Four Thirds Digital SLRs 

Olympus E-series, Panasonic and Leica

• see also my notes:

  • Four Thirds Micro system

  • Olympus E3

  • macrophotography with 4/3rds system

  • firmware updates for Olympus cameras and lenses

  • photography index

  • digital SLRs compared

  • lenses from various digital camera systems (including Olympus) by use:

    • Four Thirds lenses and also use of legacy lenses

    • standard lenses and main zoom lenses

    • macro

    • portrait lens

    • super wide

    • perspective control lenses

    • super tele

  • remote control of cameras including from your PC/laptop

  • Olympus OM film system

  • RAW files

• see also my experiments with the Olympus cameras:

  • Olympus E510:

    • lens tests - Canon 1D Mark III vs Olympus E510 - some surprising results!

    • lens tests - Canon 1D Mark III vs Olympus E510 - landscapes

    • a night at the football with the E510 and Canon1DIII

    • urban night photography hand held using Oly E510 and Canon 1D Mark III

  • Olympus E330:

    • Olympus E330 page 2 - macrophotography

    • E330 with OM mount lenses - some example pics of mine

    • my comet photos with the E330

    • E330 lens tests 1

  • my Olympus C8080WZ resource page

• see also on the web:

  • latest Olympus digital news:

    • Ragnarsson's 4-3rds news

    • http://www.biofos.com/whatnew.html 

    • four-thirds photographers forum and reviews

    • MyOlympus.org photographers forum, galleries and resources

    • zone-10.com

  • Wrotniak's page on OM lenses on 4/3rds

  • John Foster's page on OM lenses on 4/3rds

  • undocumented camera features:

    • http://www.fourthirdsphoto.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=1613 

    • http://www.biofos.com/cornucop/hidden.html 

  • Olympus Digital Accessories compatibility page and here and here

  • Olympus Digital School - online tutorials

  • using Leica R lenses and the Olympus ZD 7-14mm lens on the Olympus E330

  • Olympus EXIF image tags

  • Olympus official websites:

    • Australia Pro photographers

    • Olympus Australia

    • Olympus America

    • Olympus Japan

    • Olympus UK

    • Olympus Europe

    • full list

    • firmware upgrade information

    • Olympus RAW file .orf codec for Windows Vista

  • Four - Thirds consortium website

    • list of camera bodies

    • list of lenses

    • telephotos compared and at Biofos

  • Four - Thirds Photo website:

    • suggested flash setup

    • online free magazine articles

The Four Thirds System:

• a consortium of manufacturers including Olympus, Panasonic and Kodak agreed on the development of standards based on a new digital sensor size "four thirds" which has a crop factor of 2 when compared to the 35mm film standard and thus the sensor area is one quarter the size and thus much cheaper to make. Leica has now joined this consortium and plans to offer a range of high quality lenses and cameras in joint partnership with Panasonic.
• The impetus behind development of the 4/3rds standard is production of lenses which are smaller, lighter, faster and cheaper than lenses designed for 35mm film cameras. This is based on the concept that 35mm film camera lenses are needlessly large, heavy and expensive for meeting the needs of digital imaging. Moreover, the lenses designed for the 4/3rds format are "near-telecentric" - which helps avoid vignetting, color fringing, and softness at the edges of the image.
• in August 2008, the consortium agreed to extend the system by introducing a new ultracompact camera system standard called "Micro Four Thirds" which uses the same size sensor but allows even more compact lenses, see Four Thirds Micro for more details. The success of this format may eventually mean the end of the Four Thirds format, even though Micro Four Thirds is NOT suited to using large, heavy lenses.
• advantages of this system:
  • the best range of lenses specifically designed for digital sensors:
    • high quality super-wide angle zoom lens (the ZD 7-14mm lens)
    • high quality image stabilised macro lenses (ZD 50mm f/2.0 plus ANY legacy MF macro lens)
    • two of the best standard range zooms available:
      • ZD 12-60mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD
      • ZD 14-54mm F/2.8-3.5 mark II for contrast AF
    • highest quality of all kit lenses and great consumer grade lenses eg. ZD 9-18mm
    • telecentric design means the teleconverters work on ANY digital lens for Four Thirds (this is not the case with Canon EOS as their TC's only work on certain lenses).
    • what other system gives you in 35mm terms, 24-120mm and 100-400mm f/2.8-3.5 high quality affordable lenses with IS?
  • telephoto reach:
    • due to 2x crop, compact, light supertelephotos with large apertures and high quality are possible
      • with just the 150mm f/2.0 lens and EC-14 and EC-20 teleconverters you get high quality light, compact, weatherproof, hand holdable IS with the following options in 35mm terms:
        • 300mm f/2.0 IS
        • 420mm f/2.8 IS
        • 600mm f/4 IS
      • sure, the 150mm f/2.0 lens is expensive but cheaper, more lighter and versatile than a Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS lens and when matched with the E3 has 5EV IS instead of 2-3EV and faster AF in low light, and can be hand-held being only 1.6kg compared to 2.8kg for the Canon lens.
      • the combination of this lens with the E3 makes a fantastic kit for:
        • nature, wildlife, safari and even birding (although a ZD 90-250mm f/2.8 zoom maybe better for birding)
        • deep sky astrophotography:
          • ideally though, for nebulae you would need to have the IR filter in the E3 replaced and no-one does this yet.
          • the 300mm f/2.0 would be a great specification for most astrophotographers (akin to the reknown Canon 200mm f/2.8L), and most importantly, it does not have optical IS elements that would otherwise distort star shapes.
          • the articulating live preview LCD on the E3 makes composition and manual focus so much easier
          • the Olympus live preview is the ONLY one to have Live Boost which helps with fainter stars.
          • the E3 has timed 60sec exposures which is usually perfect for most astrophotography and has reasonable ISO performance at ISO 800-1600.
  • the smallest dSLR for when you need compact or discrete:
    • the Olympus 420/450 - even includes live preview and sensor dust protection
  • one of the better mid-range semi-pro & pro dSLRs if video not important:
    • the Olympus E5, Olympus E-3 and E-30 are the best mid-range dSLR where the following are important:
      • almost waterproof (E-3/5 only) - can pour a bottle of water on it and its lenses
        • if you don't need this, the Olympus E-30 has most of the other E-3 features and some more, and is lighter.
      • dustproof (E-3/5 only)
      • weather-proofed lenses (pro and super pro series)
      • most effective image stabiliser that works on ANY lens 8mm-1000mm
      • articulating LCD with live preview
      • electronic spirit level - horizontal and vertical (E5, E-30 only)
      • can use most legacy lenses (unlike the Nikon D300 which will only use Nikon F lenses)
      • macrophotography - 2x crop allows greater working distances, while image stabiliser is very handy
      • infrared photography where you don't want the camera modified although need f/2 lens to see anything in bright sunlight with R72 filter on and need 5 sec exposures or more
      • fast flash sync - 1/250th sec and SP Flash mode at any speed which allows use of wide apertures for daylight fill-in flash and thus narrower DOF for better portraits.
      • remote wireless TTL (although the Nikon system may be better)
      • hand held telephoto reach in a small lens system  (eg. wildlife/nature photography)
  • cheaper, smaller and lighter bodies and lenses with high quality for same price.
    • for an illustration of the benefits of 4/3rds, compare the Digital Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 zoom with the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L-series zoom. The Olympus lens is as good or better in image quality, but has a wider zoom range, it is half the size and weight, and costs less than half as much, and when combined with the new Oly dSLRs has image stabilisation as well.
  • live preview sensors for accurate manual focusing, composition and assessment of DOF as well as for composing in difficult camera positions.
    • accurate manual focus is not really possible on non-full frame cameras without live preview or special focusing screen modifications.
  • CCD-shift image stabiliser so IS works on all lenses providing 3-5 stops performance
  • availability of image stabilised lenses produced by Leica if you really want optical IS option.
  • automatic sensor dust removal system which seems to be better than those implemented in other brands.
  • can use almost ANY legacy manual focus (or older Nikon AF) lens available EXCEPT Canon EOS or FD lenses, and thus can use unique lenses such as a Nikon tilt-shift lens.
  • the only format that has a 90mm f/2.0 equiv. optical image stabilised lens (the Leica 45mm f/2 macro OIS in late 2007)
    • Nikon has a 158mm f/2.8 equiv. VR lens (the 105mm macro VR lens)
    • Canon as no IS macro lens
    • nb. Olympus also has a 100mm equiv. f/2.0 macro lens (the ZD 50mm macro) which is IS via the E5xx, E-30, E-620 or E3.
• disadvantages:
  • sensor dynamic range less and thus noise at high ISO is more so not as quite as good for action photography in low light.
  • 2x crop means not so useful for using legacy manual focus wide angle lenses
  • a distant 3rd to Nikon and Canon in popularity 
  • no upgrade pathway to a full frame 35mm system as with Canon, but then most people who buy the APS-C Canon's tend to buy the EF-S lenses which won't work on the full frame Canon anyway.
  • not as many AF lenses to choose from, but the ones they do have are great and you can use other brand lenses - just not in AF.
  • exposure bracketing only +/- 2 stops not +/- 3 stops making HDR landscapes a bit more difficult
  • currently, no where as good as the Canon 1D for action photography, but as technology improves and sensor noise at high ISO falls along with increased burst rates and buffer size, there is good reason to believe that Olympus can produce a great, lightweight, image stabilised action camera as the 2x crop becomes particularly advantageous here in terms of lens size.
  • very few prime lenses - eg. 100mm f/2 SWD macro, 200mm f/2.5 and a 300mm f/4 would be nice
  • many of the lenses need design upgrade for SWD AF and also contrast detect AF capability 
    • eg. 50mm f/2 macro, 150mm f/2.0, 300mm f/2.8
    • eg. 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD needs contrast detect AF added

Camera bodies:

• Olympus E-5 (mid-2010):

  • weather-proofed version as with E-3

  • articulating LCD with live view and HD lite video

• Olympus E-450 (Mar 2009):

  • minor upgrade to the entry level, compact, light E-420 and adds some features from the E-620:

    • 3 art Filters (Pop Art, Soft Focus and Pin Hole)
    • TruePic III+ processor
    • increased continuous shooting buffer (8 RAW files, rather than E-420’s 6)
    • improved screen (The luminance has been improved on the existing HyperCrystal II panel)
    • BUT still no image stabiliser built-in

• Olympus E-620 (Mar 2009):

  • a brilliant entry-level dSLR which is lighter, more compact than the E510/520 but which has al the features of the E520 PLUS many of the features of the E-30 (although some are reduced) such as:

    • 12.3mp sensor but only 4fps not 5fps

    • image stabiliser

    • 7pt AF including 5 cross points (not 11pts as in E-30 but beats the 3pts of the E520)

    • no top panel LCD of the E-30

    • 1/4000th sec (not 1/8000th as with E-30)

    •  x-sync 1/180th (not 1/250th as with E-30)

    • 95% field of view (not 98% as with E-30)

    • 6 art filters of the E-30 but no electronic spirit level

    • 4 aspect ratios (not 9 as with the E-30)

    • multiexposure mode allows 2 frames (not 4 frames as with E-30)

    • face recognition AF in live view

    • 521g incl. battery (E-30 is 768g, whilst E-520 is 552g)

    • lower capacity battery (BLS-1 instead of the BLM-1)

    • no PC sync socket or DC-in socket

• Olympus E-30 (Mar 2009):

  • a mid-level dSLR with features of the E-3 excluding its weather-sealing and a few additional "creativity" features:

    • creative art filters plus electronic spirit level

    • multi-exposure mode - up to 6 images combined in-camera

    • 12.3mp 5fps sensor

    • live simulation function

    • 98% field of view viewfinder - smaller than E3 but larger than E520

• Olympus E-520 (May 2008):

  • upgrade to my favourite budget dSLR, the E-510 with the new features of the E420 (see below) plus adds an extra IS mode so you can now select IS for only horizontal as well as only vertical in addition to usual IS in both directions and IS improved to up to 4stops IS.

  • optional underwater housing

  • http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/dslr_digital_slr_e-520_19285.htm 

• Olympus E-420 (April 2008):

  • upgrade to the compact, light E-410 with:

    • improved grip, larger & improved screen

    • 11pt continuous contrast-detection AF in Live Preview with certain lenses (kit lenses and 25mm pancake lens)

    • face detection AF

    • shadow adjustment and apparently the E3 sensor to improve dynamic range

    • support for wireless TTL flash, 3.5fps burst rate instead of 3fps, but still no IS.

  • weighs a mere 380g w/o battery, only slightly more than the world's lightest dSLR, the E-410.

  • see http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com:80/the_online_photographer/2008/03/olympus-pancake.html 

• Olympus E-3 (Nov 2007):

  • see Olympus E3 for more details of this pro body

  • has all the features of the E-510 PLUS:

    • pro version body with weatherproofing similar to its predecessor the E-1

    • articulating live preview LCD screen swivels out for self-portrait style mode

    • in-camera image stabiliser performance improved to 5EV stops from the 3-4EV on the E510

    • ability to use the new SWD lenses to their maximum AF speed to give fastest AF in the world - seems this may not be possible on other bodies?

    • more AF points - 11 points, all twin cross-sensor types with better low light performance to -2EV @ISO100

    • better continuous AF tracking capability

    • bigger buffer and faster burst rate eg. 5fps 

    • 100% optical viewfinder coverage and bigger finder

    • built-in wireless TTL flash capability with dedicated new flash guns

    • shutter speed to 1/8000th with X-sync at 1/250th and the usual SuperFP flash at faster sync.

    • removable vertical grip to reduce size and weight

    • perhaps the best AWB system on the market - dual assessment method.

  • it will be directly competing with:

    • the new Canon 40D but 40D has slower AF, no sensor IS and issues with options of matched lenses, no articulating LCD

    • the new Nikon D300 but D300 has no sensor IS, no sensor dust removal, slower AF, no articulating LCD

  • it won't be able to compete directly with the new Canon 1D Mark III on the following areas:

    • low noise at high ISO - the Canon will probably beat it by 1-2 stops

    • burst rate - does not match the Canon's 10fps x 30 RAW but at least it focuses!

    • true 14 bit images with its better highlight details.

    • shallow depth of field - but at least in the telephoto arena, the Canon advantage may be negated by Olympus' 1 stop faster lenses, and the Olympus lenses have been designed to give beautiful bokeh.

    • wide range of lenses - but at least the Olympus lenses are designed for maximum utility and image quality and images seem to be much sharper than Canon EF lenses.

  • if you need a relatively compact super-telephoto sports/wildlife camera then this should be high on your list:

    • no other dSLR camera offers the telephoto reach in such a compact, light, robust system with IS

  • RRP: $A2599 or ~$US1700 body only

• Panasonic DMC-L10 (late 2007):

  • 10.1mp live MOS sensor with 9pt contrast-detection AF in Live Preview mode BUT ONLY when using the newly released  Leica lenses

  • 2.5" articulated WYSIWYG LCD screen with 180deg swing & 270 deg rotation with auto brightness depending on ambient lighting levels

  • 1st dSLR to include face detection AF and Intelligent ISO Control (both in Live view only) which detects subject movement and adjusts ISO to give a shutter speed that will freeze the movement

  • 3pt phase detect AF; 

  • see http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcl10/ 

• Olympus E-510 (mid-2007):

  • this camera is so good, I had to buy it too - see my detailed notes at Olympus E510

  • 10mp upgrade from the E-500 with Live Preview LCD (as for E-410) and mechanical CCD-shift image stabilisation for ANY lens

  • 3fps x 7RAW

  • Hi-speed USB 2.0 at last

  • RAW files are 11Mb instead of 13Mb in the E330

  • $US799 body only

  • $A1500 with kit lens

• Olympus E-410 (mid-2007):

  • 10mp upgrade from the E-400 (the smallest & lightest dSLR) but with Live Preview LCD

  • equiv. to E-330's Live Mode B but added option of 6x or 10x live magnified view and now LCD image shows exposure and WB compensation and is fixed (not tiltable but has 176deg viewing angle)

  • 3fps x 7RAW

  • Hi-speed USB 2.0 at last

  • RAW files are 11Mb instead of 13Mb in the E330

  • optional Underwater Case PT-E03

  • $A1300 with kit lens

  • see http://scaredofthedark.typepad.com/blog/2007/05/olympus_e410_re_6.html 

  • currently this is the only Olympus dSLR which Hutech will modify for you and remove its IR blocking filter for astrophotography or infra-red photography purposes.

• Olympus E-400 (late 2006):
  • smallest and lightest dSLR available; similar to E-500 thus not available in Nth America.
  • see http://www.biofos.com:80/esystem/e400_tst.html 

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 and the Leica Digilux 3 (mid-2006):

• similar feature set as the Olympus E-330 and like the Olympus has both live preview and sensor dust cleaner but too expensive.

• Olympus E-330 (March 2006):
  • this camera is so good, I had to buy it - see my experience with the E330
  • takes the best of design features of E500 and E330 and adds live preview on a tiltable LCD screen (similar to that on the Oly 8080) which allows 14x live magnification for accurate manual focusing.

  • announced Jan 2006; discontinued in 2007;

  • THIS CAMERA IS REVOLUTIONARY IN CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY - but still not perfect. Its manual focus and AF solves most of the problems of the 8080 while adding digital SLR features and keeping the live preview waist-level LCD of the 8080.

  • similar physical design as the E300 but updated feature set similar to the E500 but uses a "live MOS" (NMOS) sensor instead of CCD sensor and no DC-in.

• Olympus E-500 (late 2005):
  • better design than the E-300, still 8mpixel but better noise control and larger LCD, more features and lighter.
  • $A1299 with lens kit initially now $A1000.
  • Adobe Photoshop CS is not capable of converting E500 or E330 RAW files. You will need CS2 and the Camera RAW 3.3 plugin. but you can also buy the cheaper Adobe Elements 3, which also supports the plugin.
  • see also:
    • http://myolympus.org/E500/ 
• Olympus E-300 (2004):
  • 8 megapixel; lighter, compact than most dSLRs; robust metal chassis (unlike the plastic Canon 300D/NikonD70); 3 AF points; no live histogram; 580g; USB 1.1; 2.5fps x 3 RAW; x-Sync 1/180th; predictive AF; 
  • to me this was not as compelling a camera that I would buy, but at the time, the only budget Olympus dSLR - I decided to wait and use the Olympus 8080 camera until its replacement, the E330 came on the market with its live preview modes and better AWB.
• Olympus E-1:
  • a 5 megapixel, 6.8 micron pixels, weatherproof body
  • Advantages to the E1 are: the overall construction, weatherseals, matched lenses, quality of the finder, flash system that works reliably, direct out of camera printable images, as well as overall feel, the 4:3 aspect ratio mitigates the smaller 5 Mp sensor in 8x10 prints vs the 6Mp sensor in the D70. 
  • The noise in the E1,  much talked about, at about 800 ISO, is colorless so is less bothersome than was the case on the Canons but programs such as Noise Ninja make this less of an issue; 
  • only 3 AF points;
  • http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/e1-2nd.shtml 
  • replacement E-P1 pro model due Nov 2007

Lenses for the 4-3rds mount:

• this section now moved to its own page: Four Thirds lenses and also use of legacy lenses

Viewfinder accessories:

• one minor problem with the E3xx/E4xx/E5xx cameras is the viewfinder image is also smaller and this can make accurate manual focus difficult, although in most you do have live preview to help for stationary subjects.
• the Olympus E3 and the E-30 have beautiful, large, bright viewfinders
• unfortunately, the viewfinder mount is not compatible with the OM viewfinder mount so you need Four Thirds accessories:
• Olympus VA-1 Angle Finder
  • 90 degree, 1X/2X but not parfocal
  • for all E dSLRs
• Olympus ME-1 eyecup magnifier  
  • enlarges the view by 20%. The eyecup incorporates two lenses and measures 40 x 30 x 12mm.
  • for E-300, E-330 and E-500
• other accessories for the E-500 and E-330:
  • 45 degree angle finder, 1X/1.7X, $150, from Poland, see this US link for more info, http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/oly-e/irqa.html
  • the Seagull 90 degree, 1X/2X but not parfocal, about $40, eg from this eBay seller, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7619426815&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1 
  • Seagull 90degree 1x from  http://www.virtualvillage.com/Items/005950-001?sck=26690879 for $US60 (was $US143).

Focusing screens:

• Olympus FS-1 - matte screen for E-1 - same as the one that comes with the E-1.
  • http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/198_FS-1.htm 
• Olympus FS-2 - 6x8 grid lines for E-1
• NB. the screens in the E300/E330/E4xx/E5xx are regarded by Olympus as "fixed" and thus changing them may void warranty and may also affect the accuracy of exposure metering, especially spot metering which requires a uniform central part and may give variable results with the split-image screens.
  • see Katz eye optics - different screen for each Olympus dSLR model
  • see http://www.dyxum.com/columns/other/HaodaScreen/gubbe.asp 
• Joynet/Cowy Chinese split image screens:
  • http://cgi.ebay.com/Split-Image-Focus-Screen-Olympus-E500-E1-E300-330-NEW_W0QQitemZ320051962342QQihZ011QQcategoryZ50508QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem 
  • type A fits E1 and E500:
    • Klaus' pics of the E500 here
  • type B fits E300 and E330:
    • this type has two flanges which sit under a wire on each side, thus to remove the screen, gently lift the wire and let the screen drop out, then replace it with new screen and hold it in place under the wires.
    • Jose Calvo's comments here
    • personally, I would not bother getting one for the E330.
  • instructions from one supplier for both types:
    • How to install a Split Image Focus Screen:

      First you need the following tools: a Tweezer which will not scratch, and a wooden Toothpick.

      1. Remove the lens from your DSLR.
      2. Lay your DSLR on its back, and use the toothpick to lift the buckle hidden behind the sponge on the reflection board.
      3. Remember how the fixture frame of the original focus screen is laid (by Camera or on paper), and then use the tweezer to lift it.
      4. Lift the top end of your DSLR a little bit, and then use the tweezer to lift the original focus screen by holding the very edge of it (Make sure you do this step softly and carefully enough not to damage your focus screen).
      5. Use the tweezer to put your new split image focus screen into the place by holding the very edge of it (Make sure you do this step softly and carefully enough not to damage your focus screen) and make sure the non-smooth side is facing the pentagon lens on the top side.
      6. Shake your DSLR a little bit and make sure your new split image focus screen is in the right and steady position.
      7. Put back your fixture frame of the original focus screen and make sure it is in its original right position.
      8. Use the toothpick to put on the buckle hidden behind the sponge on the reflection board.
      9. Install the lens on your DSLR.
      10. Put the original focus screen into the plastic protection box.

    • http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=jmoirUGx4nM
• alternatively:
  • Katz eye optics - different screen for each Olympus dSLR model
  • Haoda Optical Research - Chinese made, it has microprism and split prism focusing and costs $US72 from  http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZfuhaodaQQhtZ-1 for E300, E330 and E500
  • Virtual village Chinese split image screens for:
    • E300: http://www.virtualvillage.com/Items/005106-003?sck=26690879 
    • E500: http://www.virtualvillage.com/Items/005106-004?sck=26690879 
    • NB. there are reports that these may not align properly and may not allow accurate focus and appear to be much more inferior to the much more expensive US-made Katz Eye product.

Vertical battery grips:

• HLD-5:
  • for E-620
  • uses 2x BLS-1 batteries
• PS-HLD4:
  • for E-30, E-3
  • splashproof and dustproof (unlike the grip for Canon 5DMII which appears to cause permanent failure to camera with moisture)
  • uses 2x BLM-1 batteries. 
  • optional PS-AABH1 battery holder insert which allows use of AA batteries instead of 2x BLM-1 batteries. 
• HLD-3:
  • for E-300
  • uses 2x BLM-1 batteries. 
• HLD-2:
  • for E-1
  • uses BLL-1 battery
  • as set: SHLD-2 Power Battery Holder Set
• battery grip not possible with following models:
  • E-4xx, E-5xx, E-330

Electronic flash guns:

• see flash guns for Olympus digital
• Ring flash SRF-11 with GN 11m $US600
• finally Olympus introduced flash guns with wireless TTL capability (late 2007) with model name suffixes of R but these work in remote TTL mode only on Olympus E3 or later cameras.

Underwater housings:

• remember lens focal length becomes effectively 1/3rd more underwater
• http://www.dpreview.com/news/0705/07051801olyuw.asp 
• E-300:
  • Olympus PT-E01 UW housing
• E-330:
  • Olympus PT-E02 UW housing $US1220 (~$A1800) + need a lens port $US400-900 depending on lens
    • see http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1226&fl=17 
  • IKE housing:
    • generic housing for many camera models but big, lots of air in it thus need weights and more drag through water, thus not as good for long swims
    • TTL flash support
    • heavy and bulky on land
• E-400 / E-410:
  • Olympus PT-E03 housing
• E-510:
  • I presume underwater housings are coming but seems Olympus may not be making one for the E510?
• underwater cases for FL-20 and FL-36 flashes as well as a special UFL-1 underwater slave flash
• underwater lens ports for most ZD lenses

Macrophotography:

• see Olympus digital macrophotography
• main macro photography page

Remote control cables and intervalometers:

• Olympus RM-UC1:
  • for E410/420/510/520/620/E-30/E-P1 via USB port
  • only allows locking shutter for BULB - but no intervalometer function
• 3rd party Chinese USB intervalometers are available on Ebay - eg. here for RM-UC1 replacement for E410/420/510/520 - otherwise just search Ebay.

USB connectors for Olympus dSLRs:

• prior to 2006, Olympus dSLRs used a separate connector for USB and video
  • CB-USB4 cable used for these cameras (ie. E-1, E300) while CB-USB1 cable used for older cameras (E-10, E-20).
• after 2006, Olympus dSLRs used a single 12-pin USB multi-connector which acted as both USB and video out:
  • there was no shutter release functionality provided via this connector for E500/E330 dSLRs, but this has been added for subsequent dSLRs including E400/E410/E510, thus only these latter cameras can use the RM-UC1 remote cord (earlier models have to use the infrared remote only).
  • CB-USB6 cable only provides USB data connectivity
  • if you use a USB AV/PC-2 cable, you can use analogue video out and USB at the same time
  • currently, only cameras with movie recording capability (the non-dSLRs) allow audio out functionality.
  • the pin outs on this multi-pin connector are:
    • 1. USB 3 + data
    • 2. USB 2 - data
    • 3. Audio + center
    • 4. Shutter full press
    • 5. Video + center
    • 6. 
    • 7. Video ground (shield)
    • 8. 
    • 9. Audio ground (shield), Shutter ground
    • 10. USB 4 ground
    • 11. Shutter half press
    • 12. USB 1 + 5VDC
    • shell. USB shell
• see http://www.fourthirdsphoto.com:80/vbb/showthread.php?t=14769 
• http://www.fourthirdsphoto.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=14722

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