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[OM] Olympus E-1 Olympus 1st SLR Digital camera???

Subject: [OM] Olympus E-1 Olympus 1st SLR Digital camera???
From: dolphans1@xxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 00:07:04 +0000
Hey Guys,

Where was I and where was all the noise? Did you hear aboout the Olympus E-1 
Digital. The Olympus first interchangeable digital SLR?
It made the front page my my local newspapers business section today, first I 
heard of it.

Below is the article and some specs I looked up.

Anyone own one yet? What do you think of it?

Sam....


GADGET
Digital camera uses interchangeable lenses
The New York Times

 
Olympus camera 
 
Digital photographers who want to use single-lens reflex cameras have had two 
choices: compact models with permanently mounted zoom lenses or bulky models 
that accepted interchangeable lenses made for the maker's 35 mm SLRs.

No longer. The Olympus E-1 was designed for digital use and relies on the 
first interchangeable-lens system to be shared by several manufacturers. About 
the same size as a small SLR, the E-1 uses compact, interchangeable lenses 
designed to cover an image sensor one-half as large diagonally as a 35 mm. It 
conforms to the new Four Thirds standard, which has been embraced by Olympus, 
Fujifilm and Kodak. Lenses from any of those companies will fit bodies made by 
the others.

Four Olympus Zuiko Digital Specific lenses, with list prices starting at $599, 
are available for the $2,199 E-1 body. A less expensive consumer-priced body 
is coming -- not to mention Four Thirds products from other camera makers.



Magnesium-alloy body with environmental sealing (splash proof) 
Five megapixel 4/3" Kodak Full Frame Transfer CCD (4/3 System compliant) 
4/3 System lens mount 
Range of four ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses initially available (smaller and lighter 
than 35 mm) 
TTL viewfinder with removable focusing screen 
"Supersonic Wave Filter" cleans CCD at each camera start-up (dust is shaken 
from CCD) 
Dual USB 2.0 (full 480 Mb/s speed) and IEEE 1394 (Firewire) connectivity 
3-point TTL phase difference AF 
Focus-by-wire manual focus 
Manual focus after AF lock available (switchable) 
3 bulb AF assist lamp 
3-zone multi-pattern metering 
Program Shift in Program AE mode 
Shutter speed range of 60 to 1/4000 sec (up to 8 minutes in Bulb mode) 
Custom delay 'Anti-Shock' feature (similar to mirror lock-up on other SLR's) 
Continuous shooting 3 frames per second up to 12 frames 
Sensitivity range of ISO 100 - 800 plus 1600 and 3200 with 'ISO BOOST' 
Exposure steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 stop (EV) 
Exposure compensation -5.0 to +5.0 EV 
Selectable color space; sRGB or Adobe RGB 
Wide range of white balance options, four manual presets, fine tuning 
Hybrid white balance sensor (on external surface of camera and using CCD) 
Customizable image parameters (saturation, sharpness, contrast) 
Noise reduction for ISO noise and long exposure noise (both can be disabled) 
RAW format and RAW+JPEG support 
In-camera RAW Data Edit 
Compact Flash Type I & II storage including IBM Microdrive and FAT32 
User upgradable firmware 
1.8" 134,000 pixel LCD monitor with anti-reflective coating 
Control Panel LCD display with backlight (panel also has anti-reflective 
coating) 
Flash hot-shoe and PC Sync flash terminal 
Shading compensation (removes potential vignetting) 
World's first professional digital SLR system with interchangeable lenses 
based on the Four Thirds Standard.

Amsterdam, 24 June 2003 - The Olympus E-System hails a new chapter in the 
history of photography. Now, the world's first SLR digital camera system 
realises the advantages of the Four Thirds Standard and is dedicated to the 
special requirements of digital SLR photography, presenting new benchmarks for 
professional image quality and performance. All components and accessories of 
the Olympus E-System - from the camera body, through flash units, to 
interchangeable lenses - have been expressly designed for digital use and 
ensure the system's performance potential is maximised in every instance. The 
Olympus E-System breaks the mould of previous digital SLR solutions and frees 
itself from the obstacles of the past.

A competitive edge

Near enough is never good enough for Olympus. And with the Olympus E-System, 
no compromise has been made. 

Gone are the days when photographers had to contend with hindrances due to 
using lenses that were not originally designed for use with their camera 
backs. Problems such as a loss to wide-angle capability, insufficient lens 
resolution and cornershading are a thing of the past. The Olympus E-System 
adheres to the guidelines defined by the Four Thirds Standard that regulate 
type and diameter of the lens mount as well as the size of the image sensor 
and the flange back distance. These guidelines not only guarantee complete 
lens interchangeability between any manufacturer complying with the set norms 
but also enable production of lenses fully optimised to digital camera 
requirements.

A five megapixel 4/3-type CCD ensures the light transmitted by the lens is 
captured in flawless detail. But it is not the pixel-count alone that is 
responsible for the professional image results. Unlike most digital cameras, 
the Olympus E-1 utilises a Full Frame Transfer CCD sensor, a type specifically 
developed for the capture of still images. In comparison to Interline Transfer 
counterparts found in the majority of digital models, the FFT-CCD is 
distinguished by a larger pixel area, with bigger photodiodes and transfer 
channels. This means more electrons can be captured. A high signal/noise ratio 
can therefore be achieved together with a wider dynamic range. Final images 
benefit from more exposure latitude, greater detail and less noise.

ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses - a synonym for quality

All ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses are designed to maximise the performance of digital 
SLRs based on the Four Thirds Standard. They feature telecentric optics - 
meaning that transmitted light hits the CCD virtually at right-angles - which 
is required by digital cameras to give images perfect colour, clarity and 
brightness from the centre to the periphery of the frame. The lens' high 
resolving power ensures the image sensor obtains the detail it needs to 
achieve its full potential. Moreover, because of the set communication 
standard, lenses are capable of supplying the camera body with information 
about any potential shading or distortion which can then be compensated for to 
return perfect results. A further substantial benefit made possible by the 
Four Thirds Standard is that lenses maintain a compact form and light weight 
despite offering a large aperture. 

The growing list of ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses currently available includes (35mm 
equivalent values in brackets):

ED 300 mm, F2.8 tele (600 mm) 
E 14 - 54 mm, F2.8 - 3.5 zoom (28 - 108 mm) 
ED 50 mm F2 macro (100 mm) 
ED 50 - 200mm, F2.8 - F3.5 zoom (100 - 400 mm) 
E 11 - 22mm, F2.8 - F3.5 zoom (21 - 44 mm) (available by end 2003) 
The Olympus E-1 solves a problem that has long been an Achilles heel of 
interchangeable lens-type digital SLRs - dust contamination of the camera 
insides from changing lenses. The Supersonic Wave Filter causes an ultra-high-
speed vibration to occur, making dust and/or other particles literally fall 
off the imager, which are then captured on a special adhesive tape. This 
function is invoked at each start-up of the camera but may also be manually 
effected.

Designed to be a trusted, dependable companion, this digital SLR camera 
features a high-endurance focal plane shutter. Outstanding accuracy at any of 
the exposure speeds ranging from 1/4,000 sec to 60 sec is assured - and that 
for a guaranteed minimum of 150,000 releases.

Thanks to dual USB2.0 and IEEE1394 interfaces, PC connectivity is easy and 
extremely versatile. The Olympus E-1 is the first digital SLR camera to 
incorporate both of these interfaces. Users will therefore not be hindered by 
long waiting times while their image files are downloaded.


Unrestricted photographic satisfaction

Of course, while the Olympus E-System breaks convention in many respects, in 
others, it hones and fine-tunes aspects necessary for professional shooting 
and handling. 

The Olympus E-1 is a camera ready for all assignments bar none. Its robust die-
cast magnesium-alloy body is not only tough, it is also light. In fact, the 
camera body weighs in at just 660 g - enough to give a very solid feel, yet 
still the lightest model among all current professional digital SLRs with 
interchangeable lenses. As with the ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses, the Olympus E-1 also 
boasts a splash-proof design so that photographers can continue shooting while 
their lesser-equipped colleagues have already sought cover from the elements. 

A bright, quick-return mirror viewfinder gives pros the best view for precise 
framing. Enabling a viewing field of approximately 1000lus providing full 
photographic information, complete control is assured at all times.

The high-speed 3-point TTL phase difference detection autofocus system has a 
wide range of 0 to 19EV. Manual and automatic selection of the AF zones is 
possible. Users can choose single or continuous autofocus to meet their needs. 
In continuous mode, the AF system is capable of following subjects travelling 
at up to 50 km/h. As well as full manual focusing, fine manual adjustments to 
the autofocus values can be made. The ergonomic merit of the camera system is 
further substantiated with the possibility to adjust the focus ring direction. 

For exposure metering, the Olympus E-1 features a 3-zone multi-pattern sensor 
system. Photographers can chose between electronic spot metering (ESP), centre-
weighted average and spot metering. P/A/S/M modes are on hand to suit the 
situation. A Program Shift function is available that enables the optimal EV 
value to be retained while adjustments to shutter speed and aperture are made. 
Bracketing of three or five frames can be undertaken in 1/3, 1/2 or full step 
increments.

Versatility is a recurring theme with the Olympus E-1. High ISO equivalent 
sensitivity values of between 100 and 3,200 ISO can be selected. With its 
hybrid detection system using a dedicated white balance sensor and the image 
sensor, automatic white balance is incredibly accurate. The pre-set white 
balance features very detailed steps of approximately 300°K which can 
additionally be compensated by two mired steps. A white balance compensation 
function is available too. Furthermore, the Olympus E-1 has two colour space 
settings: Standard RGB for most applications and Adobe RGB which has a wider 
range for offset printing in particular.

For many photographers, speed is the key. That's why the Olympus E-1 is 
equipped with three powerful ASICs. This ensures extremely fast image 
processing and playback. No matter which quality mode or resolution is chosen, 
thanks to an impressive 128MB buffer and high-capacity working SDRAM memory, 
up to 12 frames of sequential shooting can be captured at 3fps in every format 
(JPEG/TIFF/RAW).

The Olympus E-1 features a CompactFlash slot for image storage. It is 
compatible with both CF cards of up to more than 2GB and Microdrive. The use 
of xD-Picture Cards by means of the optional CF adapter is possible too.

Because this camera is an authentic work tool, Olympus realises that 
photographers cannot afford any time out when it comes to firmware upgrades. 
That is why the Olympus E-1 provides the possibility to undertake these 
directly via an internet upload.


Elite hardware deserves exclusive software

Befitting the excellent craftsmanship and functions of the camera, Olympus 
also introduces an entirely new software with the Olympus E-1 that is far 
beyond a regular browsing application. The included OLYMPUS Viewer software 
aids the professional's workflow considerably. Some of the features are: 

A light box tool & tag function allowing two/four similar images to be easily 
compared and categorised. 
Batch processing so that a range of editing procedures can be carried out on a 
whole group of images at the same time, such as adjusting the colour tone. 

RAW batch processing of a number of files at once so that they are converted 
to TIFF or JPEG format in one run. 
A complete system of accessories for professional photography

But the Four Thirds concept does not merely comprise of a camera. A whole 
system of accessories exists to provide serious photographers with the 
solutions to their needs - whatever these may be. Besides the ZUIKO LENSES, 
there is a large and growing list of accessories available for all areas of 
professional digital SLR photography. Among these are:

Flash units

FL-50 high-power flash (up to GN50) with SuperFP mode 
Ring flash (available shortly) 
Twin flash (available shortly) 
Power supplies 

Power Battery Holder HLD-2 for the BLL-1 lithium-ion battery 
Battery Pack BLL-1 high-capacity 3400mAh lithium-ion battery 
Battery-Charger BCL-1 dedicated BLL-1 battery charger 
AC Adapter AC-1 
Four Thirds is the first professional standard for digital SLR photography. By 
setting standards on three levels - mechanical, optical and communication - it 
maximises the performance of camera body, image sensor and lenses. The Olympus 
E-1 is the first and currently the only camera to make use of the advantages 
of this new standard. 

Availability: September 2003

Olympus E-1 Specifications
Body material Magnesium alloy 
Sensor ? 18.0 x 13.5 mm CCD sensor
? 17.4 x 13.1 mm active sensor area
? RGB Color Filter Array
? Full frame transfer
? Built-in fixed low-pass filter
? Built-in "Supersonic Wave Filter" (dust cleaning)
? Microlenses
? 5.6 million total pixels (2738 x 2044)
? 5.1 million active pixels (2614 x 1966)
? 4.9 million output pixels (2560 x 1920)
? 4:3 aspect ratio
? 6.8 x 6.8 µm pixel pitch 
JCIA Effective pixels 5.0 million 
Image sizes ? 2560 x 1920
? 1600 x 1200
? 1280 x 960
? 1024 x 768
? 640 x 480 
File formats ? RAW
? RAW + JPEG
? TIFF
? JPEG (EXIF 2.2) 
Color space ? sRGB
? Adobe RGB 
Lenses ? 4/3 standard lens mount
? Range of ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses available
? Effective FOV is 2x indicated focal length 
Focusing ? 3-point TTL Phase Difference Detection
? Automatic or manual point selection
? EV 0 to 19 (ISO 100) detection range 
Focus modes ? Single shot AF
? Continuous AF
? Manual focus 
Manual focus ? Focus by wire 
AF assist ? Yes, can be disabled
? Red visible light 
Metering modes ? Digital ESP
? Center-Weighted Average
? Spot (1.8%) 
AE Lock ? With shutter release half-press
? AEL button 
AE Bracketing ? 3 or 5 frames
? 1/3, 1/2, 0.7 or 1.0 EV steps 
Exposure steps 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV 
Exposure compen. ? -5.0 to +5.0 EV
? 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps 
Sensitivity ? Auto (ISO 100 - 400)
? ISO 100
? ISO 200
? ISO 400
? ISO 800
? ISO 1600 *
? ISO 3200 *
* With "ISO BOOST" set to ON
 
Min Shutter Speed ? Program AE: 2 sec
? Aperture Priority AE: 3.2 sec
? Shutter Priority AE: 60 sec
? Manual Exposure: 60 sec + Bulb (up to 8 mins) 
Max Shutter Speed 1/4000 sec 
Flash X-sync ? 1/180 sec
? Super FP up to 1/4000 sec for fill flash 
Aperture values Depends on lens: 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps 
White balance ? Auto
? 3000 K (Incandescent)
? 3300 K
? 3600 K (Incandescent)
? 3900 K
? 4000 K (Fluorescent)
? 4300 K
? 4500 K (Fluorescent)
? 4800 K
? 5500 K (Sunny)
? 6500 K (Cloudy)
? 6600 K (Fluorescent)
? 7500 K (Shade)
? Manual Preset 1
? Manual Preset 2
? Manual Preset 3
? Manual Preset 4
* All of the above can be fine tuned +/- 7 levels except manual presets 
Auto white balance ? Hybrid system
? White balance sensor & CCD imager 
WB Bracketing ? 3 frames
? 1, 2 or 3 steps 
Image parameters ? Saturation (CM1, CM2, CM3, CM4, CS0 - CS4) *
? Contrast (-2 to +2)
? Sharpness (-3 to +3)
* The CM settings are custom color profiles for particular scene types 
Noise reduction ? Noise Filter (On / Off)
? Noise Reduction (On / Off)
? Pixel Mapping  
Viewfinder ? Eye-level pentaprism TTL
? Magnification approx. x0.96
? Eye point 20 mm
? 100 0.000000rame coverage
? Diotric adjustment (-3.0 to +1.0)
? Internal eyepiece curtain
? Interchangeable focusing screen with center circle and AF areas (FS-1)
? Viewfinder info bar
? Optional EP-2 large eyecup and FS-2 grid pattern focusing screen available
 
Viewfinder info ? Flash indicator
? FP flash
? Metering mode
? AF / AE Lock
? Aperture
? Shutter speed
? ISO sensitivity (when changing)
? Exposure mode
? Exposure compensation / metering bar
? White balance (when changing)
? AF areas (when changing)
? Bracketing setting (when changing)
? Buffer space remaining 
LCD monitor ? 1.8" TFT LCD
? 134,000 pixels
? 100 0.000000rame coverage
? 15 brightness levels (-7 to +7)
? 4x magnification playback 
Record review ? Off
? Auto
? 5 sec
? 20 sec 
Flash ? No built-in flash 
Flash modes ? TTL Auto (Olympus E System flash) 
? TTL Auto FP (Olympus E System flash)
? Auto
? Manual 
External flash ? Hot-shoe
? PC Sync terminal 
Flash compensation +/- 2.0 EV in 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps  
Shooting modes ? Program AE (P) (with shift)
? Aperture priority AE (A)
? Shutter priority AE (S)
? Manual (M)
 
Drive modes ? Single shot
? Continuous (3 fps, up to 12 frames)
? Self-timer 12 seconds
? Self-timer 2 seconds
? Remote release 2 second delay
? Remote release 
Internal Buffer ? 128 MB RAM
? 12 Frames 
Other features ? Shading Compensation
? Anti-Shock mode
? Custom AE-L / AF-L setting
? Custom command dial setting
? Custom Focus Ring direction
? Single AF + Manual AF (On / Off)
? Release Priority Single (On / Off)
? Release Priority Continuous (On / Off) 
Playback mode ? Single image
? Single image blinking highlights & histogram
? Magnified view (2.0x, 3.0x or 4.0x, scrollable)
? 4, 9 or 16 image thumbnail index
? Slideshow
? Image rotation
? Image delete
? Image protect
? RAW Data Edit
? DPOF Setup 
Menu languages ? Japanese
? English
? German
? French
? Spanish
? Korean 
Remote control ? Wired by RM-CB1
? Wireless (IR) by RM-1 
Connectivity ? USB 2.0
? Firewire IEEE 1394
? Video out
? DC-IN
? Remote terminal
? PC Sync flash terminal 
Video out Selectable NTSC or PAL 
Storage ? Compact Flash Type I or II
? Microdrive supported
? FAT32 filesystem support (for CF cards greater than 2 GB) 
Power ? BLM-1 1500 mAh Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (supplied & charger)
? Optional Power Battery Holder HLD-2 and Lithium-Ion battery
? Optional AC adapter AC-1 
Firmware User updatable 
Weather Proof IEC Standard publication 529 IPX1 
Environment ? Operating range: 0°C to 40°C (30 to 900midity)
? Storage range: -20°C to 60°C (10 to 900midity)
 
Dimensions 141 x 104 x 81 mm (5.6 x 4.1 x 3.2 in)  
Weight (no batt/lens) 660 g (1.5 lb) 
Box contents E-1 Body, USB Cable, IEEE1394 Cable, Video Cable, Li-ion Battery 
Pack (BLM-1), Li-ion Battery Charger (BCM-1), Shoulder Strap, Olympus Viewr 
1.0, CD-ROM, Manuals 

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