Four long years have passed since Olympus launched its first professional digital SLR. During that time there may have been moments when some Olympus fans doubted there would ever be a successor to the much-loved E-1.

Now the wait is finally over with the launch of the E-3. And it's causing quite a stir, thanks to a big dose of innovation and a rather bold claim to be the world's fastest autofocusing SLR.

From the moment you pick up the E-3, you feel like you're holding a thoroughly well-built piece of kit. The ergonomics are superb and despite being a fairly bulky camera it feels good in the hand. The build quality is excellent and everything from the switchgear, to the seals that keep out dust and water, are just right.

Our first experience with the E-3 was during a torrential downpour at the camera's launch. Thankfully, not one of the 40 review models being tested broke down. That, in itself, is proof enough that Olympus has made a camera that can properly withstand the stresses and strains of a professional use. This is a photojournalist's camera: tough yet light enough to perform in harsh conditions for both camera and photographer.

Small-scale sensor

At the heart of the E-3 is a new Four-Thirds Panasonic 10MP NMOS image sensor. A Four-Thirds sensor is quite a bit smaller than the APS-C sensors found in most other D-SLRs and yet the E-3's high ISO performance looks very good indeed.

Okay, it might not be able to match the very best in APS-C sensors, but even at ISO 3200 the chroma noise is very low. And let's not forget that there are some advantages in using a Four-Thirds camera when it comes to weight and lens design. The range of Zuiko lenses for Olympus D-SLRs is second to none in terms of optical results and build quality.

But perhaps the proudest boast for Olympus is the speed of the E-3's all new 11-point biaxial auto-focus system. When used in conjunction with the brand-new Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm SWC lens, it's said to be the world's fastest AF system. There's no doubt about it - the speed and accuracy are thoroughly impressive. What's more, the silence and precision of the new ranger of Olympus SWC lenses is superb.