to 5fps can be recorded by the E-30 in full 12.3 Megapixel quality (with a 12 image RAW buffer in burst mode) for capturing fast-moving scenes. And for freezing high-speed action – or shooting in bright sunlight with the aperture wide open – this model enables shutter speeds as fast as 1/8000th sec. Flash synchronisation at up to 1/250th sec. further enhances its flexibility.

Camera speed with Autofocus System of E-30

Also with the new improved live view system, which allows you to focus in live view mode without blacking out the preview, is quite impressive when compared to the other cameras. But when most live view DSLRs (including Olympus’s previous models) still take several seconds to lock focus using contrast-detection AF, the E-30’s consistent sub-second performance feels like a big jump forward.

The E-30 offers two systems to quickly focus and capture the image. The other system – Phase Detection AF – This 11 point twin cross sensor provides world-class fast and accurate focusing. The E-30 takes advantage of the SWD lens speed. The alignment of the optical axis from the lens to the AF phase detection sensors combined with accurate mounting of the sensors within the AF unit delivers accurate and fast focusing.

E-30 Art Filters

New to the E-30 is technology is the feature of Art Filters, that Olympus claims to help photographers conveniently transform a basic image that faithfully represents the scene into an image that carries emotional impact. Art Filters are activated via the mode dial on the left side of the camera body, and the effects are viewable right on the new camera’s 100 percent accurate swivel 2.7-inch Live View HyperCrystal™ LCD.  Olympus E-30 introduces the following art filters – Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pin Hole.

Technical Specifications

Effective Pixels number

Image Pickup Unit

Recording

Viewfinder

Live View

Image Stabilizer

LCD Display

Focusing

Exposure Control

White Balance

Color Mode

Picture Mode

Shutter

Drive

Integrated Flash

Wireless flash control

Art Filter

Multi Exposure

Multi Aspect

Level Gauge

Control panel

Super control panel

Playback

Menu

Reset & custom setting

Image Editing

Print

Input/Output

Power Requirements

Dimensions/Weight

Operating Environment

Splash proof

Box contents