dSLR Dad

Olympus has updated the the E-3 dSLR firmware to version 1.4.  This update is supposed to help improve the AF operation.  You can upgrade your camera using the OLYMPUS Master 2 software update found here.

Olympus America has released a firmware update for the Evolt E-3 dSLR Camera. Version 1.3 incorporates the following changes:

• Allow E-3 users to select the AF target by pressing the arrow keys
• Improve AF accuracy when using fast lenses with f2.0 aperture
• Improve C-AF performance
• Improve battery life when using the HLD-4 battery holder

Instructions for how to upgrade your camera using the OLYMPUS Master 2 software can be found here.

Douglas Brown over at the Luminous Landscape has posted a field review of the Olympus Evolt E-3 dSLR (Available at Amazon and B&H Photo):

When you look back at the standout photos you’ve taken in a year most of the major thought process and effort that went into them had very little to do with the technology of photography. Joss Stone starts vamping at a press event, turns and shoots a look over her shoulder that’s pure, delicious trouble, then sticks her tongue out at you, and believe me you aren’t thinking shadow noise, sensor size, or dumping your current system because some other maker’s camera would be able to shoot the images 1 frame per second faster. You’ve got that camera up to your eye, unconsciously moving slightly to keep distracting background elements out of the way, while simultaneously thumbing the focus point over the eyes, firing a burst then zooming in closer for a second one (because closer is always better). You are running on muscle memory.

In too many of these kind of photographic moments the E3 stumbles over itself. Awkward positioning of major controls, buttons that are small or flush with the camera surface making it difficult to positively locate them, (more…)