For over three years, the Olympus E-1 has remained the only professional digital SLR camera offered by Olympus. That may soon change, however, with the probable introduction of the Olympus E-2 within the next few months. Despite its age, the E-1 still has a lot to offer the professional on a budget.

The E-1's 5.5-megapixel FFT-CCD sensor had a fairly standard resolution among digital SLRs released about 3 years ago. Today, of course, this resolution falls short of even the most inexpensive entry-level digital SLRs. The 5.5-megapixel resolution, however, does not tell the entire story. For one, the CCD sensor is full-frame, with no automatic cropping. It is rare to find a camera under $700 that has a full-frame sensor. The sensor can produce images up to 2560 by 1920 pixels in TIFF and RAW formats. At this resolution, photos printed at standard sizes should appear quite sharp and detailed. Unless you print poster-sized images, there will be little visible difference between a 5.5-megapixel print and an 8-megapixel print.

The E-1's full-frame FFT-CCD sensor also delivers dynamic range, improved color, and reduced image noise. In fact, noise at ISO 800 should be quite low. Zuiko 3/4ths-standard lenses, specifically designed for the Olympus E series, match the E-1's sensor perfectly to "break down light and picture-quality barriers." In addition, each Zuiko lens contains its own CPU to produce sharp, richly-colored images.

The E-1 is commonly regarded as one of the most durable digital SLRs out there. It is solidly built of magnesium alloy and has the feel and weight of a truly professional dSLR. More importantly, however, the E-1 was built to be weather resistant. The camera incorporates a "splash-proof" design that keeps it sealed off from rainwater and other elements. Special gaskets and rubber linings are found on switch panels, exterior seams, the battery door and grip panel. To compliment its rugged durability, the Olympus E-1 was one of the first cameras to incorporate a Supersonic Wave Filter system to keep dust from settling on the image sensor.

Price: $700 body only, $1100 w/ 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Lens