A photographer’s journey through Pakistan with the Olympus E-1 and E-3

Using archaic DSLRs can be a challenge, but rewarding when you get things right. I’ve been using an Olympus E-1 for a couple of years now, and it has since become my main camera. I really like it a lot; the ergonomics, feel and the styling are exceptional.

It feels just right with the large-ish bright View Finder and the classy soft blissful feel and sound of the shutter; I doubt any other Digital camera has the feel and sound as this has, such small details and experiences give photographing that extra bit of pleasure.

Recently, I added a 2007 Olympus E-3 to accompany the E-1. The E-3 is a strange beast; it has a MOS sensor as found in a few other E-series DSLRs and in the Four-Thirds Leica and Panasonic. The MOS sensor in this isn’t CMOS (as in the later E-5 and subsequent OM series of Mirrorless cameras), nor is it CCD. It certainly has its own ‘look’ and colour signature, which I find to be more Kodak Gold than Kodak Kodachrome or Ektachrome.

The design of the E-3 is, unfortunately, or rather was, a backward step for Olympus. I’ve no idea why they played it safe with the standard camera design, neglecting years of progression, from the likes of their Bridge 35mm fixed lens zoom cameras to the E-10 and E-20.

But it is what it is, Olympus is no more, and it looks as if OM, too, is sinking.

Anyway, I digress. The Olympus E-3, when looked at without comparing it to its predecessor, is a stellar camera. Sure, it has some minor quirks, such as, in my opinion, poor placement of the toggles, but it’s a solid Pro body in compact form with a huge bright 4/3 aspect View Finder. It is also very quick, surprisingly quick with the SWD lenses such as the 12-60mm f2.8 – f4 “High Grade” Zuiko lens I have.

These E-3 cameras are now being sold for peanuts. My own one has a cracked LCD and no viewfinder rubber cup, but is fine apart from that. It cost me the grand total of £40.

I took both the E-1 and the E-3 on a trip to Pakistan. I had initially wanted to take a Minolta A-9 SLR with a few rolls of film, but at the last minute, after purchasing the E-3, I thought, why not? Let me see how these two old Olympus DSLRs fare as travel companions.

I use DSLRs as I like the fact that I can view ‘through the lens’ and I am a fan of optical viewfinders; the bigger and brighter the better. I do not like viewing electronic finders of any sort – whether LCD screens or EVFs, regardless of how modern and high-resolution they are. I want a connection with the world and the subject. I feel a sense of involvement and isolation, with a big bright optical finder – I also feel a part of what I am viewing, actually viewing, not a computer screen (as that’s what an electronic finder is). Feel free to disagree, but this is purely my own subjective choice and opinion.

Both cameras were faulty, my Moroccan trip this summer affected the E-1, and the LCD is damaged, so I shot as with film without an LCD. The E-3 had a broken LCD and intermittent readout in the viewfinder. (I mean, I bought it for £40 quid!)

So I just had fun. Using my experience and intimacy with the E-1 I had absolutely no issues. The camera is the most perfectly designed camera I’ve ever used, of any sort. I know exactly how much exposure to apply and take away as and when depending on conditions, I judged the E-3 to be much the same.

So, off I went to Pakistan again, but this time with my Welsh mate Steve. Been exploring the place for 33 years and only scratched the surface.

Steve wanted to go to Pakistan, as not many people do go. Most are put off by nonsense scare stories and reputation, their loss and as they don’t know what they’re missing.

Just ask Steve, he went wherever he wanted to go, walked in the most rural and desolate parts, and everyone loved him! He did spend most of his time sampling the ‘herb’ which grows wild anywhere and everywhere! Can’t ask for much else – good fresh organic food, well water and weed!

Not many places you can go where shopkeepers and food vendors don’t want your money, don’t con you, where you’re given gifts and treated like an honoured guest. Where you’re protected and respected and where you’ll see sights and delights to be seen nowhere else on Earth.

Now bear in mind, I spend most of my time in rural village parts, which I love, and I didn’t get the opportunity to photograph or capture any of the ancient cities and other cultural sites.

I’ve been exploring the country for over 33 years and haven’t actually explored much. This was supposed to include more exploration of major tourist cities and sites further away in the Southern Punjab and Sindh, but that wasn’t to be. I tend to get an opportunity for shooting only when I need to go for whatever other reason. These trips also then end up being ridiculously expensive, which limits what I can do. I had planned to do a lot, but again, just scratched the surface.

This is a shame as I’d like nothing better than to be able to shoot and travel freely, wherever I want, perhaps an assignment with set goals in mind – this freedom would enable me to unleash some concentrated creativity with purpose and an aim, rather than ad-hoc snap shots such as the ones here. One day, I shall, with my E-1 again, plus maybe a modern camera, we shall see.

Anyway, Pakistan is as much worth a visit as any other country; I’d stick my neck out and go as far as to say it’s more diverse than India, as in more accessible and easier to travel in. A more closer concentration of heritage, cultural and natural monuments, with huge peaks, National Parks and World Heritage sites that are much easier to travel to. It also has a diversity of language, culture, tradition and history, which is mind-blowing.

For Westerners, a 90 day Visa is applied for ONLINE and takes a couple of hours to receive a response to, and Free!

The E-3 is rather noisy as to be expected (at higher ISO), and I doubt I’d want to shoot it anywhere over ISO 400. I mean, even at ISO 320 it’s quite gritty. But there’s something about it.

Overall, it’s a very professionally built camera which is relatively quick and responsive with a Huge VF. I quite like the signature and the distinctive character. The E-1 is cleaner and more pleasant (at lower ISO), and there is a marked difference between the results. Though the E-3 has higher resolution, wider DR – and I did tend to use the E-3 more in the Punjab, more so than the E-1, as being ‘new’, it was a novelty.

NB. In hindsight, I have misjudged the E-3. Upon returning and testing it, I see that I had every single noise reduction feature set to Off. I should’ve left on Noise Filter as Standard, which now I see has a very nice natural effect.

If you’re curious, the E-3, as I mentioned is now selling at an almost give away price compared to its E-1 and later E-5 brethren. It’ll give you a nice combination of pro level build, fast AF, a huge finder with the bonus of being able to use the splendid yet bargain priced  high grade Zuiko lenses such as the 14-54 or 12-60 and the 50mm f2 and a look/ colour signature which has bags of very nice character.

In Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral NWFP I almost exclusively used my Olympus E-1 with the 12-60mm f2.8–f4 High Grade Zuiko lens. With a few exceptions when I needed ISO 400+ and a fast lens (I used the E-3 with the Zuiko 50mm f2).

My E-1 was used as with Film, as the LCD being faulty, I had to rely on my familiarity and experience with shooting photos with it.

Whereas in The Punjab I mainly shot people and portraits, as it’s difficult and limiting being in rural parts to try anything urban or of a “street” nature is impossible, so here visiting the Mountain towns I was able to use that excellent zoom lens to get some pleasing compositions.

Concentrating on colour, and especially composition in my own style – which is usually light and shadow, shape and colour, trying to show some soul and flavour with strict compositional balance as a priority., rather than random shots of people walking past and calling it “street”.

I don’t actually take that many photos, some shoot thousands and then get to select some keepers. I only shoot when I see a photo and am 100% certain I want it, even then I miss a great deal as the moment has passed.

The Olympus E-1 has fantastic white balance and especially colour, it has limited dynamic range and a low 5 Mega Pixel resolution, but the new Lightroom is great for being able to lift a little shadow without noise and to tweak an image with a measure of precision.

Many portraits were taken after a brief chat. What I really like to do is take a selection, usually a study of the person using different aspects and F stops, where they work or live, to get a feel for their world.

People were very willing to be photographed, they all know who is a twit and who isn’t. You do get some prats pointing cameras at all and sundry and strutting around like cocks (not the male chicken variety) this is especially tru of Pakistanis (and foreigners) from big cities, with money or those who are “Photographers”. I’m not a Photographer, sure as with anyone, even my cat, put a camera in their hand (or paws) and they’re a “photographer”. I like taking pictures, I also enjoy taking a record of my travels, of memorable things and nice people and places. People notice this as first and foremost they don’t see a camera, they see a friendly and curious smiling middle aged midget and I’m genuinely interested in the people I meet and wish I could meet them again – in many cases I do, and even after many years they remember me. I often give a gift at a parting, I want to be remembered, fondly.

The camera comes out afterwards, and as I don’t have social media I make a point of letting them know this. Saying I write for a world renowned Film Photography magazine called 35MMC also helps!

As regards candid photos of people doing stuff, they have to be doing something. anything interesting and be a complete part and parcel of the overall composition.

The one big problem with a 23 year old DSLR such as the Olympus E-1 is the severe lack of dynamic range. It’s probably worse than using a Slide film such as Kodak Ektachrome E100vs. With the right equipment you can take some beautiful Mountain photography. But with this, unless the light is even, or you are set up with a Graduated Filter, CP Filter and Tripod, forget it.

Overall, both the Olympus E-1 and the Olympus E-3 are great for Travel Photography. The batteries last a long long time, they’re weather sealed (along with the lenses) they have fantastic colour and in good light from ISO 100 to 400 you’ll be rewarded with good photos with very pleasing colour and contrast. The added benefit is that with Lightroom youll be able to, with some constraints, be able to life shadow detail and compensate for the lack of Dynamic Range.