The Olympus E-System features a FourThirds type Full Frame Transfer CCD. It has been specially designed for high-performance digital still image capture.
The Full Frame Transfer sensor enables images of stunning quality to be produced. Often so-called Interline Transfer CCDs are used in digital still cameras, despite the fact they were origin ally developed for film recording. Compared to this, the CCD integrated in the Olympus E-Series has a considerably higher photodiode aperture ratio (fill factor) and provides a larger transferable signal.
One of the reasons is that pixels are comprised of a photo diode, where the signals are generated, as well as a so called transfer channel, which is used to transport the signals to the processors.
In contrast to an Interline Transfer CCD, the Full Frame Transfer Type uses the photodiodes themselves as part of the transfer channels. Therefore the photodiodes can be made larger in a FFT CCD.
This in turn means they provide a higher aperture and allow more light to produce a signal. A considerably higher amount of useable image data is the result. This leads to greater sensitivity as well as an extended dynamic range. It also means the signal to noise ratio is significantly enhanced.
This provides for less noise in dark scenes or when using high ISO values and an exceptional graduation in the bright parts of a scene.
All FourThirds Standard ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses from Olympus are specifically designed for digital photography.
Their extremely high resolution is the outcome of a long and complex manufacturing process and exploits the full performance potential of the image sensor.
Only if each Pixel is provided with precise and individual information by the lens, the maximum resolution with detail reproduction down to the pixel level is possible. Most 35mm – lenses are not able to discriminate fine details to the diameter of a sensor’s pixel especially in the corners and therefore they can not provide the sensor with the required precise information. A digital optimized lens has a significantly enhanced resolution below the pixel’s diameter. Finest details do not “swap over” from one pixel to its neighbours.
In addition communication between lenses and camera body provides for greater image control.
