Olympus has announced the E-330, an entry-to-mid level interchangeable-lens digital SLR that offers full-time live image preview on its tilting 2.5-inch LCD. The full-time LCD preview is generated by a small secondary CCD located in the camera's optical viewfinder mechanism. There is also a second, more limited preview mode where the camera locks the mirror up and generates the preview image with its main image sensor, a 7.38 million image pixel NMOS (negative-channel metal oxide semiconductor) chip. The E-330 uses the Olympus E-system (Four-Thirds format) lensmount.

A press release from Olympus America says the camera will be available in the U.S. in March 2006 for an estimated street price of US$999.99 (body only) and US$1099.99 (with 14-45mm lens).

Fairly detailed previews of the camera, with good illustrations of the optical/mechanical construction of this unique viewing system, are posted at Digital Photography Review and Imaging Resource.