Olympus E-3 - Direct Buttons

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OLYMPUS E-3 POWER USER’S GUIDE
The Olympus E-3 was one of the most eagerly awaited D-SLR
cameras to arrive on the market in 2007. The existence of a
successor to the highly regarded E-1 – which was the Olympus
Corporation’s first four-thirds standard D-SLR launched in 2003 –
had long been rumoured. Olympus enthusiasts, however, had to
exercise patience as the engineers fine-tuned many aspects of
the camera’s performance. They tested – and rejected – many
components until they had a design which they felt would place
the camera in a class of its own.
Indeed, upon launch the E-3 heralded many “firsts” or class-
leading features in a professional level D-SLR. Some of these
were:
• First high-end professional D-SLR with built-in in-body
stabilisation
• First professional D-SLR with live-view
• First professional D-SLR with swivel-screen display
• First professional D-SLR with direct-access menu for
setting changes
• World’s fastest auto-focus when teamed with the
Zuiko 12-60mm SWD lens
• Class-leading environmental sealing against moisture
and dust
• Most effective sensor dust-reduction system
• Multi-group wireless remote flash system
Many of these aspects have now been added to competitor
products in this class of camera. However, the overall package, of
ergonomics, ruggedness and user-friendly layout of the E-3
camera itself, does place the E-3 in a niche of its own.
While many detractors may point to the “low megapixel sensor”
of the E-3 in comparison to later competitor’s higher megapixel
counts, to do so diminishes the depth and prowess of the