Delivering on the Promise of the 4/3 System?
by Wesley Fink on December 24, 2007 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- What's New with Wes
When we were taking a look at the new Digital SLR cameras for our recent Digital SLR Buyers Guide the Olympus E-510 proved to be a really impressive entry - except for one serious flaw. This small, fast, reasonably-priced 10 megapixel DSLR came with kit lenses that were also very small and much better quality than we normally see in kit lenses from the bigger players. It also featured Live View, which was pioneered by Olympus, body-integral Image Stabilization that worked with any lens, and automatic sensor cleaning, which was also pioneered by Olympus but which is now finding its way into cameras from all the makers.
We were reminded how far the 4/3 system had developed with the E-510 and made a mental note to take a closer look at the Olympus E-3 to see if Olympus could finally fix their biggest issue. The E-3 is the Pro level DSLR which had been announced as a replacement for the four year old and seriously out-of-date E-1, and no there was never an E-2.
This photo shows the new E-3 with the 12-60 SWD lens beside the current E-410 with standard 14-42mm lens. The E-3 is about the same size as a Nikon D300, where the E-410/510 are the smallest production DSLRs available today. The magnesium body and weather-sealing adds size and weight to the E-3 but ergonomics are still excellent. The top Pro lenses like the 12-60 SWD are also weather-sealed which adds size and weight.
I have toyed with the 4/3 digital SLR system several times since it was introduced in 2003, shrugged my shoulders and gone back to Nikon or Canon (or lately Sony/Minolta or Pentax). Frankly, I had about given up on 4/3, but when Olympus dropped the E-3 on us a few weeks ago it showed us that 4/3 really could be all that was promised when it was introduced. The current E-410/E-510 answer the original 4/3 promise of small, while the new E-3 breaks new ground in 4/3 system performance.
ANY DSLR system is about lenses in the end, and Olympus 4/3 is blessed with superb optics. To get an idea of how really great the new Olympus glass is you need to use some of the top 4/3 lenses. If you are skeptical a computer site like AT can know anything about photography, then be my guest and read a few of the big photo sites like dpreview, imaging-resource, or dcresource. They all have finally admitted in reviews of the E-410 and E-510 that Olympus has the best kit lenses of any camera maker, and that yes the Olympus claim that lenses designed for digital produce better quality images is proving to be true. www.slrgear.com, which is affiliated with imaging-resource, even went so far as to test most of the current Olympus lenses after being so impressed with the kit lenses.
The Olympus issue has never been glass, nor has it been mount, since the 4/3 mount is all-electronic with a motor in every lens just like Canon. It has really been the options you had (or rather didn't have) in camera bodies to use with this excellent Olympus glass. As great as the current E-410 and E-510 really are, they are still saddled with the serious handicap of an ancient and not particularly sensitive 3-point autofocus system, and there just wasn't a choice of anything better from Olympus. That is until the E-3.
The E-3 takes Olympus AF from outdated technology to state-of-the-art, and as soon as the new 11-point, all cross sensor, dual-plane AF module makes its way down the food chain, no one can ignore Olympus any more. Perhaps Olympus can also find a way to move the terrific E-3 feature of AF with manual touch-up down the food chain as well - because the other big Olympus issue is that stupid "Manual focus by wire" feature and Manual Focus select by menu. Canon has offered the manual touchup after auto-focus as a feature on Pro models for some time and it is good to see Olympus doing the same with their E-3 body and lenses – and SWD (Supersonic Wave Motor) lenses in particular.
There are currently 32 lenses available for the 4/3 system plus teleconverters, extension tubes, etc. You can find a complete listing and specifications at http://www.four-thirds.org/en/products/lense.html. Four of the lenses are from Leica, and these include the fast normal 25mm f1.4 and three lenses that feature Optical Image Stabilization, which they call Mega O.I.S. This makes the 4/3 system the only one I am currently aware of that has both body integral mechanical stabilization and optical stabilization as options. This could be the equipment needed for a very interesting test comparison of mechanical vs. optical I.S. to try provide answers to an argument based on emotion more than fact. I have tried the Leica 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 on the E3 and both the IS and Optical I.S. worked very well individually. However, when both were activated they seemed to cancel each other out and were not effective.
Another interesting lens is the new Leica 14 -150mm f3.5-5.6 Mega O.I.S. This features a Leica brand lens with an equivalent 28mm-300mm focal length with built-in Optical Image Stabilization. Lenses that have super long focal length ranges generally make too many compromises, but this Leica walk-around lens is really intriguing with 4 aspherical and 1 ED elements used to correct lens aberrations.
Another interesting lens is the new Leica 14 -150mm f3.5-5.6 Mega O.I.S. This features a Leica brand lens with an equivalent 28mm-300mm focal length with built-in Optical Image Stabilization. Lenses that have super long focal length ranges generally make too many compromises, but this Leica walk-around lens is really intriguing with 4 aspherical and 1 ED elements used to correct lens aberrations.
I am completely and totally impressed with the E-3. All the lenses are designed for 4/3 mount and for best performance on a 4/3 camera - they aren't 35mm film designs. No other camera in its class offers the combination of effective live-view, built-in image stabilization, the best auto sensor cleaning you can buy, an articulating LCD that can fold away for protection (AND a top LCD for basic data that is missing from the Sony A700), a built-in pop-up flash, effective dust and splash sealing of the camera AND the lenses, a popularly-priced zoom that covers the equivalent of 140mm to 600mm and does Macro up to equivalent life size (70-300mm), MUCH improved noise reduction that goes to ISO 3200, user-programmable Auto ISO that can cover the full ISO range (Canon still stubbornly refuses to fully offer this option), and the best range of available lenses DESIGNED FOR a digital camera system.
At first it looks like the 10 megapixel Live MOS sensor is a bit pedestrian for a new Pro camera until you do the sensor math. The truth is that 4/3 and APS C sensors are almost exactly the same height, and the only real difference is the width for 4:3 is around 18mm compared to the 22.2mm for the 35mm shape 2:3 ratio APS C sensor. Put another way if you take a 10 megapixel 4/3 sensor and filled in the sides to 2:3 ratio the sensor would have 12.5 megapixel resolution. This means a 10 megapixel 4/3 sensor is very similar in resolution in the shared photo (4:3) area to a 12 megapixel APS C sensor. There is no substantive difference in the size of a 4/3 sensor and an APS C, and those who think the 4/3 is much smaller need to do some research. This was demonstrated recently by PopPhoto in a review of the Panasonic DMC-L10 and the Leica 14-50mm F3.8-5.6. They found resolution for the L10 as 2350 lines at ISO100, which out-resolves the Sony 12.2MP A700 (and presumably the Nikon D300 which uses the same sensor). The difference is ratios and diagonals. 4/3 tries to match photo sizes and the 4/3 ratio yields a smaller diagonal and APS C tries to match the shape of 35mm with a 3:2 ratio and a larger diagonal (image circle). Olympus, Leica, and Panasonic also use a Panasonic MOS sensor and not the Canon or Sony used by everyone else.
The E-3 is a bargain for a true PRO grade camera - and it is easily built as well as the Nikon D3 or the top Canons which are $5000 or more. However, most will find the E-3 expensive unless they are serious photo hobbyists or Pros, and Olympus needs to move the E-3 refinements down to E-510 price levels as fast as they can.
This time around I bought an E-3 and a 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD - and the tiny little excellent-quality kit lenses for when the 12-60mm weighs too much and I can compromise just a little on quality. The system has been quickly filled out with other 4/3 lenses and accessories. It now sits beside my Canon and Nikon equipment, and one of those systems will liquidated.
The E-3 is a great piece of creative engineering, an area Olympus is known for. After all they invented auto-sensor cleaning and live view - features which are now finding their way to every DSLR. This is the best Olympus camera EVER, and once you have used it you will be hooked.
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strikeback03 - Thursday, December 27, 2007 - link
Obviously something like the Canon 24-105 f/4L IS was designed for APS-C then just as much as the Sigma 18-50 2.8 is for 4/3. It's a high-resolution zoom designed to give coverage of a larger sensor than the current mount supports. Also, with focal lengths longer than the registration distance of the mount there is little reason other than marketing to design a lens for the smaller sensor, as the size becomes dominated by the front element and changes at the back are a small percentage of the total size.Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Canon EF-S 60mm Macro does true 1:1 and not a "35mm equivalent" of such. Not sure if Nikon makes any DX Macro lenses to compare.
Lord 666 - Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - link
My "holy grail" D300 is going in for a Nikon check-up after the holidays. Something odd with the auto-focus and viewfinder seems to be out of alignment for lack of better words. When using viewfinder to compose pic and autofocus, the areas that were tagged are not what was focused on. Tried to bring down the areas from 51 to 11, but no luck. Due to the importance of Christmas to my family, did a lot of manual focus past 2 daysMorro - Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - link
Correct me if I'm wrong but lens selection available for Olympus is not comparable with offerings for Canon, Nikon, Pentax or Sony/Minolta. The price is quite high too. 50mm f:2 sells for more than $400, compare it to $70 Canon 50mm f:1.7 or $200 50mm f:1.4 from Pentax.nizanh - Friday, December 28, 2007 - link
That is not a fair comparison. Olympus 50mm f/2 is a macro lens, equivalent to 100mm on 35mm film.The Nikon/Canon/Pentax 50mm are non-macro lense.
Equivalent lens:
Nikon 60mm f/2.8D Micor-Nikkor 550$
Canon 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM 360$
The Olympus is faster lens (f/2.0) and according to SLRGear test it is significantly better in terms of optical performance (sharpness at large aperture, no CA).
I own the 50mm f/2.0 and I am very pleased with it.
All-in-all Olympus lenses are not cheap but they priced fairly compare to Nikon/Canon. There are enough 4/3 lenses for almost any photographic needs (Nikon/Canon offers more options - they have to support APS and full frame).
you can look at http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydslra700/page2...">http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydslra700/page2...
look at the "Quality zoom price" comparison. The Olympus price match to other options while offering significantly larger max aperture, which is a big factor in lens price.
Gunlance - Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - link
Sorry that my comment is not directly related to the article. But I just got done reading a lot on DSLR here at anandtech, and Wesley. Your awesome. I thank you. Yet I still am stuck with choosing a camera. Maybe you or someone else could answer me?Here is my problem...
I want to get into photography, and I want to take my future DSLR with me many places like my trusty benchmade pocket knife. I set the limit at $700. A friend of mine was already into photography and could only really suggest Nikon. And still does. Beyond that we both agree that the Canon Xti is lame only because of the body. It was really bad to hold compared to other cameras.
Store clerks also say I should go for the Nikon camp. They don't really seem to help me choose. Asking opinions on the Sony A100 also did not get me anywhere. After a lot of time on the internet and in some stores playing around with the Nikon D40, D40x, Canon Xti, Pentax K100D Super, Pentax K10D, Nikon D80, Sony A-100. NO ONE, EVER, EVER, EVER! Handed me an Olympus to look at. Same with Pentax. Only through your last article do I know even know to look at Olympus.
Why is this is? After sharing your buyers guide article to my friend and showing interest in the Olympus brand anywhere gets me aghast looks and what not. Telling me right off that "image quality suffers and what about compatibility?" Much worse than the Sony....
Choosing my first DSLR is about near driving me crazy! I don't want to get to frustrated here and "settle" if you know what I mean. I understand they all take great pictures and what not, and that between Nikon vs. Pentax there is no clear specification that someone can point at and then say "this why you clearly should choose this brand over that brand".
But when Olympus is mentioned. Everyone can clearly point to Nikon or Pentax and tell me just that!
I also would not want to purchase another body in I would assume two years? Plus when I do, I will have lenses that time around pretty much deciding what body I do go with. That whole "investment" factor of sticking with what lenses you have is whats so daunting as a first time buyer to me. Staying under the goal of $700 would be a miracle. Photography classes are something I will take now too. The K10D I only really look at because of the weather seal. I do live on the west coast in Washington State.
troyjason - Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - link
12-60mm f2.8-3.5 SWDThere is no such thing as this lens.
Wesley Fink - Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - link
OK you got me. The 12-60mm SWD is f2.8-4.0. The older premium zoom is a 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 and the Leica is 14-50 f2.8-3.5. With all the f2.8-3.5 specs on similar range 4/3 zooms my brain didn't catch the slight upper end difference in the 12-60mm. I have made the correction.Johnmcl7 - Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - link
Easy mistake to make, many of the Olympus zooms (not just the 'normal' ones) are F2.8 to 3.5 such as the 11-22, 50-200mm etc.John
crazedmodder - Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - link
Are you going to expand on this review? I really want an E-3 but until the price drops a little I'm stuck reading reviews and dreaming for now :P I was hoping that you would be able to tell me about night shots/noise at high ISO. Also, with the IS does it have the option to only stabilize vertically so you can still pan? I take a lot of night shots, right now I use an E-330 and the noise at ISO1600 is insane, it's an inexpensive camera but still . . . Also the AF pisses me off but I already know about that one :DThanks!
Johnmcl7 - Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - link
Yes, there are three options for IS on both the E-510 and E-3 - off, mode 1 and mode 2. Mode 1 is the standard IS which stabilises the sensor when shot is being taken, mode 2 is for panning which only stabilises vertically. Additionally if you hold the IS button in liveview mode it activates the stabilisation so you can see the effect of IS in the preview image.High ISO is improved on the E-3 but if that's a priority then Canon/Nikon may be a better choice but it does depend on what you're looking for in the complete camera. It's great having the articulated screen back on the E-3 (which I've missed from the E-330) although the E-330 still has the best liveview mode of any of the interchangeable lens SLRs.
Still getting to grips with the E-3, it's great to have a modern weather sealed 4/3 camera (still had to take the E-1 out when it was raining). Need to look into picking up an FL-36R/FL-50R as I'm interested in trying out the E-3's wireless flash support.
John