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E-PL3
ePhotozine (Click here) posted a new Olympus E-PL3 review: “The Olympus PEN E-PL3 is an excellent upgrade to the E-PL2, with extremely fast focusing, which was one of the big problems with the PEN series, especially if you’d used another faster Micro Four Thirds camera, but now Olympus are back in the game.” Read the full review to see all tests and image samples!
And Olympus Japan confirmed the E-Pl3 worldwide shipment starts on September the 3rd. You can click those links to see if the stores do have the E_PL3 available for preorder: [shopcountry 23567].
Olympus 45mm f/1.8
Robin Wong (Click here) wrote the second part of his field review with the Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens: “the details captured were simply amazing. Zooming in 100% reviewed tiniest amount of details and textures“
We have been told by BHphoto (Click here) that they already shpped the first stoock of those lenses to the customers. Click those links to search for the lens at [shopcountry 23577].
Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4
The new Leica is in Stock at Amazon US (Click here, overpriced!) and Amazon UK (normal price).
US deals reminder
You now can get the Olympus E-P2 with 17mm or with 14-42mm lens for $499 only at Amazon (Click here).
There is a $100 Instant saving on the E-PL1 at BHphoto (Click here). It runs until September 3.
At the same time there is a $50 Instant rebate on the E-PL2 too, at BHphoto (Click here).
The Panasonic GH2 with 14-140mm lens is in Stock for $1439 at Amazon (Click here).
The Panasonic 100-300mm price dropped to $499 at Amazon (Click here).
18 Responses
E-PL3’s are in the US supply chain already. I have one, from Penn Camera in the DC area. They seem to have a few.
The 45mm f1.8 samples are fantastic! Thank goodness Olympus got with the program and started pushing some real lenses!
Very much looking forward to m4/3s now with great lenses from both companies!
+10!!
Indeed… I’d like to see, but the page seems to be forbidden (error 403) now…
The Leica/Pana lens seems to become available slowly, and the 12mm already is, in the Netherlands and Germany. Now we only need a camera on par with the NEX7 (viewfinder, etc) and I’m in 🙂
The 45 is unbelievable. It’s worth twice as much as its asking price. It’s better than any sub-f/2 lens in the 40-50mm range I’ve seen (and I have seen a few). My only caveat is about construction materials.
admin, are the rumors of a m4/3 50 macro still valid?
yes!
Can’t wait anymore for that lens! WTH! have you seen the picture of the kid 100% cropped in his rifht eye!??
Is anyone else confused about all the Olympus Pen offerings? Can someone do a quick breakdown, in order? Example: The E-PL3 has a (feature) but not (feature). It is the mid-range of the line.
It’s simple, Olympus don’t have enough design capacity in the useful features department, but spare resources in the camera body design department. So somebody (the marketing department comes to mind) think they can compensate by offering the same camera in three sligtly different bodies.
Unfortunately they gave E-P3 the flash, the best screen and the best controls and the E-PL3 the tilt screen and best frame rate. Maybe hoping consumers would buy both to get all the features.
Duct Tape them together to get the best of both in one package!
The question is, which color tape? Black or silver? Decisions, decisions. 😉
I think the different models are for different types of distributions in different markets. So the line up is the E-P3 for the more traditional photographer, E-Pl3 for the techno and budget photographer, and the mini is a try to get it to a more mass merchandise channels in different countries. This maybe the reason they have yet to announced a price, wanting to get some distribution channels down first.
I also believe there is a Pen missing, the supper Pen; should be released 1st quarter next year. I think this because of the shutter differences, and think the E-P3 is just the E-P2 more or less done right. About sensor size only going up to 24 or even 48 megs will there be a significant improvement in making prints IMO, anything less is just a silly number. This will cause a need for a much faster process, a bigger capacity battery as the drain would be significantly more, in addition to a sensor that is not being made. This probably will all be here in less then 5 years.
I can’t fault Olympus for not dumbing up their down-line cameras through significant software deletions and limitations like some other company has done. (not referring to Panny)
My only regret is that the mini will not come with that new small Panny zoom. That would be a perfect glove box camera.
The Epl-3 has a new shutter design. Hence the 5.5 continuous frame rate.
+1 On the Mini with 14-45 X lens.
I actually understand the need for three models, the problem is IMO that they are too similar. I think the Mini should more or less as it is, maybe with a built in flash.
The problem is E-P3 and E-PL3 which should have been one top of the line compact models with the best features from both.
The third model should have been G3-like with built in viewfinder. Weird that Olympus don’t see a market for that.
The samples from the 45mm lens are amazing.
They would almost make me regret the switch to Nex.
After seeing those sample images from the 45mm…definitely going to add one to my small family of lenses. Joining my 9-18 and 20. Yes, the poor kit lens is the bastard…not to be mentioned…
I have the Pana/Leica…its incredibly good!!!
But too damn expensive in UK (grabbed a cheaper on ebay)
That second part of the Robin’s review clearly shows what is the 45mm Zuiko capable of. Great glass. Just Olympus should make the lens (and hood) with black finish option either, since its outer barrel is made from black plastic material so scratches won’t be brightly visible like silver paint may cause.
I wanted to be able to use a flash, EVF and have an underwater housing which EPL 1 and 2 could do 3 is missing the DNA of a true EPL in my opinion. All could be forgiven if they come out with a UW housing for the EP3 but that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. Looks like I keep the EPL 1 and will suffer from autofocus envy.