Finally, Olympus has released a camera in between the E-3 and the E-520, the E-30. It really sounds like a good camera: 12 MP, 5 fps, so it covers the basics.
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Olympus launches the E-30
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Olympus needed to make a $999 camera so that it sat between the $600 E-520 and $1500 E-3.
But at $1299, it doesn't fill a hole in Olympus' line-up. You can get the E-3 for the same price from some shops.
Fail?
But at $1299, it doesn't fill a hole in Olympus' line-up. You can get the E-3 for the same price from some shops.
Fail?
I almost waited on this 'tweener' instead of upgrading directly to the E-3... but
a couple weeks ago I couldn't resist the current price reductions on the E-3. For $100 more than the E-30 I have a sturdier more reliable camera, I'm sure.
There are some intriguing features though that deserve some study, like how the performance of panasonic's 12mp sensor is DR and noise wise. If I were a jpeg only shooter not concerned with weather sealing and long term durability this new Oly might appeal to me... and let's face it the next E-4 will probably be priced around $2000 with hd video to keep this E-30 body in the mid-range category.
The E-30 will make a fine back-up camera to the E-3, and the price is sure to drop below $999 within months of its release I would think.
a couple weeks ago I couldn't resist the current price reductions on the E-3. For $100 more than the E-30 I have a sturdier more reliable camera, I'm sure.
There are some intriguing features though that deserve some study, like how the performance of panasonic's 12mp sensor is DR and noise wise. If I were a jpeg only shooter not concerned with weather sealing and long term durability this new Oly might appeal to me... and let's face it the next E-4 will probably be priced around $2000 with hd video to keep this E-30 body in the mid-range category.
The E-30 will make a fine back-up camera to the E-3, and the price is sure to drop below $999 within months of its release I would think.
Yeah, I didn't know the E-3 has gone down in price so significantly. Then, obviously, you're right, it's not a hole it fills. I always liked the E-3 (also, because I've used an E-20 for a long time), but the price tag was beyond anything I could afford. The beef I have with the small Olys is the viewfinder: it's way, way too small.
You think Olys are bad, you should see the viewfinder on my Panasonic L1- can't even manual focus in low light... but now with the E-3 I don't have that problem, and it's still lighter than my L1 is. It looks like the E-30 has upgraded its viewfinder to be bright and large (98%) but the E-3 is still larger and brighter still. E-30 will make a fine backup camera for those days when the whole gear bag is not needed. I can slap the 70-300 on it and go anywhere...