Olympus: New firmware for EVOLT E-300, E-330
By
Mike Tomkins
(Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 13:19 EDT)
Olympus America has today released firmware updates for two of its EVOLT-series digital SLRs.
The Olympus EVOLT E-300 was first announced back in September 2004, and was the first consumer-oriented digital SLR from the company, with some very interesting features including Olympus' dust reduction system, and an optical porro viewfinder with side-swing mirror box that took away the familiar pentaprism "hump" found on top of most DSLRs. The E-330 followed in January 2006, with a new body that retained the unusual porro finder, but added a first for a digital SLR - the ability to frame and focus images on the camera's 2.5" LCD display, albeit with some provisos.
The new firmware version 1.4 for Olympus' EVOLT E-300 has one main change - improved exposure metering accuracy in macro mode, when using spot metering. Firmware version 1.2 for the E-330 includes the same update, as well as one other - Autofocus is now available in Live Preview "B" mode (Macro Live Preview). To activate it, you press the AEL/AFL button, the mirror pops down and autofocus is activated once before the mirror returns to the up position and the Live Preview is reenabled.
Both firmware updates can be found on Olympus' website. As always, we caution readers to follow the instructions to the letter. Performed properly, firmware updates are generally trouble-free. Performed incorrectly, they're a nice way to make an expensive paperweight. ;)
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