| Amazon.com Product Description The E1 is a digital camera designed specifically for professional photographers. It is an amalgam of high-end digital technology, advanced technical features, and a rugged construction intended for daily use. Optics and Resolution
Featuring a 5.5-megapixel Full-Frame Transfer CCD (FT-CCD) sensor, the E1 delivers a wide range of detail and color (with images up to 2560 by 1920 pixels) in both TIFF and Raw formats. The FT-CCD is a Progressive scan sensor that provides more image capturing surface area than traditional interline CCDs. Olympus claims this type of sensor accounts for more accurate color sensitivity, a higher dynamic range from black to white, and a higher signal-to-noise ratio than most other cameras in its class.  |  | | With a traditional 35mm lens, light hits the periphery of the image area at oblique angles. This is not a problem with the flat surface of film, but diodes inside image-sensor light wells need direct light paths (see above, left). Because the Four Thirds System uses a lens mount that is about twice the size of the camera's image circle, light is more likely travel straight into the wells (right). | The E-1 utilizes the Four Thirds lens standard, which was designed to solve some of the image problems manufacturers have found by designing digital SLRs to use traditional 35mm lens systems--specifically, a digital image sensor's need for light from direct angles. This body has a Four Thirds mount and is only compatible with Four Thirds lenses by Olympus and other manufacturers. The camera also features spot, center-weighted, and Electro-Selective Pattern (ESP) metering, seven selectable sharpness levels, three-point autofocus with AF assist illumination.  | | Supersonic wave filter protects imager from dust | Supersonic wave filter
Because swapping lenses on the go is a fundamental part of SLR photography, so too is dust particles. The problem is made more acute by the physics of a CCD; tiny particles can easily block or disable the CCD's image wells to degrade performance of your camera over time. To solve this, Olympus has created a supersonic wave filter that causes ultra-discrete high-speed vibration knocks particles away from the imager. The filter is operated automatically at start-up and during pixel mapping, and can be manually turned on at any time.More Features  | | Capture images in Adobe RGB for photos going to CMYK printers | - Mixed AF/MF mode lets the photographer make fine adjustments or focus manually after AF is performed in the S-AF mode
- Focus Priority mode prevents the shutter from firing until perfect focus is reached
- 12 AE and AF lock modes, and customizable the rotational direction of the focus ring
- The High Eye-point optical viewfinder provides a 100% accurate frame view (horizontal and vertical) for precision framing and image capture
- Neo-Lumi-Micron Matte II Focusing Screen, a deformed hexagonal micro prism designed to reduce the moirée; effect in the viewfinder for clear, sharp viewfinder focus.
- Color space choice between between sRGB (ideal for computer monitors, inkjet printers, scanners, and the Internet) and Adobe RGB (ideal for pre-press and printing on CMYK printers).
- White Balance settings: Auto, Preset and One-Touch Manual
- Fixed- and random-pattern noise reduction
- Magnesium alloy metal body construction makes camera light yet extremely durable
Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on Compact Flash Card (Type I, II), Micro Drive (16bit/32bit Format compatible)--all of which are sold separately. Files can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB 2.0 connectivity, which automatically steps down to lower-capacity USB formats if 2.0 isn't detected on the target computer. The camera also features a IEEE 1394 (aka "FireWire") port for high-speed image transfer. Power and Size
The camera is powered by a rechargeable Li-ion battery pack, included with a charger. The camera measures 5.55" by 4.09" by 3.19 inches and weighs 23 ounces without batteries and memory. What's in the Box
E-1 Digital SLR Body, Shoulder Strap, Li-Ion Battery Pack, BLM-1 Olympus Viewer 1.0 Software, Li-Ion Battery Charger BCM-1, Adobe Photoshop Elements CD-ROM, USB Cable, Web Photo School Lessons, IEEE 1394 Cable, Manuals, Video Cable, Warranty Card |
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 An excellent semi-pro camera system |
| Review Date: February 1, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Danijel Turina, Croatia |
I've been using E1 with Zuiko Digital 14-54 f/2.8-3.5 for several months now, and I must report that I am thoroughly pleased with its operation. It performs flawlessly, without any glitches, and is a solid, well built and reliable photographic tool. It is a joy to use in the field.
Image quality is nothing short of excellent. A3 sized prints from E1 easily match my best slide scans from 35mm film. The images are clean, vivid, sharp, with beautiful colors, which reminds me of Kodak emulsions. Once I made a beautiful, clean A4 print from a small cropped segment of a portrait; at this enlargement, the entire picture would exceed A2 paper size. 5 megapixels yes, but 5 megapixels of extreme signal quality. Unlike Canon, Kodak didn't put hardware noise reduction on its sensors, so with help of NeatImage or Noise Ninja, one can make very clean prints even at ISO 800. However, ISO 1600 and 3200 display banding artifacts, and are useful mostly for black&white images. Those B&W images, however, respond very well to noise reduction and produce very good A4 prints. As for the 14-54 lens, it is very sharp from f/3.5-f/11, has very good but not excellent bokeh, has extremely useful range from moderately wide to moderately tele (28-108mm in 35mm equivalents), and works best at the long end. There it really shines as a portrait lens. However, it displays some vignetting at the long end, and some cyan fringing in the corners at the wide and.
So, the strong points of this camera are its absolute image quality, color fidelity, buid quality and ergonomics. On the minus side, however, there is autofocus, which leaves much room for improvement. It is slow and of little use in low light. Also, the buffer could clear faster, especially with microdrive, whose full potential isn't utilized.
Conclusion: it's an excellent camera, whose real competitor is Canon 20D. Canon has a solid resolution advantage, produces good images, and works better at high ISO values. However, E1 is better built, it has an excellent kit lens which is every bit as good as Canon L zooms and rivals good primes, has built-in sensor cleaning, is splash-proof and an excellent overall package. Choice between them is a matter of individual preference and taste. What made it for me was the range of focal lengths. With Olympus, I can cover my needs with just two lenses, and 14-54 is designed just right. It's wide enough and long enough for me not to need anything else for most applications. With a 35mm legacy and 1.6x crop factor, Canon's lens range is just inconvenient. Most lenses are either not wide enough or not long enough or cover the wrong range. With Olympus, I still didn't feel any desperate need to buy a second lens; 108mm equivalent is just right for portraiture, and 28mm is just wide enough for the kind of landscapes I usually shoot. |
Surpassed my initial expectations
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| Review Date: November 26, 2006 |
| Reviewer: G. Cooper, South Dakota |
| We have been using the E1 for 15 months now and I can say we are very pleased. I love the sharpness of the lenses. Our company does commercial and portrait work and we are able to go to 30x40 sized prints and they are sharp, much sharper than 35mm and even some 645 neg's we used to use. Color rendition seems to be right on, bit on the warm side but very little. Most work is done with studio lights. All in all the camera preforms the way we want it to. Would we recommend the E1 .... We now own 4 E1's. |
Olympus E-1 Pro
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| Review Date: April 16, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Donald E. Richardson, Abilene, TX |
| This is a real professional digital camera but it's easy to use for those just beginning. With excellent color rendention, you can shoot RAW for more control or use the Fine jpeg and it will pop your eyes out with a image quality found in only the best of cameras. |
E-1 a pro level camera for a prosumer price
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| Review Date: December 2, 2004 |
| Reviewer: Charles C. Hugo, Coastal New England, USA |
| I have owned this camera for about 2 months now and I am very happy with it. It is not the fastest or the highest image quaility in its class, but it is the best priced for its overall quality. I have already t ested it's durability and it has passed with flying colors. As a landscape designer it is used regularly in all conditions and has performed flawlessly. Do your homework and you will see it is a solid camera at a fair price |
This camera deserves a close look, and handling/feel
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| Review Date: December 23, 2004 |
| Reviewer: Gerald Siegel, Mililani Town, HI United States |
Four month satisfied owner after a lot of research.If one goes on raw comparative specs alone, the E-1 may fall short on some comparisons,such as number of megapixels (5) and number of lenses available(ca. 12). But handling it and looking at the untouched results,will impress one,-don't reveal the source and see. It is a tough,professional machine,and weather sealed, and has no history of breakdowns in a year from users and no major glitches... Having said that, some users don't want or need a professional level camera. If you don't need these special adjustment capabilities, don't mess with this level of camera. It is rather heavy, and huge manual to absorb. The dust reduction system and the high quality lenses of superb design are very large advantages to all. Will the E system be around in ten years you say? I don't know, and you don't know,but the camera will be usable for a long time. Certainly until every suburban home has a 36" high definition flat panel TV in their living room and moves on to covet a 65".
Update as of 9-1-2006:
If anything,my respect for this camera increases. It is chunky,not what Olympuses are supposed to be to many,and is even heavier with the accessory HDL-2 grip. I have not pushed the enlargements to the point where I need more than the alloted megapixels,not even close. I have not fully exploited all the capabilities (read multiple options) of the camera,but it is definitely not in the DSLR beginner category. This Fall will likely see news on an upgrade,and some interesting E series bodies. If one is still satisfied with well thought out good design,water proofing,and superb( their mid price line) lenses,with a definite and future limited variety vis a vis Canon et al,then this camera is still a hard to go wrong choice. The downside: Canon and Nikon and now Sony are still the places that folks who own Canon EOS and Nikon and Minolta autofocus lenses will seek out first and who may need a broader choice of accessories or rental super telephotos. For those who have no stable of lenses,and just want to jump in,how can one go wrong with the E-1 and the 14-54 plus one Olympus flash is still my view.
(Caveat: If you are subject to buyer's remorse,better wait until Photokina on September 26. The future of this camera and the E system will be shaped by what Olympus displays or outlines its E system offerings at that time...that said,do not hesitate to go for this at a budget closeout price,one third of what I paid in July 2004. It is a camera that grows on you if you like its hefty quality feel, weatherproofing,the buttons versus menu approach.) |
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