Megapixel's .net review of E-3 is up...

[Raist3d]

but I am happy it works for you.

I will start with "mode button is in the upper left, in the middle with other two tiny buttons that feel identical with no way to distinguish them." Add to that round robing mode lag between the modes, and if you add any my modes now it's time to play "which mode I am really in."

Compare to a simple dial where you can tell exactly where the camera is even when it's off. Or set it to a mode even when off.

There is no Olympus camera that has caused more interface/ergonomics complaints amongst typical ISO chart reviewers and photographers alike- in 4/3rds than the E-3. Almost every single review commented bad on the ergonomics/interface.

The only reason the super control panel is worth it in this context so much is simply because of how bad it is to do anything else (in general) on the E-3.

I think the e-5xx's, and e-330 have the best Oly-4/3rds interface.

Anyhow, I am not debating your experience as far as what works for you. There's another segment of E-3 owners that love its interface and I feel happy for them. I really do. But the fact is, a big segment of us didn't like it, doesn't like it, some even hate it (sign me up on that) and the fact this never happened in such a big percentage amongst 4/3rds users before, points to an issue. And I don't want to hear the "oh you just don't know how to use it" lame excuse. I am very tech oriented, I am a photographer and I got out with it for five months.

Oh, and HEAVEN HELP YOU if you are shooting with the E-3 in a cold climate and you are using gloves. Most say "just buy this X type of gloves which are fine gloves that yada yada"- Sure, you can do that. That's a workaround to a problem. You didn't have to do that for the E-1. Something went wrong.

I love the interface. I'm doing things as fast, if not faster, with
the E-3 as I did with other cameras.

Call me crazy, but I'd compare it to the Minolta 7D in how absolutely
awesome it is.

Totally different approach to camera interface. The thing that makes
both of them the same, though, is awesome consistency and
thoroughness of the approach in the design. Just as the 7D is all
twists and clicks, the E-3 is all push and spins.

Just reading the megapixel.net review... I'm amazed they talk about
the super control panel approach to changing it. Yeah, it's there
and simple to change stuff via the back panel... but it's not fast.
It's not smooth. It's not elegant. I'd use all of those words to
describe the combo push and spin that's used everywhere in the E-3.
Change shooting mode? push and spin. change WB? Push and spin.
Change AF? Push and spin. Change flash bracketing? Push and spin.

This consistency actually makes me regard the E-3 as more like a
musical instrument than other cameras. Think about playing the
piano. If you're playing a chord or you're playing an arpeggio or
you're playing a scale, you're using basically the same mechanics of
pushing down on keys to achieve these very different sounds. It's
not like your using side-to-side swinging motions of the arms if you
want to play louder or changing your airflow if you want to play
higher pitched sounds. Other cameras I've had such as the Nikon D700
and Pentax K20D lack that consistency. Great cameras, but I've never
warmed up to using them or, one could say, performing with them.

Long story short: E-3 interface is brilliant. Period.
--
Vincent Diamante
Freelance Composer/Writer/Journalist/Photographer/Gamer

--
Raist3d (Photographer & Tools/Systems/Gui Games Developer)
Andreas Feininger (1906-1999) 'Photographers — idiots, of which there are
so many — say, “Oh, if only I had a Nikon or a Leica, I could make great
photographs.” That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard in my life. It’s
nothing but a matter of seeing, and thinking, and interest. That’s what
makes a good photograph.'

 

[dunkreid]

Just learn it.

With regards to the "tiny buttons", do touch typists need every single key to feel different? Muscle memory is your friend.

Live view is where Oly has messed up in terms of buttons.

Cheers
Duncan

I will start with "mode button is in the upper left, in the middle
with other two tiny buttons that feel identical with no way to
distinguish them." Add to that round robing mode lag between the
modes, and if you add any my modes now it's time to play "which mode
I am really in."

Compare to a simple dial where you can tell exactly where the camera
is even when it's off. Or set it to a mode even when off.

There is no Olympus camera that has caused more interface/ergonomics
complaints amongst typical ISO chart reviewers and photographers
alike- in 4/3rds than the E-3. Almost every single review commented
bad on the ergonomics/interface.

The only reason the super control panel is worth it in this context
so much is simply because of how bad it is to do anything else (in
general) on the E-3.

I think the e-5xx's, and e-330 have the best Oly-4/3rds interface.

Anyhow, I am not debating your experience as far as what works for
you. There's another segment of E-3 owners that love its interface
and I feel happy for them. I really do. But the fact is, a big
segment of us didn't like it, doesn't like it, some even hate it
(sign me up on that) and the fact this never happened in such a big
percentage amongst 4/3rds users before, points to an issue. And I
don't want to hear the "oh you just don't know how to use it" lame
excuse. I am very tech oriented, I am a photographer and I got out
with it for five months.

Oh, and HEAVEN HELP YOU if you are shooting with the E-3 in a cold
climate and you are using gloves. Most say "just buy this X type of
gloves which are fine gloves that yada yada"- Sure, you can do that.
That's a workaround to a problem. You didn't have to do that for the
E-1. Something went wrong.

I love the interface. I'm doing things as fast, if not faster, with
the E-3 as I did with other cameras.

Call me crazy, but I'd compare it to the Minolta 7D in how absolutely
awesome it is.

Totally different approach to camera interface. The thing that makes
both of them the same, though, is awesome consistency and
thoroughness of the approach in the design. Just as the 7D is all
twists and clicks, the E-3 is all push and spins.

Just reading the megapixel.net review... I'm amazed they talk about
the super control panel approach to changing it. Yeah, it's there
and simple to change stuff via the back panel... but it's not fast.
It's not smooth. It's not elegant. I'd use all of those words to
describe the combo push and spin that's used everywhere in the E-3.
Change shooting mode? push and spin. change WB? Push and spin.
Change AF? Push and spin. Change flash bracketing? Push and spin.

This consistency actually makes me regard the E-3 as more like a
musical instrument than other cameras. Think about playing the
piano. If you're playing a chord or you're playing an arpeggio or
you're playing a scale, you're using basically the same mechanics of
pushing down on keys to achieve these very different sounds. It's
not like your using side-to-side swinging motions of the arms if you
want to play louder or changing your airflow if you want to play
higher pitched sounds. Other cameras I've had such as the Nikon D700
and Pentax K20D lack that consistency. Great cameras, but I've never
warmed up to using them or, one could say, performing with them.

Long story short: E-3 interface is brilliant. Period.
--
Vincent Diamante
Freelance Composer/Writer/Journalist/Photographer/Gamer

--
Raist3d (Photographer & Tools/Systems/Gui Games Developer)
Andreas Feininger (1906-1999) 'Photographers — idiots, of which
there are
so many — say, “Oh, if only I had a Nikon or a Leica, I could make great
photographs.” That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard in my life. It’s
nothing but a matter of seeing, and thinking, and interest. That’s what
makes a good photograph.'

 

[Vincent Diamante383271]

No problem on disagreement. This is a very divisive camera design, no question. I think I just wanted to let it out because I haven't heard proponents of the interface design describe in the way I had (musical instrument, consistency), so I figured why not let it out...
--
Vincent Diamante
Freelance Composer/Writer/Journalist/Photographer/Gamer

 

[Raist3d]

I remember Wrotniak talking about it... "a new synergistic seamless way that blah blah...." but yeah, not a particular instrument

No problem on disagreement. This is a very divisive camera design,
no question. I think I just wanted to let it out because I haven't
heard proponents of the interface design describe in the way I had
(musical instrument, consistency), so I figured why not let it out...
--
Vincent Diamante
Freelance Composer/Writer/Journalist/Photographer/Gamer

--
Raist3d (Photographer & Tools/Systems/Gui Games Developer)
Andreas Feininger (1906-1999) 'Photographers — idiots, of which there are
so many — say, “Oh, if only I had a Nikon or a Leica, I could make great
photographs.” That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard in my life. It’s
nothing but a matter of seeing, and thinking, and interest. That’s what
makes a good photograph.'

 

[Raist3d]

Just learn it.

With regards to the "tiny buttons", do touch typists need every
single key to feel different? Muscle memory is your friend.

Live view is where Oly has messed up in terms of buttons.

Muscle memory is precisely greatly aided by having that. to me this is a glaring oversight. And what about the gloves and harsh cold conditions. I tell you, I really want to know what team in Japan thought this was such a great idea

Cheers
Duncan

--
Raist3d (Photographer & Tools/Systems/Gui Games Developer)
Andreas Feininger (1906-1999) 'Photographers — idiots, of which there are
so many — say, “Oh, if only I had a Nikon or a Leica, I could make great
photographs.” That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard in my life. It’s
nothing but a matter of seeing, and thinking, and interest. That’s what
makes a good photograph.'

 

[Rriley]

probably the trickiest are those on the front, e/v iso and WB, the middle button has a rounded head b/se you cant actually see them when shooting. And on the other side top deck, flash, mode and AF. There is a learning curve, it is definitely different, once i got past the first 3 weeks i was fine with it.

but is it ideal?, probably not (for me at least) I would prefer full analogue control. Aperture ring, speed dial/knob, combo wheels for frame rate, WB, ISO, and maybe a mode dial. L1 comes pretty close, as does LC1

--
Riley

no one notices the contrast of white on white

 

[Raist3d]

Surely that's my problem. How simple. Thanks, that's very helpful!

Just learn it.

With regards to the "tiny buttons", do touch typists need every
single key to feel different? Muscle memory is your friend.

I had this camera for 5 months. Thanks. I pity those who have to use it with gloves.

Live view is where Oly has messed up in terms of buttons.

Ill just agree to disagree with you. I know the camera works for many so I am not denying that. Likewise, I don't like being told that "I have a problem" when clearly some very obvious design principles were not followed.

Cheers
Duncan

--
Raist3d (Photographer & Tools/Systems/Gui Games Developer)
Andreas Feininger (1906-1999) 'Photographers — idiots, of which there are
so many — say, “Oh, if only I had a Nikon or a Leica, I could make great
photographs.” That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard in my life. It’s
nothing but a matter of seeing, and thinking, and interest. That’s what
makes a good photograph.'