New E-P3 reviews (Kirk Tuck talks about why he keeps coming back to Oly)
I have a lot of cameras. Why do I keep coming back to the Olympus ones? That is the title of the latest article written by Kirk Tuck (Click here). He had the chance to test the E-P3: “One of the nicest cameras I’ve had the pleasure to caress and certainly on my list of stuff to pick up next time I’m in Precision Camera.”
Olympus PEN E-P3 Mini Review at Photofocus (Click here): “The Olympus E-P3 is probably the best camera in its class – for now at least. Compared with the hot Fuji X100 the Olympus is in my opinion, a much better choice.”
Out on the street with the Olympus E-P3 and 12mm f/2 lens by Steve Huff (Click here): “If you have been on the fence about the E-P3 and are invested in the M 4/3 system, I’d say GO FOR IT. It is wonderful and a big improvement in just about every area over the E-P1 and E-P2.”
There is a nice field test written by Gakuranman.com and fiedl test at Hendralauw (Click here): “Just like my Panasonic GF1, the Olympus PEN E-P3 is great for street photography. It’s small, un-intimidating and powerful enough to create great images. And I love its combination with the new Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2 lens. Great wide angle lens.“. He also posted an ISO 10.000 picture 
And than we have a Nikon 5100 versus E-P3 battle at Mashable (Click here): “After extensive testing, the two cameras’ performance was similar, but I think the Olympus E-P3 does a better job of fulfilling that mission.”
Click those direct search links to check if the E-P3 is in Stock at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
P.S.: Silkypix now supports the E-P3
REMINDER: Those are the direct search links to all the new Pana/Oly stuff:
Panasonic G3 search page at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
Panasonic GF3 search page at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
Panasonic-Leica 25mm f/1.4 search page at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
Olympus E-P3 search page at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
Olympus 12mm f/2.0 search page at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 page at Amazon, Adorama, B&H, J&R, eBay.
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Recent comments
Comment from Kirk: Hey Steve-O, No selective memory here. ...
Comment from flash: The use of aperture control with placeme...
Comment from Patric: Pablo thinks that everyone that writes a...
Comment from Joel: Sony must be using 3 year old AF technol...
YouDidntDidYou
9 months ago |fron Photofocus.com
“I should also note the E-P3 is replete with new “art filters” and special auto modes. I played with a few of them but personally prefer to do those effects in post. If you do them in camera you are stuck with them.”
If you shoot RAW plus jpeg while using the art filters the RAW image is unaffected by the art filter.
TR
9 months ago |+1 and you have the advantage of framing the shot with the filter.
Low Budget Dave
9 months ago |I am still on the fence. Tuck and others usually compare the MFT Olympus to the Sony NEX. Whenever they post shots demonstrating why they prefer the Olympus, I prefer the Sony just as often.
If Sony improves their jpg compression, and ever comes out with a high quality pancake lens, it will be hard to find any good reason to buy Olympus.
deniz
9 months ago |‘If Sony improves their jpg compression, and ever comes out with a high quality pancake lens, it will be hard to find any good reason to buy Olympus.’
so true.
but i dont feel like its very likely to happen. i have some experience with my girlfriends nex and sony jpegs are a total disaster. also, there is no sight of a pancake lens in their roadmap.
the perfect mirrorless is still not out there yet.
Wt21
9 months ago |I agree. If the NEX were a camera that it isn’t, then I might get it, too. Also, if the EP3 were a different camera, it would be something else, too.
But how do the ACTUAL cameras compare?
Dummy00001
9 months ago |There is no “fence” in the m43 vs. NEX. IMO.
Do you want smaller DSLR-like camera with P&S like controls? – NEX.
Do you want something you can (almost) slip into you pocket with DSLR-like controls? – m43.
(NX? Sammy, please finally position yourself in the market. NX has good optics and decent IQ. From what I can tell. IQ of RAWs is on par with m43 despite larger APS-C sensor.)
Many people pitch NEX vs. m43, what is IMO wrong. NEX to me is further miniaturization of SLT line by Sony. Yeah, they (m43, NEX) are both mirrorless, but due to difference in optics (haz pancakes, no pancakes), they end up serving totally different purposes.
TR
9 months ago |Yes, but NEX-7 no longer has P&S controls. With peaking mode legacy lenses are also a good option. I think one does have to compare sony to m43 if still entering mirrorless market. In many ways NEX-7 has set the standard. I agree about the lack of small lenses but in terms of a body, they have made the camera that m43 users have been asking for.
Pablo
9 months ago |mr. Tuck seems to be also paid by Oly or at least was given a EP3. No serious reviewer can be so positive about 3.5 years old technology…
tmrgrs
9 months ago |Kirk Tuck is a published author and working professional portrait photographer (studio and on location) who uses mostly Canon equipment.
And you Pablo, are just an anonymous internet ‘expert’ who doesn’t do any homework or make any attempt to get his/her facts straight before foolishly posting groundless accusations.
Stu5
9 months ago |Did you read the write up fully? What he said…
“One of the nicest cameras I’ve had the pleasure to caress and certainly on my list of stuff to pick up next time I’m in Precision Camera.”
Now what does that tell you? He does not own one yet as he intends to buy one from Precision Camera when he is in there next. So that means he hasn’t been given a camera to keep by Olympus.
flash
9 months ago |Hi Pablo,
You should read the review, “mr Tuck” (sic) doesn’t have a EP3. As far as given cameras by camera companies that would be Canon, they even gave me one once. It is just marketing. “If you can’t take their whiskey and smoke their cigars and still kick them in the *** you are not a man”
When you think the EP3 is 3 year old technology you are partiality right. But the new display and auto focus are really a great improvement. There are advantages to a more mature product in that apparent and unapparent short comings are addressed; such as the two I mention above. The build quality is much better then the NEX cameras I have seen (some example lens were defective, but Sony replaced with ones that were OK). I am sure as time goes they will improve there quality control as well as their build quality.
The supposed short comings of M43 the 43 sensor size, if you compare it with a APS sensor taking a 43 format for a print (only place you need resolution) their is not that much difference less the 10%. It is true Sony makes a great sensor, but in the next two years we will look at them and feel they are primitive.
The big strength of Olympus is the jpeg out of the box, believe it or not most do not want to spend hours playing with their images on a computer so they can get some prints. I am sure you do and feel that it is an important aspect of photography. I agree on this and on important images spend much more time processing prints then shooting them.
Get that NEX-7 and go shooting, you will have much fun.
Take care
Fish
9 months ago |On the contrary, only a serious reviewer would judge a camera on its own merit rather than automatically discounting it because of something he read on a spec sheet.
My E-PL2 is even older and I am constantly impressed at what a good camera it is. If your camera stops taking good pictures the moment a new model comes out – I would suggest having it looked at.
alexander
9 months ago |the only thing that I miss is the HDR on jpg,sweep panorama (!) & IR-remote control than it would be the perfect camera- basta!
hope Oly-engeeniers read this
Ganec
9 months ago |Olympus has panorama mode. The only drawback is that you have to finish it in the PC.
I also want HDR
flash
9 months ago |Blue tooth remote control from ones smart phone would be nice. Saves a lot of steps in a studio.
Michael Meissner
9 months ago |If you mean just firing the button, I’m not convinced using a smartphone is better than using one of various radio based shutter releases that mimic the RM-UC1 interface. In terms of upload, just put in an Eye-fi card.
If you mean more control than just firing (like say the Samsung SH-100), than yes, it would be nice, but given that Olympus dropped support for Studio which did tethered support in classical 4/3rds cameras, I just don’t see Olympus supporting tethering either via wired connection or bluetooth. It would be nice to be proved wrong, but I just don’t see Olympus going in that direction.
flash
9 months ago |The use of aperture control with placement is very important in taking some product shoots for some. The use of remote dolly and head are available. Saving steps gets more important as one gets a little older.
I just noticed that Studio is no longer being sold did not know that
, but Olympus has released the specs so one or a third party can interface the E series (not the Pen) with a little programming. It would require a firmware upgrade for it to work on the PENs I think. It works(ed) great on the E-5s; the only option for me now are the better (and expensive) Nikons; luckily the E-5s are built to last.
The Eye-fi is great, I notice that Olympus mentions its comparability on their new PEN pages. This is one of the reasons I think Olympus has remote usage in mind for there.
Blue tooth connection will be mostly sizzle for most people, but it its the sizzle that sells the steak.
Steve
9 months ago |I’m also an HDR fan and so far the only (mirrorless) that has it is NEX, but they have an abysmal lens choice. I tried out an E-P3 and tried to do hdr with the multiple exposures but it’s too difficult in camera to get a decent result. I loved using the E-P3 but ultimately the image quality at high iso and the lack of HDR means I still haven’t gone mirrorless. If the GF3 had the G3 sensor I might have…. and still no mirrorless cam with a 24-telephoto equivalent lens either. So it’s looking like 2012 before I do more than just try one. It’s close but still no cigar for me I’m afraid.
Joel
9 months ago |I tend to just take the pictures and use a pc based HDR program, no in camera HDR will give you near the level of control of a desktop app.. Though I don’t do them that often and generally try to make them look somewhat realistic…
As to 3 year old technology that is rubbish, yes the sensor may be 3 years old but the JPEG processing isn’t (is is damn good, ahead of Sony for sure, I could argue they have 5 year old technology in that regard). The Autofocus is also far from 3 years old in performance for CDAF, the OLED screen is also lovely though that isn’t a mjor selling point for me..
Kirk
9 months ago |No body could like a three year old car. No one could like a three year old bottle of wine. No one could like a three year old……..(fill in the blank). All that matters is what was made five minutes ago…..
Dummy00001
9 months ago |Let me feed the troll.
If the Oly’s tech is *that* old, why the all new NEX-5N can’t AF as fast???
And from me personally: why NEX has no pancakes??? NEX + good 24mm pancake – might have been an instant buy to me as a party camera. Yet…..
P.S. Crossing fingers that there is some mistake about NX200′s $900 price tag. If that’s true, I can’t imagine what Sammy would ask for the NX20.
emde
9 months ago |Pablo? Pablum? Did anyone say Pablum?
Don’t feed him
Raines
9 months ago |yeah… I’m always dismayed when I see new posts, only to find out they’re all in replies to Pablo…
Dummy00001
9 months ago |Plumbum?
Joel
9 months ago |Sony must be using 3 year old AF technology, …shame….
jerome
9 months ago |omg,
make photos, not stupid comments!
you all should be happy to have such good cameras around you, i did start with nikon fe and i was very happy. but this camera can do nothing, abslutely nothing compared with a oly e-p1 or nex3 or pana g1….nothing but shoot good photos if the photographer is good.
Steve-O
9 months ago |A case of selective memory. The article by Kirk quoted here dates back to August 4th: http://visualsciencelab.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-have-lot-of-cameras-why-do-i-keep.html
How quickly things change. Just this past Sunday Kirk posted an article saying mFT would be buried by Sony and Canikon when they jump into the mirrorless ring. To quote: “The Nex and it’s future competitors. That’s the future. Even for pros.” Read it here: http://visualsciencelab.blogspot.com/2011/08/get-ready-olympus-sony-nex-7-is.html
We all know Kirk’s fond of Olympus mFT’s, so I find his burying their future in this latest article surprising. One thing with Kirk, he’s willing to change positions, we’ll see if he comes out of this swoon.
To me, it’s the whole package, not just the sensor. Small body and small lenses, all high quality. Yes, not good for high ISO’s, but superb for OOC JPEG’s. And better quality lenses on the way, thanks to both Panasonic and Olympus.
Everything changes eventually, but at this given time I prefer the mFT total package. Now if only Sony would design/sell Olympus mFT sensors…let’s call that a big FT1!
Kirk
9 months ago |I’m here to tell you that camera companies don’t give blog reviewers cameras. In fact, when they ask you if you are interested in reviewing their cameras their next step is to send you paperwork. The paperwork is a contract specifying that you are financially responsible for THEIR property while it is in your hands. Some ask for a certificate of insurance. If you keep the review gear too long you will start getting e-mails and phone calls. I don’t know what would happen next because I always box the gear up and send it back when I finish evaluating it. Back in the days when magazines ran esoteric reviews I was asked to review cameras like the Phase One 45s, The Leaf Aptus 7i, the Leica M9 and Leica M8 and so on. Each of those cameras was sent from the magazine and, ultimately they were financially responsible. Federal law now requires bloggers to disclose freebies from vendors or their distributors. Olympus has no interest in giving me product since I am very vocal about my use of Canon and Hasselblad cameras for most of my commercial work.
I must say that comments that reflect negatively on my integrity piss me off. I write my blog and share it freely. No one writes me a paycheck to do it. I’ve posted over 680 posts and on a good day we have over 12K pageviews. Commenters routinely say that they enjoy the writing. Every time I get one of those, “must be on the payroll….” I feel like folding up the tent and doing something else. But then I remember that these are people who represent a tiny, tiny percentage of my readers and I let it go.
Finally, if I really wanted to find someone to pay me for reviews I would at least have the brains to choose a company with a lot deeper pockets than Olympus.
I really do just like their product design aesthetic and the look of their files.
SteveO
9 months ago |The Kirk Tuck quote is almost a month old. For his current take on the future of mirrorless posted this past Sunday: http://visualsciencelab.blogspot.com/2011/08/get-ready-olympus-sony-nex-7-is
Archer Sully
9 months ago |Broken link, here’s a piece of relevant text:
“So where does this leave Olympus? My knee jerk reaction is to say that they will be made irrelevant by dint of specifications. Afterall, that’s how the great unwashed seem to buy cameras. But in truth I think a realization is soaking down thru the topsoil to the roots of the market and that realization is that, really, just like the guys at Olympus said last year, “Twelve megapixels is more than enough for the majority of camera buyers.” The new way to view is on the iPad (which is already starting to kill off traditional prints sales at an ever more accelerating pace) and anything over 6 megapixels is largely overkill for that. But where Olympus still has an edge is in pure design. The Pen EP-3 and its recent predecessor, the EP-2, are two of the most beautiful camera designs of the last ten years. They are elegant. And the image quality from both is good. They stand a chance if they get their advertising put on straight, stay aways from graphs and numbers and start positioning their cameras as artistic tools rather than mini computers with glass grafted onto the front.”
Kirk is almost always worth reading.
Patric
9 months ago |Pablo thinks that everyone that writes anything positive about Olympus is on their payroll. Probably some sort of disease he has.
Kirk
9 months ago |Hey Steve-O, No selective memory here. The Oly products are nice. If they stay with a noisy 12 meg sensor they WILL be buried by Pana, Canon, Nikon and Sony. But that doesn’t mean I can’t still like them. The Oly EP2 and 3 are beautifully crafted. That counts for me. Brush up on the reading skills and stopped inferring that I “swoon” over cameras. My point was about the technology. Not the companies, the things they are innovating.