Digital Camera News and Reviews

Olympus FE-370 / [mju:] 1060

Olympus has released firmware version 1.2 for their Olympus FE-370 (known as [mju:] 1060 in Europe) digital camera. The new firmware improves sound quality on movies edited on the camera.
It seems like the sound fixing is the only improvement in this firmware update.

For more information on how to install the new firmware for the Olympus FE-370 / [mju:] 1060 camera visit the Olympus website.

Olympus E-3 DSLR

Olympus announced a new firmware for their flagship DSLR camera, the Olympus E-3. Firmware version 1.3 includes improvements to auto foucs accuracy, C-AF performance, improved battery life and makes users able to select AF target by using arrow keys.

Information from Olympus:
-Allow E-3 users to select the AF target by pressing the arrow keys
-Improve AF accuracy when using fast lenses with f2.0 aperture
-Improve C-AF performance
-Improve battery life when using the HLD-4 battery holder

Olympus informs us that when installing the new firmware the E-3 will be rested to factory settings so you should manually record your settings before upgrading the firmware.

Olympus E-520 DSLR

Imaging Resource has reviewed the 10 megapixel DSLR camera from Olympus, the Olympus E-520. As an owner of the older Olympus E-500 it is pretty interesting to see how this new camera from Olympus is performing.
Some key features for the Olympus E-520 DSLR camera:
-10.0 million effective pixel sensor
-3.5 frames-per-second
-Live View mode
-Built-in image stabilizer for all lenses
-2.7″ LCD screen
-Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology

Imaging Resource ends up giving the Olympus E-520 a very good review and even give the camera their “Dave’s Picks” reward. This is due to the fact that camera is able to produce very good pictures, have built-in image stabilization and many more features. The only downsides are a bit small viewfinder and a bit noisy at higher ISO levels.
If you are a Four Thirds photographers this camera seems like an excellent choice.
Read the full review of the Olympus E-520 camera here.

Buy the Olympus E-520 from BH Photo and get free shipping.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

DxOMark has released their test data of Raw files from the first micro Four Thirds camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1. They have also released test data of the performance on Raw files from the entry level DSLR camera from Olympus, the E-420 and E-510.

All the test data can be read on the DxOMark website.

Press release:
DxOMark Releases Analyses of Panasonic Lumix G1, Olympus E-420 and E-510

dxomark.com publishes Raw performance data on the first-ever Micro Four Thirds camera, along with data on two Four Thirds system cameras

PARIS, France — Jan. 27 — DxO Labs has announced the publication of detailed Raw-based image quality data and DxOMark Sensor rankings on its popular http://www.dxomark.com Web site for two additional Four Thirds format cameras, the Olympus E-420 and E-510, as well as for the first commercially-released Micro Four Thirds format camera, the Panasonic Lumix G1.

With the addition of the data on the new Olympus cameras, the Four Thirds category is now well represented on dxomark.com, with a total of five models (including previously-released data on the Olympus E-3 and E-520 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC L10).

The Panasonic Lumix G1 is the first commercially-available camera using the new Micro Four Thirds technology unveiled this past August. Other models using this format are expected to become available this year.

As the name suggests, Micro Four Thirds camera bodies are smaller than conventional Four Thirds cameras because the lens mount is smaller and the traditional mirror and pentaprism have been replaced by an electronic viewfinder. Despite the difference in overall size, however, both conventional Four Thirds cameras and Micro Four Thirds cameras have the same image sensor size and specifications. This means that photographers can easily compare both kinds of cameras’ Raw-based performance on the DxOMark Sensor scale, regardless of other differences (optics, ease of handling, etc.).