Overview
The new Olympus E-3 is the flagship of its digital SLR line and combines speed of operation--from startup to capture�with live view and dust-reduction capabilities. It has body-integrated mechanical image stabilization that works with every Zuiko Digital lens, a 10-megapixel sensor, all housed in a dust and splash-proof magnesium alloy body.
The camera's shutter is rated up to 150,000 cycles, so it should withstand heavy duty and professional use. I had a chance to test the camera under a wide range of challenging conditions on the island of Puerto Rico and was impressed by the E-3's handling and image quality.
It's fast
The E-3 has an eleven-point biaxial cross type AF system, five frames-per-second continuous shooting, and 1/8000th second top shutter speed. The target points for the eleven-point AF sensor can be selected individually or in combination with adjacent points.
The sensor has a hounds tooth pattern phase detection layout that uses micro-lamination technologies to produce what Olympus likes to think of as forty-four focus points. Whether I agree with that concept or not, the E-3's AF is fast and crisp and I was able to get sharp, spontaneous images on the streets of Old San Juan.
The camera is available as a body or with an ED 12-60mm f/2.8-4 (24-120mm equivalent) lens that charts new territory in defining what a "kit" lens should be. This versatile lens is part of three new Digital Supersonic Wave Drive(SWD) lenses from Olympus that also includes the ED 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD (100-400mm equivalent) and a ED 14-35mm f/2 SWD (28-70mm equivalent) that's expected to be available in the first quarter of 2008.
Joe Farace
more : adorama
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
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