Olympus E-1 Comparison Review
The Olympus E-1 is a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera that was revealed to the public in June 2003 and is equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. It offers a resolution of 4.9 megapixel.
Is the Olympus E-1 a good camera? The E-1 has a Camera Elo of 1429. This rating puts the E-1 below average of all digital single lens reflex cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (Four Thirds cameras), the E-1 also ranks below average. – Well, the Olympus E-1 is more than 17 years old, and there have been many other good digital cameras released since 2003.
| Olympus E-1 |
|---|
| Digital single lens reflex |
| Four Thirds lenses |
| 4.9 MP, Four Thirds Sensor |
| no Video |
| ISO 100 - 800 (100 - 3 200) |
| Optical viewfinder |
| 1.8 LCD, 134k dots |
| Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) |
| 3 shutter flaps per second |
| Weathersealed body |
| 750 shots per battery charge |
| 141 x 104 x 81 mm, 738 g |
Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.
Body comparison with a credit card
An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Olympus E-1 vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Olympus E-1 alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life 1 |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch 2 |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympus E-1 | 5.6 in | 4.1 in | 3.2 in | 26.0 oz | 750 | Y | Jun 2003 | 1,699 |  | |
| Canon 6D Mark II | 5.7 in | 4.4 in | 3.0 in | 27.0 oz | 1200 | Y | Jun 2017 | 1,999 | | |
| Canon 7D | 5.8 in | 4.4 in | 2.9 in | 30.3 oz | 800 | Y | Sep 2009 | 1,699 | | |
| Leica Digilux 3 | 5.7 in | 3.4 in | 3.0 in | 21.4 oz | 750 | n | Sep 2006 | 1,499 | | |
| Nikon D500 | 5.8 in | 4.5 in | 3.2 in | 30.3 oz | 1240 | Y | Jan 2016 | 1,999 | | |
| Nikon D610 | 5.6 in | 4.4 in | 3.2 in | 30.0 oz | 900 | Y | Oct 2013 | 1,999 | | |
| Nikon D7000 | 5.2 in | 4.1 in | 3.0 in | 27.5 oz | 1050 | Y | Sep 2010 | 1,499 | | |
| Olympus E-5 | 5.6 in | 4.6 in | 3.0 in | 30.8 oz | 750 | Y | Sep 2010 | 1,699 | | |
| Olympus E-3 | 5.6 in | 4.6 in | 3.0 in | 30.9 oz | 750 | Y | Oct 2007 | 1,699 | | |
| Olympus E-330 | 5.5 in | 3.4 in | 2.8 in | 22.5 oz | 750 | n | Jan 2006 | 999 | | |
| Olympus E-300 | 5.8 in | 3.3 in | 2.5 in | 22.0 oz | 750 | n | Sep 2004 | 799 | | |
|
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement. |
||||||||||
The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Olympus E-1 was launched in the US market at a price of $1,699. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Check Ebay offers
Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide
The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
The Olympus E-1 features a Four Thirds sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Olympus E-1 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.
For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.
| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympus E-1 | Four Thirds | 4.9 | 2560 | 1920 | none | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Canon 6D Mark II | Full Frame | 26.0 | 6240 | 4160 | 1080/60p | 24.4 | 11.9 | 2862 | 85 | |
| Canon 7D | APS-C | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.0 | 11.7 | 854 | 66 | |
| Leica Digilux 3 | Four Thirds | 7.4 | 3136 | 2352 | none | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Nikon D500 | APS-C | 20.7 | 5568 | 3712 | 4K/30p | 24.0 | 14.0 | 1324 | 83 | |
| Nikon D610 | Full Frame | 24.2 | 6016 | 4016 | 1080/30p | 25.1 | 14.4 | 2925 | 94 | |
| Nikon D7000 | APS-C | 16.1 | 4928 | 3264 | 10800/24p | 23.5 | 13.9 | 1167 | 80 | |
| Olympus E-5 | Four Thirds | 12.2 | 4032 | 3024 | 720/30p | 21.6 | 10.5 | 519 | 56 | |
| Olympus E-3 | Four Thirds | 10.0 | 3648 | 2736 | none | 21.6 | 10.5 | 571 | 56 | |
| Olympus E-330 | Four Thirds | 7.4 | 3136 | 2352 | none | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Olympus E-300 | Four Thirds | 8.0 | 3264 | 2448 | none | .. | .. | .. | .. |
It should be noted that unlike many modern cameras, the E-1 does not provide the possibility to capture videos.
Feature comparison
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the E-1 has an optical viewfinder that provides a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.48x. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus E-1 and comparable cameras.
| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Size (inch) |
LCD Resolution (000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Mech Shutter Speed |
Shutter Flaps (1/sec) | Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympus E-1 | optical | Y | 1.8 | 134 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0 | n | n | |
| Canon 6D Mark II | optical | Y | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 6.5 | n | n | |
| Canon 7D | optical | Y | 3.0 | 920 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 8.0 | Y | n | |
| Leica Digilux 3 | optical | n | 2.5 | 207 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0 | Y | n | |
| Nikon D500 | optical | Y | 3.2 | 2359 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0 | n | n | |
| Nikon D610 | optical | Y | 3.2 | 921 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 6.0 | Y | n | |
| Nikon D7000 | optical | Y | 3.0 | 921 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 6.0 | Y | n | |
| Olympus E-5 | optical | Y | 3.0 | 920 | swivel | n | 1/8000s | 5.0 | Y | Y | |
| Olympus E-3 | optical | Y | 2.5 | 230 | swivel | n | 1/8000s | 5.0 | Y | Y | |
| Olympus E-330 | optical | n | 2.5 | 215 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 3.0 | Y | n | |
| Olympus E-300 | optical | n | 1.8 | 134 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 2.5 | Y | n |
One useful feature of the E-1 is a presence of a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.
Connection comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus E-1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Microphone |
Internal Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support | NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympus E-1 | Y | - | - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Canon 6D Mark II | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Canon 7D | Y | mono | - | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Leica Digilux 3 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Nikon D500 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Nikon D610 | Y | mono | mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Nikon D7000 | Y | mono | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Olympus E-5 | Y | stereo | - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Olympus E-3 | Y | - | - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Olympus E-330 | Y | - | - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Olympus E-300 | Y | - | - | - | - | - | 2.0 | - | - | - |
Expert reviews
While the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the E-1 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog).
| Camera Model |
camera labs |
dp review |
ephoto zine |
imaging resource |
photography blog |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympus E-1 | .. | + | o | o | .. | Jun 2003 | 1,699 | |
|
| Canon 6D Mark II | + | 80/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Jun 2017 | 1,999 | |
|
| Canon 7D | + + | 84/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2009 | 1,699 | |
|
| Leica Digilux 3 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Sep 2006 | 1,499 | |
|
| Nikon D500 | + + | 91/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Jan 2016 | 1,999 | |
|
| Nikon D610 | + + | 87/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2013 | 1,999 | |
|
| Nikon D7000 | .. | 80/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2010 | 1,499 | |
|
| Olympus E-5 | .. | 75/100 | 4/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | Sep 2010 | 1,699 | |
|
| Olympus E-3 | 88/100 | + + | o | o | 4/5 | Oct 2007 | 1,699 | |
|
| Olympus E-330 | .. | + | o | 3.5/5 | .. | Jan 2006 | 999 | |
|
| Olympus E-300 | .. | + | o | o | 4.5/5 | Sep 2004 | 799 | |
|
| Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||
The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.
Olympus E-1 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the E-1.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the E-1?
The camera has a CCD (Charged Coupled Device) sensor at its core.
Which image processing chip is used to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Olympus equipped the E-1 with the TruePic image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the E-1?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 800.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Olympus E-1?
Olympus mentions a shutter rating of 150 000 actuations for the E-1. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the E-1 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 150 pictures each and every day.
Does the Olympus E-1 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with flash?
The E-1's flash sync speed is 1/180 sec.
Which battery does the E-1 use?
The camera gets its power from the BLM-1 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the E-1?
Yes, Olympus offers the SHLD-2 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Camera to camera comparisons
In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Canon G15 vs Olympus E-1
- Canon Rebel vs Olympus E-1
- Fujifilm X-A10 vs Olympus E-1
- Leica Q Typ 116 vs Olympus E-1
- Nikon D3500 vs Olympus E-1
- Nikon D40 vs Olympus E-1
- Nikon D610 vs Olympus E-1
- Nikon D7000 vs Olympus E-1
- Nikon Z6 vs Olympus E-1
- Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic TZ95
- Olympus E-1 vs Sony A6300
- Olympus E-1 vs Sony NEX-5R
| Camera Model | Olympus E-1 | |
| Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | |
| Camera Lens | Four Thirds lenses | |
| Launch Date | June 2003 | |
| Launch Price | USD 1 699 | |
| Sensor Specs | ||
| Sensor Technology | CCD | |
| Sensor Format | Four Thirds Sensor | |
| Sensor Size | 17.3 x 13.0 mm | |
| Sensor Area | 225 mm2 | |
| Sensor Diagonal | 21.6 mm | |
| Crop Factor | 2.0x | |
| Sensor Resolution | 4.9 Megapixels | |
| Image Resolution | 2 560 x 1 920 pixels | |
| Pixel Pitch | 6.78 μm | |
| Pixel Density | 2.19 MP/cm2 | |
| Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
| Movie Capability | no Video | |
| ISO Setting | 100 - 800 ISO | |
| ISO Boost | 100 - 3 200 ISO | |
| Image Processor | TruePic | |
| Screen Specs | ||
| Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.48x | |
| Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | |
| LCD Size | 134k dots | |
| LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | |
| Shooting Specs | ||
| Focus System | Phase-detect AF | |
| Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
| Continuous Shooting | 3 shutter flaps/s | |
| Shutter Life Expectancy | 150 000 actuations | |
| Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
| Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
| Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
| Storage Medium | CF or XD cards | |
| Second Storage Option | Dual card slots | |
| Connectivity Specs | ||
| External Flash | Hotshoe | |
| Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
| HDMI Port | no HDMI | |
| Wifi Support | no Wifi | |
| Body Specs | ||
| Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
| Battery Type | BLM-1 power pack | |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 750 shots per charge | |
| Body Dimensions |
141 x 104 x 81 mm (5.6 x 4.1 x 3.2 in) |
|
| Camera Weight | 738 g (26.0 oz) |
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