- Reviews
- Canon PowerShot S90 Point and Shoot
- Panasonic Lumix GF1 Digital SLR
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Point and Shoot
- Kodak EasyShare Z950 Point and Shoot
- Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Point and Shoot
- Nikon Coolpix L100 Point and Shoot
- Nikon D3000 Digital SLR
- Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX1 Point and Shoot
- Nikon Coolpix P90 Point and Shoot
- Canon SX1 IS Point and Shoot
- More...
- Ratings
- Brands
- Types
- DSLR Video
- Prices
- News
- Ethics
- How We Test
-
Advertisement
| Recently Viewed Products | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Top DSLR Cameras | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Max Price: $7700
Filters
|
 |
|
|
| EVOLT E-330 Prices |
|---|
| Latest Camera Reviews | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| External Reviews |
|---|
DCResource Review: Olympus EVOLT E-330Imaging Resource Olympus EVOLT E-330DPReview Olympus E-330 EVOLT ReviewPC Mag Olympus Evolt E-330PC World Olympus EVolt E-330 |
Color (7.1)
We test color accuracy by shooting a Gretag-Macbeth color chart, under controlled lighting, and analyzing images of the chart with Imatest software. The Gretag-Macbeth chart is an industry-standard target, which includes swatches of colors that are challenging to reproduce and important for pleasing color performance. In the chart below, the large squares show the color as the E-330 captured them. The smaller, inner squares show the colors as they should have been reproduced, and the rectangles show the ideal corrected for luminance, but not hue or chroma.
The second chart illustrates the same test, but plots the colors on a gamut map. Each small square shows where the ideal colors land, and the circles show where the E-330's colors are. The length of the lines between the squares and circles indicates the degree of error in the E-330's color. The closer a spot is to the center of the chart, the less saturated it is. If the line between the circle and the square runs tangent to the center – clockwise or counter-clockwise, rather than in or out – the hue is shifted.
The E-330 gets saturation just about perfect – 100.2 percent saturation is unusually good. Unfortunately, it shifts the colors significantly, earning a high 6.85 color error score. We shot our best image at ISO 100, with noise reduction on.
Still Life Scene
We photographed our colorful still life scene with the EVOLT E-330 and the 14-45mm kit lens under tungsten light. Click on the image below for a link to the full-resolution shot.
Still Life Scene
We photographed our colorful still life scene with the EVOLT E-330 and the 14-45mm kit lens under tungsten light. Click on the image below for a link to the full-resolution shot.
Resolution / Sharpness (3.47)
We test resolution by shooting an industry-standard test chart under controlled lighting, with the camera on a sturdy tripod, using the camera's self-timer to limit vibration as much as possible. We shoot the chart at a range of focal lengths and apertures, then analyze the images with Imatest software. Imatest delivers results in “line widths per picture height,” a measure that we can use to compare cameras with varying sensor sizes. We report the best results we can achieve.
We test resolution by shooting an industry-standard test chart under controlled lighting, with the camera on a sturdy tripod, using the camera's self-timer to limit vibration as much as possible. We shoot the chart at a range of focal lengths and apertures, then analyze the images with Imatest software. Imatest delivers results in “line widths per picture height,” a measure that we can use to compare cameras with varying sensor sizes. We report the best results we can achieve.
Click on the chart above to view the full resolution file
The E-330 delivered 1432 lw/ph horizontal, with 6.08% under-sharpening and 1413 lw/ph vertical with 6.43% under-sharpening. These results are not very impressive, however, users can eke out a bit more apparent sharpness digitally in post-processing, even with out-of-camera JPEGs.
Noise – Auto ISO (9.46)
The EVOLT E-330's auto ISO noise performance is among the best we have ever recorded, primarily because the E-330 set the ISO to 100, its minimum value.
“Noise” looks a bit like grain in a film photograph or static on a television image. It is basically the variations in tone that the camera's electronics add to the image.
Noise – Manual ISO (11.07)
Noise was a real problem for the EVOLT E-300, the E-330's predecessor. Fortunately, Olympus has made great strides in cleaning up the noise issue with this new camera. The E-330's score is certainly competitive in its category, and, more important, good enough that noise won't be a distraction in prints.
Noise – Auto ISO (9.46)
The EVOLT E-330's auto ISO noise performance is among the best we have ever recorded, primarily because the E-330 set the ISO to 100, its minimum value.
“Noise” looks a bit like grain in a film photograph or static on a television image. It is basically the variations in tone that the camera's electronics add to the image.
Noise – Manual ISO (11.07)
Noise was a real problem for the EVOLT E-300, the E-330's predecessor. Fortunately, Olympus has made great strides in cleaning up the noise issue with this new camera. The E-330's score is certainly competitive in its category, and, more important, good enough that noise won't be a distraction in prints.
Image noise in some cameras looks very much like film grain, and, in those cases, can actually be appealing to users who want a gritty feel to their pictures. It might be too much to call this an advantage, but it's a quirk. The EVOLT E-330 doesn't have it. Though its noise is reduced, compared to the E300, it remains blotchy, and looks more electronic than some other cameras' noise.
Low Light Performance (6.0)
We tested the EVOLT E-330 in low light settings ranging from 60 lux, which is enough light to read by comfortably, to 30, 15 and 5 lux. 5 lux is about the light level in a room lit by one of two candles, and is challenging for any digital camera. We set the E-330 to ISO 400 and shot at a range of shutter speeds. We test many DSLRs at ISO 1600, but chose not to do that with the E-330 because Olympus warns that its settings above 400 are an extended range and the manual has reservations about image quality at the highest ISOs.
As the below chart shows, the E-330's noise rises as exposure time increases from 1 to 30 seconds, but it doesn't rise steadily – it jumps between 1 and 5 seconds, remains near steady from 5 to 10 seconds, jumps at 15, and then again at 30. E330 users who plan to work in low light should buy wide-aperture lenses, and try to keep exposures under 1 second.
Low Light Performance (6.0)
We tested the EVOLT E-330 in low light settings ranging from 60 lux, which is enough light to read by comfortably, to 30, 15 and 5 lux. 5 lux is about the light level in a room lit by one of two candles, and is challenging for any digital camera. We set the E-330 to ISO 400 and shot at a range of shutter speeds. We test many DSLRs at ISO 1600, but chose not to do that with the E-330 because Olympus warns that its settings above 400 are an extended range and the manual has reservations about image quality at the highest ISOs.
 |
 |
|
60 Lux
|
30 Lux
|
 |
 |
|
15 Lux
|
5 Lux
|
As the below chart shows, the E-330's noise rises as exposure time increases from 1 to 30 seconds, but it doesn't rise steadily – it jumps between 1 and 5 seconds, remains near steady from 5 to 10 seconds, jumps at 15, and then again at 30. E330 users who plan to work in low light should buy wide-aperture lenses, and try to keep exposures under 1 second.
Dynamic Range (6.0)
The Olympus EVOLT E-330 uses a novel imaging chip: the N-MOS, or negatively-charged CMOS chip, is new to us, so we have been curious about its performance. Judging by the E-330, the technology does not offer a particular advantage as far as dynamic range goes.
The Olympus EVOLT E-330 uses a novel imaging chip: the N-MOS, or negatively-charged CMOS chip, is new to us, so we have been curious about its performance. Judging by the E-330, the technology does not offer a particular advantage as far as dynamic range goes.
| Page 2 of 13 | Physical Tour | ||
Advertisement