Body Group  E-1

The first body in the E-System, the E-1, was released in 2003. It is a professional body, featuring a magnesium body frame, splash proof controls & connections, exchangeable focusing screens and eye cups, 100% viewfield coverage and a pc flash connection. Much has been said about its 5MP resolution, which seemed to bit of a disappointment for a professional digital body released at a time when the competition already made 11~14 MP cameras (Canon EOS 1D, Kodak Pro14n). Of course pixel numbers is not the only parameter that determines image quality. The high resolution Zuiko digital lenses with their telecentric design (see: Concepts & overview) and the Supersonic Dust Filter which eliminates dust build-up on the sensor add much to the quality of the E-1. But 5MP does impose some limitations to the maximum print size, especially when a lot of cropping is required. Another problem is the sensor noise at ISO levels 800 and above - the E-1 does not perform as well in this area as its competitors (see the discussion at Digital Photo Review). No doubt these problems will be solved in the successor of the E-1.

Specifications
Type Interchangeable Digital SLR Camera
Compatible Lens Zuiko Digital, Four Thirds System Lens
Lens Mount Four Thirds Mount
Body
 
 		Magnesium Alloy, splash proof
 
Media Compact Flash Card (Type I, II), Micro Drive
Effective pixel number 5 million pixels
Image Size 17.3mm x 13.0mm
Image sensor
   Type 4/3 type Full Frame Transfer CCD solid-state image sensor
   Total Pixel Number 5.50 million pixels
   Aspect ratio 4:3
   Filter Array Primary colour filter (RGB)
Filter
   LPF Fixed type
   Dust Protect Filter Supersonic Wave Filter
Viewfinder
   Type Eye level Pentaprism type Optical View Finder
   Viewfield Coverage Approx. 100%
   Magnification Approx. 0.96x with 50 mm
lens set to infinity on -1 dioptre
   Eye Point 20mm at -1 dioptres
   Dioptre Adjustment Built-in type -3.0 to +1.0 dioptres
   Focusing Screen Interchangeable type, FS-1 supplied
   Mirror Quick Return Mirror
Viewfinder Information
 		AF frame, AF lock, AF confirmation, 
metering mode, exposure mode, exposure compensation, 
shutter speed, aperture value, AE lock, Auto bracket, 
white balance, flash, FP flash, 
number of storable pictures
   Depth of Field Preview Preview Button
   Eye Cup Interchangeable type (2 types), EP-1 supplied
   Eye Piece Shutter Built-in type
Auto Focus
   Type TTL Phase Difference Detection System
   Focus Modes Single AF, Continuous AF, Manual Focus
   Detection Range EV 0 to 19 (ISO 100)
   Focus Area 3 points
   Focus Area Selection Automatic Selection, Manual Selection
   AF Assist Lamp Built-in body type, optional Olympus dedicated flashes
   AF Lock Locked by first position of shutter release button or AEL button (customizable)
   Focus tracking

Available in continuous AF mode
Manual focus

Available by rotating focus ring, manual focus operation in AF mode (customised)
Exposure Control
   Light Metering System

TTL open aperture light metering with 3-zone multi-pattern sensing system
   Light Metering Modes

Digital ESP, centre-weighted average, spot (approx. 2%)
   Detection Range Digital ESP, centre-weighted average: EV 1 to 20 
Spot: EV 3 to 17 (50mm f2, ISO 100)
   Exposure Modes Program with program shift, shutter priority, aperture priority, manual
   Exposure Compensation up to +/- 5 EV in each 1, 1/2, or 1/3 EV steps
   AE Lock

Locked by first position of shutter release or AEL button (customised)
   Exposure Bracketing 3 or 5 frames in +/- 1, 1/2, or 1/3 EV steps
Sensitivity
   Auto ISO 100 to 400
   Manual ISO 100/200/400/800; expandable to 1600/3200
Shutter
   Type Electronically controlled focal plane shutter
   Shutter Speed
 P: 2 - 1/4000; A, S: 60 - 1/4000; M: 60 - 1/4000
Bulb: up to 8 minutes
   X-Sync Speed X = 1/180 sec; Super FP up to 1/4000 sec.
   Shutter Release

Soft-touch electromagnetic release
   Self Timer 12 or 2 sec.
   Remote Control Wireless by RM-1 / Wired by RM-CB1
Drive System
   Drive Modes Single and sequential shooting
   Sequential Shooting
   Speed		 3.0 fps
   Max. Frame Number
   on  Sequential
  Shooting		 12 Frames
White Balance System
   Auto WB System
 Hybrid Detection System with White Balance Sensor and CCD Imager
   Preset WB
 12 Types (3000K / 3300K / 3600K / 3900K / 4000K / 4300K / 4500K / 4800K / 5300K / 6000K / 6600K / 7500K)
   Custom Mode 4 Custom Settings
   WB Compensation Up to +/-7 steps for both auto and preset settings.
2000-6000K; 100K step,
6000-8000K; 200K step,
8000-10000K; 500K step.
  WB Bracketing 3 frames with 4,8,12 steps
Colour Space sRGB / AdobeRGB
Colour Saturation 5 levels
Sharpness 7 levels
Contrast 5 levels
Built-in flash
   Type N/A
   Synchronisation modes N/A
   Guide number N/A
External Flash Control
   Type

TTL auto FP/TTL auto for Olympus dedicated flash, auto or manual
   Synchronisation modes

Auto, red-eye reduction, slow synchro, 2nd curtain slow synchro, fill-in for exclusive flash
   Intensity Control Up to +/- 2 EV in each 1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV step for exclusive flash
   Multi-flash control Yes (control built-in and external flash independently with FL-36)
   Synchro Socket Yes (X-Sync Socket type)
Control Panel Information
 		Flash mode, Metering mode, Focus mode, Record mode, Aperture value, Shutter speed, Battery check, Number of storable still pictures, Image quality adjustment, ISO, Color space, White balance, Remote control, Self-timer, Exposure level indicator, Exposure compensation indicator, AF frame, Number of storable sequential pictures, Exposure compensation value indication, Auto bracket, Noise reduction, Single-frame shooting/Sequential shooting
Playback Monitor
   Type Low Temperature Polysilicon TFT Color LCD
   Size 1.8 Inch/4.6 cm
   Pixel Number 134.000 pixels
   Viewfield Coverage Approx. 100%
   Brightness Control +/- 7 steps
   Protection Cover Detachable type, MC-1 supplied
Playback Functions
   Display Mode
 Single, zoom ( 2 / 3 / 4x) / index (4, 9, 16 frames), slide show
   Information Exposure mode,
metering mode, shutter speed, f-stop, compensation level, ISO, colour space, white balance mode, focal length,
focus area, file type, contrast level, sharpness level
  Exposure Level View
 Histogram, High Light Point Warning
   Video Signal Output NTSC or PAL selectable
Erase / Protect Function
   Erase modes Single, all, selected
   Image Protect Mode Single
Recording System
   Recording format DCF, DPOF compatible, EXIF2.2 compatible, PRINT Image Matching II compatible
   Type of File Format JPEG, TIFF (RGB 8 bit), RAW (12bit)
   RAW+JPEG Recording Yes
   File Size RAW: 10 MB (2560 x 1920)
TIFF: 15 MB (2560 x 1920)
JPEG SHQ: 3.8 MB (2560 x 1920)   1/2.7
JPEG HQ: 1.2 MB (2560 x 1920) 1/8
JPEG SQ: 1.4 MB (1600 x 1200) 1/2.7
                   0.5 MB (1600 x 1200) 1/8
                   0.9 MB (1280 x 960) 1/2.7
                   0.3 MB (1280 x 960) 1/8
                   0.6 MB (1024 x 768) 1/2.7
                   0.2 MB (1024 x 768) 1/8
                   0.3 MB (640 x 480) 1/2.7
                   0.1 MB (640 x 480) 1/8
Image Editing
   RAW development N/A
  JPEG editing N/A
PictBridge N/A
Menu
   Category REC, Play Back, Custom, Setup
   Languages English (default), German, French, Spanish, Japanese,  Korean
Custom Reset 4 types
Interface
    PC Interface IEEE 1394, USB 2.0
   Video signal output NTSC or PAL selectable
Power supply  
   Battery Rechargeable Li-ion battery Pack BLM-1/BLL-1
Optional: Power Battery Holder SHLD-2
   AC Adapter Optional AC adapter : AC-1 (AC 100V-240V, 50-60Hz; DC 9V)
Size / Weight
   Dimensions 141 x 104 x 81 mm [W x H x D]
   Weight 660 g (without batteries or CF Card)
Environment
   Splash Proof Yes
   Temperature Operating range: 0°C to 40°C. Storage range: -20°C to 60°C.
   Humidity Operating range: 30 to 90%. Storage range: 10% to 90%.
   Box contents
 E-1 Body,
USB Cable, IEEE1394 Cable, video cable,
Li-ion Battery Pack (BLM-1),
Li-ion Battery Charger (BCM-1),
shoulder strap,
CD-ROM, instruction manuals, warranty card