Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The newfangled E-30 digital individual - lens automatic tv camera ( SLR ) from Olympus combine a solid feature set with a truly originative personality . Its foundation is comprised of a uncompromising organic structure design that feels comfortable in the hired man ; a cut - out 2.7 - inch LCD , 12.3 - megapixel image sensor ( ply mess of resolving for 13 - by-19 - column inch prints ) ; and sensor - based image stabilization . The E-30 also packs a handful of surprises that , when immix with its standard features , should get in touch with the expectations of serious photographers .
The surprise start with the E-30 ’s Digital Leveler , which detects the camera ’s delivery and roll and indicates it in the viewfinder . This ply you with a digital level build into the camera , making it easier to square up your nip . If you delight pullulate scene or computer architecture , you ’ll find this feature indispensable . Even though the E-30 ’s aboriginal aspect proportion is 4:3 , it can also capture images in eight extra perspectives : 16:9 , 6:6 , 3:2 , 5:4 , 7:6 , 6:5 , 7:5 , and 3:4 .
The Face Detection system can recognize up to eight faces in a composition , then optimizes exposure and focus to render everyone in the shot understandably . To help keep disquiet junk specks to a minimum , the built - in detritus reduction scheme habituate what Olympus calls aSuper - transonic Wave Filterto remove those tiny corpuscle before they show up in your motion picture . And the E-30 includes Shadow Adjustment Technology that provides exceptional shadow and highlight detail , even in the most difficult lighting condition . This engineering was certify fromApicaland its aim is to make photograph look as much as potential like the world as we see it with our eyes .
Olympus E-30
Art Filters and Multiple Exposures
The E-30 ’s Art Filters and Multiple Exposure functions are two unique feature film that I had n’t seen before in an SLR . Both take advantage of unrecorded View engineering science that enable you to compose and captivate images via the LCD rather of the optical viewfinder .
With Art Filters , you could apply image burden within the tv camera , bypassing the need for artistic post - production . Olympus provides six Art Filters in the E-30 :
Because Art Filters are employ at the time of capture ( you ’re limited to single - shot style ) , the E-30 is able to factor out in exposure and other variables when rendering the persona . For deterrent example , when you ’re using a traditional optic softening filter , line is ordinarily greatly boil down , and often needs to be restored in post - product . But the E-30 is capable to maintain good direct contrast while apply the Soft Focus Art Filter .
Back of Olympus E-30
The resulting Art Filter output is a JPEG image file , but you may have it both ways if you shoot in RAW + JPEG mode . The E-30 provides you with the creatively processed picture and the original unaltered variation too . When you have Art Filters enabled , you ’re required to shoot in resilient View mode . The upside is that you get to preview the issue before snap the shutter . But it does find a bit left using a digital SLR in hot View modality for a model shoot or other serious duty assignment .
Another playfulness dick is the Multiple Exposure routine , which allows you to commingle up to four captures on to one file so you’re able to fuse dissimilar elements into a single range of a function . For deterrent example , imagine that you want a picture of a large full synodic month hanging over your flat construction . You could take one jibe of the construction with the zoom fructify all-embracing to capture the entire social organization ; then , in Multiple Exposure mode , you ’d move the soar to the telephotograph end and take a picture of the synodic month . Both images , at dissimilar focal duration , would be combined into one motion picture . This glide slope is easy with the E-30 than it would be with traditional film cameras because gaining control is render on the LCD so you’re able to more easy compose the next shot . You do n’t have to gauge the placement of the moonlight ; just put it precisely where you want it .
The E-30 also supports immix image in playback mode . And because it provides two memory card slot ( CF and xD - Picture Card ) , you’re able to uphold a depository library of stock images on the xD scorecard , then combine them with late images recorded on the CF card to create multi - image compositions whenever you want . So if you have that terrific full moon shot stored on the xD card , you could practice it to many more compositions over time .
Both shots were captured in the same gym on different days. The Canon 5D Mark II image (left) is at ISO 3,200 and the Olympus E-30 photo (right) is at ISO 1,600.
Image quality
RAW Indian file captured with the E-30 and processed with the bundled Olympus software package showed good item and splendid coloring rendering . ( E-30 altogether files can also be processed in the current version of Photoshop CS4 . ) The Olympus TruePic III+ Image Processor also performed respectably at the higher ISO preferences ( ISO 3,200 is the top setting ) . broadly speaking verbalize , the E-30 compared well at ISO 1,600 to Canon ’s 5D Mark II ( ) at ISO 3,200 , sustain in mind that the 5D Mark II costs double as much as the E-30 and uses a full - skeleton simulacrum sensing element .
Specifications
Macworld’s buying advice
In terms of image quality , performance , features , and conception , the Olympus E-30 heap up well against other digital SLRs in the $ 1,300 toll range . Its originative features are plus , and I very much like having the swing - out LCD screen . I was a little surprised that the E-30 does not have a video capture mode , since it seems utterly designed for recording movies . But that nit away , I imagine this is an excellent putz for originative photographer who want professional features at a reasonable terms .
[ Senior Contributor Derrick Story is the author ofThe Digital Photography Companion(O’Reilly Media ) and hosts a weekly picture taking podcast onwww.thedigitalstory.com . ]
