Olympus E-30 Digital Camera Review

Olympus E-30

Digital Camera Review

4.3 The Olympus E-30 is a new 12-megapixel, mid-range SLR that introduces Art filters to modify your photographs in interesting ways. While we were impressed by the sharpness and good image stabilization of this $1200 camera, it did poorly in our lab tests.
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Sample Photos Summary  
x • Noise levels apparent even at low ISO
• Under good light, excellent detail capture

x White Balance Page 7 of 19 Playback x

Sample Photos


Below is a series of sample images taken with the E-30 in a number of different environments, with four 100% crops beneath each. You can click through to full-size images from the main photos, but they are large and may take some time to load.

Landscape Sample
x Focal length: 14mm
Aperture: f/22
Shutter: 1/200
ISO: 400

On the beaches of the once prosperous Oamaru, New Zealand, which has gone through many hard years. This shot was taken using aperture priority mode under cloudy conditions.


x x x x You can see the presence of image noise even at ISO 400, even though most details are still clear.

 

Macro Sample
x Focal length: 54mm
Aperture: f/9
Shutter: 1/640
ISO: 200

On a bright, sunny day, this white rose was photographed in program mode, and the automatic white balance did a very good job accounting for the sunlight.
x x x x At low ISO and under good light, the E-30 did very well at capturing detail and subtle changes in shading.

 

Detail Sample
x Focal length: 14mm
Aperture: f/18
Shutter: 1/60
ISO: 200

The Christchurch Cathedral, Christchurch, New Zealand, on a sunny day. Shot in aperture priority mode with manual white balance. The intricate stone work of the neo-Gothic church serves as a good test of the camera's ability to capture detail, and the bright sky and clouds test the dynamic range.
x x x x The stonework of the bottom right corner of the image suffered some minor chromatic aberration, and the highlights of the clouds over-exposed. Otherwise an excellent image.

 

Low Light Sample
x Focal length: 14mm
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter: 1/25
ISO: 1600

The Dunedin train station in Dunedin, New Zealand, after dark, shot in manual mode, at high ISO with no noise reduction.
x x x x While not immediately apparent in the smaller version above, the 100% crops show the high noise levels in the image.

 

Wildlife Sample
x Focal length: 54mm
Aperture: f/4
Shutter: 1/125
ISO: 320

This steer was kind enough to hold still for a portrait, though he didn't look too happy about the situation. Shot on an overcast day in program mode, with automatic white balance.
x x x x The detail on the cow's ear fur is sadly less than desired, but the subtle gradation of his flank came out well. 

 

Signage Sample
x Focal length: 14mm
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter: 1/500
ISO: 200

The Blue Kiwi is a now unfortunately closed junk shop that was once a home to many an old gewgaw. Shot using manual white balance and aperture priority on an overcast day.
x x x x The details on the flaking paint and hinges is quite good, but traces of image noise are still visible.

 

Still Life Examples


Below are comparative examples of our still life taken with every camera at every ISO, even the extended range. Click for larger versions, but be prepared for a long wait if you have a slow Internet connection.

  Still Life Comparisons (noise reduction off)
  x x x x x
  Olympus E-30 Nikon D90 Canon 50D Canon Rebel XS Pentax K2000
ISO 100 x x x x x
ISO 200 x x x x x
ISO 400 x x x x x
ISO 800 x x x x x
ISO 1600 x x x x x
ISO 3200 x x x   Not Available
ISO 6400  Not Available x x   Not Available
ISO
12800
  Not Available x   Not Available

The E-30 shoots in 4:3 aspect ratio where the other cameras shoot in 3:2, which accounts for the slight difference in shape for the images above.

Noise Examples


Below are more 100% crops of a still-life image at each available ISO, with noise reduction turned off for all cameras.

  Noise Comparison Table (noise reduction off)
  x x x x x
  Olympus E-30 Nikon D90 Canon 50D Canon Rebel XS Pentax K2000
ISO 100 x x x x x
x x x x x
  Olympus E-30 Nikon D90 Canon 50D Canon Rebel XS Pentax K2000
ISO 200 x x x x x
x x x x x
  Olympus E-30 Nikon D90 Canon 50D Canon Rebel XS Pentax K2000
ISO 400 x x x x x
x x x x x
  Olympus E-30 Nikon D90 Canon 50D Canon Rebel XS Pentax K2000
ISO 800 x x x x x
x x x x x
  Olympus E-30 Nikon D90 Canon 50D Canon Rebel XS Pentax K2000
ISO 1600 x x x x x
x x x x x
  Olympus E-30 Nikon D90 Canon 50D Canon Rebel XS Pentax K2000
ISO 3200 x x x Not Available x
x x x x
  Olympus E-30 Nikon D90 Canon 50D Canon Rebel XS Pentax K2000
ISO 6400
Not Available
x x
Not Available
x x
  Olympus E-30 Nikon D90 Canon 50D Canon Rebel XS Pentax K2000
ISO 12800
Not Available
x
Not Available
x

To illustrate the high noise levels produced by the E-30 we created the following table, which demonstrates the effectiveness of all three levels of noise reduction at various ISOs, and the resulting alteration to image sharpness.

 

  Noise Reduction Comparison Table (Gradation Normal)
  NR off Noise Reduction 1 Noise Reduction 2 Noise Reduction 3
ISO 100 x x x x
x x x x
  NR off Noise Reduction 1 Noise Reduction 2 Noise Reduction 3
ISO 100 x x x x
x x x x
  NR off Noise Reduction 1 Noise Reduction 2 Noise Reduction 3
ISO 400 x x x x
x x x x
  NR off Noise Reduction 1 Noise Reduction 2 Noise Reduction 3
ISO 400 x x x x
x x x x
  NR off Noise Reduction 1 Noise Reduction 2 Noise Reduction 3
ISO 800 x x x x
x x x x
  NR off Noise Reduction 1 Noise Reduction 2 Noise Reduction 3
ISO 800 x x x x
x x x x
  NR off Noise Reduction 1 Noise Reduction 2 Noise Reduction 3
ISO 3200 x x x x
x x x x
  NR off Noise Reduction 1 Noise Reduction 2 Noise Reduction 3
ISO 3200 x x x x
x x x x

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