Olympus E-400 - Capturing Life's Perfect Moments

Olympus E-400 is a compact, lightweight, and easy-to-use digital camera. With its 10-megapixel sensor, high-speed autofocus, and high-resolution LCD display, the E-400 is perfect for capturing life's perfect moments. Its advanced technology offers a wide range of features such as image stabilization, noise reduction, and a live view mode that allows you to compose your shots in real-time.

Written by Victor Chan | Updated: Mon May 01 2023

Olympus E-400 article cover photo

Key Features

Sep 14 2006

Announced

10 megapixels

Resolution

BrandOlympus
Sensor TypeFour Thirds
SensorCCD
Weight435g
MSRP$699USD

Other similar cameras

Olympus FE-4000 thumbnail

Olympus FE-4000

Released Jul 22 2009 | 12MP resolution

Olympus E-300 thumbnail

Olympus E-300

Released Jan 10 2005 | 8MP resolution

Olympus E-330 thumbnail

Olympus E-330

Released Mar 18 2006 | 7MP resolution

Overview of the E-400

Whether you're a professional photographer or a hobbyist, the Olympus E-400 is the perfect camera for capturing life's perfect moments. This compact and lightweight camera offers a range of advanced features that make it easy to take high-quality shots. Even if you're new to photography, the E-400 is simple to use, thanks to its intuitive interface and user-friendly controls. With a 10-megapixel sensor, high-speed autofocus, and high-resolution LCD display, the E-400 has everything you need to take stunning photographs. In this blog, we'll take a closer look at some of the key features of the Olympus E-400 and see why it's the perfect camera for capturing memories that will last a lifetime.

Olympus E-400 Pros and Cons

Now, we will look more closely at our review of the Olympus E-400 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

High resolution sensor
Compact size
Live view feature
Fast autofocus
Dust reduction system
Compatible with Four Thirds lenses
In-camera image stabilization
Wide range of creative control options
Decent battery life

Cons

No video recording capability
Limited ISO range
Small viewfinder
No built-in flash
Not weather-sealed
Noisy shutter sound
Limited selection of lenses
No dedicated autofocus point selection buttons
Limited support for third-party accessories

Build and Construction

Body and dimensions

Olympus E-400

Weather sealed
Dimensions130 x 91 x 53mm
Weight435g
Thickness53mm
Weight
Min
Avg
This
Max
Thickness
Min
Avg
This
Max

Weather Sealing

The Olympus E-400 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 TypeFixed Type
Screen Resolution215k dots
Body typeCompact SLR

Suitable for:

PhotographyAbove Avg.
VideographyAbove Avg.
TravelAbove Avg.

LCD Screen

This camera has a fixed type 2.50" screen, with a display resolution of 215k dots. This makes the Olympus E-400 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-400 includes a optical (pentamirror) viewfinder with no electronic viewfinder of resolution with a coverage of 95% and a magnification of 0.46x. This feature enhances the camera's suitability for outdoor photography in bright conditions.

Image Quality

Olympus E-400 has a 10MP sized CCD sensor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 10 pixels. Olympus E-400 has a native ISO range of 100 - 1600 which can be boosted to null - null. It can also save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Key Features

Sep 14 2006

Announced

100 - 1600

ISO Range

SensorFour Thirds
Extended ISOnull - null
Max resolution3648 x 2736 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-400 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-400 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-400 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-400 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-400 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-400 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-400 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.

View on Amazon

FAQ

What is the sensor size of the Olympus E-400?

The Olympus E-400 features a CCD sensor

Is the Olympus E-400 weather sealed?

No the E-400 does not have weather sealing.

When was the Olympus E-400 announced?

The Olympus E-400 was announced on Sep 14 2006

Does the Olympus E-400 have in-body image stabilization?

No the E-400 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-400?

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

View on Amazon

Similar Camera Reviews

Olympus E-300 article cover photo

Olympus E-300 Camera Review: The Complete Guide for Beginners

Looking for a reliable camera for your photography needs? The Olympus E-300 is an ideal choice for beginners who want to capture stunning photos and videos. In this comprehensive guide, we'll give you an overview of this amazing camera, its features, and how to make the most out of it.

Olympus E-330 article cover photo

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.