Designed for creative users, the Olympus E-30 combines a number of artistic modes with a 12.3 megapixel live CMOS imager and compatibility with all of Olympus' four thirds lenses. The E-30 is positioned between the E-3 and the E-520 camera models, with a lighter build than the E-3 but the same 5 frames per second capture rate, and a larger LCD screen (at 2.7-inches) that retains tilt and swivel capabilities for easier viewing. The Olympus optical image stabilization technology seen in the E-520 has also been included to automatically straighten and clarify photographs, while other common Olympus functions such as face detection and shadow adjustment are also present.

With the artistic options, users can choose to apply filters such as Pop Art or Grainy Film to their images, which can be formatted in nine different aspect ratios, from the standard 4:3 to the cinematic 16:9. The live view multi-exposure function allows images to be combined based on up to four different exposures, while full-manual control lets photographers choose to alter settings themselves. Prices for the E-30 start at $1299 for the body only, which is expected to be released January 2009.