Olympis E30 DSLR Specifications
General Product Information
Product Type Single-lens reflex Live View digital camera with interchangeable lens system
Memory CompactFlash Type I/II (UDMA), Microdrive, xD-Picture Card (Dual-Slot)
Screen size 17.3 mm (H) x 13.0 mm (V)
Lens mount Four Thirds Mount
Effective Pixels number 12.3 million pixels
Box contents Body, Li-ion battery BLM-1, Li-ion battery charger BCM-2, USB/Video Multi cable, Eye piece cover EPC-1, Shoulder strap, OLYMPUS Master CD-ROM, Instruction manual, Warranty card.
Image Pickup Unit
Product type High speed Live MOS Sensor
Total no. of pixels Approx. 13.1 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 lossless compression), JPEG, RAW+JPEG
Recording image size [RAW] 4032 x 3024 pixels
[JPEG] 4032 x 3024 pixels - 640 x 480 pixels
File size RAW: 4032 x 3024 (approx. 1/1.5 lossless compressed) Approx. 13.9MB
Large: 4032 x 3024 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 8.2MB
4032 x 3024 Fine (1/4 compressed) Approx. 5.7MB
4032 x 3024 Normal (1/8 compressed) Approx. 2.7MB
4032 x 3024 Basic (1/12 compressed) Approx. 1.8MB
Middle 3200 x 2400 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 5.4MB
3200 x 2400 Fine (1/4 compressed) Approx. 3.4MB
3200 x 2400 Normal (1/8 compressed) Approx. 1.7MB
3200 x 2400 Basic (1/12 compressed) Approx. 1.2MB
2560 x 1920 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 3.2MB
2560 x 1920 Fine (1/4 compressed) Approx. 2.2MB
2560 x 1920 Normal (1/8 compressed) Approx. 1.1MB
2560 x 1920 Basic (1/12 compressed) Approx. 0.8MB
Small 1600 x 1200 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 1.3MB
1600 x 1200 Fine (1/4 compressed) Approx. 0.9MB
1600 x 1200 Normal (1/8 compressed) Approx. 0.5MB
1600 x 1200 Basic (1/12 compressed) Approx. 0.4MB
1280 x 960 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 0.9MB
1280 x 960 Fine (1/4 compressed) Approx. 0.6MB
1280 x 960 Normal (1/8 compressed) Approx. 0.3MB
1280 x 960 Basic (1/12 compressed) Approx. 0.3MB
1024 x 768 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 0.6MB
1024 x 768 Fine (1/4 compressed) Approx. 0.4MB
1024 x 768 Normal (1/8 compressed) Approx. 0.3MB
1024 x 768 Basic (1/12 compressed) Approx. 0.2MB
640 x 480 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 0.3MB
640 x 480 Fine (1/4 compressed) Approx. 0.2MB
640 x 480 Normal (1/8 compressed) Approx. 0.1MB
640 x 480 Basic (1/12 compressed) Approx. 0.1MB
Viewfinder
Product type Eye-level single-lens reflex viewfinder
Field of view Approx. 98%
Viewfinder magnification Approx.1.02x (?1m-1, 50mm lens, infinity)
Eye point Approx. 24.2 mm (-1m-1)
Diopter adjustment range -3.0 - +1m-1
Focusing screen Neo Lumi-Micro Mat screen : FS-3 Grid Focusing Screen can be installed by Olympus Service.
Eyepiece shutter Eye piece cover EPC-1 supplied
Eye cup Interchangeable type EP-5/6/7, EP-5 is supplied (Magnifier Eyecup ME-1 is available)
Optical preview (view finder) 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 High speed 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
Face detection pre-view, Perfect shot pre-view
Grid line displayable, 5x/7x/10x magnification possible, MF/S-AF,
AF frame display, AF point display, Shooting information, Histogram, IS activating mode.
AF High speed imager AF, Phase-difference detection AF
Image Stabilizer
System Built in (Imager shift image stabilizer)
Mode 3 modes (2 dimensional activation, 1 dimensional activation in landscape frame to vertical direction moving, 1 dimensional activation in portrait frame to horizontal direction moving )
Manual Function input focal length 8, 10, 12, 16, 18, 24, 28, 30, 35, 40, 48, 50, 55, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 100, 105, 120, 135, 150, 200, 210, 250, 300, 350, 400, 500, 600, 800, 1000
Effective compensation range Approx.5 EV steps?(in maximum effect)
LCD Display
Product type HyperCrystal II LCD (semi-transmissive TFT color LCD)
Size 2.7 inches
Total no. of pixels Approx. 230, 000 pixels
Playback field of view 100%
Brightness control 15 levels
Color Balance 15 levels
Focusing
AF system TTL phase-difference detection system
Contrast detection system (with 25mm f2.8, 14-42mm f3.5-5.6, 40-150mm f4.0-5.6, 9-18mm f4.0-5.6, 14-54mm f2.8-3.5II)
Focus mode Single AF (S-AF) / Continuous AF (C-AF) / Manual Focus (MF)
S-AF + MF / C-AF + MF * C-AF mode is not available with the contrast detection system
Focusing point 11 points full-twin cross AF sensor with the phase-difference detection system
11-area multiple AF with the contrast detection system (Auto, selectable in option)
Focusing point selection Single target, Dynamic single target, All targets with the phase-difference detection system
Single, all 11 area, or Face detection with the contrast detection system
AF luminance range EV -2 to 19 (at 20C, ISO 100) (phase-difference detection system)
AF illuminator Built-in flash (external flash available) (phase-difference detection system)
AF lock Locked at first position of Shutter button in Single AF mode / AEL button (customizable)
Focus tracking Interlocked with Continuous AF mode (phase-difference detection system)
Focus aid Available
Fine Adjustment +/- 20 steps, 20 data can be registered
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, Centre weighted average metering, Spot metering)
(At normal temperature, 50mm f2, ISO 100)
Exposure mode (1) Auto (2) P: Program AE (Program shift can be performed) (3) A: Aperture priority AE (4) S: Shutter priority AE (5) M: Manual (6) Scene program AE (7) Scene select AE
Scene program AE Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sport, Night + Portrait
Scene select AE Children, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Fireworks, Documents,
AUTO (ISO 100 - 3200) / Manual (ISO 100 - 3200), 1/3 or 1 EV steps
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, 0.5, 0.7, 1EV steps selectable
ISO bracketing 3 frames in 0.3, 0.7, 1EV steps selectable
Metering standard value adjustment 1/6 EV step, +/- 1EV range
White Balance
Auto WB system Hybrid detection system with High speed Live MOS sensor and dedicated external sensor.
Preset white balance 8 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 A-B/G-M axis (in Auto WB / Preset WB mode / One touch WB)
CWB (Kelvin setting) 1 setting can be registered at Kelvin temperature (2000K - 14000K)
One-touch white balance 1 custom setting can be registered
White balance bracketing 3 frames in 2, 4, 6 steps selectable in each A-B/G-M axis.
Color Mode
Color space 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 min. (selectable longest time in the menu. Default: 8 min. TBD
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-UC1 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 pictureson sequential shooting RAW mode: Max. 12 frames.
JPEG mode: Depends on compression ratio and no. of pixels
(Large normal mode: up to card capacity with High Speed CF cards)
Integrated Flash
Built-in flash Retractable flash, GN=18 @ISO200, (GN=13 @ISO 100.m)
Compatible external flash FL-50R, FL-36R, FL-50, FL-36, FL-20
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
Flash intensity control Up to +/-3 EV in 0.3, 0.5, 1 EV steps
Flash bracketing 3 frames in 0.3, 0.5, 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 modes TTL Auto (TTL pre-flash mode), Auto, Manual, FP TTL Auto, FP Manual.
Number of channels 4 channels
Group setting 3 groups
Art Filter
Mode Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale&Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pin Hole
Multi Exposure
Number of picture 2-4 pictures
Functions Auto gain, Live View, Exposing on Recorded picture
Multi Aspect
Aspect Ratio 4:3(Default)?3:2?16:9?6:6?5:4?7:6?6:5?7:5?3:4
Control panel
Information WB setting, WB compensation notification, B/W mode notification, Record mode, ISO sensitivity, Program Sift
BKT notification, Flash mode, Drive mode, Recordable still image number, Shutter Speed, Aperture Value
Exposure compensation value, Metering mode, AF mode, Activated AF points, Focusing mode, IS, Multi Exposure
Back light timer 8 sec.
Super control panel
Information (Shooting) Battery information, Exposure mode, Shutter speed, Aperture value, Exposure compensation value, ISO sensitivity,
Exposure compensation indicator, Exposure indicator, Flash intensity compensation indicator, Date, BKT setting,
NR setting, WB, WB compensation value, Picture mode, Flash mode, Record mode, Image size, Card information,
Drive mode, Flash intensity compensation value, Metering mode, Recordable still image number, Focusing mode,
FP warning, AF frame, AF illuminator deactivated notification, , Color space, Sharpness, Contrast, Saturation,
Gradation, IS activating mode, Face detection, RC mode setting, My Mode, Flush Charge, Multi Exposure, Aspect Ratio
Information (Wireless flash commander) 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
Wireless channel setting, Built-in flash intensity, Group setting
Back light timer Back light lighting time is selectable. (Keep, 8, 30sec, 1min)
Playback
Playback modes Single-frame, Index (4/9/16/25/49/100 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 (Additional one language is possible to download.)
Others: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Czech, Dutch, Danish, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Croat, Slovenian, Hungarian, Greek, Slovakian, Turkish, Latvian, Estonian, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Rumanian, Indonesian, Malay, Thai
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 Shadow adjustment, Red-eye fix, Trimming, Monotone, Sepia, Saturation (color depth), Resize (producing another file), Aspect Change
Marge function 2-4 pictures, merge gain step 0.1-2.0 0.1 step
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)
USB/Video connector Dedicated multi-connector (Video: NTSC/PAL selectable, Optional Remote cable RM-UC1 is available)
Flash attachment Hot shoe / External flash connector
DC-in Yes (AC-1 compatible)
Power Requirements
Battery BLM-1 Li-ion battery (included)
Sleep mode Available (1, 3, 5, 10 min., off selectable)
No. of recordable pictures Approx. 750 shots (optical viewfinder)
(with 50% flash light) (with BLM-1 under CIPA testing standard)
Power battery holder HLD-4 compatible
Dimensions/Weight
Dimensions 141.5 mm (W) x 107.5mm (H) x 75 mm (D) (excluding protrusions)
Weight 655g (body only)
Operating Environment
Temperature 0 - 40C (operation) / -20 - 60C (storage)
Humidity 30 - 90% (operation) / 10 - 90% (storage)
Splash proof No

Press Release
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  • Maxington - Friday, November 7, 2008 - link

    "Unique features of the E-30 include multiple-exposure capability, a Digital Leveler that will be particularly useful for architectural photography, and art filters for getting creative with the image."

    Does this mean unique in the Olympus linup? The digital leveler seems fairly unique, I don't get what's so unique about the other two features, unless they are a lot different than they sound.

    I still feel that the sensor is what holds Olympus back. I like their bodies, the optics, but I can't bring myself to buy a worse performing sensor. And their DSLR's aren't even smaller to match the sensor!

    Bring on micro 4/3rds and I'll take another look.
  • Wesley Fink - Friday, November 7, 2008 - link

    Multiple Exposure as implemented on the E-30 is fairly rare in Digital SLRs. The Fuji Sx Pro and higher Nikon models offer that feature but we don't recall seeing it elsewhere.

    Of course you can create multiple exposure type images in Photoshop using layers and manual exposure adjustments for the layers to achieve a useful final exposure.

    A Digital Leveler is featured on the D3 and D700 Nikon full-frame DSLRs but we are not aware of other cameras featuring this.

    The Art Filters are fairly unique. These are a great deal more than Sepia-tone or B&W, as you can see in the Art Filter list in the Press Release on page 2. If readers are aware of other DSLRs with these features please let us know.
  • Maxington - Friday, November 7, 2008 - link

    Pentax K10D and K20D could blend multiple exposures in camera, though it looks like Olympus have extended that quite a bit.

    I suppose Olympus have extended the art filters as well, but still, that is kind of a gimmick.

    Personally I'd do all that in post processing, pretty much anyone I know with a DSLR wouldn't edit a thing in-camera.

    I hope Olympus keeps going on micro cameras, not more DSLRs which I think are finding it difficult to compete in todays market.
  • computerfarmer - Thursday, November 6, 2008 - link

    With the same sensor as the Panasonic G1 and $500 more and many posts on this site have said the G1 was over priced. I hope I am missing something here.
  • 7thSerapHim - Thursday, November 6, 2008 - link

    For the E-30 to compete with the D90 & 50D, it needs to be priced competitively.

    Olympus needs to do some major advertising as well!
  • Wesley Fink - Thursday, November 6, 2008 - link

    It is my opinion that the actual selling price of the E-30 should be somewhere around $999 to do well in the marketplace. This would be about the same as the D90 and a great deal less than the Canon 50D.

    While Olympus has announced a $1299 price, the $1699 E-3 is actually selling for around $1399, and one major vendor even advertises $1299. If the E-30 is similarly discounted after introduction then we might see it selling for around $1000 - or even less.

    The features and specifications of the E-30 are certainly on target this time, but the market changes fast and adds new features at lightning speed. If the Live View AF is as good as Olympus/Panasonic claim that may influence more buyers to take a serious look at the E-30. The E-3 AF module and tilt-swivel LCD will also turn a few heads.

    The Olympus optics are generally superb, and we are very interested in seeing if 12.3 MP can provide competitive low-noise performance when we finally get our hands on a shipping E-30.
  • Hulk - Thursday, November 6, 2008 - link

    "a great deal less"

    The 50d is $1199 on B&H.

    That only $200 difference.

  • teldar - Thursday, November 6, 2008 - link

    This sounds like it could be a pretty nice camera. I was thinking there needed to be something between the 520 and the higher end models, and this sounds like it fits the bill perfectly. It'll just have to be a decision between this and the Pentax K20. Unless canon actually comes out with inbody stabilization....
  • Calin - Thursday, November 6, 2008 - link

    This (if working correctly) would be great - not once I've took pictures that were not straight, due to my reliance of the perceived verticality of a wall on the side of the picture
  • melgross - Thursday, November 6, 2008 - link

    With Canon having a bit of noise problems at higher ISO's with the new 50D 15 MP sensor model, I wonder how this will fare with its much smaller sensor.

    Also I'm surprised that with other companies going to high resolution LCD's, they stuck with a low resolution version.

    Normally it didn't matter. But with Live View in new cameras, it means a lot for focussing. Otherwise, there is more magnifying of the image than would be required with a high rez screen, which means more manipulation of the controls, and time taken.

    Otherwise, this looks like a nice model.

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