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Olympus E-1: Digital SLR with an edge

Will the Olympus E-1's all-digital design set a new standard?
  • By Michael J. Mcnamara on December 16, 2008
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Certified Lab Test Results: Olympus E-1 Digital SLR

Resolution: Extremely high (V1360xH1400HxD1430 lines)

Color accuracy: Extremely high (Avg. Delta E: 8.38; best 90%: 6.91; worst 10%: 21.26)

Highlight/shadow detail: High

Contrast: Normal, and adjustable high to low

Noise: Low at ISO 100, moderately low at ISO 400, and unacceptable at ISO 800

Image quality: Extremely high at ISO 100

AF speed: In bright light levels of EV 7 to 12, the E-1 is slightly slower than the Nikon D100 and Canon EOS 10D, ranging from 0.48-0.75 sec. In moderately low light (EV 3 to 6), the E-1 maintains a fast 0.85-0.95 sec AF speed, similar to the D100 and Fujifilm S2 Pro, but slower than the EOS 10D. In low light (EV 2), the E-1 was as fast as the EOS 10D at about 1 sec. However, the E-1 isn't able to autofocus below EV 2.

Viewfinder: The E-1's focusing screen is very bright and contrasty. The screen image shows 98 percent of the picture area, a great performance with no parallax error, superior to other SLRs in this class. However, the viewfinder magnification was among the lowest of the DSLRs we've tested. In our AF-sensitivity diagram, shaded areas inside the marked AF zones represent the actual sensitivity. The center cross shows slightly off-center horizontal and vertical sensitivity, while the two side zones have narrow vertical sensors smaller than marked.

For added control, the E-1's programmable shutter and AEL/AFL buttons can be set to a variety of modes. And the AF system can be set to AF with manual-assist mode, which allows you to fine-tune the focus using the manual-focus ring. The metering system works better than most we've tested. In fact, our lab tests revealed a remarkably centered two-percent spot sensitivity and a tight, well-formed centerweighted pattern. In our field tests, the camera's Electro-Selective Pattern (ESP) metering mode also faired well.

Test results on the camera's viewfinder are a mixed bag. On the one hand, there's incredibly high (98 percent) viewfinder accuracy, so what you see is what you get. And it's relatively bright, with a diopter control and light shutter. On the other hand, viewfinder magnification is lower than on the E-20n and most other SLRs, which causes a mild "tunnel-vision" effect. Since the CCD on the E-1 is twice the size of the one found on the E-20n, and Olympus optimized the lenses for the sensor, we were expecting higher viewfinder magnification, not lower.

In playback mode, the brightness of the 1.8-inch color LCD can be adjusted, and image information can be quickly changed from exposure and metering info to a histogram display. You can also set the camera to slideshow playback, select images for DPOF printing, or manually rotate images shot vertically. (But we miss the E-20n's swiveling LCD, which allowed you to compose from waist-level or while holding the camera overhead.) Images can be rapidly downloaded to a computer via the camera's USB or high-speed FireWire (IEEE1394) connector. The camera ships with a trial version of a program that lets you control the camera from the computer, as well as RAW conversion software.