Adorama, BHphoto and Amazon (Japan and UK) taking worldwide first preorders (But where are the E-PM1 and E-PL3 cameras?)
Adorama, BHphoto, Amazon, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.jp are the first stores to accept preorders. What’s completely missing now is the E-PM1 and E-PL3 price and availability. UPDATE: The E-PL3 should be available in late August and the E-PM1 in September/October 
Those are the links for Amazon:
Olympus E-P3 Black http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Thirds-Interchangeable-Digital-14-42mm/dp/B0058PL9RK/?tag=
Olympus E-P3 Silver http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Thirds-Interchangeable-Digital-14-42mm/dp/B0058PL9RK/?tag=
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 lens http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Zuiko-Digital-12mm-Cameras/dp/B0058PL9R0/?tag=
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Zuiko-Digital-45mm-Cameras/dp/B0058PL9QG/?tag=
Those are the links for Adorama:
E-P3 BLACK W/14-42MM http://www.adorama.com/IOMEP3B14.html?KBID=64498 $899.99 (Available in August)
E-P3 SILVER W/14-42MM http://www.adorama.com/IOMEP3S14.html?KBID=64498 $899.99 (Available in August)
E-P3 SILVER W/17MM F2.8 http://www.adorama.com/IOMEP3S17.html?KBID=64498 $899.99 (Available in August)
E-P3 WHITE W/14-42MM http://www.adorama.com/IOMEP3W14.html?KBID=64498 $899.99 (Available in August)
E-P3 WHITE W/17MM F2.8 http://www.adorama.com/IOMEP3W17.html?KBID=64498 $899.99 (Available in August)
OLYMPUS FL-300R WIRELESS FLASH http://www.adorama.com/IOMFL300R.html?KBID=64498 $169.99
OLYMPUS 12MM F/2 F/EP SERIES http://www.adorama.com/IOM12M.html?KBID=64498 $799.99 (Available soon!)
OLYMPUS 45MM F/1.8 F/EP SERIES http://www.adorama.com/IOM4518M.html?KBID=64498 $399.99 (Available in September)
Those are the links for BHphoto:
All E-P3 kits at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Olympus
Those are the links for Amazon UK:
There are many different kit options anc colors here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Olympus+E-P3&x=0&y=0&tag=43rum-21
Other US deals:
One single RED G3 is in Stock for the normal price at Amazon (Click here).
Adorama is now accepting Voigtländer 25mm preorder again (Click here).
You can now get the AG-AF100 Micro Four Thirds camcorder with a free (!) 14-140mm zoom lens at BHphoto (Click here).
The Balck and White Olympus XZ-1 are in Stock for $420 only at Amazon (Click here).
The Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 lens is in Stock for $379 via third party resellers on Amazon (Click here).
BHphoto sent me an email to say that the very last GH1 cameras are now in Stock (Click here). Once sold out there will be no more GH1 cameras for sale anymore! And if you purchase the GH1 body (for $399) you will get $100 on any Panasonic m43 lens you buy. You have to click on “Save $100 on Select Panasonic Lenses” to see the deal.
The same deal is ongoing at Amazon (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
Klaus
2 years ago |first!
Michael
2 years ago |so this is only a paper launch..
when those cameras will be available the samsung nx20/nx200 will probably already be on the shelves..
Alice
2 years ago |second
Duke
2 years ago |looks like the nokton is actually in stock at adorama http://www.adorama.com/VT25095.html
Mr. Reeee
2 years ago |YES! The June order finally shipped!
I got notification this morning that CameraQuest had shipped my lens today! It’s ONLY taken 5 MONTHS! I can hardly wait! But I get mine for $899!
I’m going hiking in Vermont this weekend, it’s a bummer that won’t have it in time!
As for the EPL3 and EPM1 shipping dates, rumor has it that Olympus decided to let Panasonic’s shipping unit handle all distribution for them, given the stellar job they did with the GH2. if you’re lucky, maybe you can get one for Xmas!
Pablo
2 years ago |Congratulation to your comming Nokton.
Without any sarcasm, I still think, that it IS the best lens made for M4/3 to this time. Because it is made from real glass, has great character, colors, but also, some real weight :
Yeah, I didn’t like the long focus ring path, as I personally preffer only 1/4th of a turn for focusing, but this minus is weighted out by the megashort MFD, so you almost can shoot macro stuff with that…
Anyway, great lens, and IMO, 3times better than that plastic crap calling itself “Leica”.
Good choice, Mr!
GreyOwl
2 years ago |Leica might be expensive, but it is not plastic, nor is it crap!! IMHO you no not what you are talking about.
Pablo
2 years ago |OK. It only had CA everywhere, compared to the Nokton, which was SHARPER and without CA. No prob, I gladly wait for another comparison… To prove it ain’t no real Leica :>
Thomas Schindler
2 years ago |There are comparisons, just google pablo
and the leica IS sharper at F1.4 then the nokton. Well, the nokton goes down to 0.95, so its a draw.
The best and sharpest lens for m43 is the Leica 45/2.8… there is barely another lens, doesnt matter which system, that can top this one…
GreyOwl
2 years ago |I own the Pan/Leica 45/2.8 and it very rarely comes off my E-p2. I reckon it’s a fine macro/short tele lens, but a Nocton would also be nice to own for low light photography.
Anonymous
2 years ago |good to hear – i just ordered the PL45/2.8 – none of the new lenses that really appeals to me after all.
Oly 45/1.8 near focus distance excludes close up work.
Oly 12/2 – sounds ok but 9-18 is more flexible and reasonably good quality – and that price is a bit hefty.
P25/1.4 sounds good, but can’t see buying it when I have the Nokton already…
Neonart
2 years ago |Thomas, the full sized 4/3s ZD 50 f2 & PL 25 f1.4 are some of the sharpest around.
Thomas Schindler
2 years ago |Yep youre right. But i saw different comparisons between the 45/2.8 and the 50/2, and the 45/2.8 won at similar apertures! Well, not as much that you actually see it, but on 100% you did… just for pixelpeepers.
All of them are great lenses. I just wanted to point out that “plastic crap” isnt right
Befürworter
2 years ago |I think he talks about the panaleica stuff.
Thomas Schindler
2 years ago |me2
ma55imo
2 years ago |As far as I understood, the E-PL3 and E-PM1 will be available some time later, after E-P3. What made me think so is that you can’t find prices on these two cameras on the official Olympus website. At the same time price of E-P3 is clearly stated at $899.
FlamingJune1967
2 years ago |The link for the FL-300R at Adorama does not appear to work. (Page not found)
davide
2 years ago |> The E-P3 will be the first to ship, followed later in the year by the Pen Lite E-PL3 and, in early autumn, the Pen Mini E-PM1.
From: http://fourthirds-user.com/2011/06/three_new_micro_four_thirds_pens_from_olympus.php
JeremyT
2 years ago |Also, where’s the E-P3 body only (or with the 12mm as its kit lens)???
I’m not really interested in getting another 17mm or 14-42mm!
shade
2 years ago |I second that.
GreyOwl
2 years ago |Amazon.co.uk. Admin has posted the full link above
Michael Meissner
2 years ago |In the past, body only shipments started 1-2 months after the shipments with the kit lens (in the case of the E-510, which originally had 2 kit lenses, I think it was a few months until the kit with just the 14-42mm started shipping, and then a month later the body only version started shipping).
So if you need it ASAP, you need to buy the kit (and you will pay MSRP). If you can afford to wait, then you can buy it body only. If you wait even longer, vendors may start chipping away at the price, unless the demand exceeds the supply.
kesztió
2 years ago |A bit expensive this 900$ price tag for the E–P3, isn’t it? 200$ more expensive than the G3 and almost matches the upper category camera GH2.
Even if I liked more than the G3 I wouldn’t afford it…
AndyOz
2 years ago |Hi Kesztio
Good point there. I like alot of things about the E-P3 but by the time I buy the VF as well it results in a camera system that is more expensive than a G3 which has a built-in VF and at the moment appears to have better IQ. Maybe I should just buy a G3 and then find a used E-P2!!
Olympus hasnt priced this very competitively. I was hoping that they might have released a cheap VF and bundled it with the E-P3 for around the US$900 mark. Then I would be in.
Chris K.
2 years ago |Received notice from Amazon that my red G3 shipped yesterday. Looking forward to taking it out for a spin!
kesztió
2 years ago |Still waiting for white G3 on normal price.
FlamingJune1967
2 years ago |Congrats Chris!
Be sure and tell us what you think
Andy
2 years ago |also the 12mm F2 for $799 look very expensive when you realized you can buy a GF3 14mmF2.5 Kit for $100 less, now I understand why from time to time we see here news about: “Olympus! and his bad financial results”
davide
2 years ago |Well, Oly 12mm has many features that Panny 14mm lack. However I agree with you, I will never spend that much money for a 12mm, despite being one of those who cried about a “missing” 12mm in the m43 set.
The only feature that I need is focal length, everything else for me is a gimmick: I don’t need it to be that fast, I don’t need that weird manual focus option, I don’t need the focus and DOF scales, I don’t want it to be that large/heavy/solid I probably don’t need its optical performance (since olympus prefers to do less digital, in-camera correction than Panasonic), I don’t want it to be so expensive and then have to worry about theft, etc.
So I still cry: there is a missing 12mm in m43
And there is a missing “normal prime” from Olympus, while Panasonic has two (the 20mm and the 25mm). However Panasonic people are stupid and don’t ship any of the normal primes in kit with the cameras: they think they can make more profits selling it separately, but their greed is backfiring – I won’t buy neither the camera nor the lens.
davide
2 years ago |Just to make it clear that I’m not trolling like the person below me, but doing constructive discussion: I do applaud the big improvements in AF performance from Olympus and I do applaud the very nice (and very cheap) portrait lens.
However, without an affordable normal prime option, all of these is useless to me, since I don’t have the camera. Sure, I can buy body-only or kits and then put the kit-lens in the trash (since I don’t want zooms), but we go close in price to Leicas (well, not quite, but try to do it, and see…)
Ah, the good ole GF1 times…
Pablo
2 years ago |Exactly! As I saw the samples from the “marvelous” 12/2 I just wondered, if somebody was making a good day from people. The samples on DPREVIEW looked crappy and as from a 200USD P&S and not like something from a “state of the art” lens… For that price, you would be better of buying anything else, just not that cheap plastic lens from Oly. Damn, I can’t believe, I’m saying this, but even the offerings from Panasonic look better that that overpriced crap, Oly brought out.
Narretz
2 years ago |Admin, can’t you just block that guy? His full-blown bullshit gets more and more desperate. What an attention whore.
Dummy00001
2 years ago |I think “+/-”, vote buttons, would suffice to mod down such comments into oblivion.
Looking at the Robin Wong’s report with E-P3+12mm, I would wager to say that the new lens delivers results on par with famous PL25. I do not know what kind of fairy dust Oly uses, but it definitely matches Leica’s one.
Fish
2 years ago |Pablo,
You must be the only one who can’t believe you are saying that… because I’m certainly not surprised. We have been listening to you call Olympus overpriced crap since you started gracing us with your well-informed opinions.
Thevoiceoverman
2 years ago |Be kind to Pablo. He’s lonely.
MK
2 years ago |i agree. i thought i would be impressed with something today, but i was not. the least impressive thing was the 12mm. the samples just dont look any more special. maybe 500-600 special, but not 800. 75% of the people on this site cannot take constructive criticism as anything except a personal affront. its really not “full blown bullshit”. its a valid point. someone above expressed the fact that they dont need anything except a 12mm focal length prime with decent IQ, not a metal body, etcetcetc and i have to concur with that 100%.
An0n
2 years ago |You seem to be just as much of an idiot as Pablo. So, you’d spend $600 on a lens, but not $800? That’s really not that much of a difference, and $600 is already quite an investment.
Duke
2 years ago |It might not be just about the price, but what you get for the price. I also feel that the lens is a bit too high and $500-600 is about what I would pay for it. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have $800, just that it’s not worth that much to me. Part of the appeal of m43 is smaller and cheaper. This lens is somewhat smaller than an OM 24 f2 (I bet they are very close though), but about 2x as expensive. If you spend $800 on this lens and $1000 on the ep3 w/vf2 you could also get a used 5D and the OM24 (or many others if you like).
I’m not trying to start a system war or anything, they all have their strengths and weaknesses, just trying to give a non idiotic opinion on why I think the lens costs too much.
Fish
2 years ago |The 12mm F2 for $799 also looks very expensive when you realize you can buy a used 1975 Honda CB550 motorcycle in pretty good condition for the same amount.
But it doesn’t look so bad when you compare apples to apples. How is it’s price compared to the other 24mm (equivalent), F2, ultra high-speed AF focus, premium construction, high grade lenses on the market??
Agent00soul
2 years ago |It’s a piece of art. You decide if you think art is worth it’s price.
MacT
2 years ago |Honda or oly 12mm?..
Art can’t be reproduced and is not made in factories.
Nat
2 years ago |i’ll take motorcycle if I know how to ride…
Raines
2 years ago |yeah…. but I want to see 45mm f1.8 image samples!!!
Duke
2 years ago |The 12 is certainly a beautiful lens, I probably won’t be buying one though. Maybe if I could get one for ~$500, but for $800 I could get the 14 pancake and the Oly 9-18. Again, the 12 looks like it will be great for its market, but if you don’t need the aperture/construction there are other options.
Too bad the E-pl3 won’t be out for a couple months, I love the tilt screen on my NEX. Having that and IBIS would probably be enough for me to leave the NEX for good! (definitely if they bring over focus peaking)
amalric
2 years ago |I have checked the test shots of the 12/2 at Quesabesde. They are good but not extraordinarily sharp, not more than my old 9-18.
Since I use a PL1, I suspect that it might be down to the fact that the P3, like the PL2 before, uses more noise reduction at base ISO.
Indeed Robin Wong made the 12/2 shine by using NR set to Low.
At the end of the day it’s my major finding
Thomas Schindler
2 years ago |Yep. But, the 12mm is F2! So at least 2 stops better then the 9-18. And the 12/2 is amazingly sharp at f2!
For me, its a def. buy. 12mm is wide enough, and thanks to F2 this lens becomes a amazing low-light champion for churches, dark rooms or temples!
Way to got olympus!
KL32
2 years ago |They’re selling the silver with a 17mm. Will the focusing with it be as fast as the focusing with the kit zoom?
Michael Meissner
2 years ago |KL32:
Given they have not upgraded the 17mm to be an R lens, I would imagine that the 14-42mm II-R will acquire a focus lock faster. It is likely that the 17mm will focus faster on the E-P3 than previous cameras, but not as fast as with the new re-worked lens.
KL32
2 years ago |Thanks Michael. If true, that is disappointing. The E3 and 17mm would make for a very nice looking combo. I’ve gotta say, without the grip the silver EP3 is a gorgeous camera. If you had the money the 12, 17, and 45 would make for a really nice system.
Neonart
2 years ago |On the Qesabesde review they stated that the 17mm AF was better on the EP3 as compared to older models, but that it’s not up to par with the new MSC lenses. They also reported it was ‘loud” in comparison with the new, more silent MSCs.
So the 17 with the new bodies makes for a better package than before. Given, it’s not a fantastic lens, but since it can be purchased as a kit, you can add the 12, 20 or 25, and 45 and have a complete prime setup! (Im going to be poor this year.)
shep
2 years ago |This is a lens in the old-school style! Real focus distance and DOF scales. Way to go.
It’s interesting to note that the EXIF data for most Olympus lenses shows the (approx) focus distance–after you get home and look at the data. I see no reason why that couldn’t be put on the EVF display while you are taking the picture.
Thom Hogan
2 years ago |According to my sources, here in the US:
E-P3 early/mid August
12mm f/2 shipping is imminent
45mm mid Sept
Pretty much everything else is still unknown in availability.
Neonart
2 years ago |Thom, are you going to review these new Pens & lenses soon?
Thom Hogan
2 years ago |Based upon what I’m told I’m getting, I’ll certainly review the E-P3 and E-PL3. The two lenses will probably get mini-reviews as I’ve been doing on bythom.com/m43lenses.htm page.
I’m told I’ll have some of the items before I head off to Africa this summer.
Neonart
2 years ago |Awesome! Look forward to it. Let Admin know so he can post it for everyone here to see! Thanks.
fta
2 years ago |@admin
Any news on the new VF2? Didn’t see it mention once in any release today.
Nick
2 years ago |i rather get the Noktor 12mm f1.6 for ~$500 only. cheaper and faster. plus, it comes in black
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |Just put in a pre-order for the 45mm F1.8 at amazon.com in the US. Hopefully, it will ship sooner rather than later.
Neonart
2 years ago |For prime lovers m4/3 is looking great! In 35mm equivalents, there’s now 16FE, 24,28,34,40,50, & 90mm!
stopkidding
2 years ago |Admin,
Any information about where to order the 12mm lens hood? It is not included with the lens! The square hood is sexy!
mat
2 years ago |If it helps at all the Olympus UK site has the product info (the US doesn’t last I looked): http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/21693_accessory_lh-48_24741.htm
The hood model number is LH-48. The Japanese press release says it’ll be available from July 22 and list price (w/o tax) is 9500 yen.