"What we aimed for in the implementation of the operation system for the E-Series was nothing less than to redefine operability for the age of the digital SLR," said Mr. Keiji Kunishige, who was responsible for the general operation system of the E-3.
"To do this, we applied innovations specifically created for the digital SLR at the same time as inheriting the operation system established with film cameras.
"The goal we set was to create the ultimate 'picture-taking tool.'
"To achieve this, we looked at camera operability from both a functional perspective and a sensual perspective.
"At the core of the new design is the concept of SRBO, or a Speedy, Rhythmical and Blind-touch Operation. The basic idea of SRBO is to enable users 'to capture an irreplaceable moment quickly and accurately' without them being conscious of it.
"In fact, we are constantly striving to develop a system that makes it possible to frame impressive compositions with natural blind-touch operation while focusing through the viewfinder, with the same kind of rhythm and sensuality you get when playing a musical instrument.
"The challenge began with the E-10, which went on sale in 2000, before the E-1 was not released.
"Today, we continue to refine and enhance our designs based on feedback from users. It is an ongoing multifaceted, compound evolution that is slowly moving towards perfection."

"When we designed the E-1, we used an ergonomically irregular button layout with a '1 function per button' configuration.'
"Unfortunately," explains Kunishige, "this approach, though intended to simplify operation, resulted in an increase in the number of buttons and led to some difficulty in instantaneous recognition of the function button arrangement. Though actual users appreciated the design, the complicated appearance made it hard for most people to understand how easy it actually was to use.
"So, for the E-3, we decided to apply the ideal of '1 function per button' only to the critical digital SLR functions that need as quick operation as possible. In addition, we also decided to regularize the button layout to assist instant recognition, and made the design and feel of each button distinguishable to advance the basic operability concept adopted with the E-1.
"If the layout, designs and placement intervals of buttons were determined based only according to the location of the internal circuit boards and/or esthetics, the button arrangement would inevitably become too regular, inorganic, and mechanical.
"As the flagship of the next generation of digital SLR cameras, we wanted to give the E-3 as easy to use as possible by designing the buttons so that they could easily be distinguished by 'natural blind touch.'
"Thanks to this natural blind touch design, the E-3 allows you to reliably perform various operations even when you concentrate on the viewfinder.
"In this way we successfully implemented our goal of creating an operating system that could 'assimilate to the mind of the user and respond to a sudden change of the user's mind by acting as if it were an extension of the user's body, without the user feeling forced to perform an operation.'
"I believe we can say that we established an intuitive system that is friendlier, more familiar and better balance," said Mr. Kunishige, adding, "It's a system anyone can use."