Pre-production Olympus E-30 hands-on review

[Four Thirds User editorial team]

Here is our initial detailed hands-on review of a pre-production fully working sample of the new Olympus E-30 DSLR, with the new 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 II Zuiko Digital standard zoom lens. We have 29 pictures to give you a hands-on feel for the new camera.

More...

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Four Thirds User editorial team

Here is our initial detailed hands-on review of a pre-production fully working sample of the new Olympus E-30 DSLR, with the new 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 II Zuiko Digital standard zoom lens. We have 29 pictures to give you a hands-on feel for the new camera.

More...

Apologies, there was a problem with the captions in the featured gallery. This has now been fixed.

Ian

[hschnee]

Thank you for the detailed image gallery, Ian! Very much appreciated!

- Hal -

[Ian]

Originally Posted by hschnee

Thank you for the detailed image gallery, Ian! Very much appreciated!

- Hal -

That's what I'm here for, Hal.

If you feel this article would be of interest and value to anyone else, please do (respectfully) spread the word

Ian

[Atlasman]

Ian,

Is live preview the same implementation as the E-3?

[Ian]

Ummmm - not exactly sure what you mean, but it's closer to the E-520 and E-420 than the E-3, which is a generation behind the cheaper models, in fact.

Is there any particular live view feature you mean?

Ian

[Atlasman]

Mostly the mirror action during the process of capturing an image.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Atlasman

Mostly the mirror action during the process of capturing an image.

Right! I've just done some quick timings. Pre-focused in live view mode, with AF on, the shutter delay is about:

E-520 - 0.6 sec
E-30 - 0.3 sec
Lumix G1 - 0.25 sec
E-3 - 1.5 sec

The E-3 needs to re-focus using the phase detect system, hence the longest delay.
The others have no need (with a live view optimised lens) to refocus, but the shutter has to be closed and then re-opened. The E-520 and E-30 also swing the mirror (probably because only one motor operates the shutter and the mirror, but in the E-30 this is appreciably swifter than the E-520.

Ian

[Atlasman]

Excellent! Thanks.

[markie731]

Good day Sir,

What is your assessment of the new 14-54 ver II lens compared to the old one? does it provide faster focusing speed? better IQ?