When it ships in October, the Olympus E-1 ($2,199 list) will mark a radical departure in digital SLR cameras. Unlike other digital SLRs, which are based on 35-mm camera designs, the E-1 is designed from the start to be a digital camera.

Though it looks very much like the Olympus E-10 and E-20N noninterchangeable-lens SLRs, the E-1 is a new design inside and out. But the control layout is very similar to those cameras, so E-Series fans will feel right at home with the E-1. Olympus has announced five lenses for the E-1, from 11 to 300 mm (equivalent to 22 to 600 mm in 35-mm focal lengths).

The E-1 is the first camera built to conform to the Four Thirds open standard created by Fuji, Kodak, and Olympus, which specifies a standard image sensor size (4/3 inches) and lens mount, as well as other optical, electronic, and mechanical standards. The basic premise behind Four Thirds is that existing 35-mm bodies and lenses are unnecessarily large for digital cameras. The Four Thirds partners hope to establish a standard for smaller, lighter, less expensive cameras and lenses.

In theory, any Four Thirds lens will work with any Four Thirds camera. Kodak provides the CCD image sensor for the E-1; so far, the company's archrival, Fuji, has been mum about its future plans. Canon and Nikon, which have huge investments in existing lens designs, are unlikely to rush to build Four Thirds cameras anytime soon.

At $2,199 list, the 5-megapixel E-1 is more expensive than a 6-megapixel consumer SLR like the Canon EOS 10D or Nikon D100. Olympus is emphatic that the E-1 is a professional-level camera, comparable to 4- and 5-megapixel pro SLRs like the Canon EOS 1D and the Nikon D1x (each $4,000). A consumer variant of the E-1 is planned for 2004. Though Olympus won't comment on the price, that unit will probably cost less than $1,200.

Olympus sent us a preproduction E-1 with a 14- to 54-mm lens. Final production units should be identical to our camera, although the firmware will probably change before final release. The E-1 is the first Olympus camera to let users install firmware updates. It goes one step beyond the Sigma SD9 by offering high-speed USB 2.0 in addition to FireWire. Unlike many newer Olympus cameras, it uses CompactFlash.

The E-1 is noticeably smaller and lighter (by nearly a pound) than most digital SLRs, and the 14- to 54-mm lens provides a very useful range of focal lengths, equivalent to 28 to 108 mm on a 35-mm camera. It can focus on objects as close as 8 inches. The E-1's quality is top-notch, with extensive weather sealing around the lens mount, doors, and controls to keep dust and moisture out. Its innovative self-cleaner uses ultrasonic vibration to shake dust off the image sensor each time the camera powers up.

Despite its preproduction status, our test camera performed flawlessly. The photographs we took were sharp and clear, with accurate, vibrant color and virtually no noise, even at high ISO settings. With the E-1, Olympus has a winner on its hands.

next>>