Olympus Evolt E-3 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with
Mechanical Image Stabilization
The new Olympus E-3
is the flagship of its Digital SLR line and provides
the high-precision performance demanded by
professional and enthusiastic photographers. It
combines speed and weatherproof durability for
capturing exceptional images in any situation.
Olympus pioneered Full Time Live View and Dust
Reduction technologies for digital SLR cameras,
leading where others have followed. Now, the new E-3
enhances those technical innovations and raises the
performance bar with the fastest autofocus in the
world. Body-Integrated Mechanical Image
Stabilization to stabilize every lens, a
10-megapixel Live MOS image sensor to capture
beautiful images, and a magnesium alloy body for
dust-proof and splash-proof durability join the
impressive innovations developed for the E-3.
Evolt E-3 DSLR Highlights
SPEED. The world’s fastest Auto Focus system
when combined with Zuiko Digital Specific SWD
12-60mm lens.
The E-3’s AF system works in the blink of an eye to
ensure you never miss a shot. When combined with the
Zuiko Digital SWD ED 12-60mm lens, the E-3’s AF
technology works at speeds unmatched by any other
camera in the world. An 11-point full twin-cross AF
sensor system produces tack sharp images. Dual
sensing arrays on horizontal and vertical axes are
arranged in a unique half pitch shifted pattern for
ultimate precision. Critical auto focus functions
are faster: processing speed, object capturing, and
tracking performance. A dedicated data processing
engine and a new AF algorithm rapidly handle sensor
information. New pixel multiplication technologies
gives the E-3 an AF luminescence range of -2 to 19
EV for better low light shooting
Enhanced SWD Technology The ultra-fast auto
focus speed of the E-3 is partly due to the
sophisticated Supersonic WaveDrive motors in our new
Zuiko Digital lenses. Combined with an ultra-compact
encoder for detecting rotational movement with 5 µm
precision, these lenses work smoothly, quietly and
instantaneously.
Shutter speeds that truly let you capture it all Imagine what you could shoot with a shutter speed of
1/8000 of a second and an X-sync speed of 1/250
second. Freeze action while photographing a cheetah
in motion. Or clearly capture a 96mph fastball as it
connects with a bat. You can shoot at maximum
aperture even in bright sunlight and take full
advantage of the unmatched imaging power of Zuiko
Digital lenses. A simplified mirror design gives the
E-3 the fastest response time of any Olympus
E-series camera.
Blazing shot-to-shot response Shoot in
high-speed succession. The sequential 5
frames-per-second shooting comes from the rapid
reading speed of the Live MOS Sensor coupled with a
newly-developed TruePic III image processor and the
re-designed mirror.
IMAGE QUALITY.
The E-3 delivers sharp shots in low light or with a
telephoto lens, even without a tripod. A
sophisticated image stabilization system compensates
for camera shake by shifting the image sensor an
equivalent of 5 shutter speed steps -- all possible
thanks to a gyro sensor that detects even the
slightest hand tremble. An in-body image
stabilization system gives you the freedom to use
any Four Thirds lens. They are significantly smaller
and lighter than other lenses because they don’t
need an image stabilization component in the optics.
10.1 megapixels of amazing clarity Capture
high-resolution images with rich tones and natural,
true-to-life color. The E-3’s 10.1-megapixel,
high-speed Live MOS sensor features excellent
dynamic range, accurate color fidelity, and a new,
advanced circuit to eliminate noise. The sensor’s
low power usage saves battery life.
True color thanks to TruePic III The Live MOS
sensor is complemented by the TruePic III Image
Processor. It produces crystal-clear photos using
all the pixel information from each image to provide
accurate, natural color, true-to-life flesh tones
and precise tonal expression. TruePic III lowers the
noise in images shot with ramped-up ISO settings
resulting in blur-free photos in low light.
Great photos start with precision-crafted glass You need high-quality lenses to achieve superior
image quality. Zuiko Digital lenses are designed to
work exclusively with digital cameras today and
ready to work seamlessly with future
high-performance image sensors. This large,
award-winning family of lenses is perfectly matched
to the E-3’s image sensor so every pixel is properly
exposed. The results? Photos with bright colors and
incredible edge-to-edge sharpness that can’t compare
to shots taken with traditional film lenses.
VIEWING. Shoot from unique angles for more
creative control with Live View.
Olympus is the undisputed leader in Live View LCD
technology. It lets you see your subject on a large,
bright screen in real time. The E-3 features an
articulating, 2.5-inch Live View LCD screen that can
be rotated up and down and from side to side. It
covers all viewing angles so high and low angle
shots are easy to compose and shoot. The LCD shows
100 percent field-of-view for accuracy. The Live
View screen can also be used for AF shooting.
Make adjustments quickly Instantly check the
effects of white balance adjustment and exposure
compensation in real time on the Live View LCD
before shooting. You’ll be able to monitor image
quality more closely and exert greater creative
control.
Magnify it The E-3’s Live View feature lets
you magnify your subject right on the LCD by a
factor of 5, 7 or 10 times for sharp, pinpoint focus
-- a great feature for macro shooting.
Choose your framing assist pattern Three
different framing assist patterns -- a grid, golden
section or a scale -- can be displayed on the LCD
without switching the actual physical focusing
screen. You can even see an easy-to-read histogram
that checks the exposure condition. A bright viewing
idea. A sensor on the LCD swivel detects your
surroundings brightness. The screen will brighten or
dim for optimum visibility and to reduce glare.
RELIABILITY. All the technology to ensure
reliable performance in the most demanding shooting
conditions.
The E-3 is equipped with a large optical viewfinder
that provides 100 percent accurate viewing and 1.15x
magnification for reliable composition--what you see
is exactly what you’ll get. Even fine details are
seen with astonishing clarity. The E-3’s large,
precision-crafted pentaprism is made from high
refractive index glass with a highly-reflective
silver coating. The eyepiece uses glass lenses. All
the lenses are surface coated to maintain
brightness. The focusing screen features a Neo Lumi-Micro
Mat for bright, easy-to-adjust manual focusing.
Keeping the dust out Spots on photos are now
banished forever. The Olympus dust reduction system
is an industry first and a proven technology. Every
time you turn on the E-3, our Supersonic Wave Filter
-- located between the shutter and the image sensor
-- silently vibrates an amazing 30,000 times per
second. Dust is blasted away. The dust reduction
system even removes dust attached by intermolecular
force that can’t be shaken off or discharged with
static electricity. Dust will no longer get between
you and a great shot.
One tough, hard body Shoot anywhere, anytime,
in any condition. The E-3 body--even the built-in
flash and LCD--is splash and dustproof. Constructed
from a magnesium-alloy with a homogeneous
composition, the E-3 is lightweight yet strong and
rugged. The same goes for Zuiko Digital lenses.
You’ll find splash and dust-proof models that are as
tightly sealed as the camera.
New Lenses (sold separately)
Launching together with the new Olympus E-3 digital
SLR (single lens reflex) camera, Olympus proudly
adds three new Zuiko Digital lenses to its line of
100-percent digital-specific optics. These
innovative lenses employ Olympus’ newly-developed
Supersonic Wave Drive (SWD) technology inside to
provide quiet, ultra-fast autofocus speed, and offer
several impressive distinctions, including:
New Zuiko
Digital ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD, in combination
with the E-3, delivers the fastest autofocus
speed in the world
The Zuiko
Digital ED 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 SWD focuses twice
as fast as the previous Zuiko Digital lens with
that focal length
The Zuiko
Digital ED 14-35mm f2.0 SWD joins the existing
Zuiko Digital 35-100mm f2.0 as the brightest
fixed aperture lenses in their class.
About Supersonic
Wave Drive Technology Olympus-proprietary SWD
technology has enabled an ultra-fast, whisper-quiet,
high-precision AF system. Two compact, high-powered
Supersonic Wave Drive devices power autofocus at an
ultra-high speed by exciting unique elliptical
oscillations, while an ultra-compact 5.3mm x 4.3mm
optical encoder detects and controls the lens drive
position using direct rotation detection without
reduction gear. This enables it to achieve a level
of precision that’s accurate to 5 microns (5/1000
mm). When used in combination with the new E-3,
which offers improved AF computation and lens-body
communication rates, the SWD motors provide the
fastest focusing speed of approximately 170 ms (0.17
seconds).
Moreover, a new ultra-compact, high-performance
Zuiko Digital EC-20 2x teleconverter doubles the
focal lengths of any lens attached from the wide
selection of Four Thirds and Olympus E-System
lenses, for twice the telephoto power. Now the Zuiko
Digital ED 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 SWD (100-400mm
equivalent), combined with the EC-20, will provide a
huge equivalent zoom range of 200-800mm.
Approx. 1.15 x
with a 50mm lens set to infinity at -1
dioptres
Depth of field
preview
Yes Preview
button
Eye point
20 mm
Diopter
adjustment
Yes -3.0 -
+1.0 diopter / built-in type
Focusing
screen
Interchangeable type
Mirror
Quick return
mirror
Viewfinder
Information
Yes
Eye piece
shutter
built-in type
Top Display
Displayed
information
Activated AF
points
BKT
notification
B/W mode
notification
Drive mode
Exposure
compensation indication
Exposure mode
Flash mode
Focus mode
ISO
Metering mode
Number of
storable frames
Record mode
White balance
White balance
compensation value
Back light
timer
8 s
Super
Control Panel
Displayed
information
Metering mode
Yes
Exposure mode
Yes
Aperture value
Yes
Shutter speed
Yes
Exposure level
view
Yes
Flash
compensation value
Yes
Exposure
compensation indication
Yes
AE bracketing
Yes
ISO
Yes
Colour space
Yes
Picture mode
Yes
Gradation
Yes
Colour
saturation compensation value
Yes
Sharpness
compensation value
Yes
Contrast
compensation value
Yes
White balance
Yes
White balance
compensation value
Yes
Noise
reduction
Yes
AEL
notification
Yes
Flash mode
Yes
Focus mode
Yes
AF frame
Yes
Drive mode
Yes
Record mode
Yes
Number of
storable frames
Yes
Memory card
Yes
Battery
indicator
Yes
Super
Control Panel (Flash)
Displayed
information
AF illuminator
disactivated notification
AEL
notification
Aperture value
Bracketing
Built-in flash
intensity
Colour space
Exposure
compensation indication
Exposure mode
Flash
compensation value
Group settings
Noise
reduction
Shutter speed
Wireless
channel setting
Live View
Information
100% field of
view, exposure adjustment preview, white
balance adjustment preview, gradation auto
preview, gridline displayable, 5x/7x/10x
magnification possible, MF/S-AF, AF frame
display, AF point display, shooting
information, histogramme
Image
Stabiliser
Type
Sensor shift
Modes
Two-dimensional or one-dimensional
activation
Effective
Compensation Range
Up to 5 EV
steps
Focusing
System
Method
TTL phase
difference detection system
Focus areas
11 points /
fully biaxial, automatic and manual
selection
AF illuminator
Yes Built-in
flash (external flash available)
AF lock
Yes Locked by
first position of shutter release button in
single AF mode, AE/AF lock button (customised)
Focus tracking
Yes Available
in continuous AF mode
Manual focus
Yes Available
by rotating focus ring, available for
setting manual focus operation in AF mode (customised)
Single AF
Yes
Single AF + MF
Yes
Continuous AF
Yes
Continuous AF
+ MF
Yes
Detection
range
-2 - 19 EV
(ISO 100)
Light
Metering
Method
TTL open
aperture light metering
Zones
49 zones
Multi-pattern Sensing System
Detection
range
1 - 20 (50mm,
1:2, ISO 100)
ESP light
metering
Yes
Spot metering
Yes
Centre
weighted metering
Yes
Highlight
Yes
Shadow
Yes
Exposure
Modes
Auto
Yes
Programme
automatic
Yes
Aperture
priority
Yes
Shutter
priority
Yes
Manual
Yes
Exposure
System
Exposure
compensation
+/- 5 EV / 1,
1/2, 1/3 steps
Exposure
bracketing
3 / 5 frames /
+/- 1/3, 2/3, 1 EV steps
ISO bracketing
3 frames /
1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps
Sensitivity
Auto
in 1/3 and 1
EV ISO steps
Manual
ISO 100 - 3200
in 1/3 and 1 EV ISO steps
Shutter
Shutter type
Computerised
focal-plane shutter
Shutter
release
Soft Touch
Electromagnetic
Self timer
12 s / 2 s
Anti Shock
Yes Release
delay: 1 - 30 s
Shutter
Speeds
Shutter speed
range
1/8000-60 s
(in 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps)
Bulb mode
Up to 30
minutes (selectable longest time in the
menu, default: 8 minutes
Shutter speed
P, Ps
1/8000-60 s
Shutter speed
A priority
1/8000-60 s
Shutter speed
S priority
1/8000-60 s
Shutter speed
scene mode
1/8000-60 s
White
Balance
AUTO WB system
Hybrid
detection system with High-speed Live MOS
sensor and dedicated external sensor
Manual White
balance (One-Touch)
Yes
Selectable
steps in Kelvin
7 steps (3000
- 7500 K)
Overcast
Yes
Shade
Yes
Tungsten
Yes
Sunlight
Yes
Flourescent 1
Yes
Flourescent 2
Yes
Flourescent 3
Yes
White balance
adjustment
Yes +/- 7 in
each R-B / G-M axis (in Auto WB and preset
WB mode)
Custom WB
1 setting can
be registered at Kelvin temperature (2000K -
14000K)
One-touch
white balance
4 custom
settings can be registered
White balance
bracketing
3 frames / +/-
2, 4, 6 mired steps
Internal
Flash
Guide number
13
Flash
compensation
+/- 3 EV / 1/3
EV steps
AUTO
Yes
Red-eye
reduction
Yes
Slow
synchronisation
Yes
Slow
synchronisation 2nd curtain
Yes
Fill-in
Yes
Slow
synchronisation with red-eye reduction
Yes
Off
Yes
Bracketing
3 frames /
1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps
External
Flash Control
X-sync speed
1/250 s /
1/8000 s
Type
TTL AUTO,
AUTO, MANUAL, FP TTL AUTO, FP MANUAL
Synchronisation modes
Auto, Manual,
Red-eye reduction, Slow syncro with red-eye
reduction, Slow syncro, 2nd curtain and slow
syncro, Fill-in for exclusive flash
Intensity
+/- 2 EV / 1,
1/2, 1/3 steps
Built-in
flash and wireless flash control from the
camera body
