The E330 capabilities?

[Kazanne]

Hi
please bare with me as I'm new to this forum and new to photography. So I've been getting to know the E-330 I inherited from my late dad. I love it but it is a challenge.
I have 2 questions that I would like to ask. I have searched online but I'm still a little unclear.
Firstly, I've been trying to shoot landscapes (I think this might be my favourite photography). If I'm understanding it right, the camera only has one focus point in the middle of the screen. So when I set up my composition I can only focus on the middle of the scene but sometimes I want to focus on something at the front or at the back of the scene. Is there a way of doing this? After so much reading and researching I've seen lots of newer cameras that have more focal points and I'm now wondering if I should think about taking the plunge and buying a newer version.
Secondly if I did buy a newer Olympus would the zuiko lenses i have with the E-330 fit it? I find the four thirds thing confusing.

Karen

[Ian]

Hi Karen,

The E-330 has three focusing points, one in the centre and one each to the left and the right. If you would like to focus on an object below or above, point the centre at the subject to lock focus on it by half-pressing the shutter button (there are other methods, but this is a good place to start). Then re-compose the view without letting go of the half-pressed shutter button, though without pressing it fully home. It needs a bit of practice!

Four Thirds refers to the size of the image sensor and the system built around it. The first generation, of which the E-330 belongs, is Olympus' E-System (after which our forum is named) and E-System cameras are DSLRs (Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras). Panasonic Lumix and Leica also produced Four Thirds DSLRs compatible with the E-System. The latest Olympus and OM System cameras are MICRO Four Thirds. The sensor size is unchanged, but there is no longer a reflex viewfinder with a flapping mirror. By doing away with these, the camera body becomes much smaller and lighter and the lens mount has a shorter distance to the sensor, which helps the designers to make the lenses smaller and lighter, too.

Unfortunately, you can't use MICRO Four Thirds lenses on your Four Thirds E-330 DSLR. But Four Thirds DSLR lenses, like the ones you have for your E-330, can be used on Micro Four Thirds cameras by using an adapter.

Your E-330 is capable of very fine landscapes but, yes, it's an older camera and so it's more difficult to use. But if you can master your E-330 that would be a great first step, before investing in newer kit.

Ian

[Ian]

Here's an old E-330 shot I took of the Hoover Dam outside of Las Vegas back in 2007:



Ian

[Kazanne]

Hi Karen,

The E-330 has three focusing points, one in the centre and one each to the left and the right. If you would like to focus on an object below or above, point the centre at the subject to lock focus on it by half-pressing the shutter button (there are other methods, but this is a good place to start). Then re-compose the view without letting go of the half-pressed shutter button, though without pressing it fully home. It needs a bit of practice!

Four Thirds refers to the size of the image sensor and the system built around it. The first generation, of which the E-330 belongs, is Olympus' E-System (after which our forum is named) and E-System cameras are DSLRs (Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras). Panasonic Lumix and Leica also produced Four Thirds DSLRs compatible with the E-System. The latest Olympus and OM System cameras are MICRO Four Thirds. The sensor size is unchanged, but there is no longer a reflex viewfinder with a flapping mirror. By doing away with these, the camera body becomes much smaller and lighter and the lens mount has a shorter distance to the sensor, which helps the designers to make the lenses smaller and lighter, too.

Unfortunately, you can't use MICRO Four Thirds lenses on your Four Thirds E-330 DSLR. But Four Thirds DSLR lenses, like the ones you have for your E-330, can be used on Micro Four Thirds cameras by using an adapter.

Your E-330 is capable of very fine landscapes but, yes, it's an older camera and so it's more difficult to use. But if you can master your E-330 that would be a great first step, before investing in newer kit.

Ian

Thank you Ian. I am enjoying the learning journey. Thank you for explaining the focal points, that makes sense. I'm concentrating on using the manual setting. I think it will stand me in good stead for the future. I'm probably trying to run before I can walk. And it's good to know that my lenses will fit another camera should I decide to get one. I've switched to RAW as suggested and have been pleased with the overall colours and quality (to my untrained eye). It's certainly better than my phone camera and much more ore satisfying!

Karen

[Ian]

Thank you Ian. I am enjoying the learning journey. Thank you for explaining the focal points, that makes sense. I'm concentrating on using the manual setting. I think it will stand me in good stead for the future. I'm probably trying to run before I can walk. And it's good to know that my lenses will fit another camera should I decide to get one. I've switched to RAW as suggested and have been pleased with the overall colours and quality (to my untrained eye). It's certainly better than my phone camera and much more ore satisfying!

Karen

Don't forget that RAW mode is like a digital negative and what you see to start with is abasic interpretation of the colour, contrast, etc. To make the best of RAW files they need to be adjusted to your taste, using some decent image editing software. Would you mind me asking what you use to view and adjust your images?

Ian

[Kazanne]

Don't forget that RAW mode is like a digital negative and what you see to start with is abasic interpretation of the colour, contrast, etc. To make the best of RAW files they need to be adjusted to your taste, using some decent image editing software. Would you mind me asking what you use to view and adjust your images?

Ian

I'm using OM Workspace at the moment. I'm still in the learning process of that too. But I'm happy with the results so far.

[blu-by-u]

I enjoyed that E-330 till I out grew it. I still have my E-330 but it's now sitting in a drybox.

That aside, You should try the other P,A,S and not only M. Try reading up on the Exposure settings and you will find that E-330 a very fun to use camera.

https://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/E3/E3A5.HTM

Also this Wrotniak have lots of tips and it's the main source for me to learn the capabilities of that E-330,.
https://www.wrotniak.net/photo/43/index.html

His review on the E-330
https://www.wrotniak.net/photo/43/e330.html

[Phill D]

There's someone I've not heard of for a while Wrotniak, wonder how he's doing. He posted some great stuff in the past.

[Ian]

There's someone I've not heard of for a while Wrotniak, wonder how he's doing. He posted some great stuff in the past.

Sadly, it doesn't look like there have been any updates to his site since May 2020 - unless I have missed something?

Ian

[Kazanne]

I enjoyed that E-330 till I out grew it. I still have my E-330 but it's not sitting in a drybox.

That aside, You should try the other P,A,S and not only M. Try reading up on the Exposure settings and you will find that E-330 a very fun to use camera.

https://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/E3/E3A5.HTM

Also this Wrotniak have lots of tips and it's the main source for me to learn the capabilities of that E-330,.
https://www.wrotniak.net/photo/43/index.html

His review on the E-330
https://www.wrotniak.net/photo/43/e330.html

I'm off out for a walk today and shall try the other settings.

[Bikie John]

Going back to your original question, you could also try manual focus. I can't remember how you select it on those bodies but the menus are pretty simple so it should be easy to find. All you do is twiddle the focus ring on the lens until the bit you want looks sharp. You might find it easy or you might not - but you never know until you try! Also if you stop down the lens a bit (go to a bigger f/number - say f/8) much more is in focus - this is "depth of field" - so it will go some way towards covering up if you miss the spot a bit.

John

[blu-by-u]

It's got the same SCP as what we are having. So just go to the SA-F, CA-F and MF. Sadly, no manual focus assist, no peak focusing or that magnify.

[Kazanne]

I struggled to get the right exposure yesterday. Either too bright or too dark. And that was using A,S and P settings.

[Ian]

I struggled to get the right exposure yesterday. Either too bright or too dark. And that was using A,S and P settings.

There are three possibilities I can think of. Have you somehow moved the exposure compensation from 0? It's show as a number - or * EV. Second, do you know which meter mode you are using?


ESP is the best choice at this stage.

Finally, it's possible the lens iris (aperture) is sticking - do you find the problem only happens with one of the lenses?

Ian

[Kazanne]

There are three possibilities I can think of. Have you somehow moved the exposure compensation from 0? It's show as a number - or * EV. Second, do you know which meter mode you are using?


ESP is the best choice at this stage.

Finally, it's possible the lens iris (aperture) is sticking - do you find the problem only happens with one of the lenses?

Ian

I definitely kept an eye on the exposure compensation and made sure it was on 0. It was a very bright day here yesterday and I used just the one lens, the 18-180mm. My thoughts on using that one was because it would cope with close ups, butterflies etc and landscapes. But the walk was varied, lots of sun and shade. I just need to practice practice practice.

[Kazanne]

There are three possibilities I can think of. Have you somehow moved the exposure compensation from 0? It's show as a number - or * EV. Second, do you know which meter mode you are using?


ESP is the best choice at this stage.

Finally, it's possible the lens iris (aperture) is sticking - do you find the problem only happens with one of the lenses?

Ian

Oh and I had the camera on the metering mode you called ESP

[blu-by-u]

ESP should work fine for now.. Set the A to 22, Point the camera toward yourself, press the shutter. Notice that aperture, does it close?