Olympus E330 Announced

[Trevor Rees 1]

I would guess the diver interested in buying this new Olympus is really not going to be be worried about the averagely small viewfinder. The major attraction would be the LCD - and using that instead of the viewfinder.

 

I have now done a couple of dives with a D70 and a couple with a D50 in Sea&Sea housings and although the viewfinders are not as bad as I first thought, picture composition still seems less natural and less comfortable to me than compared to the compact digitals that I've been using. These small viewfinders just feel like a sort of picture targeting hole.

 

It is nice to read some support for the Oly E system and espeially this new model. Perhaps it is a good thing that we all do not land up using the same equipment! It's a little dissapointing to hear about the dome port appearing in the photos from the 7mm end of the 7-14 zoom from Phil. I wonder if the 8mm fisheye will be even worse in this respect?

[Phil Rudin 441]

Hi Trever, it is the dome shade that created the problem not the port itself. The shade is removeable and I intend to shave off the offending corners of the shade when I have the 8 mm lens for testing. Like the first generation macro gear this housing seems to be a work in progress and I hope to see many of these issues addressed by the time the PT-E02 housing arrives.

 

Phil Rudin

[apete 1]

The dome is an Athena OPD-170 (optical coating inside and out) on a mount for the Olympus housing and works quite well with the 7 to 14 zoom and extension tube. Waiting for the release of the 8 mm fisheye this month to round out my lens choices.

The dome shade was designed for the OPD-170 dome and  35 mm lenses up to 14 mm in the 3:2 format. In 4:3 the image is slightly taller on the short side which was not taken into consideration before the domes were shipped. As a result all four corners of the dome shade can be seen in the image at 7 mm and about 5 cn will need to be shaved off.

 

Do you know if it's possible to buy these things directly from Athena? I assume from your post that I can't just specify that I want an Athena OPD-170, I need to specify the Olympus version.

 

The Olympus dome, PPO-E04, is very expensive.

 

BTW

 

Panasonic and Olympus are cooperating on future 4/3 cameras. Leica and Panasonic have had a cooperation building digital cameras for a long time. Now I've learned that Leica will introduce 4/3 lenses at PMA to go with the Panasonic camera(s).

[mboni 0]

Does anybody have experience with the Olympus Underwater Scene modes?

 

I'm wondering exactly what settings they provide, and if they provide any settings that aren't already available. On my Oly 5060, I know there is a setting to change the auto-focus when the camera is in a housing, but what else do the new scene modes do?

[Phil Rudin 441]

Apete,

I obtained my PPO-E04 dome from Reef Photo & Video a Wetpixel site sponsor and found the price quite competitive with other manufactures high quality glass dome ports. I had e-mailed Athena many months prior to the release of this dome in the U.S. and they would not confirm or deny making the glass for Olympus. The dome does not apear on their webpage and it does not appear it can be ordered direct.

Regarding Panasonic, it appears they will introduce an entry level DSLR at PMA with the 4/3 chip and lens mount. Leica is also rumored to announce a line of 4/3 lenses during the same time period. Would love to see some wide primes. All good news for the 4/3 system enthusiast.

 

Mboni,

 

The E-300 and E-330 (coming soon) both have the U/W scene modes but I have never used them. Most of the time I have the camera in manual and at times use A-priority. More important is that a gear can be placed on the selected lens and the camera can be placed in AF-M allowing you to go from AF to manual by depressing the shutter half way or to switch from AF to M by rotation of the command dial one click.

 

It may also be useful to note that UK-Germany has already announced an intent to add an E-330 housing to the their Olympus line which now has the E-300 housing and E-1 housing on the way. UK also announced at "Boot", a joint project with Helge Suess, an avid Olympus E-1 user and contributor to this fourm to present a new 45 degree swivel viewfinder. The Belgium manufacturer Hugyfot has also announced a stylish new housing for the Olympus E-500 which allowes for TTL via the built-in popup strobe. All of these new releases can be viewed in detail, including several photos of Helge"s new viewfinder on the "Digideep.com" home page. Helge says the viewfinder may allow for adaptation to several diffrent housing brands and allow a lower cost option.

 

Digideep concludes that "this year owners of Olympus cameras on all levels will be warmly welcomed by the underwater imaging industry".

[freediver 0]

All I want to know is if my E-300's will work in the new PT-EO2...

 

I have shown mine to pros who shoot both C & N and they are impressed with my E-300 setup...

[Phil Rudin 441]

I think not Cliff. If you look at the rear of the E-300 and E-330 ( dpreview.com has some large photos) for which the PT-E02 is being made you will see diffrences in the placement of the function buttons and the need for more space for the larger LCD.

 

Phil

[freediver 0]

Go figure.. I should have just gone with an OLY SP350 in a housing..

[Phil Rudin 441]

I'm not sure I understand the problem Cliff. If you are interested in an Olympus housing for the E-300 the PT-E01 housing which is for that camera is already in stock at several locations.

 

Phil

[Andi Voeltz 0]

That display feature is so ironic: almost like digital TTL!

When you start digital photography you think it is a must have.

Once you (have to) turn it off for a while you discover real photography.

 

Jus my 2 cents

[Helge Suess 0]

Hi!

 

A few technical notes on finder size:

The total amount of light passing through the optical system of the finder depends on the size of the sensor = size of the mirror = size of the focusing screen. Altering the size from a 1:1 ratio will increase or decrease the brightness of the finder. A relatively larger finder is darker, a relatively smaller one is brighter. This limits the virtual size of the finder.

 

Viewed at a virtual distance of about 2m (which is relaxing for the eye) at a viewing angle of about 45° the virtual size of the finder has to be different to schieve equal brightness for 35mm SLR, APS or FT.

 

The maximum aperture of the lenses limits the brightness anyway so especially for a camera that is targetting the use of slow lenses should have a bright finder in the beginning.

 

The E-330 targets users migrating from P&S to DSLR. IT also targets those who like the idea of a tilted display (rather than using an optical angle finder). When zooming in you may be able to judge focus onthe display (losing the view on the whole picture).

 

I'm not sure if the concept is mature yet and I for myself prefer an optical finder. It will have to proof its practical usefullness.

 

UK-GERMANY has already measured the camera and will provide a housing as soon as the camera is shipped. It will be distributed by a Swiss based webshop under their label. The housing will allow the display to be tilted to 30° (and therefore has to sacrifice the optical finder). To me this would be a good cause against buying it unless the display isn't sufficcient under all circumstances. I will get a housing for a test as soon as it is available as a prototype. I'm pretty sure that the camera is targetting a user group that won't buy an optical finder that is as expensive as the housing itself. For those users, the tilted display is the best compromize availble for reasonable money.

 

Helge ;-)=)

[Phil Rudin 441]

Hi Helge,

 

It is clear that the Oly PT-E02 housing is going to have an optical finder which will allow use of the OVF as the main finder and the use of the LCD display when needed. Are you saying that the UK housing for the E-330 will have no OVF or just won't be sold with an oversized optical viewfinder like the one you have in development with UK?

 

Also I see that UK has new housings for cameras like the D200 and 5D but that you are still waiting for your E-1 housing. What seems to be the holdup and how much longer will it take?

 

Phil Rudin

[Helge Suess 0]

Hi Phil!

 

The problem with the E-330 housing is that you can't access the OVF when the display is tilted at 30°. I'm not sure if there will be an OVF at all. Not even the standard one. You wouldn't get close enough with your regulator banging against the display window :-(

That's the trade-off for the tilting.

 

The angle finder is available as a prototype. We're optimizing the design for mass production.

 

The E-1 housing has been delayed because the guy doing the atual milling had serious troubles. His company had to fight globalization issues that made extra work impossible. I have the first two housings made on a private basis so I can afford the prototyping. UK-GERMANY will do the final assembly and they haven't got a chance to do it yet. That's why there are so many new UK-GERMANY housings but none for the E-1 yet. The problems are now mostly over so milling continues. I'm expecting the raw housing within the next few weeks.

 

Helge ;-)=)

[RogerC 4]

Does anybody have experience with the Olympus Underwater Scene modes?

 

I'm wondering exactly what settings they provide, and if they provide any settings that aren't already available.  On my Oly 5060, I know there is a setting to change the auto-focus when the camera is in a housing, but what else do the new scene modes do?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

If they are anything like the scene modes on my wife's little stylus (which has pretty much all the same scene modes), UW macro puts the lens in macro mode and zoomed, strobe on. UW wide is lens wide, strobe off. There may also be a color shift or white balance shift to punch up reds, but I haven't done enough testing to figure that out.

 

I'd skip it and shoot manual, even manual/raw, particularly if you have an external strobe.

 

But I have to say, with the little toy styluses which don't have manual modes, those scene modes are great. "P" does a lousy job of, say, an evening portrait with a sunset background, but if you go to the sunset mode, or the candlight portrait mode, or the night portrait mode, Wow, it's really nice, well exposed sunset with a bit of fill flash. Great in a camera without Manual mode, in a newbie's hands, and probably costs Oly nothing to add to a camera like the 330, even though it's much less necessary.

[RogerC 4]

long article on a day with the E330:

 

day with the E-330

[Phil Rudin 441]

New view of the Olympus PT-E02 housing for the new E-330 has an optical viewfinder and flat viewing area for the LCD. No angled back for the LCD. Camera on sale Feb. 24 and housing in April in Japan.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c197/Per...P2115155aw1.jpg

 

Phil Rudin

[apete 1]

Olympus, Panasonic and Leica joint press conference

 

Leica D 14-50 mm F2.8-F3.5 lens (4/3 System)

 

Panasonic DMC-L1

 

Looks like a Panasonic DMC-LC1 / Leica Digilux 2 with interchangeable lenses.

[RogerC 4]

And some sigma lenses for the four thirds system, too.

[james 0]

Now that the 4/3'rds system has 3rd party lens representation, it means that this mount has been accepted by the photography industry as "here to stay."

 

Cheers

James

[apete 1]

What do you think Fujifilm will do? Their S3 Pro was announced more than 2 years ago, and nothing since (in terms of an SLR). Fujifilm has said they support the 4/3 standard.

 

 

This is a quote from dpreview's PMA coverage: "As one of the rising stars of the digital camera world Panasonic has a much larger presence than last year’s PMA, and naturally there’s a real buzz around the company’s first digital SLR, the L1. Sure, it’s an Olympus E-330 in a different jacket, but it looks – and feels – like a Leica, and the new lens (Vario-Elmarit 14-50 mm F2.8-F3.5 ASPH) is simply gorgeous, and those of us whose photography goes back more than 5 years are delighted to see an aperture ring back where it belongs… on the lens."

 

 

I was very close to getting a Leica Digilux 2 / Panasonic DMC-LC1, and the Olympus E-330 interests me. I wonder what the chances of finding an underwater housing for the L1 is.

[mikedive 0]

Hi all ,

 

Aquamir presents the aluminium milled Olympus E-330 housing made by UK-GERMANY .( Distribution exclusively trough Aquamir )

 

Available in about 4 weeks delivered as shown at the CAD pic´s inclouding

2 Grips ( 30 mm ) with M8 mount holes , aditional M8 hole in objective center on top and also 2 M5 holes for a t-stone it provides also a posibility to mount a M5 based T-stone at the left side instead of the gripp.

 

At the bottom there are 2 M6 holes and a objektiv centered 1/4"20 hole .... so no problems with fitting any parts wanted.

 

Also incloudet a leek warner ( optical ) and the MH Oly TTL-C3e Konverter conneckted to 2 Nikonos V spring pin sockets .

 

There is no optical viewfinder but therefor a 30 degrees pulled up display .... all buttons are supported.

 

Housing is titanium grey ( hard coated aluminium ) the pinns are stainless steel double sealed , the weels are made of POMM resin , the letters are all milled in and filled with yellow colour so no leaving. The standart port for the 14/45 lens is incloudet, zoom gear too ( changings posible )

 

All ports from UK-GERMANY are matching. All objektives used UW are supported. Planed to have a manual focus drive trough the zoom weel for the 50 and the 35 zuiko makro lenses. In combination with the AF+MF mode of the cam.

 

And I have several ideas for this setup, I hope to receve first ... ( distance shutter with Video controled pic ) a perfekt solution for pool cam, shy critters and fish.

 

here are the first CAD pics :

 

 

 

 

Michael

[Phil Rudin 441]

What do you think Fujifilm will do? Their S3 Pro was announced more than 2 years ago, and nothing since (in terms of an SLR). Fujifilm has said they support the 4/3 standard.

This is a quote from dpreview's PMA coverage: "As one of the rising stars of the digital camera world Panasonic has a much larger presence than last year’s PMA, and naturally there’s a real buzz around the company’s first digital SLR, the L1. Sure, it’s an Olympus E-330 in a different jacket, but it looks – and feels – like a Leica, and the new lens (Vario-Elmarit 14-50 mm F2.8-F3.5 ASPH) is simply gorgeous, and those of us whose photography goes back more than 5 years are delighted to see an aperture ring back where it belongs… on the lens."

I was very close to getting a Leica Digilux 2 / Panasonic DMC-LC1, and the Olympus E-330 interests me. I wonder what the chances of finding an underwater housing for the L1 is.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

The Panasonic L1 was shown under glass at PMA and I would not expect to see one on sale before the end of the year. While at PMA I talked to the Leica people and was told that it would not make much sence for them to make 4/3 "lenses" and not have a body of their own. Which would lead one to think more may be coming from Leica.

 

Regarding the Sigma lenses, the new 4/3 105 macro lenses has that focus ring that has to be moved in and out to shift from AF to manual. This is great out of the water but I am not sure how well this will work in a housing if you want to be able to ues both during a dive.

 

I talked at length with Richard Pelkowski (Olympus USA Product Manager for digital/SLR) about my likes and dislikes with the Olympus PT-E01 housing. Updates have been made for the macro port gear, but the same proprietary sync socket (Oly TTL) is being used on the PT-E02 housing.

I use the Mike-Dive Oly TTL-C3e converter for the Nikonos V type cords in my PT-E01 housing and find that to be a much more useful standard.

 

Regarding the upcoming UK-Germany housing for the E-330 the CAD pics look interesting. I am not sure that I would be willing to give up an optical viewfinder for the 30 degree angle of view to the LCD. I did test the the "B" mode (manual only) on the E-330 and found the enlarged image quite nice for critical focus on a support system. Not sure how well this will work in an underwater setting. Attached is an image using the E-330 with a 50 mm macro lens and ring flash to give an idea of focus control.

 

P.S. It appears the new Pro Oly body will be announced by Photokina and released for next years PMA. Mr. Peelkowski advised the holdup is in regard to finding a sensor in the 10 plus MP range that will allow the results Olympus feels it will need to be competitive with with the top pro lines.

Look for better focus speed, greater buffer and FPS speed and IS in camera to work with the existing line of lenses.

 

 

 

Phil Rudin

[MikeO 5]

"B" Mode will probably be quite useless underwater. Nice ability to focus, but 1/2 second shutter lag would kill any benefit w/o a tripod. However, "A" mode shutter lag is supposed to be almost non-existant . . .

 

Also, re: E-x: one more but of evidence that manufacturers are running into the limits of available sensor technology. Canon stuck with 8MP for the 30D, now Olympus wants to wait until a better high MP 4/3 sensor can be developed. I'd pay more for an 8MP sensor with improved dynamic range than I would for a 10MP sensor with similar performance to the current 8MP one . . .

 

Mike

[Phil Rudin 441]

"B" Mode will probably be quite useless underwater.  Nice ability to focus, but 1/2 second shutter lag would kill any benefit w/o a tripod.  However, "A" mode shutter lag is supposed to be almost non-existant . . .

 

Mike

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Hi Mike,

 

I would agree that "B" mode will have problems in macro underwater, but I think it will work well for wide angle. With the 8 mm fisheye and at 7 mm on the 7-14 mm zoom many times I am not looking through the viewfinder but rather pointing the camera at the subject. With the lenses pre- focused in manual I think having the 100% view on a 2 1/2 inch LCD my offset the shutter lag issues for many situations.

This is also the reason that I would be more interested in a housing with an optical viewfinder and flat back for the LCD rather than an angled back and no optical viewfinder. Perhaps Michael can give us some insight into UK-Germany's thinking regarding this issue with their housing design.

 

Phil Rudin

[mikedive 0]

Hi,

 

no problem , I´ll do ...... we thought about both,

using the viewfinder and the display .... the E330 viewfinder is a little darker then the other brand cams caus of the half transparent mirror for the second CCD so we thought about the visability under water in low light conditions and we thought about the users comeing up from their coustomer cams like the C5060,7070,8080 and the other ones using a display to take uw pics they always talk about the very little viewfinder and to have the head behind the housing not seeing what is going up around.

So we decided to go a new way .... as olympus went too .....

a DSLR to use uw only trough a Display ...... and we take the 30° angle to have a change to dive and take pics in a relaxed way not to put the head into the neck and rise your arms up ( as necassary with the consumer cams ).

It is also posible to view horizontaly but you loose a part of the pic low down... ok

we may be able to do the window larger but therefor we have no display sunshade.

 

The future will show ..... we are able to change things for the next serias after the first is sold and we receve the critics and improofments from the users.

 

I myself always try to combine use and optics, but the main point is use ...The main design of the Housing follows the design of the cam itself .......and it follows the general design of UK-GERMANY

 

The housing is exclusively sold under the brand Aquamir this is a brand of multimedia-online.ch

 

Michael