Whatdigitalcamera (Click here) tested the new Olympus E-PL3: “With so much else going for it, including the improved AVCHD-able movie mode with full manual exposure control, and decent image quality at the lower ISO settings, the E-PL3 is among the better-equipped Compact System Cameras out there. We like it a lot“. Shop links at [shopcountry 23567].

Photoreview Australia (Click here) reviewed the [shoplink 23109]Panasonic GF3[/shoplink]: “Imatest showed RW2.RAW files converted with Silkypix Developer Studio to be up to expectations for a 12-megapixel camera. JPEGs were slightly below expectations but a cut above the GF2. Resolution held up very well with both file types across the camera’s sensitivity range, as shown in the graph of our Imatest results below.”. Shop links at [shopcountry 23109].

And Photoreview Australia (Click here) also tested the ultratiny Panasonic 14mm lens: “Imatest showed this lens provided the highest resolution between f/2.5 and f/5.6 with a gradual tailing off towards f/22 as diffraction progressively affected image quality. Interestingly, when the GF3 was used in any of the auto exposure modes (iA, P or the Scene pre-sets), the camera favoured aperture settings within this range and would only stop down when it ran out of ISO room“. Shop links at [shopcountry 16258].

Photographyblog (Click here) posted a set of Olympus E-PM1 photos. Shop links at [shopcountry 23565].

[shoplink 23567]E-PL3[/shoplink] versus Nikon J1 size comaprison (Image Source: openpn.com).

There is a well written article at TheOnlinePhotographer (Click here) that talks about the new Nikon cameras and the competition with Micro Four Thirds: “Thing is, I’m not sure we have to do any more waiting. Yesterday seemed like a milestone to me. It was a couple of Nikons that arrived, I know that. But somehow it seemed like what really arrived was Micro 4/3.”

The Nikon and Olympus shooter Thom Hogan (Click here) is daily sharing his thoughts about the new Nikon cameras. In short the Nikon J1 and V1 are not bad cameras but there are things that he doens’t like: Price too high, no fast lens, lenses are too big, wrong marketing, still no social fucntions and “Crappy sample images”.

Read both articles to make your own opinion. As I said before, I am not a fanboy, I simply do not like that camera. That’s it!

Image courtesy: Quesabesde

The image on top (Source: Quesabesde) shows the reason why I still prefer the m43 system over the new Nikon CX mirrorless cameras. While the [shoplink 23565]Olympus E-Pm1[/shoplink] you see on the right is using a larger sensor it is still less high and less thick than the Nikon 1 V1! Beside that I find the Olympus E-PM1 design far more sexy :)

Before you start bashing on me saying I am a fanboy, well I am NOT! I use cameras from different manufacturers and there are many things I like from the Nikon camera world ([shoplink 25651 ebay]D700[/shoplink] and many of their lenses). But I simply cannot fell in love with the today announced Nikon cameras. The image quality of the V1 is good, but not as good as the one delivered by the m43 cameras. Check the ISO comparison at Focus Numerique. One more thing. The Nikon 1 V1 costs $899 on Amazon (Click here)! That’s $400 more than the price of the Olympus E-PM1!

And ePhotozine (Click here) posted also a J1 versus E-PM1 size comparison. In that case the cameras have about the same size but again the E-Pm1 is $150 cheaper.

Anyway, I am glad Nikon entered the market. More competition we have better it is for all of us (P.S.: Panasonic, can you please lower the price of your lenses and make them available earlier?)

Note: This is my very personal opinion. Other may have other needs and reason to like or NOT to like the new Nikon.

P.S.: E-PM1 shop links at [shopcountry 23565].

UPDATE: Here is a size comparison with the GF3 made by Colorfoto.