Seventeen E-30 Impressions... 10/17 ~ Simon Angier
Sunday, December 14, 2008 at 12:12PM After spending the morning looking at the amazing images our members had captured in the first Olympus Safari Group exhibition, the focus turned to the second star attraction of the day, Olympus’s latest creation, the E-30!
One of our E-3 owners stated how he disliked plastic bodies and that, for him, alloy bodies were the only option. As an E-510 owner I’m use to Olympus’s plastic bodies and to be honest I have no complaints. The E-30 seemed to be of the same high quality I have come to expect from Olympus. Of course a plastic body is never going to be a strong as an alloy body, but for a serious amateur, it should give many years of faithful service unless it receives a serious knock.
The size of the E-30 is very similar to the E-3. However, contrary to the view held by an E-3 owner, I preferred the grip of the E-30, which is slightly smaller and fitted my hand better. This view was shared by a couple of the ladies within the group.
A difference that was overlooked at first glance is the E-3 doesn’t have the programme dial of the E-30 and E-5xx/4xx. Although I now try to use my camera in A, S or M as much as possible, having quick access to the programme modes, when I need to take a spur of the moment image is nice to have and probably saves me from missing a few opportunities.
The E3 has many advantages over the E-5xx/4xx, lower noise, more focusing points, the list goes on. But two key items that draw me to the E-3 is the weatherproof body and the pivoting LCD screen. The E-30 doesn’t have the weatherproofing, but this is one of the few differences between the bodies and there has to be a few, otherwise who will buy the E-3? I don’t need to go out in all weathers shooting, therefore is weatherproofing that necessary? Yes, it would be nice not to worry about getting the camera wet and as Brian recollected accidents do happen, dropped his E-3 into a stream without consequences, other than a wet t-shirt from drying his camera (nice to know Brian has his priorities right!). But apart from the rare accident is weatherproofing worth the extra money and weight? If the E-30 is like the E-510, a few seconds in the rain doesn’t appear to cause it any harm for a quick shot. Maybe I need to review my perception that weatherproofing is essential for my needs?
The pivoting LCD on the E-30/E-3 for my style of photograph is one massive positive. I’m interested in macro photography and this quite often involves me laying spread out on the ground, to enable me to use the viewfinder or non-pivoting LCD on my E-510, which is not always practical. The thought of being able to position the LCD in any direction, so that image can be easily composed makes me want an E-30/E-3 more than any other reason. Also the ability to fold the LCD so that it’s protected by the body in transit is another advantage, although I have found the E-510 LCD to be quite resistant scratches. The pivoting action of the LCD is a potential weak spot, but feels solid and only likely to break with significant abuse.
The rear of the camera is quite cluttered with buttons in every available space. There are two jog dials, the one located at the front is in easy reach of the shutter button and the other on the rear, can be controlled by your thumb while looking through the viewfinder. In all the situations I tried both the dials appeared to have the same function, but I guess this was due to the camera setup and the modes/options I tried, otherwise there doesn’t seam much point in having two dials!
One point that still confuses me is the purpose of the LCD display on the top right of the camera showing the settings. I could understand it’s purpose on my film SLR as it was the only way to see the camera’s settings without looking through the viewfinder, but on DSLR’s there is the rear LCD which can display the same information. Maybe one of our E-3 users can enlighten me?
My surprise of the day, was the viewfinder, wow! You have to remember here that I’ve only been use to the E-510. What an improvement the E-30 is, so much brighter and larger. As one of E-3 users pointed out it’s not quite as large as the E-3, but it is a significant improve over the E-5xx/4xx. As the E-3, the settings are displays at the bottom of the viewfinder, which I found easier to view and I had no difficulties using the camera with my glasses on.
The top gadget of the camera has to be the built in levelling indicator, which is displayed on the LCD. It was pointed out this is not going to be much use while using the camera handheld as you can’t see the LCD when your eye is planted on the viewfinder, however in liveview or on a tripod this is an excellent tool to get your horizons level.
Overall the E-30 is, in my opinion, a feature packed camera and an ideal upgrade route from the E5xx/4xx. Yes, it does lacks weatherproofing and alloy body of the E-3 and the mechanics are probably designed for a low number of actuations. However, for a keen amateur photographer who wants a bit more than their current E5xx/4xx provides this is probably an ideally intermediary. The biggest question is where the cost will be pitched? If it’s too close to the E-3, then you would have to go for the E-3’s bullet proof construction and reliability.
I look forward to having the opportunity to test the E-30 in the field at one of the upcoming safari events, to see what it’s like when used in anger!
Reader Comments (1)
It was probably me. I'm used to bodies like the Ex, D300, A900, 40D etc. Plastic is not my fav body material, not because plastic is bad, but because it never produced up to alloy standards (the E330 actually is quite nice for plastic).
And as for the Grip, Itthink its not very well designed. The E5x0 is better designed in my point of view.
Tim Afken