Olympus E-330

Verdict: Live preview on LCD is a unique feature--but one that presents both benefits and liabilities.

Review summary: The Olympus EVolt E-330 ($1100 as of March 21, 2006) is an upgrade of the company's previous E-300 model. The E-330 is unique among midrange digital SLR cameras in allowing you to use its LCD screen as a viewfinder.

Pros: LCD screen can be used as a viewfinder Unlimited continuous shooting

Cons: Rear-mounted LCD can be distracting Limited lens selection

Verdict: The camera's interface is adequate, permitting relatively speedy access to essential controls. And the E-330 includes Olympus's excellent automatic sensor-cleaning mechanism to keep dust from marring your images

Review summary: The release of Olympus' E-330 digital SLR is something of a surprise. The company recently introduced the E-500 to replace the E-300 as the company's entry-level digital SLR. The new E-330 is prettier, but you can't miss the similarities between it ...

Pros: Olympus' live-view feature opens up some interesting, mostly specialized, shooting applications, such as high-magnification telephoto or macro photography.

Cons: Overall, the E-330 is expensive considering the alternatives, especially as few users are likely to benefit from the live-view options.

Verdict: To view directly from the imaging sensor, the reflex mirror has to be locked in the up-position. This prevents auto-focus, and denies any attempt to sneak a look through the optical viewfinder

Pros: Two live preview modes ; ease of use ; powerful features

Cons: No major advances in image quality ; price

Verdict: More than just an upgrade to the E-300, Olympus's new digital SLR now has a live LCD viewfinder

Review summary: More than just an upgrade to the E-300, Olympus's new digital SLR now has a live LCD viewfinder

Verdict: Modern mid-range or prosumer digital cameras have a lot going for them. They deliver far greater quality than a compact, use bigger CCDs and have larger, higher-quality lenses.