Name: Olympus E-330
Rating: 3.2 (12 reviews)

photo_cameraClean ISO 100 image quality

2 mentions

Strongly positive

Users highlight a clean ISO 100 implementation that produces noise-free shadows even with RAW adjustments. One long-term owner still finds the images fantastic and clear years later.

@Daniel-o1l2e

Hi Chris,\nit's great that you hit that camera. I used it other many years, it was my first camera with interchangeable lenses. So I have quite a few things to add. Take this more as an inspiration.\nThere are some bonuses of the E-330 compared to later E-series models. Other than the 10 MP DSLRs the E-330 has a rather clean ISO100 implementation, there you get even with some adjustment in the RAW converter rather noise free shadows in your images. The E-5 was just OK, but all in between was a step back.\nThe second big benefit is the design of the internal flash, that makes it a great camera for “scripted” indoor portraits. You use the internal flash at very low power as the direct one to create the spark in the eye ball. Than add a top mounted FL36 to hit a sideway standing reflector / while wall to generated a side-way illumination and map the 3D-face contours to the 2D-medium called photo. You have exposure compensation directly at your fingers (the internal via flash exp. compensation, the external via the dial on the flash), and it works with old OM- and M42 lenses too, that you can modify to your personal taste. Although for a proper classical setup (in the style of Rosalba Carriera and Maurice Quentin de la Tour), you would need a dumb third flash behind the model, in order to locally increase brightness of the background around the head. Skin colours with flash are pleasant on the E-330.\nAnd in general Olympus also did well with their dust removal system. Since the small sensor, you don't need to step down lenses that much for equivalent DoF and even at the same F-stop the dust is far less visible. A big benefit, you take for granted until you want to use a used full frame DSLR for landscape shots.\nThis were the good things. There are also a few bad ones. The biggest sadness I had back than, was that Auto-ISO in A-mode fixes the ISO value at 100, as long as you don't use flash. I came from C-xxxx cameras with some way of proper Auto-ISO; this was a shock to me. And I personally think this is still the biggest short coming. Yes, there are image stabilisation and sports scene mode that also can shot RAW. But those have no exposure compensation.\nAlso there is no adjustment for the AF module in software like in E-30 and later models. Although it's seldom, that an E-330 miss focus systematically. \nThe noise problem in the E-330 is not the noise itself, it's its regular pattern. I saw banding in your ISO1600 shot, but there are also smaller cross type regular patterns. This really s***s. Statistical noise can be reduced, or you go to black and white and live that a super-grainy picture. But that banding is visible in small prints to and not film-like or human-vision-like at all.\nConsidering Live-View (You need to cite Phil Askey : “A solution looking for a problem and poorly implemented”). Looking back to the past, it would be better, if they never done that. First few people saw a benefit in that feature, until Canon and Nikon had implemented it. And in order to implement this, Olympus used the side way swinging mirror, that needs more place to swing and they had to increase the flange back distance of the mount. This put them into a disadvantage, as all wide angle designs were made even bigger. With hind-sight, Sony in their Alpha 350 found a much better technical solution for Live-View A. Full stop.\nLast but not least. The camera only offers USB 1 speed, so importing to Capture One takes too much time.\nBesides all the negative points, to me it's still a very capable camera. Not in terms of resolution and speed. But in terms a freedom to chose shooting height of the camera (above head level) and freedom of lighting scenes with two flashes. An E-330 with view from the top to the LCD, the 50 mm F2.0 and the FL-36 is my personal “Hasselblad”. Bold words, but I mean it in that way.

smart_display

April 18, 2026

@dumptonpark

I have had a E-330 for a few years and still today it takes fantastic clear images and I would never get rid of it. I have 2 newer cameras but I still like to use my e330 if it is a one chance photo shot.

smart_display

November 16, 2014

flash_onFlash-based portrait lighting flexibility

1 mentions

Strongly positive

The internal flash can be used at low power for catchlights while an external flash creates sideways illumination, giving independent exposure compensation for creative scripted portraits. Skin tones with flash are described as pleasant.

@Daniel-o1l2e

Hi Chris,\nit's great that you hit that camera. I used it other many years, it was my first camera with interchangeable lenses. So I have quite a few things to add. Take this more as an inspiration.\nThere are some bonuses of the E-330 compared to later E-series models. Other than the 10 MP DSLRs the E-330 has a rather clean ISO100 implementation, there you get even with some adjustment in the RAW converter rather noise free shadows in your images. The E-5 was just OK, but all in between was a step back.\nThe second big benefit is the design of the internal flash, that makes it a great camera for “scripted” indoor portraits. You use the internal flash at very low power as the direct one to create the spark in the eye ball. Than add a top mounted FL36 to hit a sideway standing reflector / while wall to generated a side-way illumination and map the 3D-face contours to the 2D-medium called photo. You have exposure compensation directly at your fingers (the internal via flash exp. compensation, the external via the dial on the flash), and it works with old OM- and M42 lenses too, that you can modify to your personal taste. Although for a proper classical setup (in the style of Rosalba Carriera and Maurice Quentin de la Tour), you would need a dumb third flash behind the model, in order to locally increase brightness of the background around the head. Skin colours with flash are pleasant on the E-330.\nAnd in general Olympus also did well with their dust removal system. Since the small sensor, you don't need to step down lenses that much for equivalent DoF and even at the same F-stop the dust is far less visible. A big benefit, you take for granted until you want to use a used full frame DSLR for landscape shots.\nThis were the good things. There are also a few bad ones. The biggest sadness I had back than, was that Auto-ISO in A-mode fixes the ISO value at 100, as long as you don't use flash. I came from C-xxxx cameras with some way of proper Auto-ISO; this was a shock to me. And I personally think this is still the biggest short coming. Yes, there are image stabilisation and sports scene mode that also can shot RAW. But those have no exposure compensation.\nAlso there is no adjustment for the AF module in software like in E-30 and later models. Although it's seldom, that an E-330 miss focus systematically. \nThe noise problem in the E-330 is not the noise itself, it's its regular pattern. I saw banding in your ISO1600 shot, but there are also smaller cross type regular patterns. This really s***s. Statistical noise can be reduced, or you go to black and white and live that a super-grainy picture. But that banding is visible in small prints to and not film-like or human-vision-like at all.\nConsidering Live-View (You need to cite Phil Askey : “A solution looking for a problem and poorly implemented”). Looking back to the past, it would be better, if they never done that. First few people saw a benefit in that feature, until Canon and Nikon had implemented it. And in order to implement this, Olympus used the side way swinging mirror, that needs more place to swing and they had to increase the flange back distance of the mount. This put them into a disadvantage, as all wide angle designs were made even bigger. With hind-sight, Sony in their Alpha 350 found a much better technical solution for Live-View A. Full stop.\nLast but not least. The camera only offers USB 1 speed, so importing to Capture One takes too much time.\nBesides all the negative points, to me it's still a very capable camera. Not in terms of resolution and speed. But in terms a freedom to chose shooting height of the camera (above head level) and freedom of lighting scenes with two flashes. An E-330 with view from the top to the LCD, the 50 mm F2.0 and the FL-36 is my personal “Hasselblad”. Bold words, but I mean it in that way.

smart_display

April 18, 2026

cleaning_servicesEffective dust removal system

1 mentions

Widely praised

The camera's dust removal system is praised, with dust being far less visible than on used full-frame DSLRs due to the smaller sensor not requiring lenses to be stepped down as much.

@Daniel-o1l2e

Hi Chris,\nit's great that you hit that camera. I used it other many years, it was my first camera with interchangeable lenses. So I have quite a few things to add. Take this more as an inspiration.\nThere are some bonuses of the E-330 compared to later E-series models. Other than the 10 MP DSLRs the E-330 has a rather clean ISO100 implementation, there you get even with some adjustment in the RAW converter rather noise free shadows in your images. The E-5 was just OK, but all in between was a step back.\nThe second big benefit is the design of the internal flash, that makes it a great camera for “scripted” indoor portraits. You use the internal flash at very low power as the direct one to create the spark in the eye ball. Than add a top mounted FL36 to hit a sideway standing reflector / while wall to generated a side-way illumination and map the 3D-face contours to the 2D-medium called photo. You have exposure compensation directly at your fingers (the internal via flash exp. compensation, the external via the dial on the flash), and it works with old OM- and M42 lenses too, that you can modify to your personal taste. Although for a proper classical setup (in the style of Rosalba Carriera and Maurice Quentin de la Tour), you would need a dumb third flash behind the model, in order to locally increase brightness of the background around the head. Skin colours with flash are pleasant on the E-330.\nAnd in general Olympus also did well with their dust removal system. Since the small sensor, you don't need to step down lenses that much for equivalent DoF and even at the same F-stop the dust is far less visible. A big benefit, you take for granted until you want to use a used full frame DSLR for landscape shots.\nThis were the good things. There are also a few bad ones. The biggest sadness I had back than, was that Auto-ISO in A-mode fixes the ISO value at 100, as long as you don't use flash. I came from C-xxxx cameras with some way of proper Auto-ISO; this was a shock to me. And I personally think this is still the biggest short coming. Yes, there are image stabilisation and sports scene mode that also can shot RAW. But those have no exposure compensation.\nAlso there is no adjustment for the AF module in software like in E-30 and later models. Although it's seldom, that an E-330 miss focus systematically. \nThe noise problem in the E-330 is not the noise itself, it's its regular pattern. I saw banding in your ISO1600 shot, but there are also smaller cross type regular patterns. This really s***s. Statistical noise can be reduced, or you go to black and white and live that a super-grainy picture. But that banding is visible in small prints to and not film-like or human-vision-like at all.\nConsidering Live-View (You need to cite Phil Askey : “A solution looking for a problem and poorly implemented”). Looking back to the past, it would be better, if they never done that. First few people saw a benefit in that feature, until Canon and Nikon had implemented it. And in order to implement this, Olympus used the side way swinging mirror, that needs more place to swing and they had to increase the flange back distance of the mount. This put them into a disadvantage, as all wide angle designs were made even bigger. With hind-sight, Sony in their Alpha 350 found a much better technical solution for Live-View A. Full stop.\nLast but not least. The camera only offers USB 1 speed, so importing to Capture One takes too much time.\nBesides all the negative points, to me it's still a very capable camera. Not in terms of resolution and speed. But in terms a freedom to chose shooting height of the camera (above head level) and freedom of lighting scenes with two flashes. An E-330 with view from the top to the LCD, the 50 mm F2.0 and the FL-36 is my personal “Hasselblad”. Bold words, but I mean it in that way.

smart_display

April 18, 2026

check_circleStill reliable for real shooting today

1 mentions

Strongly positive

A long-term owner says the E-330 still takes fantastic clear images and is trusted for one-chance photo shoots even with newer cameras available.

@dumptonpark

I have had a E-330 for a few years and still today it takes fantastic clear images and I would never get rid of it. I have 2 newer cameras but I still like to use my e330 if it is a one chance photo shot.

smart_display

November 16, 2014

camera_altLegacy lens compatibility

1 mentions

Widely praised

The camera works with old OM- and M42 lenses that can be modified to personal taste, expanding creative options for portrait setups.

@Daniel-o1l2e

Hi Chris,\nit's great that you hit that camera. I used it other many years, it was my first camera with interchangeable lenses. So I have quite a few things to add. Take this more as an inspiration.\nThere are some bonuses of the E-330 compared to later E-series models. Other than the 10 MP DSLRs the E-330 has a rather clean ISO100 implementation, there you get even with some adjustment in the RAW converter rather noise free shadows in your images. The E-5 was just OK, but all in between was a step back.\nThe second big benefit is the design of the internal flash, that makes it a great camera for “scripted” indoor portraits. You use the internal flash at very low power as the direct one to create the spark in the eye ball. Than add a top mounted FL36 to hit a sideway standing reflector / while wall to generated a side-way illumination and map the 3D-face contours to the 2D-medium called photo. You have exposure compensation directly at your fingers (the internal via flash exp. compensation, the external via the dial on the flash), and it works with old OM- and M42 lenses too, that you can modify to your personal taste. Although for a proper classical setup (in the style of Rosalba Carriera and Maurice Quentin de la Tour), you would need a dumb third flash behind the model, in order to locally increase brightness of the background around the head. Skin colours with flash are pleasant on the E-330.\nAnd in general Olympus also did well with their dust removal system. Since the small sensor, you don't need to step down lenses that much for equivalent DoF and even at the same F-stop the dust is far less visible. A big benefit, you take for granted until you want to use a used full frame DSLR for landscape shots.\nThis were the good things. There are also a few bad ones. The biggest sadness I had back than, was that Auto-ISO in A-mode fixes the ISO value at 100, as long as you don't use flash. I came from C-xxxx cameras with some way of proper Auto-ISO; this was a shock to me. And I personally think this is still the biggest short coming. Yes, there are image stabilisation and sports scene mode that also can shot RAW. But those have no exposure compensation.\nAlso there is no adjustment for the AF module in software like in E-30 and later models. Although it's seldom, that an E-330 miss focus systematically. \nThe noise problem in the E-330 is not the noise itself, it's its regular pattern. I saw banding in your ISO1600 shot, but there are also smaller cross type regular patterns. This really s***s. Statistical noise can be reduced, or you go to black and white and live that a super-grainy picture. But that banding is visible in small prints to and not film-like or human-vision-like at all.\nConsidering Live-View (You need to cite Phil Askey : “A solution looking for a problem and poorly implemented”). Looking back to the past, it would be better, if they never done that. First few people saw a benefit in that feature, until Canon and Nikon had implemented it. And in order to implement this, Olympus used the side way swinging mirror, that needs more place to swing and they had to increase the flange back distance of the mount. This put them into a disadvantage, as all wide angle designs were made even bigger. With hind-sight, Sony in their Alpha 350 found a much better technical solution for Live-View A. Full stop.\nLast but not least. The camera only offers USB 1 speed, so importing to Capture One takes too much time.\nBesides all the negative points, to me it's still a very capable camera. Not in terms of resolution and speed. But in terms a freedom to chose shooting height of the camera (above head level) and freedom of lighting scenes with two flashes. An E-330 with view from the top to the LCD, the 50 mm F2.0 and the FL-36 is my personal “Hasselblad”. Bold words, but I mean it in that way.

smart_display

April 18, 2026

center_focus_strongHelpful focusing mode design

1 mentions

Widely praised

A viewer found focusing modes well explained and useful for getting more out of the E330.

@frithfly1

Love the way you broke down the focusing modes. Ill be able to use my E330 better because of this.

smart_display

May 19, 2026

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Durable build

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