Olympus E-330 to come in six different kits

Taking a page from the Windows Vista playbook, Olympus will sell its E-330 DSLR in six different kits, with versions for the "Pro," "Traveling Pro," "Nature Pro" and others, a sharp contrast from most other DSLRs, which are typically sold in just body-only and body-plus-lens variations. Some of the packages do include useful accessories, such as the underwater housing that comes with the "Underwater Pro Kit." However, we suspect the wide range is only likely to confuse consumers, especially those upgrading from point-and-shoots, who are the likely target market for the E-330, given its innovative live LCD.

[Bradford Taylor @ Mar 27th 2006 1:40PM]

I think its ridiculous to have six versions of a camera which will be released at the same time. I think it will only bring confusion to the customers. Its got to be a way for them to narrow it down to maybe three choices. But I guess their marketing gurus feel this can make the most profit.

Bradford Taylor

[GadgetGav @ Mar 27th 2006 2:04PM]

Just goes to show it's not a Pro camera at all, regardless of how many kits you put the word 'pro' into. A real Pro camera is available as body only because a real pro (and serious amateurs) will already have lenses. Any word if all the parts are available separately..? Can you add the underwater housing to the 'Nature Pro' kit for example..??

[NeoteriX @ Mar 27th 2006 5:43PM]

#2, to be fair, the 4/3rds system is still quite new and there isn't a wide berth of lenses. It's not like an established system like Canon and Nikon where you can easily buy the camera body and choose from a huge selection of 1st party AND 3rd party lenses.

[jacob @ Mar 27th 2006 5:51PM]

#2 The different kits are not different variations of the camera, but merely variations on what comes w/ the camera.

for instance the 'underwater pro kit' will likely come w/ the camera body, wide angle lens, and an underwater housing...

[bliss @ Mar 27th 2006 9:20PM]

eeeek...the live LCD is already reported to have some significant issues. Probably should spend the time to improve the live LCD than to come out with 6 different versions of the same camera. tsk...

[cheryl @ Apr 12th 2006 5:49PM]

I bought the e-330 and it was not part of a kit. It came with a single lense and that was all. I have had no problems whatsoever with the camera. Considering this is the first LiveView DSLR, there are bound to be some gliches. If you want something perfect, wait until it has been around for a while... even to this date Windows XP has security issues, and they are already coming out with a new version... I wonder what probs it will have (just an analogy) and #5 - they did not come out with 6 different versions of the camera, they came out with the E-330 body and variations of the lenses and flashes for what you primarily will use the camera for, not variations of the body. This way you can purchase everything at once vs having to buy them separately. I wish i had been aware they were coming out with the packages as it would have been a lot easier. This is my first digital SLR, as I have lenses for traditional 35mm, but alas these will not work. So, for me it would have been much easier to just get the whole package for what I am planning on using the camera for.

[Calvin @ Apr 17th 2006 1:25AM]

I don't know what you all are complaining about, I'm thrilled that I can just buy the underwater kit and be done with it. Buying digital photography equipment for diving is a pain most of the time, with cameras being released long before housings and strobes. Thumbs up to Olympus for embracing the sport of scuba diving!