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Olympus E-1

Posted by T3 Online on Fri 26 Mar 2004

First digital SLR not to be adapted from old tech

Despite their cutting-edge features and hi-res sensors, all the digital SLRs on the market are ultimately based on dated 35mm film cameras. All, that is, except one. The Olympus E-1 is the first to use a new sensor format that goes by the catchy name of Four Thirds. It may sound like a dodgy Belgian boy band, but Four Thirds is potentially the most exciting thing to happen to high-end digital photography.

Up until now, digital SLRs have all used lenses designed for film cameras. This is great if you're upgrading from film to digital, as you only have to buy a new body, but it can cause optical problems, as most digital camera sensors (CCDs) are much smaller than those on a 35mm film frame. Olympus has teamed up with Kodak and Fuji to develop a system that's designed specifically for 4/3-inch (geddit?) sensors, and it should mean lighter, cheaper lenses as well as less distortion. Another key advantage is that all Four Thirds lenses will work with all Four Thirds cameras, hopefully putting an end to the lens-incompatibility problems of past, where very few camera manufacturers have shared lens mounts

The E-1 is an excellent model to introduce Four Thirds, with a lightweight yet tough magnesium-alloy body and superb handling. Images from the 5-megapixel sensor are only a touch smaller than the 6-megapixel files from rival SLRs, and are wonderfully sharp and smooth.Colour reproduction is good, but a tendency for the model to underexpose complex scenes means you might want to make use of the many exposure and bracketing options.

Clever features include a 'supersonic' self-cleaning CCD - don't worry, there's no distracting sonic boom - and separate USB 2.0 and FireWire ports for maximum flexibility. The extremely swift autofocusing and the high-endurance shutter are both almost silent, while the zoom lens performs especially well in low light.

But there are some sour notes. As the unit has no built-in flash, you'll need to spend another £350 on the dedicated FL50 flashgun. And even before that,the Olympus costs about twice as much as Canon's ground-breaking (albeit plastic-bodied) EOS 300D. This is a fine flagship for Four Thirds, but it may struggle to find an audience at this price.
Mark Harris
*Price quoted is with 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 lens

. KEY FEATURES:
5-megapixel sensor, maximum resolution: 2,560 x 1,920 pixels, 1.8-inch 134,000-pixel LCD, exposure modes: program AE, shutter priority, aperture priority, manual, bracketing, CompactFlash I and II, Microdrive slot (none supplied), dimensions: 141 x 104 x 81mm, weight: 660g without lithium-ion battery