Olympus E-3 Body Only Digital Camera – A Revolution in Four Thirds Sensor

The Olympus E-3 has taken a long time of four years to succeed the Olympus E-1 and it can be unhesitatingly said that it is a worthy successor. It is a revolution in the Four Thirds system and it is unmatchable in its strong points like indoor photography and still life photography. However it compromises on the image quality in some aspects and it is not suitable for use in high ISO settings.

The Viewfinder is an excellent addition to this camera and it comes with 100 percent coverage and a magnification factor of 1.1x. This is higher than most other DSLR cameras in the same price range. Combined with the 4:3 aspect ratio of the Four Thirds system , the big and comfortable eye cup it offers the full range view normally associated with more expensive and more high tech full frame cameras.

The Live View mode was initially pioneered by Olympus and it excels in this camera. The Live View mode can be a bit slow if you use the LCD but it makes it a bit easier by offering other features that make up for it. The time response is not helped by the reminder to switch on the Viewfinder’s cover. It is a feature that most DSLR should have however it proves annoying to the expert as it takes precious seconds when you have to shoot in a hurry. The Live View mode still needs the flip up mirror like most DSLR cameras but with the flip and twist LCD it offers some interesting angles like shooting above your head. The drawback in the Live View mode is the rather small 2.5” LCD screen which could have been slightly bigger and it also has a slightly less resolution than its competition.

The Olympus E-3 comes in a magnesium alloy body that is weatherproof, splash proof and dust proof. It performs equally well in the windy desert as in the icy mountains. The build also looks rich and befitting of the price of the camera. The body contains the standard front and back dials along with a plethora of direct access buttons. A nice touch is the Viewfinder showing the direct access options even options like the white balance which don’t usually appear there.

The Olympus E-3 fails when it has to shoot at low light at ISO greater than 2000 as it simply not built for that kind of work. The noise level is just too great to be tolerated and if your work is primarily in low light this camera is unsuitable for you. Similarly though it has a fast response it still cannot be used for fast indoor sports or dynamic photography. The design is also slightly clunky and it has a smallish LCD that is not quite precise enough for manual focus in Live View mode.

The Olympus E-3 is certainly a class topper in the Four Thirds system though if it will be able to convince users of other sensors to convert to this system is debatable. The Olympus E-3 is a solid camera that will certainly cater to your needs especially if you master it. To find the best price you can go to Price Compare website.