Olympus E-330: An Expert Review of the Best Camera for Photography Enthusiasts

The Olympus E-330 has been one of the most popular cameras among photography enthusiasts since its release. With advanced features and an intuitive interface, it's a perfect choice for professionals and novice photographers alike. In this blog post, we'll dive into the features of the Olympus E-330 that make it stand out and give you a comprehensive review.

Written by Victor Chan | Updated: Mon May 01 2023

Olympus E-330 article cover photo

Key Features

Mar 18 2006

Announced

7 megapixels

Resolution

BrandOlympus
Sensor TypeFour Thirds
SensorCMOS
Weight616g
MSRP$900USD

Other similar cameras

Olympus E-30 thumbnail

Olympus E-30

Released Mar 24 2009 | 12MP resolution

Olympus E-300 thumbnail

Olympus E-300

Released Jan 10 2005 | 8MP resolution

Olympus E-400 thumbnail

Olympus E-400

Released Sep 14 2006 | 10MP resolution

Overview of the E-330

If you're someone who loves taking photographs and wants to upgrade your camera, the Olympus E-330 is an excellent choice. It's a powerful camera that comes packed with advanced features that can help you capture amazing shots. In this article, we'll take a close look at the Olympus E-330 and its unique features. We'll also share our expert opinion on whether this camera is worth the investment or not. So, let's dive in and explore what makes the Olympus E-330 special.

Olympus E-330 Pros and Cons

Now, we will look more closely at our review of the Olympus E-330 camera. We will see what it can do and compare it to other cameras like it. We will tell you what's good about it and what's not so good. This way, you'll know if it's the camera for you!

Pros

1. Live view mode
allows for easier framing and composition 2. Swiveling LCD screen
flexibility in shooting at different angles 3. Four-thirds sensor
high-quality image capture 4. SuperSonic Wave Filter
protects against dust and dirt on the sensor 5. Compatibility with a wide range of lenses

Cons

1. Slow autofocus
not suitable for fast-paced shooting 2. Limited ISO range
may struggle in low light situations 3. Noise in high ISO settings
affects image quality 4. Limited video capabilities
not ideal for videography 5. Slightly outdated technology
may not have the latest features compared to newer models.

Build and Construction

Body and dimensions

Olympus E-330

Weather sealed
Dimensions140 x 87 x 72mm
Weight616g
Thickness72mm
Weight
Min
Avg
This
Max
Thickness
Min
Avg
This
Max

Weather Sealing

The Olympus E-330 is not sealed against water and dust, so it's important to be careful when using it in such conditions. If you often shoot in environments with water or dust, it's recommended to check out another camera with weather sealing.

Design and Handling

Main design features

View FinderOptical (pentamirror)
Screen TypeTilting
Screen Resolution215k dots
Body typeMid-size SLR

Suitable for:

PhotographyAbove Avg.
VideographyAbove Avg.
TravelAbove Avg.

LCD Screen

This camera has a tilting 2.50" screen, with a display resolution of 215k dots. This makes the Olympus E-330 not as suitable for those looking for a vlogging camera as you cannot view yourself while shooting selfies easily. Unfortunately, the camera does not have a touch screen, which may make it less user-friendly.

Viewfinder

E-330 includes a optical (pentamirror) viewfinder with no electronic viewfinder of resolution with a coverage of 95% and a magnification of 0.47x. This feature enhances the camera's suitability for outdoor photography in bright conditions.

Image Quality

Olympus E-330 has a 7MP sized CMOS sensor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 7 pixels. Olympus E-330 has a native ISO range of 100 - 400 which can be boosted to null - 1600. It can also save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Key Features

Mar 18 2006

Announced

100 - 400

ISO Range

SensorFour Thirds
Extended ISOnull - 1600
Max resolution3136 x 2352 pixels

DXO Sensor Scores

Overall

not tested

Color Depth

not tested

Dynamic Range

not tested

Low Light ISO

not tested

DXO mark sensor scores

The DXOmark rankings indicate that the Olympus E-330 camera has excellent color depth performance, which refers to the number of colors the sensor can distinguish. Additionally, its dynamic range is also excellent, allowing it to retain high amounts of details in both bright and dark areas of a scene. The camera's low light ISO performance is excellent, which is an important factor to consider if you plan to use it in dimly lit indoor environments or at night. Overall the image quality of the E-330 is excellent

Crop Factor

Camera crop factor (or focal length multiplier) refers to how a camera's sensor size affects the apparent field of view of a lens. Crop factor is determined by comparing the size of a camera's sensor to that of a full-frame sensor, which is a standard reference size for camera sensors.

Size comparison

Medium FormatFull FrameAPS-C (Sony, Nikon)

Crop factor calculator

Crop factor

1x

Full frame equivalent

24mm

This camera: Four Thirds

24mm

850100150200

Connectivity, storage, battery

StorageCompact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Battery Life
Battery Model
HDMI
USD
Wireless Connectivity

Storage

The Olympus E-330 supports Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card with 1 slots for storage. This may suffice for everyday use. However, for professional applications such as wedding photography, it is not recommended as a memory card malfunction could lead to the loss of all footage.

Battery

The Olympus E-330 uses the undefined model of undefined. This is rated for undefined shots which is high. If you intend to take photos or record videos for an extended period, it might be a good idea to bring along additional batteries.

Photography Features

Flash

The Olympus E-330 has built in flash which is great for event photography and in low light situations. It also offers a flash shoe that allows you to attach external flashes. This provides more versatility in your lighting choices.

Shutter

The Olympus E-330 boasts a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/4000s, which is ideal for shooting fast-moving subjects in bright environments, such as in sports photography. Faster shutter speeds enable you to freeze the action and capture every detail, making it easier to get the perfect shot.

With a continuous mechanical shutter speed of n/a or an electronic shutter speed of n/a, this camera is not capable of capturing the perfect moment more easily, making it not as suited for wedding, sports, and wildlife photography. Higher shutter speeds make it easier to capture fast-paced action, ensuring that you never miss the perfect shot.

Autofocus

The Olympus E-330 includes phase detection autofocus (AF), with 3 number of focus points.

While contrast detection is generally more accurate and precise, phase detection autofocus is faster and more effective in most situations, particularly when photographing moving subjects.

Phase detection autofocus works by dividing the incoming light into pairs and then analyzing how they intersect on the camera's sensor. This method allows the camera to determine not only if a subject is in focus but also the direction and distance needed to adjust the focus to achieve perfect sharpness.

On the other hand, contrast detection autofocus works by analyzing the contrast of an image and adjusting the focus until the highest contrast is detected. While this method is very accurate, it can be slow, especially in low light conditions or when photographing moving subjects.

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FAQ

What is the sensor size of the Olympus E-330?

The Olympus E-330 features a CMOS sensor

Is the Olympus E-330 weather sealed?

No the E-330 does not have weather sealing.

When was the Olympus E-330 announced?

The Olympus E-330 was announced on Mar 18 2006

Does the Olympus E-330 have in-body image stabilization?

No the E-330 does not have in-body image stabilization that can compensate for camera shake, making it easier to shoot handheld in low light conditions.

What is the ISO range of the Olympus E-330?

The E-330 has a native ISO range of 100-400, which can be expanded to ISO null-1600 for even greater sensitivity in low light conditions.

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