Olympus Unveils Ultra-compact DSLR

September 15, 2006: Olympus has released details of its latest DSLR camera, the E-400, which it claims as the world’s smallest and lightest of its type.
Featuring a 10-megapixel imager and state-of-the-art amplifier circuit, the new model is styled like the popular E-500 camera and is compatible with all Four Thirds system lenses and accessories. The E-400 also comes with the Olympus Supersonic Wave Filter (SSWF) dust minimisation system, a 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD and built-in pop-up flash. The camera accepts both CompactFlash and xD-Picture Cards and records both raw and JPEG image files. Designed for photographers at all levels of expertise, it offers full auto operation and P, A, S and M shooting modes plus 31 scene presets. The user-friendly menu offers the choice between simplified and detailed display modes. Sequential shooting at up to 3fps is supported with a five image raw buffer in burst mode.

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he E-400 is powered by a new high-power rechargeable battery and is compatible with virtually the complete range of Olympus E-System accessories. Two new Olympus Four Thirds lenses will be introduced with the E-400 at its launch: the EZ-1442 ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 (equiv. to 28-84mm on a 35mm camera), which is perfect for standard applications, and, for more magnification power there is the EZ-4015-2 ED 40-150mm 1:4.0-5.6 (equiv. to 80-300mm on a 35mm camera). Both lenses are exceptionally compact, for greater mobility and speedy use. The E-400 will be released worldwide from November 2006.

Olympus Imaging Australia tells us we will be unlikely to see this camera released locally this year. Check the Australian website (www.olympusimaging.com.au) for more information on this camera in a month or two.

Image Sensor: 17.3 x 13.0 mm primary colour filter (RGB) CCD sensor with 10.8 million photosites (10 megapixels effective)

Monitor: 6.4 cm / 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD (215,000 pixels)

Viewfinder: Eye-level single-lens view finder (Field of view approx. 95 % , Magnification approx. 0.92 x with a 50mm lens set to infinity at -1 dioptres); Depth of field preview available; Eye point 14 mm at -1 dioptres; Diopter adjustment: +1.0 -3.0 diopter; Eye piece shutter, Eye-piece cap EP-4 supplied

Viewfinder Information: AF frame (super impose), AE/AF lock, AF confirmation mark, metering mode, exposure mode, shutter speed, aperture value, white balance, exposure compensation value indicator, flash, battery check

Focusing System: TTL phase difference detection system with 3 focus points; AF illuminator: Built-in flash (external flash available); Focus tracking available in continuous AF mode; Manual focus available; AF modes: Single AF, Single AF + MF, Continuous AF, Continuous AF + MF

Light metering: TTL open aperture light metering (49 zones Multi-pattern Sensing System); Detection range: EV 1 to 20 (50mm 1:2, ISO 100): Metering Modes: ESP light metering, Centre weighted, Spot metering plus Highlight based Spot Metering and Shadow based Spot Metering

Exposure modes: Auto, P, A, S, M plus Scene modes

Scene modes: Portrait, Landscape, Landscape with Portrait, Night scene, Night scene with portrait, Children, Sports, High key, Low key, Image Stabilisation Mode, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Fireworks, Documents, Beach and Snow, Underwater Wide, Underwater Macro

Exposure compensation: +/-5 EV in 1/3 EV steps; Bracketing:3 frames in +/- 1, 2/3, 1/3 EV steps

Sensitivity: Auto, Manual: ISO 100-1600 (in each 1/3 EV steps possible).

White Balance: CCD-detect Auto, Overcast, Shade, Tungsten, Sunlight, Fluorescent (x3); White balance adjustment: -7 / +7 in each R-B / G-M axis (in Auto WB and preset WB mode); Manual White balance (One-Touch); Selectable steps in Kelvin: 7 steps (3000 – 7500 K)
Internal Flash: GN 10; Flash compensation +/- 2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; Auto, Red-eye reduction, Slow synch (1st and 2nd curtain), Fill in, Off

Sequence Shooting: 3 fps 10 frames (approx.) in HQ JPEG mode or 5 frames in Raw

Colour space: sRGB / AdobeRGB

Image processing: TruePic TURBO

Sharpness, Contrast, Saturation Adjustments: 5 levels in each picture mode

Black & White Filter: Yellow, Orange, Red, Green; Black & White toning: Sepia, Blue, Purple or Green in Black & White mode

Picture Mode: Vivid, Natural, Muted, Black & White

Gradation: 3 levels

Image Editing: RAW data edit, Red-eye reduction, Sepia, Black & White, Resize , Correction of saturation

View images: Histogram in playback mode; Zoom (2-14 x), Index (4, 9, 16, 25 frames), Slide show, Calendar, Shooting Information (Exposure mode, metering mode, shutter speed, aperture value, exposure compensation level, ISO, colour space, white balance mode, white balance compensation level, focal length, focus area, file type, picture mode, file name, image size, recorded card type). Exposure level view: Histogram (R,G,B available), Highlight point warning, Shadow point warning.

Still image recording: Raw, JPEG (Exif 2.2); JPEG compression: 1/2.7 SHQ 1/8 HQ 1/2.7, 1/4, 1/8 or 1/12 SQ

Image size: 3648 x 2736, 3200 x 2400, 2560 x 1920, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 1024 x 768, 640 x 480

Interface: USB 1.1; Combined V & USB output (NTSC or PAL selectable)

Dimensions (W x H x D): 129.5 x 91 x 53 mm (excluding protrusions)

Weight: 375 g (body only)