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Olympus E-1 (E1) PRO Digital SLR Camera & 14-45mm lens
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You are bidding on an Olympus E-1 camera, Olympus’s first ever professional-level digital SLR.
The Olympus E-1 is, perhaps, the single best-kept secret in the world of digital photography. When it first appeared on the market with its £1200+ price tag (body only), it was clearly aimed at professional users demanding the very best from their equipment.
For this reason, the Olympus E-1 is characterised by:
1.) Superb Handling
Quite simply, the Olympus E-1 handles like a dream. It’s perfectly weighted, and its magnesium alloy body inspires nothing but the utmost confidence.
Unlike entry-level dSLRs such as the Nikon D40, there are, not one, but two command dials for extra flexibility.
There's a bright viewfinder that shows 100% of the final image for pixel-perfect composition. Lesser cameras only display 90-95% of the actual picture.
Also, there are dedicated buttons for every commonly used feature (inc. picture quality, ASA speed, autofocus point selector, white balance/custom white balance, flash mode, exposure compensation, exposure bracketing, metering mode, and motordrive options). None of these can be activated accidentally – they need to be used in conjunction with one of the two command dials – but the fact they’re there means that you can keep the camera to your eye and concentrate on your photography, rather than having to wade through reams of on-board menu options.
The shutter mechanism is the quietest ever found in a digital SLR, perfect for candid photography, or photography in quiet environments such as theatres or wedding chapels. Many photographers compare the E-1’s shutter favourably with the legendary shutters of the Leica M rangefinders. And because it’s so quiet, and because it’s so vibration-free, many Olympus users – like Leica rangefinder users – find they can successfully handhold shots up to two stops below what they can usually manage.
2.) Unsurpassed Build Quality and Industry-Leading Sensor Dust Remover
Google “Olympus E-1” and “build quality” and you’ll find hundreds of reviewers saying the same thing: the Olympus E-1 is built like a tank. It can withstand the harshest of knocks; and because all the controls are weather-sealed, it keeps on shooting even during a torrential downpour. Or a freak dust-storm in the desert.
The Olympus E-1 also features the first ever automatic sensor dust remover, which safely shakes dust off the sensor, every time it’s switched on.
3.) “Olympus Colours”
As well as the ability to shoot uncompressed RAW and TIFF files for ultimate control, the Olympus E-1 also offers some of the best out-of-camera JPEG files ever. Fans frequently talk about “Olympus colours”, realistic but crisp and vivid colours that lend an almost three-dimensional quality to the E-1’s images. They need to be seen to be believed.
4.) Lenses and Accessories Built for Digital
The Olympus E-1 is built around the specially designed Four-Thirds system, a new mount and sensor configuration designed especially for digital photography.
Lenses for the Four-Thirds system are smaller than their counterparts in the world of Nikon and Canon which are still somewhat tethered to their 35mm film heritage; they also tend to be brighter, offering faster apertures that offer creative depth-of-field opportunities and fantastic performance in low light environments.
Because Four Thirds lenses are designed to focus light so it hits the camera sensor perpendicularly, the pictures from these lenses tend to be superior than their counterparts, characterised by less vignetting and more consistent image quality from the centre to the edge of the image (normally, the edges of an image are substantially less sharp than the centre).
Olympus already make a fantastic range of Zuiko Digital lenses to suit a massive range of situations and budgets. There are Leica and Sigma lenses available for the 4/3 system too.
***
The E-1 up for auction today is in absolutely pristine condition, exhibiting only the slightest signs of use. Being a backup body, it's had very little use and the shutter actuation count stands at just 90 actuations, so there's plenty of life in it yet (the shutter is rated for 150,000 shots). There are no scratches, dings, dents of other signs of damage to speak of. The rubber grips on the front and back are very clean and are firmly stuck to the camera. The removable LCD protector has a few scuffs on it, but the LCD itself is free from scratches. Mechanically and electronically, the camera is faultless, with all controls working smoothly and decisively. The camera comes supplied with all its original caps, battery, battery charger, and software. I'll also include a copy of Frank Saith's Olympus E-System book, which may be of interest to you.
The camera also comes with an entry-level 14-45mm standard kit zoom, also in pristine condition. Optics are free of scratches, dirt, dust or fungus; and the mount is clean and bright. It comes complete with front/rear caps, lenshood and a Tiffen 58mm UV filter. It's an excellent starter lens but if you want to make use of the E-1's weathersealing, you'll need to replace this lens with one of the pro-weathersealed lenses at some stage (do take a look at my other auctions for a fantastic 14-54mm if you're interested).
Any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Happy bidding!
Additional Information
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/e1-2nd.shtml
http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/oly-e/e1-rev.html
http://www.olympus-esystem.com/dea/report/rd/01.html
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