Olympus's first interchangeable-lens dSLR is coming in October: Does it set a new standard? Read our First Take.If you've been waiting for a 4/3 digital SLR (dSLR) since the standard was announced more than a year ago, you'll be pleased to know the wait is over. With the official unveiling of the 5-megapixel E-1 Digital SLR, Olympus has made a dramatic entrance into the professional-dSLR market. The company's new contender is the first 4/3 interchangeable-lens camera, and it's designed from the ground up to use entirely digital technology instead of borrowing parts (lenses, most notably) from existing 35mm-film-camera systems. Kodak and Fujifilm have also endorsed the 4/3 system, which uses a standard lens mount and sensor size (22.3mm diagonal, with a 4:3 aspect ratio). That probably means that if you decide to take the 4/3 plunge, you'll be rewarded with a rapidly growing selection of compatible components over the next few years. For the moment, Olympus has gotten the ball rolling with the E-1 body, the first four of its new Zuiko Digital lenses, and a variety of accessories.
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While Olympus touts the E-1 as a revolutionary camera, its design is generally conventional. The new model and Olympus's E-20N have very similar control layouts, as well as the same deep grip and right-mounted lens (compare the center-mounted designs of other interchangeable-lens SLRs). One of the advantages of the 4/3 standard is that it enables both camera bodies and lenses to be more compact and lightweight than existing dSLR bodies and the 35mm-film-camera lenses they use. Sure enough, the E-1 is smaller and lighter than its competitors, but that doesn't mean it's flimsy in any respect--the splashproof, magnesium-alloy body is built to withstand the rigours of pro shooting, and it's equipped with all the requisite seals and gaskets.
The E-1's feature set likewise targets advanced photographers, providing shutter-speed selections from Bulb to 1/4,000; 3-frame-per-second shooting of up to 12 frames in JPEG, TIFF, or RAW mode; selectable colour spaces and light-sensitivity settings from ISO 100 to ISO 3,200; a 2 percent spot meter; and direct-to-computer capture for studio use. Olympus doesn't neglect the finer points, either: the viewfinder offers a bright, interchangeable focusing screen and 100 percent frame coverage; you can choose between FireWire and USB 2.0 for downloads; and ultrasonic waves automatically dust the sensor each time you power on the camera.
Olympus claims the E-1 will be available by October at a list price of $2,199 (body only). That's a substantially smaller price tag than pro-digital favourites such as the Canon EOS 1D and the Nikon D1X carry. But are the price disparity and the E-1's merits great enough to convince professional photographers to shelve their existing lens and accessory collections and invest in a whole new system? We'll leave further speculation for our full review this fall. Not a pro shooter? Don't despair--Olympus has promised to bring a consumer 4/3 dSLR to market in 2004. Stay tuned.
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