Join Now
Join ePHOTOzine, the friendliest photography community.
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more for free!
Just brought the olympus pen E-p3 today from warehouse express as an add on to my huge canon 7d and 5d mark ii, been thinking about buying a good 4/3rds camera for ages and been reading the reviews over and over then i went to try on yesterday and brought today.
I have to say i am very impressed so far although not a dslr it is however a fantastic fun camera that delivers superb sharp images and it is really fast on focusing this was a purchase for holidays like skiing so i don't need to lug around a huge dslr,.
I can state now that nothing will touch the dslr range i have other than the canon 1d mark iiii but then i didn't buy it for the same purpose, saying that i am having huge fun with it and am very suprised at how it performs, i went out tonight in hope of a sunset but did not get one so i played with the e-p3 and it was pretty dark yet i got pretty good images see what you think, please bare in mind it was dark so the image quality will not be the same as a dslr but it is dam good in my opinion.
Stay posted though because ill add some image tomorrow taken during the day.
see what you think so far.
It was dark i hand held and that is the moon near the sails
a 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 ii r lens straycat.
and yes get the point there snapper but i was just testing the camera not really going for the comp or anything really just testing the low light goodness of it.
as for being the right time i agree, however for an extra £175.00 you can buy a digital view finder. you can buy optical view finder for £105.00 but it's a waste of money when you think how are you meant to judge a zoom lens, and the fact its optical glass for £105.00 and not much optical glass at that.
Ian
I need your thoughts though peeps and thx for them so far.
A job to tell @ 600 pixels but I already know what its capable of 
I put together a user group if your interested.
http://www.ephotozine.com/groups/evil-csc-m4-3-users-meets-764
absolutely Paul always interested in learning.
Ian.
No doubt that it's a great wee camera and I think that more and more dSLR users are going to start using them as "second" cameras.
At present the ones that impress me most (on specs and press reports, not on personal trials) are the Sony compacts with APS-C sensors, the same as are used on most dSLRs, rather than the smaller ones used in other compacts.
But, as I have said on another thread, I think I'll wait to see if Nikon bring one out with an APS-C sensor and a Nikon-F lens mount. I guess many Canon users will also wait to see if Canon bring out something similar.
I can't see the point of sticking a 500mm lens on such a camera so, for the foreseeable future, I think the dSLR will continue to have a place in the enthusiastic amateur's armoury, but the idea of being able to stick a compact and a couple of smallish dSLR lenses into the pockets of a travel vest does appeal to me greatly.
you can add a view finder if you wish it is a digital view finder and reads your lens, for example it is the same as a dslr view finder and it sits on the hot shoe, costs an extra £175.00 for this option.
I just love the way you can touch the screen where you want to focus and it takes the picture, very clever and very fast doing it too, so if you want to touch the screen to focus on a subject you can imediatly touch another part of the screen to focus there and take the picture at the same time.
the sensor is the same size as the dslr sensors the only thing miniture about this camera is the lenses and theres a nice range of lenses too.
I have been playing today with the different settings and it really is an outstanding piece of genius.
Yes it's over £700.00 but for that you get an amazing camera that is full of new and really workable technology, and it's fun to use too, I am finding it hard to put down at the moment, maybe because it's new or maybe because it's so packed with gadgets that work for a change that it's stimulating the brain cells in a nice way.
It is relatively easy to use too especially after using a dslr as it seems designed to fall into that type of user i suppose.
Just to point out that the sensor on this camera is definetly the same size as a dslr and it is mirror less too not sure the benefits on that one but i am sure someone will know.
You can change everything like iso, shutter speed, raw files or jpg, and a few more i don't know, there is so much to play with its just fun fun fun.
The image quality is outstanding too and the image quality in low light is also outstanding, the images above were taken hand held in the dark and just look at that quality, iso goes up to 12800 and when you are forced to use it it is superb quality at that, all in all i am gobsmacked just how good this little camera is and i am trying to find fault but it is hard too, if i have one fault it would be the how to hold the camera as it is small and i have big clumsy hands but to be fair i got used to that quickly.
Lens used was the standard kit lens you get with it and i must say is a really good lens. 14-42mm f1:3.5-5.6 ii r and closest focusing distance is 0.25m
Also to take into account is olympus 4/3rds system so the lens acts more like a 24-84mm lens on a full frame sensor.
here is another i took today, the lens was 8" away from subject and it looks great and sharp.
this was taken using f7.1 shutter speed 160th iso 200 focal length 27mm 8" away from subject.
This was taken using f16 shutter speed 13 iso250 focal length 23mm
Very jealous. Have been using the E-P2 for a while now with the EVF and am itching to swap for the E-P3 body. I've had most fun with this set up using the fixed focus panasonic 20/f1.7 lens - I'd love to add the olympus zuiko 12mm too. The kit zooms are good but a bit limiting with speed/quality. The rapid focus time of the E-P3 is what really attracts me - the E-P2 is definitely a tad sluggish in comparison with others.
I tend to shoot either with the EVF or 'from the hip' if necessary. I don't use the screen but this could change with the touch focus ability of the E-P3, would definitely come in handy on the street if it's as quick as suggested.
Ian.
Don't want to spoil the party -(I think the E-P3 is a superb camera)-, but the sensor is NOT the same size as a DSLR. The fact that the focal length is effectively doubled (whereas a APS-C sensor gives 1.6 increase) should give the game away.
Google "micro four thirds sensor size compared to aps-c" and search images. It's quite a bit smaller, but still gives superb images. (I've got a Panasonic GH--2)
Quote: Don't want to spoil the party
Don`t worry you won`t
Quote: I can't see the point of sticking a 500mm lens on such a camera
You wouldn`t need to, something around 250mm would give you that and inbody IS is a killer, makes it all worth while.
Quote: Just to point out that the sensor on this camera is definetly the same size as a dslr
Yes the same size as 4/3 and I understand the EP3 uses a few things found on the E5.
Yes the same size as 4/3 and I understand the EP3 uses a few things found on the E5.
Yes this is true, some people might think that the sensor size is an issue but to be fare if you opened up a ep3 you will see that the sensor size is far from small and it does deliver a massive punch when it comes to images, i got to say i have not had this much fun with a camera for a very long time, it sparks new ideas.
Ian.
Quote: i got to say i have not had this much fun with a camera for a very long time, it sparks new ideas
I can think of a whole load of EPZ members that have found the same, some might even of had doubts before taking the plunge
well Paul i was one of them to be honest but i am so glad i did take the plunge, i needed a sensible size camera that would give me the quality of a dslr and now i have.
Ian.
Add a Comment
ePHOTOzine, the web's friendliest photography community.
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more.
Login or Join Now
New to ePHOTOzine? Join ePHOTOzine for free!
Related Content
Join Our Free Newsletter
Awards
Current Competitions
foliopic 'Movement' Competition
1st May 2012 - 31st May 2012
This month's competition theme is 'Movement' which can be interpreted in a number of ways. You could photograph an animal running, a person walking or a car speeding...
Featured Directory Listing
May's Photo Month
Check out ePHOTOzine's inspirational photo month calendar! Each day click on a window to unveil new photography tips, treats and techniques.
Interact
Photography Gallery Photography Forums Recent Forum Activity Members' Meetings Members' BlogsSearch ePHOTOzine
Having trouble or would like to make a suggestion? Create a report
Calibrate your monitor so you can see 16 different shades.
ePHOTOzine © 2001 - 2012 Magezine Publishing | Contact Us | Site Map | Top