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3. Key Features
It is immediately evident that a considerable amount of the E-30’s genetic makeup comes from an amalgam of ideas that Olympus has tested successful with many of its current and past E-series DSLR models but none more so than the present flagship the E-3 as the following key features in brief will show:
12.3-megapixel high-speed LiveMOS sensor Previously seen: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 NEW: Manufactured by Panasonic and designed by Olympus, this is a brand new sensor and the first to break the 11-megapixel barrier for Four-Thirds. It’s the same one as that used in the Micro Four-Thirds Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 camera and if we use that as a yardstick, it is very impressive. There are definite plans to use this sensor in subsequent E-series models to come.
LCD Control Panel Previously seen: E-3 You’ll hear me mentioning a lot about how the E-30 borrows heavily from the E-3 and this is just one of many such features. The longish Control Panel sits proudly to the right of the pentaprism and features a night illuminator.
Auto Gradation exposure dynamics Previously seen: E-420, E-520 and E-3 The E-30’s Gradation feature is shared with the E-520 and E-3. You get better management of the highlights as well as shadow area details courtesy of the built-in SAT (Shadow Adjustment Technology) and an improved processor, the TruePic III+. The ‘+’ obviously indicates evolutionary upgrades.
Up to ISO 3200 sensitivity Previously seen: E-3 Similar to the E-3, the E-30 allows for ISO sensitivity all the way from 100 to 3200 in 16 steps (other than AUTO).
Multi-Exposure with overlay Previously seen: No NEW: This is one of several ways that Olympus has exploited the benefits of LiveView. Offering Multi-Exposure with an overlay ability means you can see the composite image gradually forming before your eyes as each additional shot is taken over the previous one. Up to four – and more – images can be composited.
98% FOV 1.02X magnification viewfinder Previously seen: No NEW: Another that is borrowed and adapted from the E-3 is the new viewfinder. Compared to the E-510/520, this one is clearer, brighter, larger and easier to see through. And the info display has gone to the bottom of the viewfinder also.
TruePic III+ image processor Previously seen: No NEW: Evolving from the E-3’s TruePic III processor, the E-30 enjoys some important improvements such as enhanced Gamma correction, higher level of image reproduction details and the introduction of a third-generation noise filter for better high ISO performance.
Creative Art Filters Previously seen: No NEW: In-camera post-processing has gone several notches further with the E-30’s offerings of Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale&Light Colour, Light Tone, Grainy Film and Pin Hole options. All these allow creativity to be closer at hand, reducing computing time, effort and required skills.
High-speed Continuous shooting Previously seen: E-3 With the E-30, up to 12 RAW images can be reeled off at 5 frames per second. This elevates the E-30’s performance to E-3 territory. It’s an impressive feat considering the size of the RAW image files within that time frame.
Articulating 2.7-inch Hypercrystal-II LCD monitor Previously seen: E-3 Following hot on the heels of the E-3, the E-30 also sports a largish LCD monitor that can be twisted around to different angles for wayward shooting positions.
Up to 10X magnification LiveView focusing Previously seen: E-420, E-520 and E-3 At up to 10 times the magnification, LiveView manual and autofocusing takes the guesswork out even under lowlight conditions.
Three offerings of AF sensing technologies Previously seen: E-420 and E-520 The E-30 boasts of a significantly improved contrast-detection autofocusing system making LiveView easier, faster and more efficient courtesy of the new High-Speed Imager-AF technology. Hybrid-AF allows non-compatible Four-Thirds lenses to autofocus while the adoption of the E-3’s A/D modulator helps AF Sensor mode operation improve normal phase-correction autofocusing.
Nine selectable Image Aspect settings Previously seen: No NEW: With nine aspect ratios to choose from – 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 6:6, 5:4, 7:6, 6:5, 7:5 and 3:4 – sensor masking now allows for in-camera cropping that is visible not only in LiveView mode but also via the viewfinder.
Wireless remote flash and 1/250 sec sync speed Previously seen: E-3 Streamlining efforts at Olympus has now resulted in the third E-series DSLR to adopt the wireless remote flash system first seen in the E-3. Now the E-30 enjoys the same benefits and performance quality when used with the FL-36R, FL-50R and the underwater UFL-2 flash units. At 1/250 sec sync speed, higher quality flash images are a 30% improvement over the E-510/520.
11-point dual crosshair autofocusing Previously seen: E-3 Based on the 11 dual crosshair AF points, the E-30 actually has a total of 44 targets to lock on to the subject. Sharing the same technology as the E-3’s, the E-30’s SWD-based autofocusing performance remains amongst the best of breed.
49-segment ESP and ESP-AF metering system Previously seen: E-420, E-520 and E-3 The time-honoured 49 ESP measuring segments continues with the E-30 but now with the new ESP-AF, predictive metering can be confined to the selected AF target(s) to emulate pseudo-style spot metering.
Up to 5 stops of Image Stabilisation Previously seen: E.3 Continuing with the sensor-based image stabiliser, the E-30 shares the E-3’s +5 stops counter-handshake capability with the ability to arrest shake in both planes concurrently or independently one or the other. At 33X, Olympus currently has the largest I.S. focal length coverage of any manufacturer in the market.
Focal length registrable Image Stabilisation Previously seen: E-520 and E-3 When using film-based lenses such as those from the previous OM System, the E-30’s Image Stabilisation allows you to lock in individual focal lengths for a more tailored precise response.
1/8000 sec maximum shutter speed Previously seen: E-3 With a shutter system based on the E-3’s, the E-30 can now perform at a maximum of 1/8000 sec. Couple that to 5fps High Continuous drive mode, this is a very impressive high-speed performer.
Common sharing of HLD-4 battery grip Previously seen: E-3 By sharing the use of the HLD-4 battery grip with the E-3, the E-30 becomes a very attractive and compelling option for existing E-3 users to consider as a second, complimentary or backup camera body.
Face Detection technology Previously seen: E-420 and E-520 Based on the same technology deployed in the E-420/520, the E-30’s Face Detection feature is able to detect up to eight different subject faces and combine them dynamically with ESP metering to create well-defined properly exposed sharply focused images.
Active preview White Balance and Exposure Compensation Previously seen: No NEW: With the E-30’s interpretation of LiveView, you can now use it to preview live changes made to the White Balance and/or Exposure Compensation settings with comparison four-shot mosaic available.
Digital Leveller Previously seen: No NEW: Using two active accelerometers, the E-30 now provides accurate live information as to how much tilt and swing is required to achieve a perfectly level shot via LiveView and also the viewfinder (tilt only).
External White Balance sensor Previously seen: E-3 Outstanding colour accuracy in the E-30 is courtesy of the external WB sensor inherited from the E-3.
External flash connector Previously seen: E-1, E-3 Like the E-3, a separate flash connector allows the E-30 to connect to external cable controlled flash unit(s), making it quite ideal in indoor studio situations.
Depth of Field Preview Previously seen: E-3 Unlike the E-510/520, you no longer have to deliberately assign the feature to the Fn (Function) button and lose its use for other means. Inherited from the E-3 is a separate dedicated button next to the lens mount that functions as a preview for depth of field.
Two dial operation Previously seen: E-1 and E-3 Also borrowed from the E-3 is the dual dial control – Main and Sub Dials. With not one but two dials now, you can customise how you want to shift exposure settings with one dial doing one thing and the other another.
Revised zoom kit lens Previously seen: No NEW! The E-30 also ushers in a second-generation Zuiko Digital 14-54mm (labelled Mk II) weatherproof lens that now supports contrast-detection autofocusing via the High-Speed Imager-AF technology.
Like all other E-series DSLR models, the E-30 shares the following important technologies, features and capabilities:
On-Sensor Dust Reduction First deployment: E-1 Called SSWF for Super Sonic Wave Filter, the E-30’s imager (sensor) will vibrate at 50 KHz to shake dust off, keeping it clean for spotless photography.
Spot with Spot-HI and Spot-SH capabilities First deployment: E-1 Like all current E-series DSLRs, the E-30’s metering options are typically broad. You don’t just get Spot but also biased Spot offerings that meter more accurately for bright highlights (Spot-HI) and richer shadows (Spot-SH).
Five stops of over- and underexposure compensation First deployment: E-1 Not all DSLR cameras have this latitude for exposure shifting but all current E-series models share this capability.
Dual memory card support First deployment: E-500 Particularly useful if you are an existing Olympus digital compact camera user, you will find that your xD-Picture Card memory cards may continue to be useful alongside the superior CompactFlash (CF) options.
Switch-less AF/MF turnover First deployment: E-1 Unlike how other manufacturers resort to a physical lever to switch from AF to MF (and back), every E-series DSLR including the E-30 offers Single- and Continuous-AF modes with manual focusing overrides as in S-AF+MF and C-AF+MF respectively. This way you don’t have to keep switching from one to the other.
Same RM-1 remote controller First deployment: E-1 The same RM-1 remote controller that works with Olympus’ range of digital compact cameras will work identically with every single E-series DSLR past and present including the E-30.
Same BLM-1 lithium battery First deployment: E-1 With the exception of the 400-series, all E-series DSLR models use the same high-capacity lithium battery pack. Hence the BCM-1, BCM-2 and BCM-3 battery chargers are also completely interchangeable in use.
Four-Thirds compatibility First deployment: E-1 Being Four-Thirds, the E-30 enjoys lens interchangeability not just with all past and current lenses from the Zuiko Digital range but also those made by Leica, Panasonic and Sigma. With the MF-1 adaptor ring, the E-30 will also support the use of manual focusing legacy Zuiko lenses from the OM System and third-party OM-compatible lenses.
Zuiko Digital lenses First deployment: E-1 With no less than 22 lenses available in the range, the E-30 benefits from the best line-up of award-winning lenses designed specifically from the ground up for pure digital imaging applications.
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