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FIRST LOOKS
CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
Articulating
live view screen
The specs of the Olympus Evolt E-330 make it an
entry-level D-SLR: It’s a 7.5MP camera that comes
with a Zuiko Digital Specific lens, which has a 3.1X
optical zoom with a 14mm-to-45mm range (equivalent
to a 35mm lens with a 28mm-to-90mm zoom) and corresponding
maximum f-stops of f/3.5 to f/5.6.
The menu structure was decent enough, although
I hope future Olympus D-SLRs will include the guide
features found on some of their latest Stylus models. I
like that the camera gives you a wide array of image-file
choices, including TIFF and various combinations of
RAW and JPEG files.
I was happy to see that there is no solarization on
the 2.5-inch Hyper Crystal LCD panel. This means
you can view the image at an angle without having it become
obscured the way it would be on an older LCD.
The E-330 isn’t without some shortcomings. The
camera has just three autofocus points, rather disappointing
for a somewhat expensive entry-level D-SLR.
Most other D-SLRs have at least five AF points. There
is also no way to change between the three points
quickly; you have to use the menus. Other D-SLRs use
a multiselector controller. These AF points can help
you track your subjects more precisely and keep them
in focus, although most of the time this will apply only
to action shooters.
The E-330’s full feature set and variety of options
make it competitive with other D-SLRs, although
Olympus will need to add some improvements to
render it flawless: In testing I found the image quality
quite good but just a notch below that of the Nikon
D50 and the Canon Rebel XT. But by giving me that
best-of-both-worlds feeling, it’s a camera that truly
stands apart from the pack.—Terry Sullivan
HOW IT WORKS: LIVE VIEW
Until now, no D-SLR let you view a live image of your subject on the LCD screen. Instead, you were forced to put
your eye up to the viewfinder. With its innovative Live View display, the Olympus Evolt E-330 gives you two ways
to view your subjects on the LCD screen: Live View A Mode and Live View B Mode.
A MODE: For General Photography
As with all D-SLRs, the
B MODE: For Closeups
The image travels
4
to LCD
34 PC MAGAZINE MAY 9, 2006
2
CCD
MOS
3
1 1
image enters through
the lens here.
2
In Live View A Mode,
when you take the
picture, this mirror will
swing out of the way and
let the image register on
the 7.5MP MOS sensor.
3
The E-330 has special
mirrors, called Porro
mirrors, which reflect the
image around the side of
the camera body instead of
up through its center.
4
1
The image is reflected
through the glass
viewfinder and also to an
8MP CCD sensor, which
sends a digital image to the
1
LCD YYePG at the back. Proudly Presents, Thx for Support
to LCD
MOS
2
through the lens into
the camera body, as it
does in A Mode. When
you press the Live View
button, however, the
image is not reflected
around the camera
body but instead travels
back to the main 7.5MP
MOS sensor.
2
In B mode, the
digital image is sent
directly to the LCD for a
live preview. Because
the autofocus is
disengaged you have to
focus manually. To help
with that, you can view
the image magnified
10X on the LCD.