Olympus Australia has followed the lead of overseas distributors by announcing significant reductions to the price of the Olympus E-1 interchangeable-lens digital SLR camera.

 

May 7, 2004: Olympus Australia has followed the lead of overseas distributors by announcing significant reductions to the price of the Olympus E-1 interchangeable-lens digital SLR camera.
From 1 May, the E-1 camera body will sell for $2,699 (down from the previous $3499 RRP), while the E-1 Kit, which consists of the camera body plus a 14-54mm lens, will sell for $3499 (down from $4299).
The E-1 DSLR is the first – and, so far, only – camera to be launched based on the Four Thirds Standard. It is the only digital SLR camera that can not use lenses designed for the manufacturer’s 35mm SLR cameras – but also the only SLR camera system thus far that has been designed specifically for digital use. The current list of Zuiko Digital lenses includes (35mm equivalent values in brackets): ED 300mm, F2.8 tele (600mm), ED 150mm, F2.0 (300mm), E 14~54mm, F2.8~3.5 zoom (28~108mm), ED 50mm F2.0 macro (100mm), ED 50~200mm, F2.8~3.5 zoom (100-400mm) and E 11~22mm. F2.8~3.5 zoom (22~44mm). Accessory products include a Macro Flash System (ring and twin) and external power supply.
An updated comparison table showing the key features of the digital SLR cameras currently on the market will be posted on the Photo Review website shortly.