frugalar: February 2009

Looking a lot like the best handling SLR in the Olympus line-up, (the E510/20) Olympus unveiled the E620 today, a camera that they are billing as the world's smallest DSLR with in-body stabilization.

A short list of E620 features includes a larger viewfinder (aprox. the same as the E1), seven point focusing module with double cross type focusing sensors, 4 fps. frame rate, 12.3 megapixel imaging sensor with increased dynamic range, optional battery grip (yeah!), illuminated buttons on the back of the camera, swivel 230,000 pixel LCD, wireless flash, and multi aspect shooting (in Live View).

According to the company, the E620's high-performance 12.3 megapixel Live MOS sensor delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate colour fidelity and utilizes a state-of-the-art amplifier.

Priced at $799 USD. And for another $300 your little pinky can find a home with the optional HLD-5 Power Battery Holder grip.

Sounds like a very capable little performer at a perfect price point.

Full details below:

Product type: Single-lens reflex Live View digital camera with interchangeable lens system

Memory: CompactFlash Type I/II (UDMA), Microdrive, xD-Picture Card (Dual-Slot)

Sensor size: 17.3 mm (H) x 13.0 mm (V)

Lens mount: Four Thirds Mount

Effective Pixels Number: 12.3 million pixels Image Pickup Unit

Product type: High speed Live MOS Sensor

Total no. of pixels: Approx. 13.1 million pixels

Aspect ratio: 1.33 (4:3)

Filter array: Primary color filter (RGB)

LPF: Fixed type

IR cut filter: Hybrid type

Dust reduction: Supersonic Wave Filter (dust reduction system for image sensor)

Recording format: DCF, DPOF compatible/Exif, PRINT Image Matching III

File format: RAW (12-bit lossless compression), JPEG, RAW+JPEG

Recording image size: [RAW] 4032 x 3024 pixels
[JPEG] 4032 x 3024 pixels - 640 x 480 pixels

File size
RAW: 4032 x 3024 (approx. 1/1.5 lossless compressed) Approx. 13.9MB

Large: 4032 x 3024 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 8.2MB

Middle: 3200 x 2400 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 5.4MB

Small: 1600 x 1200 Super fine (1/2.7 compressed) Approx. 1.3MB

Viewfinder: Eye-level single-lens reflex viewfinder

Field of view: Approx. 95%

Viewfinder magnification: Approx.0.96x (-1m-1, 50mm lens, infinity)

Eye point: Approx. 18 mm (-1m-1) *from eyepiece lens

Diopter adjustment range: -3.0 - +1m-1

Focusing screen: Fixed (Neo Lumi-Micro Mat screen)

Eyepiece shutter: Eye piece cover EPC-1 supplied

Eye cup: Interchangeable type EP-5/6/7/8, EP-8 is supplied (Magnifier Eyecup ME-1 is available)

Optical Preview (view finder): Available to set to Fn button

Live preview: Available to set to Fn button

View finder information: Aperture value, Shutter speed, Record mode, AF confirmation mark, Flash, WB, AE lock, Number of storable still images, Exposure compensation value, Metering mode, Battery warning, Exposure mode, AF frame (super impose), IS, Bracket, ISO value

Live View: High speed Live MOS Sensor for still picture shooting is used, 100% field of view, Exposure adjustment pre-view, White balance adjustment pre-view, Gradation auto pre-view, Face detection pre-view, Perfect shot pre-view, Grid line displayable, 5x/7x/10x magnification possible, MF/S-AF, AF frame display, AF point display, Shooting information, Histogram, IS activating mode.

AF: High speed imager AF, Phase-difference detection AF

Image Stabilizer System: Built in (Imager shift image stabilizer)

Mode: 3 modes (2 dimensional activation, 1 dimensional activation in landscape frame to vertical direction moving, 1 dimensional activation in portrait frame to horizontal direction moving )
Manual Function: input focal length 8, 10, 12, 16, 18, 24, 28, 30, 35, 40, 48, 50, 55, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 100, 105, 120, 135, 150, 200, 210, 250, 300, 350, 400, 500, 600, 800, 1000

Effective compensation range: Approx.4EV steps　(in maximum effect)

Shutter speed range: 2 - 1/4000 sec.

Monitor: HyperCrystal Ⅲ LCD (transmissive TFT color LCD)

Size: 2.7 inches

Total no. of pixels: Approx. 230,000 dots

Playback field of view: 100%

Brightness control: 15 levels

Color Balance: 15 levels

Focusing: AF system TTL phase-difference detection systemContrast detection system (with 25mm f2.8, 14-42mm f3.5-5.6, 40-150mm f4.0-5.6, 9-18mm f4.0-5.6, 14-54mm f2.8-3.5II)

Focus mode: Single AF (S-AF) / Continuous AF (C-AF) / Manual Focus (MF) / S-AF + MF / C-AF + MF * C-AF mode is not available with the contrast detection system

Focusing point: 7 points AF sensor with the phase-difference detection system （5points cross AF sensor / 7 points twin AF sensor )7-area multiple AF with the contrast detection system (Auto, selectable in option)

Focusing point selection: Single target, All targets with the phase-difference detection systemSingle, all 7 area, or Face detection with the contrast detection system

AF luminance range (phase-difference detection system): EV -1 to 19 (at 20℃, ISO 100)

AF illuminator (phase-difference detection system): Built-in flash (external flash available)

AF lock: Locked at first position of Shutter button in Single AF mode / AEL button (customizable)

Focus tracking: Interlocked with Continuous AF mode

Focus aid: Available

Fine Adjustment: +/- 20 steps, 20 data can be registered

Exposure Control: Metering systemTTL open-aperture metering system (1) Digital ESP metering (49-points multi pattern metering) (2) Center weighted average metering (3) Spot metering (approx. 2% for the viewfinder screen. Highlight / shadow bases are available)

Metering range: EV 1 - 20 (Digital ESP metering, Centre weighted average metering, Spot metering)

Exposure mode: (1) Auto (2) P: Program AE (Program shift can be performed) (3) A: Aperture priority AE (4) S: Shutter priority AE (5) M: Manual (6) Scene program AE (7) Scene select AE, Scene Program AE, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sport, Night + Portrait, Scene Select AE Children, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Fireworks, Documents, Panorama* (* Available with the Olympus xD-Picture Card), Beach & Snow,Underwater Wide, Underwater Macro

ISO sensitivity: AUTO- ISO 200 - 3200 (customizable, Default 200-800) / Manual ISO 100 - 3200, 1/3 or 1 EV steps

Exposure compensation : ±5 EV in 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps selectable

AE lock: AEL button (customizable)

Exposure bracketing: 3 or 5 frames in 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1EV steps selectable

ISO bracketing: 3 frames in 0.3, 0.7, 1EV steps selectable

Metering Standard Value Adjustment: 1/6 EV step, +/- 1EV range
White Balance: Auto WB system, Hybrid detection system with High speed Live MOS sensor and dedicated external sensor.
Preset White Balance
8 settings (3000K - 7500K)Lamp (3000K), Fluorescent 1 (4000K), Fluorescent 2 (4500K), Fluorescent 3 (6600K), Daylight (5300K), Flash (5500K), Cloudy (6000K), Shade (7500K)

White balance compensation: ±7 steps in each A-B/G-M axis (in Auto WB / Preset WB mode / One touch WB)

CWB (Kelvin setting): 1 setting can be registered at Kelvin temperature (2000K - 14000K)

One-touch white balance: 1 custom setting can be registered

White balance bracketing: 3 frames in 2, 4, 6 steps selectable in each A-B/G-M axis.

Color Space: sRGB, Adobe RGB

Picture Mode: Vivid, Natural, Portrait, Muted, Monotone, Custom (default setting: Natural)
In custom mode, basic 5 modes and adjustment is available.

Adjustment parameter: Contrast, Sharpness and Saturation level available in 5 steps for Vivid, Natural, Portrait and Muted , Contrast and Sharpness level available in 5 steps for Monotone.

In custom mode, garadation level available in 4 steps.

Filter effect: Yellow, Orange, Red or Green filter available for Monotone

Picture tone: Sepia, Blue, Purple or Green tone available for Monotone

Gradation: 4 levels (Auto, High key, Normal, Low key)

Shutter: Computerized focal-plane shutter

Shutter speed: P(Ps), S, A, M mode: 60 - 1/4000 sec.
Bulb: up to 30 min. (selectable longest time in the menu. Default: 8 min.
1/3, 1/2, or 1EV steps selectable.

Self-timer Operation time: 12 sec., 2 sec. (cancel available)

Remote cable release: Available (with optional RM-UC1 Remote cable.)

Optical remote control: Operation time: 2 sec., 0 sec., bulb control available (with optional RM-1 remote control)

Anti shock mode: Available (1 to 30 sec selectable)

Drive mode: Single-frame shooting, Sequential shooting H, Sequential shooting L, Self-timer, Remote control

Sequential shooting speed: Approx. 4 frames/sec. in sequential shooting H, 1 to 3 fps selectable in sequential shooting L.

Max. recordable pictures: RAW mode: Max. 5 frames. On sequential shooting
JPEG mode: Depends on compression ratio and no. of pixels (Large normal mode: approx. up to card capacity with SanDisk Extreme IV 4GB)

Integrated Flash: Built-in flash Retractable flash, GN=17 at ISO200, (GN=12 at ISO 100.m)

Compatible external flash: FL-50R, FL-36R, FL-50, FL-36, FL-20

Flash control mode: TTL Auto (TTL pre-flash mode), Auto, Manual

Flash mode: Auto, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction slow sync., Slow sync at 1st curtain, Slow sync at 2nd curtain, Fill-in, Manual (1/4, 1/16, 1/64), Off.

Synchronization speed: 1/180 sec. or less

Flash intensity control: Up to ±3 EV in 0.3, 0.5, 1 EV steps

Flash bracketing: 3 frames in 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1 EV steps selectable.
Wireless Flash Control:Compatible external flash FL-50R, FL-36R

Control method: Triggered and controlled by built-in flash light

Flash control mode: TTL Auto (TTL pre-flash mode), Auto, Manual, FP TTL Auto, FP Manual.

Number of channel: 4 channels

Group setting: 3 groups

Art Filter Mode: Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale&Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pin Hole

Multi Exposure: Number of picture - 2 pictures

Functions: Auto gain, Live View, Exposing on Recorded picture

Aspect Ratio: 4:3(Default)／3:2／16:9／6:6

Illuminated button icons : MENU,INFO,Playback,Liveview,Arrowpad（WB,AF,Metering,ISO）,OK,Erase,IS

E-620,BLS-1 Li-ion battery,BCS-1 Li-ion battery charger

Super Control Panel: Information (shooting) Battery information, Exposure mode, Shutter speed, Aperture value, Expsosure compensation value, ISO sensitivity, Exposure compensation indicator, Exposure indicator, Flash intensity compensation indicator, Date, BKT setting, NR setting, WB, WB compensation value, Picture mode, Flash mode, Record mode, Image size, Card information,
Drive mode, Flash intensity compensation value, Metering mode, Recordable still image number, Focusing mode, FP warning, AF frame, AF illuminator disabled notification, , Color space, Sharpness, Contrast, Saturation, Gradation, IS activating mode, Face detection, RC mode setting, My Mode, Flash Charge, Multi Exposure, Aspect Ratio

Information
Exposure mode, Shutter speed, Aperture value, Exposure compensation value bar, Exposure compensation value
Flash compensation value bar, Flash compensation value, ALE notification, Flash compensation notification
NR notification, BKT notification, AF illuminator disabled notification, Color space
Wireless channel setting, Built-in flash intensity, Group setting

(wireless flash commander)

Back Light Timer: Back light lighting time is selectable. (Keep, 8, 30sec, 1min)

Playback mode: Single-frame, Index (4/9/16/25/49/100 frames), Calendar, Close-up ( 2 - 14X), Slideshow, Picture rotation (auto mode available), Light box

Information display: Histogram (independent luminance / RGB available),
Highlight / Shadow point warning, AF frame, Shooting information

Menu Languages: Japanese, English (Additional one language is possible to download.)Others: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Czech, Dutch, Danish, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Croat, Slovenian, Hungarian, Greek, Slovakian, Turkish, Latvian, Estonian, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Rumanian, Indonesian, Malay, Thai

Reset & Custom Setting: Custom reset 2 setting recordable

My mode: 2 setting recordable

Merge Function: 2-3 pictures, merge gain step 0.1-2.0 0.1 step

Print function: Print reservation (DPOF), Direct print (PictBridge compatible)
Input/Output

PC interface: USB 2.0 High Speed for storage and camera control (MTP mode is available)

USB/Video connector: Dedicated multi-connector (Video: NTSC/PAL selectable, Optional Remote cable RM-UC1 is available)

Flash attachment: Hot shoe

Battery: BLS-1 Li-ion battery (included)

Sleep mode: Available (1, 3, 5, 10 min., off selectable)

No. of recordable pictures : Approx. 500 shots (optical viewfinder)
(with 50% flash light)
(with BLS-1 under CIPA testing standard)

Power battery holder: HLD-5 compatible

Dimensions/Weight: 5.11 in (W) x 3.70 in (H) x 2.36 in. (D)/130 mm (W) x 94.0mm (H) x 60 mm (D) (excluding protrusions)

Weight: 16.76 oz/475g (body only)　

Box Contents: Body, Li-ion battery BLS-1, Li-ion battery charger BCS-1, USB/Video Multi cable, Eye piece cover EPC-1, Shoulder strap, OLYMPUS Master CD-ROM, Instruction manual, Warranty card.