Olympus just flew European journos to Istanbul, Turkey, to introduce their new DSLR, the E-3. Of course, we could test the camera ourselves, although it's still a preproduction model, so there will be some improvements and added features in the final version. Nevertheless, it clearly shows that Olympus took a giant stride forward, improving some aspects markedly, while catching up with the competition in other regards.

Le roi est mort, vive le roi! E-1 is gone, here's the E-3.

Splash proof? You bet! It came in handy in rainy Istanbul, too.

New materials and new manufacturing processes mean that the body is immensely strong. Yes, you can stand on it.

The inner frame of the camera is incredibly light, almost unbelievably so. Yet it's also very strong.

The difference between the inner frame and the finished product. Pretty big, isn't it?

There are some new lenses as well.

The articulating display proved to be extremely useful in practice. Need to catch a shot from a weird angle and don't want to throw out your back again? Well ... Expect future DSLRs to have them, too.

As soon as the display is closed, the buttons below it lock up, so they can't be inadvertendly activated.

Most settings can be set using the buttons - no need to waste time in menus.

There's also a new 12-60 mm f/2.8 - 4 lens with ultrasonic SWD drive.

The battery is the standard one that is used in other Olympus cameras.

The 4/3 system has a very small mirror. However, Olympus engineers managed to do the impossible - the viewfinder image is larger than that used in APS-C cameras, and it's also very bright. The E-1's small viewfinder is apparently history.

I also had the chance to test the new 50-200 Zuiko Digital with ultrasonic SWD focusing.

The camera takes both CF and xD cards.

And to get you even more excited, there's also a sample shot at ISO 800 here:

And, of course, the obligatory movies of Matjaž getting soaking wet and another guy trying to stomp the camera into the ground. No subtitles, sorry.

The camera can take the rain, no problem. The weather was like that the whole day.

Not only can it take the rain, it can also take the weight of a man.