The Olympus E-3 was until 2010

Olympus Corporation is a Japanese manufacturer of optics and reprography products. Olympus was established on 12 October 1919, initially specializing in microscopes and thermometers. Olympus holds roughly a 70-percent share of the global endoscope market, estimated ...

's flagship camera, positioned as a professional

DSLR camera A digital single-lens reflex camera (digital SLR or DSLR) is a digital camera that combines the optics and the mechanisms of a single-lens reflex camera with a digital imaging sensor. The reflex design scheme is the primary difference between a ...

. It is the successor to the Olympus E-1, which was launched in November 2003. The E-3, originally codenamed Olympus E-P1, was announced on 17 October 2007. The E-3, like the other cameras in the Olympus E-series, conforms to the Four Thirds system. It was succeeded in 2010 by the

Olympus E-5 The Olympus E-5 was Olympus Corporation's flagship camera, positioned as a professional Digital single-lens reflex camera, DSLR camera. It is the successor to the Olympus E-3, which was launched on October 17, 2007. The E-5 was announced on Septe ...

professional DSLR flagship camera.

Features

The E-3 has several novel features, including a live preview full

articulating screen An articulating screen is a built-in small electronic visual display which is not fixed, but rather can be repositioned using a hinge or pivot. The articulating screen is known under different other names such as flip-out screen, flip screen, adjus ...

, autofocus in live view mode, the ability to capture a scene with wide dynamic range using an image processing method called ''shadow adjustment technology'' and the ability to control up to three wireless flash groups without external transmitters. The camera is also fully weatherproof even with the popup flash in the "up" position. The camera, with the new SWD ( ultrasonic motor) lenses, is expected to appeal to professional users who want a rugged, portable and lightweight camera body with quality lenses and class leading autofocus. Additional features include: * Fast autofocus (Olympus claims that this was the world's fastest autofocus at the time the camera was released (when used with the Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f/2.8-4 SWD lens at 60mm, as of October 2007). * 100% viewfinder with ×1.15 magnification with a 50 mm lens (as 25 mm is the "standard" lens on the 4/3 format, this is equivalent to ×0.57 in 35 mm format) * External white balance sensor * 5 frames per second (frame/s) capture speed * 11 point biaxial cross AF sensor that works at −2 EV at ISO 100 * In-body

image stabilization Image stabilization (IS) is a family of techniques that reduce blurring associated with the motion of a camera or other imaging device during exposure. Generally, it compensates for pan and tilt (angular movement, equivalent to yaw and pit ...

achieved by moving the sensor (thus, it works with any lens) * Environmentally sealed magnesium alloy camera body *

Dust reduction system A dust reduction system, or dust removal system, is used in several makes of digital cameras to remove dust from the image sensor. Every time lenses are changed, dust may enter the camera body and settle on the image sensor. Digital single-lens ...

(Supersonic Wave Filter) * Shutter tested to 150,000 cycles * Internal Viewfinder shutter * 'X' sync and External remote ports The camera is compatible with existing BLM-1 batteries used in the E-1, E-300, E-330, E-500 and E-510. The camera was reviewed by Digital Photography Review in February 2008 by Simon Joinson. The E-3 is equipped with a better sensor than other DSLRs marketed by Olympus at the time of its release, allowing the user to operate at higher ISO settings without producing as much noise. Along with other Olympus 4/3rds bodies, the E-3 has a very 'maintenance free' approach due to it having on-demand pixel mapping, the SSWF 'dust shaker',

vignetting In photography and optics, vignetting is a reduction of an image's brightness or saturation toward the periphery compared to the image center. The word ''vignette'', from the same root as ''vine'', originally referred to a decorative border ...

and distortion correction either in-camera or during editing with Olympus software. Olympus have also implemented on-demand firmware updates for all their bodies, lens and flash units.

Features

References

External links