Sensational camera with professional features for more fun on the pictures!

Introductory remarks
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As a successor for my old Olympus E-510 I bought this camera in mid-September, after some hesitation and savings. Since more than a year I had a crush on the E-30, but was below lish lossen amazing and also had in addition a while the E-620 into consideration. Finally, I wanted to wait and see whether the Olympus E-5 introduces something that is interesting to me, what then, however, was not the case. So then finally came the realization calmed heart to acquire the E-30. On certain things, the folding screen for macros that higher burst speed for "fast" feathered and metal learning motives, more focus points for better image composition, the larger viewfinder and several other specialties, I was looking forward for a long time.

In addition to the E-30 I ordered even the lens Zuiko 14-54 mm II.

DATE EQUIPMENT:
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Previously I used, as mentioned above, a Olympus E-510 with the Zuiko lenses 14-42 mm; 40-150mm F3.5-4.5;
The 35mm F3.5 Macro and 70-300 mm.
Should be replaced the housing 510 and the 14-42mm lens.

DIFFERENCES:
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Fall with the E-30 - in the old lenses - first some differences. The autofocus sits precisely and faster, the lenses "pump" not until they meet so long the focus of moving subjects and the C-AF is significantly safer and better fit the way also in Live View mode. The time to focus has improved significantly in the E-30 and you now have a better chance at fast-moving objects. But even with static course.

With the new 14-54mm II lens focusing is done even faster and you can almost see any more delay in adequate lighting. But even if the lighting is not so good yet, the focus is still sitting much better than the old E-510, which then has hardly taken from a certain darkness.

HIGHLIGHTS:
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1) THE FOLDING SCREEN:
Clearly, I missed the most. Especially when it came, very close to the ground to take macros or headfirst stretched over some people to take pictures of time this is extremely useful! But even in everyday occasions, whenever one sees not so good right on it, it is very convenient! I no longer have to now in the snow, grass and mud lay but can easily just stand up the screen as I need him!

2) more focal points:
On my old 510, there were only 3 focus points, the art work was often be a bit too centered. Now I can also at edges and corners still reliably set the focus (by manual focus if desired) and have thus new possibilities for picture composition. A real step forward for me!

3) Higher speed:
When using continuous advance, it is especially noticeable that E-30 is an extremely nifty device! The AF sits in fractions of seconds, faster than you noticed, the continuous shooting clack faster than previously used, almost faster than you can perceive. So you can capture even the tiniest interim movements wonderful. Here you can experience real high-speed and professionalism! No wonder that everything has been inherited from the professional camera E-3 yet.

4) "GRADATION: AUTO"
For people like who I like to include in the backlight and over again to do with a very high dynamic range, this feature is worth gold, because so under and overexposed areas are balanced and an image is obtained in which not drown the shadows and the lights do not burn.

5) ART-FILTER:
For now, I knew it (as probably most people) is not much to do with it, but after some time of trial and error, I knew the kind of filter more and more to appreciate, at least some of them. A disadvantage, however, that this can not change more parameters, such as the resolution, you must first select a different mode in which this is possible. But is particularly grown again to filters warmly with next "Pop Art" (for bold, bright colors), the filter "Soft Focus", which conjures up very nice effects especially for portraits. Incidentally, I have also tried to reproduce these settings in the E-510, I thought, a little more saturation and contrast would indeed yield a similar result as the "Pop Art" filter, but it was not of course like that.

6) AF Live View:
The possibility of being able to focus directly on the screen, I used to be sorely missed! The contrast AF Live View makes it even unnecessary, once the AF determination raise the mirror, as was previously the case with my 510. Now the contrast AF Live View, however, relies on contrast and therefore not to use equally well in all lighting situations, but this is rather rare (for me at least). In Live View can be also display grid such as the golden section, which can be useful in image composition.

7) extreme light sensitivity:
The E-30 has a much better light sensitivity, the sensor is a lot more here than at my old E-510, more details, finer structures and contrasts. You can tell very clearly the progress in the art! In addition, you can work with much higher sensitivities very well than before. During my E-510 only to ISO 1600 went, and that was, at best, limited use, as the E-30 goes up to ISO 3200, and also in smaller increments. So I was able to photograph fast moving objects even at dusk, which would have been previously so hardly possible.

8) GREATER AND BRIGHTER SEEKER:
It will be noted during the first shows and even more so in comparison to the significantly lighter and larger viewfinder. It looks much better, the details and the image can better overall judge by the large field of view, the 98% corresponding to the sensor.

9) SPIRIT LEVEL FOR JUST PICTURES:
Already a few times I was able to straighten thanks to the spirit level the pictures where I would have previously kept fairly obliquely, a real bonus! Especially with motifs that can be poorly assessed or if you can not always be sure if you even just stands as on uneven ground. Another good resource for better pictures.

10) different image FORMATS:
Who does not know, the moments when printing or closing date, in which one notes that the format of the recording and the size of the paper do not match and things are missing. With the Olympus E-30, you can use a wide variety of image formats and has for just about every feature a suitable format. Whether classic photo format, the 4/3 standard, 16: 9, rectangular what is otherwise possible. However, one must note that these formats engage only in Live View mode and RAW everything is always in vain, that only works with JPG.

11) Multiple exposure:
Now she is back, the multiple exposure from old analog days. Up to four images can be combined with each other, even retrospectively. So you can create some works of art that would otherwise require a more or less complicated processing on the computer. And all extremely simple. The slogan is not in vain: Your portable creative studio!

SUMMARY:
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The E-30 feels high quality, it has more the feel of a professional working tool than before. It has more options to influence more speed and more. It gives one the feeling of having the image under control. It is slightly heavier, but also dust and splash proof, fairly stable (me has fallen ever from the hand on the asphalt and still works perfectly) and close to my very good in the hands. The folding screen and the higher speed make extremely paid for me! It's a better feeling when photographing, there is an increased safety in critical situations and in picture composition. The JPGs arise directly much better results, you have barely take in RAW and then post-treated. In short, I am very satisfied! Just a pity that I had to step not already ventured before. My most buy recommendation!