It is now Sunday, September 6th and I am on a plane headed towards Orlando, Florida. I have a two hour flight ahead of me and then an 8 day cruise so I decided to get started on this Olympus E-3 and Olympus E-30 review that I have been putting off for two weeks. This review was supposed to be written a while ago, but when the Leica 21 and 24 Summilux arrived, I pushed it back. I guess you can say that I was more excited about the $12,000 worth of Leica lenses I had on hand! What Leica nut wouldn't be?

Anyway, being a huge huge fan of the original 4/3 camera, the Olympus E-1, I decided it would be fun to try out the current Olympus flagship, the E-3. After reading on the forums about the E-30 I wanted to compare them side by side. The E-3 is THE Olympus Flagship. Its built like a tank, is fully weather sealed and is said to have a rich quality about it’s files. The E-30 uses newer technology, is not made quite as well, but is said to have “better” overall image quality. It is also a hundred or two cheaper.

So what I wanted to know is:

A: Did the E-3 improve upon the now classic and legendary E-1 in image quality, handling, and color? (hard to do IMO as the E1’s color was and is PERFECT)

B: Did the newer E-30 keep the “rich” quality of the E1 and E3 while improving high ISO noise and general IQ?

and C: Would I enjoy shooting a DSLR again after shooting my M8 rangefinder for so long? If so, would I like one of these cameras enough to buy one for myself?

I gave my contact at B&H Photo a call and he said “Ill send you both with a couple of lenses and you can test them out”! GREAT! Now I would have both cameras, side by side with the Zuiko 14-54 II lens on one and the Zuiko 12-60 Lens on the other. Within days the big box arrived and inside was the 4 silver boxes.

I carefully took them out of the boxes, charged the batteries and started my evaluation.

So with that said,  lets get to the good stuff! I started shooting the E-30 first as I already knew about the E-3 and had shot one a year prior for a month. My first impression of the E-3 a year ago was not so good. I must admit I actually disliked it and thought Olympus screwed up their E1 with a follow up that took years but failed to deliver after the long wait and hype. I sold that E-3 after shooting a San Francisco vacation with it. I found the dynamic range lacking, the high ISO noise excessive and the color was just not the same as it was with the old, classic, beautiful E-1. The camera was also LARGE and I thought the whole point of 4/3 was so cameras could be smaller?

In any case, here I am a year later with another Oly E-3 to try out and this time I feel a little different about it. Before I get to my impressions of the camera, here are the specs on the E3:

• High-performance 10.1 Megapixel Live MOS Sensor

The 10-megapixel Live MOS Image Sensor delivers the high resolution you need to accurately reproduce subject details with rich tones and natural colors for large format print sizes, while also exhibiting lower power consumption than previous incarnations, so you can shoot longer.

• TruePic III Digital Image Processing System

The camera's Live MOS image sensor is complemented by Olympus' exclusive TruePic III Image Processor that produces crystal clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to provide the best digital images possible with accurate natural color, true-to-life flesh tones, brilliant blue skies and precise tonal expression. TruePic III also lowers image noise in images shot at higher ISO settings, enabling great results in low-light situations.

• Olympus Zuiko Digital Lenses

All Olympus Zuiko lenses are precision-engineered and designed especially for digital photography to provide edge-to-edge clarity and even brightness across your image. Furthermore, there is a large selection of Zuiko lenses available ranging from extremely wide angle to high zoom telephoto lenses as well as specialty lenses, and all Zuiko Digital lenses are compatible with all Olympus E-System digital SLR cameras. The E-3 is also fully compatible with Olympus Supersonic Wave Drive (SWD) lenses that enable auto focusing at ultra-high speed with precise and quiet operation.

• In Camera Blur Reduction

Effectively reduce blur with the exclusive Supersonic Wave Drive (SWD) in-body Image Stabilization System, and you'll achieve up to a five step EV stabilization effect with all Zuiko Digital Lenses. Moreover, the built-in SWD Image Stabilization offers the advantage of providing image stabilization for every lens attached to the camera body, so there is no need to purchase image stabilized lenses at a premium price.

• Incredibly Fast Auto Focus

The exclusive 11-point biaxial auto focus system features an innovative hounds tooth-pattern phase detection sensor layout that uses micro-lamination technologies to achieve superior real-world performance, and coupled with (SWD) Supersonic Wave Drive lenses provides exacting auto focus precision at exceptional speeds. AF accuracy is further ensured by precise alignment, and accurate mounting of the sensors within the AF unit.

• Fast Continuous Shooting

The ability to shoot up to five frames per second means you can capture fast-moving moments and get amazing results, plus the UDMA CompactFlash compatibility enhances capture speeds for the ultimate in shooting performance.

• Live View Shooting

Olympus Live View provides users the ability to easily compose their subjects live on the LCD and see precisely how the settings they select impact the image before the shutter is released and the image is captured, and offers a level of versatility and creative control that cannot be achieved by other digital SLR cameras that only offer an optical viewfinder.

• 2.5-inch Dual-axis, Free-angle LCD Display

The 2.5" Live View HyperCrystal LCD provides many times the contrast of conventional LCD monitors and a resolution of approximately 230,000 pixels for easier viewing in both preview and playback. It also provides a wide viewing angle of 170 degrees, which ensures images can be composed from even the most obscure angles, and its 360-degree articulation, makes composition and image viewing possible at any angle. Furthermore, the LCD provides magnification of the subject by a factor of up to 10 times, enabling users to confirm sharp, pinpoint focus.

• High Eye Point Optical Viewfinder

The large, easy-to-see optical viewfinder delivers the precise compositional accuracy demanded by the most discriminating photographer. With 1.15x magnification and 100 percent accuracy, photographers can rely on the E-3 to capture exactly what they compose through the optical viewfinder, so what you see is what you get when viewing images back at the computer. This optical viewfinder also reduces eyestrain and makes manual focusing easier.

• High-speed, Durable Shutter

With an impressive maximum shutter speed of 1/8000-second the E-3 enables you to freeze even the fastest subjects. Users can also set the shutter speeds as long as 60 seconds in Manual or Automatic settings for low light shooting or unique visual effects. The durable shutter mechanism ensures reliability, and has been tested to 150,000 cycles, making the E-3 capable of withstanding heavy day-to-day use.

• Proven Dust Reduction System

The Olympus E-3 is equipped with the Supersonic Wave Filter (SWF) self-cleaning ultrasonic sensor unit that eliminates dust particles on the sensor by silently vibrating at an amazing 30,000 times per second, thereby ensuring spot-free images.

• Rugged Weatherproof Magnesium-alloy Construction

The E-3 is built using a unique casting technology to create a stronger magnesium chassis for greater durability, and its classic penta-mirror design is portable enough to comfortably shoot with all day. The camera is also sealed to make it splash-proof and dust-proof, and when used with Olympus 'High Grade' and 'Super High Grade' lenses, it is sealed from the elements to perform in the most rugged conditions.

• Intuitive Controls and Menus

The Olympus E-3 provides unparalleled ease of use resulting from menus that make sense and buttons on the body that are easy to understand and operate for total manual control, to customizable settings for every imaginable situation.

• Dual Memory Card Slots

the Olympus E-3 has two card slots so the camera is compatible with CompactFlash (Type I & II, UDMA), Microdrives and xD-Picture Cards, thereby providing a choice of data storage options for enhanced flexibility. Plus, it is possible to transfer image files from one card to the other right inside the camera.

So now that I have had the chance to shoot the Olympus E-3 once again, I did indeed like it better this time around. Since I get to try so many cameras and DSLR’s I can appreciate a few of the things on the E-3. It has a tremendous build quality that puts most Canon’s to shame, even the 5DMKII. Its weather sealed and can be shot in rain, snow or sleet. The Compact Flash door is SOLID and reminds me of the pro nikon bodies. It’s dust cleaner is the original and the best. I have never had an issue with dust on an Olympus camera. It also has a swivel fold out LCD which can be used in conjunction with Live View for some very cool creative shooting. Its AF? SUPERB!

With all of these PRO features the E-3 is priced very competitively in comparison to other DSLR’s on the market. For example, the closest competitor to it is the now discontinued Nikon D300 which sold for hundreds more than the Olympus did not even have all of the features of the E-3. So what is the deal then? Why does the Nikon outsell the Olympus by 10 to 1? Well, IMO it is the 4/3 format. The 4/3 format, to me at least, has many limitations like the sensor with its 2X crop smaller sensor. Also, high ISO noise. Being a smaller sensor, the E3 and E-30 will have more noise at higher ISO’s. Also, dynamic range suffers over larger sensor cameras.

What about the image quality of the Olympus E-3? Well, its actually excellent. While you may not have the best high ISO performance or the most dynamic range, the E3 files are indeed “rich” and look pro. Some of my images rivaled my Leica M8, and that is a good thing indeed!

The high ISO of the Olympus E3 was surprisingly good for a 4/3 camera. With previous 4/3 cameras it was tough to look at high ISO shots as they lost their depth, color and the noise looked awful. With the E-3 you get some pretty decent high ISO performance IF you have some light around. In the dark it loses it but in conditions with at least some light in the room you get good performance. BUT it is no where NEAR the Nikon D700 or D3 in regards to high ISO/low light. Again, NOT EVEN CLOSE.

The shots below were taken in my living room during the day at ISO 1600 and 3200.

100% CROP OF ISO 1600 ON THE E3 - NOT TOO BAD!

ISO 3200 CROP ON THE E3

From looking at these samples you can see that Olympus has improved the high ISO of their cameras since the E1. BUT it is still no where in the league of the Nikons and Canons when shot in darker conditions. If you do shoot in the dark with one of these Olympus 2.8 Zooms you will be very limited in what you can achieve. If you have some OK light then you can crank it up to 3200 and get decent results.

I promised a “mini” review so here is my summary of my time with the Olympus E3...It has superb build quality for a DSLR in the $1100 price range. As a matter of fact, there is no DSLR built better for this kind of cash. It has all the bells and whistles like blazingly fast and ACCURATE AF which I found to be pretty amazing. The live view works well and the twist out LCD allowed me to be creative with my shooting. BUT, I did not really care for the ergonomics of the E-3. To me, Olympus screwed up the styling and feel of their classic E-1 and made a bulky, large, cumbersome beast of a camera. It’s buttons are oddly placed and the feel in my hand was not one I really enjoyed.

On the flip side, the Image Quality between ISO 100-640 was superb and had a rich, 3D feel to it. The E-3 renders images in a way that most professional cameras do. Its neutral and gives you plenty of room for post processing. You won’t see any bright disney like colors here and I THANK the heavens for that. The resolution at 10MP is plenty for just about any printing situation, and I can indeed say that the E3 can and will give you professional quality results in a pro body. All for under $1100. Did I enjoy it more than the several year old E1? Nope, but remember the E1 is pretty dated and has pretty bad high ISO performance at anything over its base ISO. The E1 was and is magical with its color but the E3 does indeed improve on the E1 in every area BUT the color.

If you have some nice Olympus Zuiko glass and are in the 4/3 camp then I can recommend the E3 as long as you do not mind a larger body. Its no larger than a Nikon D300 but for 4/3 it seems large. It is an upgrade to the E1 and can pump out quality files. JPEGs are almost as good as the RAW files. Would I buy one today? If I was in the market for a DSLR and my budget was only $1100 for a body then I would indeed buy the Olympus E3 over an $1100 Nikon or Canon. If I had another $400-$500 it would be a new Nikon D300s. The Oly is a great camera and is a tool that has only a few limitations. The best place to buy this camera online would be my favorite dealer, B&H Photo. You can click here to go to their E-3 page and check pricing and stock. When you buy your camera there using these links, I get a TEENY TINY percentage that help to fund this site and keep it going!

With the E-3 shooting out of the way I started shooting the E-30. The first thing I noticed is that everything on the E-30 is made cheaper than the E-3. The build feels and looks cheaper, the buttons look and feel cheaper and the size is about the same. For $200 less than an E-3 you lose the weather sealing and pro build but gain a couple million mega-pixels and better high ISO performance.

Remember, I do not do scientific reviews. I do not sit in my home shooting walls, newspaper, rulers or ANYTHING else that I would not normally shoot. Why would I? I have been reading reviews for years but stopped about a year ago when I realized that I could care less how sharp newspaper text was in an image. I do NOT shoot newspapers! Instead, I look for the things we should ALL be looking at.

1. 1.File quality and character - Is the file of good quality? Meaning, is the color, sharpness and detail looking good? The E-3 and E-30 pass this test.
   

2. 2. Do the images you take with a camera give you the warm ad fuzzies? Some E-3 images did!
   

3. 3. Can the camera excel at any photo opportunity? Almost, see below...
   

4. 4. How does it handle high ISO? Good in decent light, suffers in low light.
   

5. 5. Is the AF accurate? E-3 has amazing AF, and the E-3 is also superb.
   

6. 6. Finally, are their quality lenses available for the camera? YES! Zuiko lenses are top notch!
   

The Olympus E-30 section of this review will be kept pretty short. In my real world use I much more enjoyed the E-3. It just is a much better made camera. The shutter sounded nicer and quieter in the E-3. With the E-30 it sounded like a loud “clunk”. Also, the buttons on the E-30 did not feel nearly as nice. Both cameras look similar and feel similar in the hand but on a build quality level, the E3 killed the E30. How about image quality?

The E-30 gives MUCH different image quality out of the camera over the E-3. Let me explain...

When shooting the E-3 your images are kind of dull. You have to process the images in photoshop to liven them up IF you like your images more colorful and to have that “POP”. The E-30 gives you this “POP” right out of the camera. The images are more colorful, brighter (exposes a bit different) and sharper. You are also getting a little more resolution out of the E-30.

Still, I enjoyed  the E-3 more. The E-30 overexposed many of my shots and I ended up with blown highlights, even when using spot metering. Sometimes it was spot on, sometimes it was not and I am not sure why as the E-3 gave me no problems.

As for high ISO performance, everyone told me that the Olympus E-30 was much better than the E-3 in this area. When I tested it out I found the results to be similar to the E-3 but maybe a LITTLE bit better.

So, with sticking to my promise of keeping this short let me say that the E-30 is still a great camera for the money! It gave me good image quality when used with the Olympus 12-60 Zoom lens and the only complaints I had were the body shape and style as well as the occasional blown highlights I would get when shooting in brighter light. The overall tone of the images was different with the E-30 over the E-3 and it lost some of that “depth” and 3D effect. The E-30 is $900 and for that you get a VERY capable DSLR with great AF, great IQ and decent high ISO performance. You also gain some cool filter effects like the ART filters that are in the newer E-P1.

If you like shooting JPEG and want terrific straight from camera results, the E-30 would be the one I recommend (or the fantastic E-P1). Either one of these cameras is an upgrade from the old E-1 in almost every area but color. Yes, I still love the original E-1’s color and I still recommend B&H photo for all of your camera needs! Click here for their E-30 page!

Now for some more images which are the most important test in judging a cameras performance or “character”. I saw more depth in the E-3 images, but your mileage may vary! Enjoy, and thanks for reading my mini write up on the E-3 and E-30 cameras! I will actually have more images up in a week or so from these cameras. I am on a cruise ship as I write this and do not have access to all of my images!

OLYMPUS E-30