Olympus E-30

Question on Manual Focus with AF confirmation

Hawaii-Geek — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:33:00 +0000

I am curious if the e30 is able to be in Manual Focus , with AF confirmation on all 11 points?

That would mean that as you Manual Focus , you can see the individual AF points light up as they are Locked.

* Of course, I want to know how it AF at dusk / at night ... on Eyes / Face with the 14-35 f2 SWD?

Seventeen E-30 Impressions... 17/17 ~ Rich Simpson

Brian Mosley — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:19:00 +0000

Honey I shrunk the E3 ....

Or at least that’s how it looks at first sight.

These days, with pre-release information and a steady flow of hints as to what each manufacturer is planning, a new model these days is hardly the surprise it used to be.

Widely touted by Oly as the “advanced amateur” model, it is firmly nestled between the Pro E3 and the amateur E520.

Looks and Design

At first sight, it looks like a shrunken E3. From the front, it has similar proportions. The grip and thumbwheel are much the same, but instead of that towering prism that gives the E3 its huge viewfinder, we find ourselves with a prism and upper body design that looks much more in keeping with more conventional design. But there is not much that is similar to the E520, with its much criticised cramped viewfinder and side display. The E30 is, as others have said, quite a bit smaller than the E3, but relatively, not so much bigger than the E520.

Then we notice the control knob instead of the array of E3 buttons to control modes, and drive etc. Again, as the E3, we have the same very decent top plate information panel. So far so good, but turn to the rear and we start to see quite a different animal.

The first thing you notice is a much tidier & cleaner layout of the rear controls, with bracketing, metering, drive and self timer buttons moved from the top plate to the left of the viewfinder to make way for the control knob. The ON/OFF switch position is tidied up by being integrated with the 4 way controller, and recessed, which I think many will welcome, as on the E3 it always seemed to be an isolated switch which confused itself with the card access door. That has now disappeared. Otherwise, the same buttons are there, but highlighted in the E520 blue livery.

One irritating omission is the absence of a viewfinder blind, which means using the supplied piece of plastic....

The improvements:

firstly the viewfinder eye-cup. Yes, it now doesn’t remove itself every time the camera is taken out of its bag. Stiffer clips or a re-designed mounting it doesn’t matter – it works!
Next, the new 2.7” LCD. It’s larger, brighter, clearer, and has a much more natural and accurate colour tone. Surprise, surprise ... it’s virtually identical to the E520 and the E420, and makes the E3’s LCD quite small and muddy in comparison. Its resolution might not be on par with competing brands, but it’s plenty good enough.
Then the 20% weight loss. It might seem a great deal, but to me its very noticeable, and combined with the reduced size, makes the camera a good deal easier to handle.
Look through the viewfinder and you have a view something like that of the E1. In other words, smaller than that of the E3, but having a 98% view, is a good deal larger and brighter than that of the E520, without that tunnel peering syndrome ... The display is along the bottom of the viewfinder too.
Talking of display, we now have a level indicator, reminiscent of that of the Ricoh compact models. So simple, we wonder why this hasn’t been incorporated before.
For those who want to fine tune the phase detect autofocus, each of the 11 AF points can be adjusted individually.
In terms of shutter sound, it’s very similar to the E3, but more muted, and slightly softer, which gives it the appeal of a rather more refined camera operation than you might expect.
The big difference in the LCD is in its improvement in Live View response time – far quicker than any other Oly that has incorporated LV. Quicker than the E-3 needs to re-focus using the phase detect system, and a shade faster than the E520.

Beyond that, the difference is really in the software. Turn that big, chunky control knob to the ART/SCN setting, and you have instant access to a whole range of effects! I spent a good ten minutes working my way through the lot, from gritty B&W to soft mood focus and everything in between. Strangely, the E30 has come in for most criticism for including these filters as part of a semi-pro camera. But then nobody has to use them, and as a quick JPG image effect, they do no harm, and better still, remind me of my film days when I kept a spare UV filter with Vaseline smeared to create that soft effect ...

To accompany the E30, Olympus have given us a new Mark II 14-54 ZD lens, which, along with the 28mm pancake, the 14-42 and the new 40-150, now functions using contrast detection, with no significant lag, which is all good news!

Summary

I can’t help feeling that unless you are looking to have a fully weather sealed pro-grade camera body, then the E30 fits perfectly into the category of camera that will appeal to most serious / enthusiastic amateurs, and very likely to many who earn their living from Oly cameras as well.

It might seem like an incremental improvement in the long line of Olympus cameras, but new models don’t come along every six months, and under the skin we have a new sensor, hopefully with improvements in noise and the elimination of banding at low light levels.

So would I buy one? Since I’m not in the habit of walking through streams in rainstorms, or crawling along beaches in wind storms, then probably so!

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Seventeen E-30 Impressions... 16/17 ~ Bruce Clarke

Brian Mosley — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:18:00 +0000

A brief play with the pre-production E-3 at the exhibition left me slightly disappointed. It feels like an E-520 that has been remade using some E-3 parts, which shouldn't be a bad thing. I love the handling of both the E-3 and E-520 in their different ways, but somehow, the E-30 grip didn't feel as good in the hand as either to me. The body certainly feels high quality, and probably very tough if not weather-proofed. Weight-wise at 655g, it's a lot heavier (and larger) than the E-520 at 475g, and not a lot less than the E-3 at 800g (no batteries for all weights). Both the E-3 and E-520 feel the right weight for their size, the E-30 possibly a little light.

The styling is fairly bland, but may be what many people want. The button ergonomics and tactile feedback are improved over the E-3, with touch feedback cues like the raised ridges and surrounds for some buttons, which will aid learning by feel. The On/Off switch is an improvement on the E-3 (which is unnecessarily awkward) but it does get in the way of the four-way controller slightly. The Bracket setting using the two top left buttons on the back is good, rather than trying to choose the right two of three on the E-3. The Fn button to the right of the thumb is shielded nicely with a surround - this one has always been too easy to hit on the E-500 and E5x0. The Mode dial is fine, I don't have any problem with the E-3 dial-less approach, but some seem to. This may affect My Modes though - with the E-3 you can have different exposure modes on each as there is no physical dial. I didn't get time to check this out.

The adjustment dials are well placed front and rear similar to the E-3. I prefer the E-3 shutter release ergonomics, but the E-30 is fine. Compatibility with the same HLD-4 battery grip as the E-3 is good, with software control of battery types and warning levels.

The viewfinder is a good compromise, probably about E-1 sized, with the information display at the bottom where it should be. This means the E-30 is appreciably less high than the E-3, which I suspect was made higher than necessary to look 'Pro'. The flip/twist LCD is excellent, thinner than the E-3, but feels much more substantial, and the hinge feels more solid and smoother in action. This is good, as this seems to be a weak point on the E-3, some having leaked. I'll reserve judgement on the LCD image quality, as it looked a bit pre-production.

Moving onto the interface, the first change you notice is the electronic level, which if accurate, could be very useful. Customisable playback and live-view displays are a nice idea. I had hoped they would have added the noise filter setting on the super control panel, with direct adjustment, but no. The menu structure is otherwise very similar to the E-3 and E-x20, which aids familiarity, but not necessarily comprehension! The range of possible customisations is getting too numerous for this menu structure, and some serious interface usability work needs doing in the near future. The top LCD is largely the same as the E-3, and useful depending on your preference.

The much-touted Art Filters are marketing-led, and probably of little interest to those who PP seriously, being a rather limited and random set of treatments. The multiple exposure feature could be useful, allowing alignment against the first image on the LCD in live-view. Multi aspect ratios could be useful to some, but only really in live-view, and if shooting Raw, third party processors may not pick up the cropping information.

The AF seemed fast in poor light, and the fine adjust for up to twenty lenses sounds a good idea if it doesn't take forever to set up, and then get lost with firmware upgrades! It will make the most of SWD lenses, being the same unit as the E-3, but the software may have been tweaked. IS is rated the same as the E-3, and very useful when you need it. The shutter is also the same rating at 1/8000 max, and 5 fps max, but may have a shorter life. It sounds noisier and a bit cruder than the E-3, maybe as a result of the body material?

Being pre-release firmware, we were asked not post samples, but early ones starting to appear look promising. Noise looks similar or better than the E-3, but with 12.3MP, and less high ISO banding, which is a weakness of the current 10MP sensor.

Altogether, the E-30 is a good package that fills a gap in the range, but it's success will be very price-critical. If too close to the E-3, many will go for the rugged build of that, particularly when the price starts dropping when its replacement is imminent. It confirms the Olympus commitment to 4/3 for now, but these are volatile times, and they must be putting a lot of resource into M4/3 development.

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Seventeen E-30 Impressions... 15/17 ~ Alex Bampton

Brian Mosley — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:17:00 +0000

The ergonomics of the camera coming from the perspective of an E-330 owner are very nice. Either camera with the 14-54 mk II felt very balanced. The Compactflash door seemed to have a bit of play. In honesty, this didn't bother me.

I liked the increase in dedicated buttons. The extra AF points were easy to navigate and manipulate using the dials. In manual mode using two dial for shutter speed and aperture is easier than having to toggle with the exposure compensation button.

The articulated LCD is much better than the "one way" version in the E-330. And it can be turned face inwards when not in use, to protect it from dust, knocks and grease. This is where the top LCD is handy. It is much quicker to use if using the camera in a hurry with the LCD folded away.

I swapped the lens between the two cameras. I was pleasantly surprised once I did this, as I did not notice any difference in weight at all. According to the internet the E-330 is supposedly lighter by 50g or so. Putting the cameras on the table back-to-back confirmed the similarity in size.

All the buttons on the back right hand side of the camera fell under my thumb without uncomfortable stretching. The playback/review button one of these, so you can review shots without much movement in your grip.

I tried the 7-14, and was impressed, both by the immense field of view, and with the pairing of the lens with the E-30. It felt totally natural, and again did not really feel heavy, just balanced. It matched the improved E-30 viewfinder, bringing you right into the scale of the lens. The "roll" indicator in the viewfinder was very useful. I also noticed that I could walk right up to obstacles and have no idea how close they really were. This coupled with the protruding front element could cause damage to an expensive lens.

With live view, as you can keep the perspective "in perspective". Also you get indication of tilt in both planes. I also later tested the 8mm fisheye on my E330, and mostly used it in live view A, which was very satisfying. If incorporating people, you don't intimidate them so much if the camera (instead of a whole human being) is centimetres away from them!!

There is logic to the E-30 approach to this, as I feel if using a long lens, or tracking moving objects, I would want to use the viewfinder. The E-30 has the more versatile articulating screen for shooting around corners or into tricky crevices. If you wanted large DOF and are using a wide to ultrawide lens, it might not matter much if your subject was moving, as you could focus at the hyperfocal point.

I tried my OM 50mm f1.8 lens. The better viewfinder made a huge difference in manual focusing. I wandered around the gallery shooting happily, and did not miss focus once, whereas it was pretty impossible for me on the E-330. I then tried a portrait type shot. Attempting to focus on the eyes was difficult up to f2.8. I suspected the less sharp and contrasty f1.8 on this lens made a face more difficult to focus on. The E-3 was even better, and I could focus with no trouble.

On playback, the thumbnails now animate when navigated. I very much like that you can now get a clipping indication for shadows and highlights at once. I tried a variety of ISOs, and zoomed in to 10x. I could see the grain at ISO 1600, but it looked well behaved to me. I don't think I ever saw much more detail past 4x on the E-330, so the fact I could see the grain was good to me! I took some shots at ISO 3200, and I could see no banding.

IS seemed to give genuine benefits.

I could not find a way to configure the art filters much. Access to the super control panel is replaced by the filter select screen. You can alter all functions with hardware buttons, eg WB, ISO, AF/MF, exposure compensation etc. I could not find a way to alter aperture or shutter speed using the dials.

Multiple exposure can combine up to 4 images, and you can preview it in live view. You can choose an .ORF as a base image. You can opt to equalise the brightness. The blend with the base exposure(s) can obscure what the camera is seeing currently to a certain extent, which you would imagine would make focusing difficult or impossible. When focusing, the base image is faded, enabling you to see what you have focused on.

The new aspect ratio choice is handy, and there is masking on live view, but none in the viewfinder. The crops are centralised.

5fps is definitely fast enough for me.

Contrast autofocus is not as swift as the E-330's mode "A", but not a slouch. It is definitely not for action, as it does not allow CAF. You get 11 AF points even in live view. I could not test the low-light speed difference. Face detection works well for static non-backlit subjects, but the strong light from the large gallery window behind a subject confused the camera and it struggled to find a face. If the face is small in the frame the whole process seems to slow down or get a bit flaky.

The E-30 had fast, quiet and smooth AF with the 14-54 mkII on ambulant visitors once single point AF had been selected. Accuracy seemed fine. You can change each AF point like you can with the E-3 to small or normal. The E-3 I tried inspires huge confidence in its solidity, but I like the inbuilt mode dial on the E-30 far better.

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Seventeen E-30 Impressions... 14/17 ~ Pete Delaney

Brian Mosley — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:16:00 +0000

I have read many reviews on digital cameras and whilst they can provide numbers and graphs for those who cry out for the technical capabilities they can also be a little overwhelming. Statistics can confuse and I hope to redress such issues with a concise opinion of the E-30; please bear in mind this is my opinion, based on a brief hands-on experience. So what is important to me? Well I need to know how a camera feels, is it comfortable to operate and how intuitive is it to use? The opportunity I was given to handle the E-30 was one I couldn’t resist and I aim to portray what I thought of this exciting new photographic tool.

When I first picked up the E-30 I was immediately struck by how light it was. Although it does not have the magnesium alloy body or weather-sealing of the flagship E-3 it is clear that the weight saving is an advantage, whilst still feeling incredibly solid in the hands. The intuitive operation of the menu has remained largely the same, and I am pleased that Olympus has chosen to keep such a logical and easy to use system. If you have never used an Olympus camera before you will soon discover just how clearly developed the menu system is. The camera is aimed at a wide range of abilities, from the keen amateur through to the pro’s alike. The ergonomics were first-rate and I felt the body was well proportioned, being similar in size to many professional cameras; it felt good, well balanced and comfortable to manipulate. The functions were easily accessible. Give me a day with this device and I am sure it would simply become an extension of my hands allowing me to capture shots which require flexible use of the camera but not at the expense of catching the moment!

I was keen to experience the new creative filters and soon discovered a multitude of possibilities for the artistic photographer. Pictures are manipulated in camera allowing effects such as ‘soft focus’ or the remarkably atmospheric ‘grainy-film’ to be instantly applied. Other marvellous features included the level gauge, which can be selected on any display in the form of pitch and roll indicators, there is also a rotating mode dial on top of the body allowing for quick and easy selection as well as a versatile, large rotatable display. Many of the flagship E-3 camera features have been transferred to the E-30; it was clear that the new feature set is fully loaded, gaining the vast majority of features from the E-3, whilst adding new delights such as the artistic filters. The camera is image stabilised and has the superb sonic dust removal feature.

Finally, there was the new 12mp sensor. The pictures, taken indoors, looked amazing on the camera’s large display, being sharp and exhibiting those famous vibrant Olympus colours. I was very impressed with the E-30 and believe it should be on the shortlist of every serious photographer!

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Seventeen E-30 Impressions... 13/17 ~ Michael Knowles

Brian Mosley — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:15:00 +0000

I'm an E-520 user, so I'd look at the E-30 as an upgrade for that, at a lesser outlay then an E-3.

I'd always considered the E-3 to be too big and heavy for my needs, while being more money than I'd like to spend, too.

The E-30 was unveiled shortly before I got my E-520 and I had considered holding off until it became available. I decided to just buy the E-520 in the end, but would I regret that decision?

Well, first impressions are that it is certainly bigger and heavier than the E-520, which is a minus point for me. I'd have considered buying the E-420 if it had IS. The grip seems taller, though similar in shape, when compared to the E-520. I would say the grip on the E-520 is more comfortable, but that would be fairly subjective.

Like the E-3, it has an LCD on the top-plate, with all the relevant shooting data displayed on it. This may be a boon to some, but I've never extensively used a camera with one, so it's no great bonus to me. The general controls are different, too - I presume more akin to the E-3. I'd say I prefer the layout of the E-520, but I can't imagine it would take very long to become used to the E-30.

The major difference, from my point of view, is the viewfinder. I'm not sure how it compares to the E-3, but it is certainly a big improvement over the E-520. The size of the E-520s viewfinder never really bothered me, but bigger would be nice. There are more autofocus points, too.

One of the new features billed in the press release were the Art Filters. These seem kind of out of place on a camera targeted at the serious amateur/semi-pro market. Maybe on a more 'consumer' targeted camera they'd find more purpose. Of more use to most is likely to be the tilt sensor (I'm not sure of its exact nomenclature) which acts like spirit level and is displayed on the screen. It looks a bit like the exposure comp dial and would be pretty useful for tripod work.

Tripod work is also the only place I'd really use LiveView - though the E-30 has the articulating screen in common with E-3, which may make it more useful then the fixed screens of the E-5XX & E-4XX.

The new 14-54 seems virtually identical, in appearance, to the old version - performance I can't comment on.

The other major difference is the new sensor. Now 12MP and rumoured to be related to the sensor in the G1, which would seem likely. It was obviously a pre-production camera, so image quality from it is an unknown, I wouldn't imagine it to be any worse than current the cameras, though.

Overall, I'd say the camera comes across as an E-3 lite, rather than an E-520 plus - which is probably in line with what most upgraders would want. For me, I'm not sure it offers any compelling reason to upgrade. The Viewfinder is better, but the size and weight are not. I'd be concerned that it doesn't differentiate itself enough from the other products to tempt many people. This all depends on pricing structure and whether or not the E-3 is in line for an upgrade to keep it's position at the top of the range.

Having spoken to people at the exhibition, pricing seems to be the point of most concern and confusion. I guess time will tell.

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Seventeen E-30 Impressions... 12/17 ~ Alan Tucker

Brian Mosley — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:14:00 +0000

I think this camera offers a unique range of possibilities for the creative, thinking photographer.

It seems like you can do almost anything with this camera and it has helpful menus to guide you.

It feels just right in the hand, like my old faithful E1. It has a nice sharp chip, more than big enough for anything I would want to do with it.

With the recent wide angle lenses that are now available, this would be a wonderful liberating tool to have. As a bonus it's not too expensive and 4/3 kit is lighter and smaller than most.

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Seventeen E-30 Impressions... 11/17 ~ Tom Stoneham

Brian Mosley — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:13:00 +0000

I only had a chance to handle the E-30 for a few minutes at the Exhibition. I could have had it for longer but passed it on quickly, thinking 'This is not for me'.

Why was I so sure so soon? Because cameras are tools and tools must be comfortable and familiar. I love my E-510 and have got to the point where I can use it instinctively, fingers falling directly on buttons. Everything on the E-30 was in the wrong place: either somewhere quite unexpected or not quite where my fingers expected it. In fact, I spent the first 15 seconds working out how to switch it on. (Which reminds me, Oly: why do the on/off switches on the E5x0 and E4x0 go in opposite directions?)

Of course, if I *needed* a new camera, this would not matter too much, but if the question is whether I can be tempted to upgrade, this matters a great deal. Back in the days of film, one kept camera bodies for years and years and they became familiar friends. Now, with the pace of technological change, we feel the need to upgrade more often in order that our images to compare favourably to the guys with the latest kit ... but wait a second there, weren't there some excellent images taken with E1 bodies at the Exhibition? And no amount of close-up scrutiny could tell which was which.

So it seems to me that if Oly wants E-510 users like myself to be tempted to upgrade to the E-30, and that must be one of their target markets, they must not just sell us the latest technological wizardry, they must also sell us real continuity, which means sticking to conventions about what does what and where it is situated. Isn't adhering to standards meant to be part of the Fourthirds ethos? So let's start demanding standards about the layout of controls on a DSLR. After all, how would you like someone to move the brake pedal on your car every time a new model came out?

And what if I won the E-30 competition with this review? Well, do you want to buy an secondhand E-30? In mint condition with fewer than 50 shutter activations, well maybe 100, or perhaps 300, or perhaps ...

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Seventeen E-30 Impressions... 10/17 ~ Simon Angier

Brian Mosley — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:12:00 +0000

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!

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Seventeen E-30 Impressions... 9/17 ~ Vaughan Williams

Brian Mosley — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:11:00 +0000

I currently own the E1, E330 and E420 (and 14-54, 50 macro, 50-200 and 25mm pancake lenses). My main photographic interests are landscapes, nature close ups (flowers and insects), travel and family.

I was delighted when the E330 was introduced as the Live View and articulating screen was ideal for my nature close ups. I use Live View B and manual focusing for low level tripod shots of wild flowers. I use Live View A, with continuous auto focus, for hand held shots of butterflies and other insects.

When the E3 was introduced I found it just a little too big (I have very small hands) and a little too heavy for me. But when the diminutive, but fully featured E420 was introduced I found it to be my ideal everyday camera. Coupled with the 14-54 it goes nearly everywhere with me. Coupled with the 25mm pancake it goes to places where previously I would have taken a compact instead of a DSLR.

So I have the E1 to fall back on for bad weather shots, I have the E330 for my nature close ups, and the E420 as my every day companion. Ideally I would like a single model to replace all my existing models. It would have the following features:-
Small and light; Robust; Weatherproof; Live View; A tilting/swivelling LCD.

So, can the E30 come close to matching my requirements for a single model? Obviously I will have to compromise on weatherproofing. But it seems to meet the robustness requirement. It feels extremely well made and many people argue that today’s top quality plastics are as robust as metal.

Small and light? Yes and no. It is definitely smaller and lighter than the E3. It’s very similar to the E1, which was my only camera for nearly two years, before I got the E330. I checked it bottom to bottom with my E420 and it’s about half an inch wider and taller. With the new 14-54 mounted it’s not all that much heavier than the E420 with 14-54, and it fits into the very small bag I use to carry the E420 and 14-54. But with the 25mm pancake on it still looks like a ‘big’ camera. So if this were my only body I would probably have to revert to using a compact for those occasions where it’s inappropriate to be carrying a large camera.

But the single most important criterion is performance of Live View for my close up nature work. With the swivelling LCD it is actually more versatile than the E330 for low level tripod work using manual focus. So no contest here: the E30 wins hands down.

However, there is no Live View A implementation: if you want to use auto focus and Live View then you have to rely on the contrast detection focusing. This is implemented in a similar fashion to the E4/520 models with Imager AF (for lenses totally compatible with CDAF) and Hybrid AF (for other lenses). Imager AF is quite fast and responsive: it might just do the job, but unfortunately the 50mm macro is not compatible with Imager AF. So my method of using Live View as a framing aid whilst I slowly approach a butterfly, relying on continuous auto focus to get and keep the subject in focus, will be severely compromised.

I would probably be forced to revert to the method which I used with the E1: using the optical viewfinder and manual focus. Fortunately the optical viewfinder is about the same size and brightness as the E1 and so this method would be feasible. Alternatively, the extra speed of the 11 point auto focus system might prove beneficial for this type of photography.

On balance I think the E3 will do the macro job for me very well. There are a two other facilities which help hand held close up photography: Auto ISO and Image Stabilisation. Small apertures are required to get enough depth of field to keep the whole of a butterfly in focus. This brings the danger of slow shutter speeds in less than very bright conditions. Image Stabilisation will obviously help, but so will Auto ISO, which in Aperture Priority mode increases the ISO once the shutter speed gets down to the minimum required for handholding. These functions will enable me to set an appropriate aperture and concentrate on the job of framing and focusing without having to keep an eye on the shutter speed.

So I am convinced the E30 could be my single model, meeting all my photographic requirements. Whether it’s the camera for you, only you can tell. Here is a list of my other likes/dislikes which may help you make your mind up:

It is quite comfortable for my small hands to hold, about on a par with the E1, but surprisingly I found the heavier E3 was even more comfortable.
I think the top LCD is a waste of space. With all the information you need available in the viewfinder and on the LCD I don’t see the need for this. This space could have been better used for analogue switches/dials for focus and drive setting.
The AEL button (which I use frequently to invoke autofocus when in manual focus mode) is where it needs to be: just right for your thumb to drop on. On the E3 it is a bit too far away from the thumb which means you loosen your grip on the camera as your thumb stretches over to it.

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