Olympus Introduces EVOLT E-330 Digital SLR First Digital SLR to offer full-time, “Live View”

Olympus Evolt E-330 Digital SLR

January 26th, 2006.

Olympus has today announced its newest D-SLR, the 7.5-megapixel Evolt E-330, the successor to the popular Olympus Evolt E-300. One of the features that makes this camera unique, is that the Olympus Evolt E-330 is the first interchangeable-lens-type AF digital SLR in the world to offer full-time subject framing via a rear-mounted LCD monitor.

Looking to compete with the Nikon D50 or the Nikon D70s and the Canon Digital Rebel XT, Olympus has introduced the Evolt E-330 as a very feature rich digital SLR at an affordable price that is designed to appeal to the mass digital photography market.

Although some models have offered a 30-second black-and-white view or an enlarged view of just the central portion of the frame, the position of the main mirror in front of the taking sensor has made it inherently difficult for digital SLR cameras to offer live view framing like that found on compact digital cameras.

The Olympus E-330, however, is the first AF digital SLR in the world to allow full-time live view framing via a rear-mounted LCD monitor. This feat was made possible by incorporating a CCD dedicated to full-time live view in the optical path of a porro mirror system like the one used on the E-300. By displaying signals from this dedicated CCD on the LCD monitor, the system allows the simultaneous realization of autofocusing and live view, something that has been considered difficult to achieve with conventional roof-prism type SLR cameras.

Olympus EVOLT E-330
Major Features

• Newly developed, 4/3-type, 7.5-megapixel Live MOS sensor
  
  
• World’s first* AF digital SLR with a full-time “Live View” LCD monitor featuring two modes:
  
  A Mode - Full Time Live View with incorporated AF
  B Mode - Macro Live View with 10x magnification for easy focusing
  
  
• World’s first* variable-angle, 2.5-inch, high-definition HyperCrystal LCD monitor
. To enable photographers to easily and comfortably take high/low-angle photos without assuming an awkward position, the monitor features a variable-angle mechanism that allows it to be tilted downward by up to 45°, or upward by up to 90°.


• Supersonic Wave Filter for dust protection
  
  
• Five (5) metering modes include 49-point Digital ESP metering, center-weighted average metering, spot metering, highlight spot metering and shadow spot metering.



• TTL Autofocus system: The Olympus EVOLT E-330 dedicated auto focus system uses three AF points (Left, Center, Right). Single AF, continuous AF and manual focusing, plus S-AF+MF and C-AF+MF



• Continuous shooting up to 3.0 frames per second to capture the action
  
  
• Choose from 20 user-friendly pre-set shooting modes - including depth-defying underwater modes, a new Nature Macro mode and Panorama mode for stitching multiple images together - or assume more control with creative options including Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual.
  
  
• Auto white balance, the E-330 features fine-tunable white balance presets, custom white balance functions, and a one-touch white balance function that allows accurate color balance to be achieved under difficult lighting conditions. The Drive button can be customized to provide easy access to the one-touch white balance function.
  
  
• Dual Slot Support for High-Capacity Memory Media: CompactFlash™ Type I and II cards and MicroDrive memory media are supported. The Olympus EVOLT E-500 also supports Olympus xD memory cards.



• Selectable ISO settings up to 1600
  
  
• Built-in pop-up flash
  
  
• Optional underwater case PT-E02 available from May 2006
  
  
• Simultaneous RAW and JPEG Image Data Recording: A choice of three data recording formats is offered: RAW, TIFF, and JPEG
  
  
• Self-timer and Remote Control

 

A Mode: Framing Live View

To enable Live View shooting, the Olympus E-330 uses a newly developed 4/3-type, 7.5-megapixel Live MOS sensor image sensor instead of a dedicated still-image, full frame transfer CCD like the sensors used in the Olympus E-1, E-300, and E-500. Boasting a photo-sensitive surface area that is approximately three times larger than that of a conventional CMOS sensor, the new sensor has a wide dynamic range that makes it capable of capturing subtle tonal gradations, and uses approximately 50% less power than a full frame transfer CCD.

In addition, a 5V low-voltage dedicated processing technology renders low noise, and the sensor photodiodes are deeply embedded in silicon to isolate them from noise-causing elements on the chip surface. As a result, users can expect clearer images with reduced graininess and white noise when shooting in low light.

B Mode: Macro Live View

When shooting macro photos, the extremely shallow depth of field at close focusing distances has always made it very difficult for photographers to focus accurately on the area of the composition they want. As a result, it has been necessary to take multiple frames at different focus settings to ensure that the desired image is captured. With the E-330's Mode B Live View, however, the main mirror swings out of the way, and the image from the taking sensor is sent directly to the rear-mounted LCD monitor. Users can then select the area of the frame they want to focus on and magnify it by 10x, thereby making it very easy to focus on the subject manually.

Olympus EVOLT E-330 Digital SLR
Press Release

100 per cent Digital SLR Camera Combines a Live View 2.5-Inch Articulated LCD, Exclusive Dust Reduction System for Spot-Free Photos, and TruePic TURBO™ Image Processor with Largest Selection of Digital-Specific Lenses Melville, New York, January 26, 2006 – Since the introduction of the first single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, photographers have prized SLRs because they can see with the naked eye, through an optical viewfinder, exactly what is passing through the camera’s lens. The “reflex” of a mirrored shutter that bends light to the camera’s viewfinder, and then snaps open rapidly to create exposures, makes this possible and gives the SLR its advantage. But this SLR advantage, while delivering high-performance speed and accuracy, has one drawback in the digital age. Because the image sensor is blocked by the mirror and shutter until the moment the shutter button is pressed, the mirror and shutter mechanism prevents a traditional digital SLR from viewing and composing a photo using only the camera’s Liquid Crystal Display as a viewfinder. As anyone who has used a compact digital camera knows, composing a photo just by viewing the camera’s LCD is easy and commonplace, and many compact cameras do not even offer an optical viewfinder. Composing on an LCD has its own advantages, and Olympus engineers asked the question: How can we design a new digital SLR that delivers not only the traditional through-the-lens optical viewfinder experience of an SLR, but also adds the ability to frame photos with an LCD like a compact camera? The solution to this technical challenge is the revolutionary Olympus EVOLT E-330 digital SLR – the world’s first interchangeable lens digital SLR to feature a true "Live View" image on the LCD screen, in addition to the optical viewfinder, and unite the best of both worlds. Live View is Designed to Do More Users of the EVOLT E-330 will quickly realize that when composing an image on the LCD, they can do more with this camera than they could with comparable SLRs without Live View. Because the camera’s LCD is “articulated” it can extend out from the camera body and swivel downward or upward so the E-330 can be held overhead to shoot over a crowd, or held at the hip or even placed on the ground – something that’s not possible with a traditional SLR that relies on an optical viewfinder alone. Whether shooting from a low angle for dramatic composition or in close for detailed macro photos, with the exclusive Olympus Live View LCD photographers can follow action easily and capture just the right moment with greater creative control. Large Live View 2.5-Inch HyperCrystal™ LCD Monitor Big and bright with 215,250 pixels, the E-330’s 2.5-inch high-resolution HyperCrystal™ LCD offers many times the contrast of conventional LCD monitors, so captured images can be beautifully displayed in vivid colour on the screen with exceptional clarity. Because photos are for sharing, the E-330 LCD features a wide, 160-degree viewing angle on the vertical and horizontal axis, ensuring excellent visibility and beautiful image quality even when everyone huddles around the camera to see what you’ve created. The larger LCD also means the icons and text on the camera’s menu display are large enough for easy viewing. A New Live MOS 7.5-Megapixel Image Sensor The excellent image quality of the Olympus E-System takes a giant step forward with the EVOLT E-330. Newly developed specifically for this camera, the 7.5-megapixel Live MOS image sensor, with its high dynamic range, captures photos with accurate true colours, detail from edge-to-edge and lower noise – bringing home all the benefits of Live View and the E-System. Patented Dust Reduction System for Spot-Free Photos Dust is all around us, and when swapping out a lens on a digital single-lens reflex camera there’s a chance that a camera’s electro-statically charged image sensor will attract micro dust that can ruin photos. Since the main advantage of using an SLR camera is the ability to change lenses for better imaging effects, Olympus has developed a way for photographers to enjoy the freedom of using all the lenses of the Olympus E-System in the most challenging, dusty environments without compromising image quality. Olympus’ Dust Reduction System produces spot-free photos with the exclusive Supersonic Wave Filter™, a patented ultrasonic technology that shakes at 35,000 vibrations a second to remove dust from in front of the camera sensor every time you turn the camera on, and capturing dust to prevent it from reappearing. These spot-free photos liberate users from hours spent retouching images at the computer. The new EVOLT E-330, like all Olympus digital SLR cameras, is equipped with this exclusive user-friendly technology, and only Olympus has a solution to provide spot-free photography in a digital SLR. Digital-Specific Zuiko Lenses Olympus offers the largest selection of lenses designed for digital excellence, and they’re all fully compatible with the E-330. Since each lens is perfectly matched to the camera’s image sensor, light is received by each pixel. As a result, images are brighter, more colourful and super-sharp from edge to edge. The E-330 outfit includes a compact, Zuiko Digital 14 – 45mm f3.5 – f5.6 Lens (equivalent to 28mm – 90mm in 35mm photography) that perfectly matches the imager so light strikes the sensor directly to ensure rich, accurate colours and edge-to-edge sharpness. Its 3.2x zoom covers the range most frequently used in ordinary photography and weighs just 10 ounces (285 grams) offering users an extremely dynamic, portable everyday-use zoom. Close-ups as near as 15 inches (38cm) are possible throughout the zoom range. Ergonomic “Flat Top” Body Design The E-330 camera body is lightweight with a smart design that fits naturally in your hand with a full-sized grip, and is light and compact enough to comfortably shoot with all day. In place of the traditional pentaprism design, the camera incorporates the exclusive Olympus TTL Optical Porro Finder coupled with an exclusive side swing mirror that gives the camera its unique “flat-top” appearance and makes it more compact for greater portability. This design also enables the camera’s full-time Live View capabilities. TruePic TURBO™ for Clarity and Speed Olympus’ TruePic TURBO Image Processor provides fast camera response, operation and processing speed for more responsive camera operation. This is done by closely integrating the image processor and hardware elements to eliminate unnecessary processing tasks, accelerating camera operations. Along with the speed advantages, TruePic TURBO also produces crystal-clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to provide you with the best digital images possible for every photo. PT-E02 Underwater Housing An underwater housing for the EVOLT E-330 that will enable users to enjoy underwater SLR shooting is planned for release in the spring of 2006. Easy to set up, it offers waterproof protection up to a depth of over 196 feet (60 metres). The Live View LCD is ideal for underwater photography because it’s much easier to compose on the EVOLT E-330’s large, bright LCD when under water rather than using the optical viewfinder. And, with three scene select modes for underwater wide, underwater macro and underwater wide-angle auto exposures, the E-330 is designed to perform optimally in the deep. Availability The Olympus EVOLT E-330 Digital SLR will be available in March 2006. It includes: EVOLT E-330 Body or EVOLT E-330 Body with 14-45mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens, USB Cable, Video Cable, Li-Ion Battery Pack (BLM-1), Li-Ion Battery Charger (BCM-2), Shoulder Strap, OLYMPUS Master Software CD-ROM, Manuals, Warranty card. Pricing EVOLT E-330 with 14-45mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens Estimated Street Price: $1399.95 (CAD) EVOLT E-300 Body Only Estimated Street Price: $1299.95 (CAD)

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Olympus EVOLT E-330 Digital SLR Camera
Specifications

Olympus Evolt E-330	Product type	Single-lens reflex Live View digital camera with interchangeable lens system
	Memory	CompactFlash Type I/II, Microdrive, xD-Picture Card ( Dual-Slot )
	Screen size	17.3 mm ( H ) x 13.0 mm ( V )
	Lens mount	Four Thirds Mount
No. of effective pixels	No. of effective pixels	7.5 megapixels
Image pickup element	Product type	Live MOS sensor
	Total no. of effective pixels	Approx. 7,940,000 pixels
	Aspect ratio	1.33 ( 4:3 )
	Dust reduction system	Supersonic Wave Filter ( dust reduction system for Live MOS sensor )
Recording	Recording format	DCF, DPOF compatible/Exif, PRINT Image Matching III
	File format	RAW ( 12-bit ), TIFF ( RGB 8-bit ), JPEG, RAW+JPEG
	Recording image size	[RAW] 3136 x 2352 pixels
		[TIFF] 3136 x 2352 pixels
		[JPEG] 3136 x 2352 pixels ?640 x 480 pixels
Viewfinder	Product type	Eye-level single-lens reflex viewfinder, using porro mirror
	Field of view	Approx. 95%
	Viewfinder magnification	Approx. 0.93x ( -1m-1, 50 mm lens, infinity )
	Eye point	18mm ( -1m-1 )
	Diopter adjustment range	-3.0 - +1.0m-1
	Focusing screen	Fixed ( Neo Lumi-Micron Mat screen )
	Eyepiece Shutter	Built-in
	Preview	Can be checked ( when remote control / selftimer / sequential shooting button is set in preview mode ), selectable from the optical finder or the LCD monitor
Live view	A mode (Full-time Live View)	Full-time Live View CCD is used, approx. 92% field of view, TTL automatic exposure adjustment, Auto white balance adjustment, Passport grid line displayable, AF possible
	B mode (Macro Live View)	Live MOS sensor for still picture shooting is used, 100% of field of view,TTL automatic exposure adjustment, Auto white balance adjustment, Grid line displayable, 10X magnification possible, only MF possible
Monitor	Product type	HyperCrystal LCD ( semi-transmissive TFT colour LCD ) / Upper and lower variable angle type
	Size	2.5 inches
	Total no. of pixels	Approx. 215.000 pixels
	Playback field of view	100%
	Brightness control	15 levels
Focusing	AF system	TTL phase-difference detection system
	Focus mode	Single AF ( S-AF ) / Continuous AF ( C-AF ) / Manual Focus ( MF ) / S-AF + MF / C-AF + MF
	Focusing point	3-point multiple AF ( Auto, Selectable in option )
	AF luminance range	EV 0 to 19 ( at 20°C, ISO 100 )
	AF illuminator	Built-in flash ( flash-off mode and external flash available )
	AF lock	Locked at first position of Shutter button in Single AF mode / AEL button ( customisable )
	Focus tracking	Interlocked with Continuous AF mode
	Focus aid	Available
	Manual focus bracketing	5/7 frames ( 2-step focusing available in each mode )
Exposure Control	Metering system	TTL open-aperture metering system ( 1 ) Digital ESP metering ( 49-point multi pattern metering ) ( 2 ) Centre weighted average metering ( 3 ) Spot metering ( approx. 2% for the viewfinder screen ) ( 4 ) Spot with Highlight control ( 5 ) Spot with Shadow control
	Metering range	( 1 ) EV 1 ?20 ( Digital ESP metering, Centre weighted average metering ) ( 2 ) EV 3 ?17 ( Spot metering, Spot with Highlight / Shadow control ) ( At normal temperature, 50mm f2, ISO 100 )
	Exposure mode	( 1 ) P: Programme AE (Programme shift can be performed) ( 2 ) A: Aperture priority AE ( 3 ) S: Shutter priority AE ( 4 ) M: Manual ( 5 ) Scene programme AE ( 6 ) Scene select AE
	Scene programme AE	Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sport, Night + Portrait ( Underwater Macro,Underwater Wide available )
	Scene select AE	Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Night Scene, Night + Portrait, Children, Sport, High Key, Low Key, Digital Image Stabilisation, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Fireworks, Documents, Panorama* ( *Available with the OLYMPUS xD-Picture Card ), Beach & Snow, Underwater Wide, Underwater Macro
	ISO sensitivity	AUTO / ISO 100 ?400, 1/3 or 1 EV steps, ( AUTO: Automatic control between 100 and 400 ) Limiter for 800 or less / expandable 1600 ( noise filter available when expanded )
	Exposure compensation	+/-5EV in 1/3, 1/2, or 1EV steps
	AE lock	Locked by first position of Shutter button / AEL button ( customisable )
	Exposure bracketing	3 frames in 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, or 1EV steps
White Balance	Preset white balance	7 settings ( 3000K - 7500K )
	White balance compensation	+/-7 steps in each R-B/G-M axis ( in Auto WB/Preset WB mode )
	Custom white balance	1 setting can be registered at Kelvin temperature
	One-touch White balance	Custom setting can be registered
	White balance bracketing	3 frames. 2/4/6 steps selectable in each R-B/G-M axis
Colour Mode	Colour matrix	sRGB / Adobe RGB
Picture Mode	Mode	Vivid, Natural, Muted, Monotone, Sepia
	Adjustment parameter	Contrast, Sharpness and Saturation level available in 5 steps for Vivid, Natural or Muted Contrast and Sharpness level available in 5 steps for Monotone or Sepia
	Filter effect	Yellow, Orange, Red or Green filter available for Monotone or Sepia
	Picture tone	Sepia, Blue, Purple or Green tone available for Monotone
Shutter	Product type	Computerised focal-plane shutter
	Shutter speed	P/Ps/A mode: 60 ?1/4000 sec. ( depends on settings ), S mode: 60 ?1/4000 sec., M mode: 60 ?1/4000 sec. ( Bulb: up to 8 min. with limiter ), Scene programme/ Scene select mode: 4 ?1/4000 sec. ( depends on settings )
	Self-timer	Operation time: 12 sec., 2 sec. ( cancel available )
	Optical remote control	Operation time: 2 sec., 0 sec, bulb control available. ( with optional RM-1 remote control )
Drive	Drive mode	Single-frame shooting, Sequential shooting. Self-timer, Remote control
	Sequential shooting speed	Up to 3 frames/sec.
	Max. recordable pictures	RAW/TIFF mode: Max. 4 pictures JPEG mode: Depends on compression ratio and no. of pixels
Integrated Flash	Built-in Flash	Retractable flash, GN=13 ( ISO 100 )
	Flash control mode	TTL Auto ( TTL pre-flash mode ),Auto,Manual
	Flash mode	Auto, Red-eye reduction, Fill-in, Slow synchronisation, Manual
	Synchronisation speed	1/180 sec. or less
	Flash intensity control	up to +/- 2 EV in 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV steps
	Synchronisation timing	1st curtain synchronisation/2nd curtain slow synchronisation ( selectable )
	Flash bracketing	3 frames in 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, or 1EV steps
Playback	Playback modes	Single-frame, Index ( 4/9/16/25 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, Photographic information
Menu	Languages	English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
Erasing	Erase function	Single frame, All frames, Selected frames ( with protect function )
Copy	Copy between media	Single frame, All frames, Selected frames
Editing	RAW picture editing	RAW development
	JPEG/TIFF editing	Monotone, Sepia, Red-eye reduction, Saturation ( colour depth ), Resize
Print	Print function	Print reservation ( DPOF ), Direct print ( PictBridge compatible )
Input/Output	PC interface	USB 2.0 Full Speed for storage and camera control
	USB/Video connector	Dedicated multi-connector ( Video:NTSC/PAL Selectable )
	Flash Attachment	Hot Shoe
Power Requirements	Battery	BLM-1 Li-ion battery ( included ) / CR123A lithium battery ( optional ) x 3 ( for use with optional LBH-1 Lithium Battery Holder )
	Sleep mode	Available ( 1, 3, 5, 10 min, selectable )
Dimensions/ Weight	Dimensions	140mm ( W) x 87mm ( H) x 72mm( D) ( excluding protrusions)
	Weight	Approx. 550g ( body only)
Operating Environment	Temperature	0 - 40°C ( operation ) / -20 - 60°C ( storage )
	Humidity	30 - 90% ( operation ) / 10 - 90% ( storage )
Olympus E-330 Lens Kit includes		E-330 body,ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-45mm f3.5-5.6,Li-ion battery charger ( BCM-2 ), Li-ion battery pack ( BLM-1 ), OLYMPUS Master software CD-ROM, USB cable, Video cable, Shoulder strap, Manuals, System Chart, Warranty Card
Olympus E-330 (Body)		Includes all the items listed above except for the ZUIKO DIGITAL Lens

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