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NEWS RELEASE
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November 5, 2008
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OLYMPUS UNVEILS THE NEW E-30 INTERCHANGEABLE LENS TYPE DIGITAL SLR
Olympus, renowned as one of the world’s leading brands in powerful imaging products, unveil the E-30 today, this being the latest addition to the Olympus E-System series of interchangeable lens type digital SLR cameras.
Positioned as a mid-level model, the E-30 is an excellent choice for budding enthusiasts who want to express their creativity through photography, whether they are an amateur just starting out or a professional with years of experience behind them. The E-30 complies with the Four Thirds System standard, and is scheduled to go on sale in the first quarter of 2009.
Speaking at a special media session, Mr Tan Tick Boon, the managing director of Olympus Malaysia said, “The Olympus E-System is rated as the world’s leading line of compact, high-performance digital interchangeable-lens SLR cameras. This newly launched Olympus E-30 is positioned as a mid-level model between the E-520 and the E-3 models. In addition to inheriting the superior image quality and high-speed performance of the E-3, it offers a wealth of new features designed to expand the photographer's range of creative and artistic expression.
The highest standard of image quality is assured by the E-30's newly developed 12.3-megapixel, high-speed Live MOS Sensor and new TruePic III+ image processing engine. It also boasts a built-in image stabilization system that offers up to 5EV (Exposure Value) steps of shake compensation, and works with the entire range of Four Thirds System lenses, from wide-angle to telephoto, as well as macro and fisheye lenses.
“The E-30 offers outstanding high-speed performance, incorporating the same 11-point, twin-cross AF sensor, 5 fps high-speed continuous shooting, and 1/8000 sec. high-speed shutter featured in the Olympus E-3.
“To provide an ever-wider range of offerings for entry-level, intermediate and professional digital SLR photographers, Olympus will continue to develop and expand its lineup of digital SLR systems that comply with the Four Thirds System standard,” concluded Mr Tan.
The E-30 DSLR, whose price is yet to be confirmed, will be available come first quarter of 2009.
Other features
• Multiple-exposure function with LCD monitor display of current view on top of previously captured image
• Auto gradation adjustment to prevent blown highlights and blocked-in shadows
• Face & Background Control for beautifully balanced exposures of foreground subjects and background scenery
• Perfect Shot Preview to enable comparison of the results of various settings adjustments before actual shooting
• Reliable Dust Reduction system
• Built-in flash with Commander function for wireless off-camera flash synchronization
• Large optical viewfinder with 98% field of view and 1.02x magnification
• Shooting information display via top-mounted LCD panel and Super Control Panel LCD monitor display for superior visibility and operating ease
• High-precision, 49-zone metering system
• Easy activation of shooting functions via sample image selection
• Versatile bracketing functions for ISO, white balance, exposure, and flash
• Lightbox view with enlargement function for easy side-by-side comparison of images
Main Feature Details:
- Easy-to-apply Art Filters for enhanced creativity, a choice of 9 different aspect ratios, High-Speed Imager AF for responsive Live View shooting, a dual-axis variable-angle HyperCrystal II LCD monitor, and other features for versatile photographic expression
Easy-to-apply Art Filters for enhanced creativity
The E-30 does not just reproduce images with amazing fidelity — it also enables users to express themselves creatively by using Art Filters to produce the precise effect they want. As a result, virtually anyone can easily enjoy modes of photographic expression that ordinarily require the use of special lenses, add-on filters, or the use of complex image processing techniques. The following 6 Art Filters are offered:
Pop Art
Emphasizes colors and creates bright, vibrant images with a pop-art tone
Soft Focus
Gives images a light, ethereal look and evokes a dreamy, mystical mood
Pale & Light Color
Utilizes muted color tonalities to create a mood of reflection and nostalgia
Light Tone
Subdues highlights and shadows to reflect the ambience of a perfectly illuminated scene
Grainy Film
Recreates the rich, grainy look and tonality of black & white photography, imparting a dramatic feel to images
Pin Hole
Reproduces the peripheral vignetting and unique color tone of photos taken with a toy camera
A choice of 9 aspect ratios
During Live View shooting, users are offered a choice of 9 aspect ratios. In addition to the standard 4:3 aspect ratio, the E-30 offers widescreen 16:9 and medium-format 6:6, as well as 3:2, 5:4, 7:6, 6:5, 7:5, and 3:4 aspect ratios.
High-Speed Imager AF for responsive Live View shooting
The E-30 is equipped with the widely acclaimed AF Live View system featured on the Olympus E-520 and E-420, which uses High-Speed Imager AF to detect contrast at the image sensor — without having to retract the camera's main mirror. As a result, Live View shooting is as easy and carefree as it is with a compact digital camera.
Dual-axis variable-angle HyperCrystal II LCD monitor
The E-30's 2.7-inch HyperCrystal II LCD monitor boasts a 176° viewing angle from all directions, and a dual-axis variable-angle mechanism that enables the monitor to be rotated on both the vertical and horizontal axis. So users can use Live View shooting to comfortably capture high-angle and low-angle shots without looking through the viewfinder or assuming an awkward position. The variable-angle monitor also permits waist-level portrait shooting, so you can maintain eye contact with your subject and get them to maintain a natural facial expression by talking to them to put them at ease
Live View enlargement
During Live View shooting, users can freely select the area of the frame they want to focus on, and enlarge that area by 5x, 7x, or 10x. It's the perfect solution for macro photos, studio shots, and other situations where users want to assure the highest level of focusing precision.
Live View compensation setting confirmation
Live View compensation setting confirmation enables users to preview the result of exposure and white balance compensation settings so that they can get the precise results that they want. When Gradation is set to Auto, the camera uses Olympus Shadow Adjustment Technology to enhance shadow detail while maintaining correct background exposure.
Live View previews
With an optical viewfinder, previewing depth of field causes the view to darken, but with Live View, the overall brightness of the view remains constant when previewing depth of field.
Live View screen display
Golden Section, Grid, and Scale overlays can be displayed on the LCD monitor during Live View shooting. In addition, a Live View histogram display is also offered.
- A newly developed 12.3-megapixel high-speed Live MOS Sensor, new TruePic III+ image processing engine, and a built-in image stabilization system that offers up to 5EV* of effective compensation
Newly developed 12.3-megapixel high-speed Live MOS Sensor and new TruePic III+ image processing engine
The E-30's newly developed 12.3-megapixel Live MOS Sensor offers high resolution, rich gradations, and bright, natural color reproduction that faithfully renders your subject in fine detail. Based on proven MOS signal amplification technologies, the new sensor features a simplified structure that was achieved through fundamental improvements to materials and production technologies. The sensor is also mounted on a flexible circuit board as single unit, greatly reducing signal and circuit resistance, power consumption, heat, and noise. In addition, the sensor's low power requirements make it possible to use Live View on a fulltime basis.
The newly developed TruePic III+ image processing engine employs the image processing technologies listed below to improve image quality, tonal gradation, and color fidelity, and (via the new Art Filter function) to offer a rich range of creative expression.
Advanced Noise Filter III technology
Evolved noise filtering technology accurately separates image data and noise to ensure faithful image reproduction with minimal noise.
Advanced Detail Reproduction technology
Advanced Detail Reproduction technology assures accurate edge detection and smoothing, and cleanly removes color artifacts.
Advanced Proper Gamma III technology
An evolved version of the Advanced Proper Gamma function for independent control of luminance and chrominance signals, Advanced Proper Gamma III technology ensures that even pale colors are faithfully reproduced.
Art Filter function
The Art Filter function adds artistic effects to images by analyzing the scene the user is about to shoot, regulating shooting parameters, and optimally applying artistic processing programs.
Built-in image stabilization system
The E-30 is equipped with a sensor-shift image stabilization system to facilitate handheld, low-light and telephoto shooting. Driven by proprietary Olympus SWD (Supersonic Wave Drive) technology, it applies advanced image stabilization control algorithms to motion data sent from a high-precision gyro sensor, and instantly shifts the sensor via SWD actuators that offer outstanding response and controllability. Thanks to the system's outstanding effectiveness, users can enjoy the equivalent of up to 5EV steps of image stabilization compensation.
Because it is built into the camera body, the E-30's image stabilization can be used with all ZUIKO DIGITAL and other lenses that comply with the Four Thirds System standard, providing effective image stabilization with everything from super wide-angle to super telephoto lenses, as well as fisheye and macro lenses. As a result, users can enjoy blur-free handheld shooting not only on telephoto shots, but also on long-exposure fisheye and super wide-angle shots in low light.
- High-speed 11-point full twin cross AF system, high-speed 5 fps continuous shooting, high-speed 1/8000 sec. shutter, and other high-speed performance features inherited from the E-3
High-speed 11-point full twin cross AF system
The E-30 incorporates the same 11-point AF sensor used in the E-3, which assures higher accuracy by using a twin cross configuration with two staggered horizontal and vertical lines at each of the 11 sensor points, for a total of 44 discrete data collection sites. The twin cross configuration enables the sensor to accurately detect contrast in both horizontal and vertical directions with virtually any type of subject, while the staggered arrangement of the lines significantly increases accuracy and improves AF performance in low light. The layout of the 11 AF points is based on statistical analysis of the position of the main subject in thousands of different photos, and on extensive interviews with professional photographers.
The E-30 also employs the latest range finding algorithms and a dedicated AF data processing engine to process data from all sensor points simultaneously, thereby achieving significantly improved subject recognition and tracking performance, and AF speed equivalent with that of the E-3. In addition, proprietary Olympus pixel addition technology enables range finding at light levels from 19 EV down to -2EV, ensuring high-precision auto focusing even in low light.
High-speed 5 fps continuous shooting and high-speed 1/8000 sec. shutter
To assure outstanding high-speed performance, the E-30 features a high-speed Live MOS sensor with fast write speeds, a high-speed TruePic III+ engine with fast image processing, a high-precision mirror mechanism, and other advances to enable high-speed continuous shooting and high shutter speeds.
The E-30's maximum continuous shooting speed is 5 frames per second, and its maximum shutter speed is 1/800 sec., with flash synchronization at 1/250 sec. When used with the FL-50R or FL-36R external flash units, it also supports the use of Super FP flash for daylight synchro (fill-in flash) shooting at shutter speeds up to 1/8000 sec.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HIGH-PERFORMANCE ZOOM LENS WITH HIGH-SPEED IMAGER AF
ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-54mm F2.8-3.5 II
(28-108mm equivalent)
Main Features
- High-Speed Imager AF compatibility
The ZUIKO DIGITAL 14–54mm F2.8–3.5 II supports the High-Speed Imager AF offered on Olympus E-30, E-520, and E-420 digital SLR cameras, enabling users to enjoy Live View shooting with the ease of a compact digital camera. And with the new E-30, users can even confirm the results of Art Filter effects on the LCD monitor while enjoying the convenience of AF Live View shooting.
- A full complement of features to support creative photography
Circular aperture diaphragm
A circular aperture mechanism maximizes the smooth defocusing characteristics that are a key advantage of large-aperture lens design. (Mechanism is designed to offer a near-circular aperture at up to about two stops from full open.)
Closest focusing distance of 22cm throughout the zoom range
For focusing, the lens uses a floating & inner focus mechanism, with excellent imaging performance from infinity down to the minimum focusing distance. Exhibiting minimal aberration even at extremely close range, the lens has a minimum focusing distance of just 22cm at all focal lengths.
A versatile zoom range makes the ZUIKO DIGITAL 14–54mm F2.8–3.5 II an ideal choice in a wide range of shooting situations, and enables users to enjoy the apparently exaggerated perspective of wide angle shooting, with sufficient telephoto power to zoom in for close-ups of the main subject.
Splash- and Dust-proof structure
Exterior joints are sealed to assure splash- and dust-proof high enough to withstand the demands of professional use.
- Dedicated digital design for high image quality
Compact size, high image quality, and F2.8 brightness were achieved by optimal arrangement of 3 aspherical lens elements and 4 cemented lens elements. The result is 'one-class-up' sharpness and contrast, with minimal distortion for superior imaging performance over the entire zoom range.
Lens coatings have also been optimized to minimize ghosting and flaring even on backlit shots taken with the sun in the frame.
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