Olympus Europe Press Release

Jon Nicholson puts the Olympus E-300 to the test amid the action of the F1 circuit

Hamburg, June 2005 – Since professional Formula One photographer Jon Nicholson first shot with the Olympus E-300, it has hardly ever left his hands. Starting with the first ’05 race in Melbourne, the digital SLR from Olympus has been his constant companion during each of this season’s F1 events so far. An enthused Nicholson cites the camera’s responsiveness, large LCD and professional ergonomic feel among his favourite features and sums up his fondness for the Olympus E-300 with an unmistakably clear “I am very impressed!”.

Website: Read my Olympus E-300 / Evolt Review

In its short history, the Olympus E-300 has already been the subject of much attention, receiving widespread coverage and numerous awards. It was essentially designed so that ambitious amateur photographers could also experience the benefits of a digital SLR based on the FourThirds Standard at a very affordable price. But with its large range of lenses and other accessories matched with excellent image quality and superb handling it has also won over many pros, including Formula One photographer Jon Nicholson. He profits from 8.0 million pixel resolution and full control to ensure spectacular results. Meanwhile, the extremely compact form makes the Olympus E-300 ideal for “on location” shooting, such as at the racetrack.

Remarking on his freedom to roam around the Ferrari pits and every hair-raising track bend to capture all the thrills from the best possible vantage points, the esteemed photographer comments, “I am really lucky to have access everywhere”. But as a seasoned professional, luck has very little to do with the breathtaking images he captures. The combination of a keen shooting eye and first-rate equipment is the prerequisites for his trademark, stunning shots. His current favourite track-side lenses are the ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 300mm[1] and the ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50-200mm[2] which can give him virtual eye-to-eye contact with the drivers as they speed by, no matter where he happens to be on the circuit.

Dust, smoke and other airborne particles are all in a day’s work for Jon Nicholson – such as when Schumacher or Barrichello whip up the air in one of their lightning-fast pit stops. While most photographers would be loathed to make lens changes in such an environment, Nicholson can rest assured when switching to the ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm[3] lens for capturing sweeping ultra-wide-angle views. The camera remains protected thanks to incorporation of the Olympus-exclusive Supersonic Wave Filter. Generating a series of ultra-high-speed vibrations, it shakes off any foreign particles that may have landed on the camera’s CCD during a lens change. This ensures Nicholson’s Olympus E-300 will always be free of contaminants to capture scenes in the highest possible image quality.

While primarily aimed at ambitious hobby users with professional demands, the Olympus E-300 has also found favour among many price-conscious pros looking for a compact and flexible digital SLR. After accompanying him now for several months on the gruelling Formula 1 circuit, Jon Nicholson gives the Olympus E-300 his thumbs up for its professional capabilities and handling – passing with flying colours. The photographer concludes: “It really delivers pro results and has been a delight to use throughout this season’s races.”

[1] ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 300mm (600mm on a 35mm camera), 1:2.8
[2] ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50-200mm (100-400mm on a 35mm camera), 1:2.8-3.5
[3] ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm (14-28mm on a 35mm camera), 1:4.0