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July 06, 2008
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Hands On: Olympus E-3 Digital SLR

(continued)

Key Specifications


Product Type Product type Single-lens reflex Live View digital camera with interchangeable lens system
  Memory CompactFlash Type I/II, Microdrive, xD-Picture Card (Dual-Slot)
  Sensor size 0.68 in (17.3 mm) (H) x 0.51 in (13.0 mm) (V)
  Lens mount Four Thirds Mount
Effective Pixels number Effective Pixels number 10.1 million pixels
Image Pickup Unit Product type Live MOS Sensor
  Total no. of pixels Approx. 11.8 million pixels
  Aspect ratio 1.33 (4:3)
  Filter array Primary color filter (RGB)
  LPF Fixed type
  IR cut filter Hybrid type
  Dust reduction Supersonic Wave Filter (dust reduction system for image sensor)
Recording Recording format DCF, DPOF compatible/Exif, PRINT Image Matching III
  File format RAW (12-bit), JPEG, RAW+JPEG
  Recording image size [RAW] 3648 x 2736 pixels
    [JPEG] 3648 x 2736 pixels - 640 x 480 pixels
  File size RAW:   3648 x 2736    compressed                                   Approx. 11MB
    Large:  3648 x 2736    Super fine  (1/2.7 compressed)     Approx.     6.8MB
                3648 x 2736    Fine            (1/4 compressed)        Approx.     4.7MB
Viewfinder Product type Eye-level single-lens reflex viewfinder
  Field of view Approx. 100%
  Viewfinder magnification Approx. 1.15x (−1m-1,  50mm lens, infinity)
  Eye point Approx. 20 mm (-1m-1)
  Diopter adjustment range -3.0 - +1m-1
  Focusing screen Changeable at a service center (Neo Lumi-Micro Mat screen supplied, possible to change to gird mat type)
  Eyepiece shutter Built-in type
  Eye cup Interchangeable type EP-5/6/7, EP-7 is supplied (Magnifier Eyecup ME-1 is available)
  Depth of Field Preview (optical view finder & Live View) Yes, by preview button
  Live preview Available to set to Fn button
  View finder information Aperture value, Shutter speed, Record mode, AF confirmation mark, Flash, WB, AE lock, Number of storable still images, Exposure compensation value, Metering mode, Battery warning, Exposure mode, AF frame (super impose), IS, Bracket,
ISO value
Live View Live View Live MOS Sensor for still picture shooting is used, 100% field of view,
    Exposure adjustment pre-view, White balance adjustment pre-view, Gradation auto pre-view
    Grid line displayable, 5x/7x/10x magnification possible, MF/S-AF,
    AF frame display, AF point display, Shooting information, Histogram
  AF Phase-difference detection system with mirror down.
Image stabilizer System Built in (Imager shift image stabilizer)
  Mode 2 modes (2 dimensional activation, 1 dimensional activation)
  Effective compensation range Approx. 5 EV steps (in maximum effect)
Monitor Product type HyperCrystal LCD (semi-transmissive TFT color LCD)
  Size 2.5 inches
  Total no. of pixels Approx. 230,000 pixels
  Playback field of view 100%
  Brightness control Auto/Manual 15 levels
Focusing AF system TTL phase-difference detection system
  Focus mode Single AF (S-AF) / Continuous AF (C-AF) / Manual Focus (MF) /
    S-AF + MF / C-AF + MF
  Focusing point 11-cross points multiple AF
  Focusing point selection Single point, Group area, All points are selectable.
  AF luminance range EV -2 to 19 (at 20℃, ISO 100)
  AF illuminator Built-in flash (external flash available)
  AF lock Locked at first position of Shutter button in Single AF mode / AEL button (customizable)
  Focus tracking Interlocked with Continuous AF mode
  Focus aid Available
Exposure Control Metering system TTL open-aperture metering system
    (1) Digital ESP metering (49-points multi pattern metering) (2) Centre weighted average metering
    (3) Spot metering (approx. 2% for the viewfinder screen. Highlight / shadow bases are available)
  Metering range EV 1 - 20 (Digital ESP metering, Center weighted average metering, Spot metering)
    (At normal temperature, 50mm f2, ISO 100)
  Exposure mode (1) P: Program AE (Program shift can be performed) (2) A: Aperture priority AE
    (3) S: Shutter priority AE (4) M: Manual
  Underwater program AE Available to set to Fn button
  ISO sensitivity AUTO (ISO 100 - 3200) / Manual (ISO 100 - 3200), 1/3 or 1 EV steps
  Exposure compensation ±5 EV in 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps selectable
  AE lock AEL button (customizable)
  Exposure bracketing 3 or 5 frames in 0.3, 0.7, 1EV steps selectable
  ISO bracketing 3 frames in 0.3, 0.7, 1EV steps selectable
White Balance Auto WB system Hybrid detection system with Live MOS sensor and dedicated external sensor.
  Preset white balance 7 settings (3000K - 7500K)
Lamp (3000K), Fluorescent 1 (4000K), Fluorescent 2 (4500K), Fluorescent 3 (6600K), Daylight (5300K), Flash (5500K), Cloudy (6000K), Shade (7500K)
  White balance compensation ±7 steps in each R-B/G-M axis (in Auto WB / Preset WB mode / One touch WB)
  Custom white balance 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 in 2, 4, 6 steps selectable in each R-G/G-M axis.
Color Mode Color matrix sRGB, Adobe RGB
Picture Mode Mode Vivid, Natural, Portrait, Muted, Monotone, Custom (default setting: Natural)
    In custom mode, basic 5 modes and adjustment is available.
  Adjustment parameter Contrast, Sharpness and Saturation level available in 5 steps for Vivid, Natural, Portrait and Muted
    Contrast and Sharpness level available in 5 steps for Monotone.
    In custom mode, gradation level available in 4 steps.
  Filter effect Yellow, Orange, Red or Green filter available for Monotone
  Picture tone Sepia, Blue, Purple or Green tone available for Monotone
  Gradation 4 levels (Auto, High key, Normal, Low key)
Shutter Product type Computerized focal-plane shutter
  Shutter speed P(Ps), S, A, M mode: 60 - 1/8000 sec.
    Bulb: up to 30 minutes. (selectable longest time in the menu. Default: 8 min.)
    1/3, 1/2, or 1EV steps selectable.
  Self-timer Operation time: 12 sec., 2 sec. (cancel available)
  Remote cable release Available (with optional RM-CB1 Remote cable.)
  Optical remote control Operation time: 2 sec., 0 sec., bulb control available (with optional RM-1 remote control)
  Anti shock mode Available (1 to 30 sec selectable)
Drive Drive mode Single-frame shooting, Sequential shooting H, Sequential shooting L, Self-timer, Remote control
  Sequential shooting speed Approx. 5 frames/sec. in sequential shooting H, 1 to 4 fps selectable in sequential shooting L.
  Max. recordable pictures RAW mode: Max. 16 frames.
    JPEG mode: Depends on compression ratio and no. of pixels
(Large normal mode: up to card capacity with SanDisk Extreme III)
Integrated Flash Built-in flash Retractable flash, GN=13 (ISO 100.m)
  Compatible external flash FL-50R, FL-36R, FL-50, FL-36, FL-20, STF-22, SR-11
  Flash control mode TTL Auto (TTL pre-flash mode), Auto, Manual
  Flash mode Auto, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction slow sync., Slow sync at 1st curtain, Slow sync at 2nd curtain, Fill-in,
Manual (1/4, 1/16, 1/64), Off.
  Synchronization speed 1/250 sec. or less, Super FP up to 1/8000 sec.
  Flash intensity control Up to ±3 EV in 1/3 EV steps
  Flash bracketing 3 frames in 0.3, 0.7, 1 EV steps selectable.
Wireless flash control Compatible external flash FL-50R, FL-36R
  Control method Triggered and controlled by built-in flash light
  Flash control mode TTL Auto (TTL pre-flash mode), Auto, Manual, FP TTL Auto, FP Manual.
  Number of channel 4 channels
  Group setting 3 groups
Control panel Information WB setting, WB compensation notification, B/W mode notification, Record mode, Exposure mode, ISO sensitivity
    BKT notification, Flash mode, Drive mode, Recordable still image number, Storable number of images,
    Exposure compensation value, Metering mode, Activated AF points, Focusing mode.
  Back light timer 8 sec.
Super control panel Information (shooting) Exposure mode, Shutter speed, Aperture value, Exposure compensation value bar, Exposure compensation value
    Flash compensation value bar, Flash compensation value, ALE notification, Flash compensation notification
    NR notification, BKT notification, AF illuminator deactivated notification, Color space, Flash mode
    ISO sensitivity, Drive mode, WB setting, WB compensation value, Picture mode, Metering mode, Focusing mode
    File name, Image parameter, Gradation, Date, Storable number of images, Record mode, Battery warning.
  Information Exposure mode, Shutter speed, Aperture value, Exposure compensation value bar, Exposure compensation value
  (wireless flash commander) Flash compensation value bar, Flash compensation value, ALE notification, Flash compensation notification
    NR notification, BKT notification, AF illuminator deactivated notification, Color space
    Wireless channel setting, Built-in flash intensity, Group setting
Playback Playback mode Single-frame, Index (4/9/16/25 frames), Calendar, Close-up ( 2 - 14X),
    Slideshow, Picture rotation (auto mode available), Light box
  Information display Histogram (independent luminance / RGB available),
    Highlight / Shadow point warning, AF frame, Shooting information
Menu Languages Japan: Japanese, English
US: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Europe: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Czech, Dutch, Danish, Polish
Others: English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean
Additional one language is possible to download.
Reset & custom setting Custom reset 2 setting recordable
My mode 2 setting recordable
Image Editing Erasing function Single frame, All frames, Selected frames
Protect function Single frame, Selected frames, Release protect (Single/All selected)
Copy between media Single frame, All frames, Selected frames
RAW picture editing RAW development
JPEG editing Resize (producing another file), Gradation auto
Print Print function Print reservation (DPOF), Direct print (PictBridge compatible)
Input/Output PC interface USB 2.0 High Speed for storage and camera control (MTP mode is available)
  Video connector Video out (Video: NTSC/PAL selectable)
  Flash attachment Hot shoe
  DC-in Yes (AC-1 compatible)
  Sync. Cord Socket For Attaching External Strobe Cord.
Power Requirements Battery BLM-1 Li-ion battery (included)
    CR123 x 3 with LBH-1
  Sleep mode Available (1, 3, 5, 10 min., off selectable)
  No. of recordable pictures Approx. 610 shots (optical viewfinder)
  (with 50% flash light) (with BLM-1 under CIPA testing standard)
  Power battery holder HLD-4 compatible
Dimensions/Weight Dimensions 5.6 in. (W) x 4.58 in. (H) x 2.9 in. (D) /142.5mm (W) x 116.5mm (H) x 74.5mm (D) (excluding protrusions)
  Weight 1.79lbs (28.2 oz.) / 810 g (body only)
Operating Environment Temperature 32 F - 104 F / 0 - 40℃ (operation)  -4 F - 140 F / -20 - 60℃ (storage)
  Humidity 30 - 90% (operation) / 10 - 90% (storage)
Splash proof   Yes
Box contents   E-3 body, Li-ion battery BLM-1, Li-ion battery charger BCM-2, USB cable, Video cable, Shoulder strap, OLYMPUS Master CD-ROM, Instruction manual, Warranty card.

Hands On: Olympus E-3 Digital SLR
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