[shoplink 14830 ebay]
[/shoplink]
I still don’t have any E-P3 picture to share with you but I have been told the E-P3 has basically the same design of the [shoplink 14830]E-P2[/shoplink] (see picture on top). But at least I have the specs! Two weeks ago a new source sent me the E-P3 details and my trusted sources now confirmed the info he gave to me are correct (Thanks new source!). So here is the E-P3:
– It has the new Olympus “tweaked” 12 Megapixel Sensor
– Truepic VI engine (two processor in one)
– ISO 100 to 12.800
– 1080i 60frs AVCHD or JPEG video
– 35 point autofocus
– OLED touch Display (610k resolution). Sounds like it is almost the same screen used for the [shoplink 19904 ebay]Olympus XZ-1[/shoplink].
– pop up live guide
– dual dials
– fastest AF to date for any mirrorless cam (and I have been told that it is considerably faster that the [shoplink 16254 ebay]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink]!).
– updated art filters
– effects to combine with art filters (like starlight)
– 3D still images
– Interchangeable grip. I have been told there are two different grips you can buy (and more will come after).
– Design changes: The top dial is now placed instead of the ON/OFF button of the E-P2. To make room for the built-in flash. There is a video recording button over the AEL button.
Reminder: Announcement on June 30th. As usual on that date we will continually update 43rumors with all news, reviews and image samples we can find on the web! And don’t forget to join us on Facebook and Twitter! Subscribe our RSS feed!
Links cameras/accessories mentioned in that article:
Olympus XZ-1 at [shopcountry 19904].
Olympus E-P2 at [shopcountry 14830].
Panasonic GH2 at [shopcountry 16254].
Reminder -> Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct
232 Responses
Lookin NICE
If it’s true, the only thing that separates me from this machine will probably be the price! I hope that the younger sister “epl3” brings with it a lot EP3! 😉
Hell yeah! This looks awesome!
Interchangeable grip? Like those action grips fpr SLR cameras during the film camera era?
that’s cool. I was actually looking for those 3rd-party grips for my E-P1 as I need it when using 4/3 lenses
looks like the E-P3 is getting to be a great upgrade 🙂
I find this so disappointing. Iwas eagerly waiting for the ep3, hoping for a built in viewfinder, i get a built in flash i have no need for.
The design could easily be prettier why stick to the old design? Looks a like a very minor update to me
admin said Oly is working on a body with EVF. you might wanna wait til Sept
I cant remember the rumor about the Oly body with EVF coming in Sept. I certainly hope that is the case. I remember admin talking about more stuff coming in September and that there definetely some lenses. Here’s hoping lenses and an EVF body.
Or go buy a GH2 today.
seriously, why complain about it if there’s already a model that suits you.
The grip was the least well-designed part on the E-P1/E-P2 so this must be good news.
It is ! Along with the horrible PASM dial that seems to get a normal place and i hope usable shape this time. That plastic wheel made it look and feel so cheap. And that vertical one too.
Maybe grip comes with a hotshue so you can use off axis flash and evf together..
You prob had a Pentx 6×7 in the past 😉
Or a Mamiya Super 23.
That would be great!
+ 1
Here’s another thought:
Maybe the “grip” is a unit containing a side-mirrored 4/3-to-m4/3 converter and the actual grip part has an AF sensor inside it. Would be a neat solution for implementing PDAF without a pentaprism.
Or it has another battery inside?
Any grip should be a battery, there’s always need for more mAh in digital stuff. But I love a good grippy grip on a camera. So much nicer to use.
Being removable is absolutely ideal for leather cases too.
Minor update? It would take Canon three generations of cameras to change all that’s listed above.
Agreed.
And aside from being the same dimensions and color, it’s obviously going to be huge improvement over the E-P2 with all these changes. Basically all the little things i disliked about the E-P1/2. And that is just the outside. Internally it seems to be even more of a jump.
Nice. Olympus has been quite conservative with maximum ISO in its cameras, so 12,800 implies quite good ISO3200. I hope this leap is reflected in DR too. I also welcome the built-in flash (assuming it will allow remote triggering of external flashes). Fast AF and stronger video capabilities will certainly be important for some, though I could do without them. All the rest of the features are gimmicks, some more useful than others.
The interchangeable grip thing is especially interesting. It suggests an improvement in the functionality of 4/3 lenses on m4/3, which, if true, is great news.
Overall, The E-P3 seems to be quite competitive with GH2. It’s definitely the most mature PEN to date.
12800 doesn’t sound too promising for low-ISO performance – and that’s what matters to me 🙁
Can’t tell untill we see the real stuff.
It is a decent upgrade:
– Built-in flash
– Better screen
– Faster autofocus
– Better (interchangeable) grip
Those were things to improve in the E-P1/2, but there are still 2 very important things:
– Better sensor (and this is the big question, is the new sensor really new? Is it better? How much?)
– Built-in EVF (big missing feature)
And in any case, the biggest advantage over the E-P1/2 should be on the lenses side. With all the new ones (and coming ones), now buying this camera is a much more attractive option.
The fact that they’re willing to go to 12800 ISO is indicative of a stop improvement.
A stop improvement in what? Noise reduction techniques in JPEGs?
Come to think of it, maybe they just are pushing out a 12800 without improving the underlying signal chain in order to keep up with the Joneses.
I HOPE that they have improved the sensor noise performance by a stop. Realistically its more likely to be improvements in processing. I’m ASSUMING (and you know what that means) that Olympus wouldn’t put out a 12800 that’s not roughly equal to the 6400 that they allow in the PL2, useless as that is.
Conservatism of specs is a good thing. If you push ISO up to 12,800 without serious sensor improvement, it just means the new sensor is tweaked to have the best performance at higher ISO (e.g., at ISO 400 or something). That’s not necessarily a good news. It may satisfy people who always shoot at higher ISO (no matter what condition they’re in), but for people who prefer fine detail in their photos, it’s not so good news. That kind of tweak will do well for benchmarking purpose, but no realistic improvement.
pretty sure it’s a new sensor.
Wow! Should this thing also feature an accelerated AF with the FT lenses it certainly will be mine. Or maybe the E-PL3…?
This definitely will be a difficult decision.
And in addition there is this tiny Pentax with its magnesium body.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/PENTAXQ/PENTAXQA.HTM
Aaaahhh – so many tempting possibilities. I need a lottery win!!!
any information about the price?
Suggestion to admin: Make a table with all current M43s, including the new Oly bunch. The choices are getting too many.
I hope there is a zoom button like epl2 for manual focus
Admin: Any hints (can also be FT2) if AF ist faster with all lenses or just with upcoming SHG lenses?
Interchangeble grip is nice. You need it when holding bigger lenses, so I also hope that this accessory offer refers to a better usability with FT lenses.
Now all I need is the following:
1) New EVF, which is reasonable prized and fits the retro design
2) good kit bundles (don’t need another 14-42, please bundle with the 45mm)
3) realistic prize, a camera without EVF should be much cheaper than e.g. a GH2 with build in VF, especially if they charge 200 euro for the VF-2.
Thanks Admin.
Should be faster!
The interchangeable grip is very welcome, i use a korean custom grip which is great but adds quite some to the height as it is mounted via the bottomplate. Maybe something like the Pentax LX?
+1
even with grip, it’s still smaller & thinner than the smallest DSLR the OLY E410…Oly should take the few mm to place a VF, right?
I can feel my credit card getting hot already…
Hot credit card + wood = trouble
“New tweaked sensor” is code language for SOS (same old sensor) plus new JPEG engine and minor change to the AA filter.
Otherwise the new PENs sound great.
Well, that’s interesting!
I like the removable EVF but I hope they will make a smaller (maybe fixed) one with the same screen inside!
Otherwise, I’m waiting for the new sensor!!
Yeah. Too many camera choices and unimportant features. 600kpix display, ha ha. The NEX has since two years 921kpix. Exchangable grips. Gosh, what a great feature… Look, guys, what my new Oly camera can do! Exchange grips. Coool, my old NEX can do 7fps. And the comming one will do 10fps… Oh wait, there will be, after four camera bodies without a built-in flash that nobody needs and that isn’t able to bounce. Yeah… FAAAAAST AF. As if it would be used by pro sports photographers… Gosh, just a lotta BS gimmicks. The new nex is gonna have 102800 ISO and 3 MPIX oled EVF. And Oly is happy with a exchangable grip. Sad. I used to like this company once.
What’s wrong with you, I see you trolling on the Sony forum and then come back here trolling Olympus, do you have a life?
I just don’t understand how the people can be happy and satisfied with unimportant features and such cheap fake user friendly stuff. Oly needs radical progress and not cheap fake “upgrades”. The next gen, if one comes, will be what? A sticker with EP-4 written on it to stick on your EP-1,2,3 ?
I sort of agree with you. The feature set listed is evolutionary, not revolutionary. A ‘tweaked’ sensor is just what you said. SOS. And the 600kbpix display is a yawn. Especially a yawn if it is at all larger than the previous screens, which would imply the same resolution. Video is improved at 1080i. Why not 1080p? Even the Nikon S9100 P&S has 921kpix, 1080p, built in flash, etc. Not comparing the IQ of the two cameras, but the Oly lacking in features that even a P&S camera has, certainly isn’t worthy of the whole black silk cover-up teaser video thing like Oly is trying.
> 1080i/60
Learn the video world, folks. Storing things as 1080i/60 is a form of 1080P/30. The reason the camera companies do it that way has to do with the AVCHD definitions, which dictate an interlaced 60 compression.
Very good info! Thank you for the insight — I paid no attention to the 30/60fps in the specs.
A yawn?
Hello? It’s touch!!! Where’s a touch in Canon, Nikon or Sony?
Pablo – and yet the Sony sensors you trumpet so loudly – why are the Nikon versions ALWAYS better? Yes, the sensors Sony makes are always better in a Nikon camera. Why is that? It’s because Sony isn’t really a camera company. Heck, they had to buy and kill off two REAL camera companies and take their DNA just to get half way there…. sad, really.
Your forget something. There are no lenses for the Nex system except crappy cheap toy lenses that nobody care about.
I’d rather have an E-P3 + a 25/1.4 or the voigtlander. You can keep your 102 800. Real photographers can output beautiful pictures without that or a 921k dots LCD or 3Mpix EVF. This is just crap for marketing guys.
What we want are REAL lenses and a good handling. I never understood how to shoot with a Sony, their user interface puzzles me, unlike Olympus.
Ijack, who are you talking to? I see only excited people interested in all the new features Olympus is bringing out!
+1
He’s talking to Pablo…
D’oh…
post this in Sony rumors then. if you’re really happy with your NEX, why do you keep coming back here?
Because I was and am an Olympus owner and user. Once, I even was a loyal fan. Now, frustration is all thats left of the joy from the past.
meaning you couldnt find that joy in your NEX? gotcha!
@napalm – He *is* posting in Sony rumors, except there, he’s bashing Sony. Posting positive things is not what a troll does.
Dudes, if he’s a troll — and he definitely is — PLEASE DON’T FEED HIM. Thank you. Love.
QFAT ! (agreed)
Your ramblings get more boring every time. Instead of boring us here, why don’t you count the lenses you can put on your NEX? Oh, already done? Ah, that’s why you’re here…
Pablo,
You are so full of love and tenderness it makes me weep.
Waiting for your confession, Admin.
You are Pablo, arent you? And your goal of pseudotrolling is to keep the discussion much more exciting and alive…
:D:D:D
I think you’re on to something kesztio… in any case Pablo’s back and forth trolling and self-contradicting is hilarious! poor guy.
Good one 🙂
– wrong –
Most people don’t need 6400+ ISO or 10fps!
I’m glad you’re happy with your NEX camera!
I’m still happy with my Olympus e520.
Still happy with my OM-1 😀
But damn I love where the E-P3 seems to be going, and the other two too really, but especially the new lenses (from pana too)!
It’s hard not to love Olympus now really, after seeing Pentax going at it 😛
If the Nex 7 is ever coming…
I wait for it too, just to evaluate the Pens.
Nex 3/5 to my mind are bullshit, but Sony is a driving force in the camera market now. Nex 7 “could” be very good. Then still there is trouble with the lenses.
i never take my gf1 off iso 100, but i do have 4 speedlights being fired off it lol
“Yes. The audio in the SONY recordings is really bad. I aggree. Thats the reason I really love my EP1 movies from nature, because the clear, uncompressed, 44kHz 16bit Stereo sound is SOOOO MUCH better than that strange mutated noise that comes from the 24 kHz compressed sony data :< "
E-PL1 has a flash that bounces.
That’s a great feature, although a little automatization wouldn’t hurt.
Well, while 10 FPS is certainly impressive, that kind of shot rate is going to be necessary less than 1 percent of the time. I’ve used the NEX 3 and 5 and it too won’t be used by your “Pro Sports Photographer” because it simply focuses too slowly and is too reliant on its touchscreen. With few manual controls, it’s simply not a serious photographic tool. It’s got the “gee whiz” but not fast enough controls. I refer here to exposure compensation and aperture change knobs for A, S, and M modes. In auto, it’s fine until you hit a backlit situation, and then handling of the touchscreen requires a complete change of grip.
Nobody ever alleged that the PEN system was appropriate for a pro sports photographer either. AF is still too slow for that, and it doesn’t balance well with the 300mm F2.8. But it does WORK with that lens, and with the 300 mounted to a tripod and working through the EVF, it will function all day long. My buddy uses that exact set-up occasionally for birding. It’s nuts, but occasionally his E-5 is hooked to the 150f2 and he uses that one handheld.
The 3mpx EVF and 102K ISO is on the A77 & A65. Not on the NEX 7
Sorry, but your comments sound… How to put it gently… Well, stupid.
First you say that Oly getting faster Af is BS cause this is a feature only sports photographers will use. Than you boast your Sony can do 10 fps, which is exactly a feature only sports photographers will appreciate???
As I see it, faster focus benefits every shot. Higher fps only benefits SD cards manufacturers.
Sounds very promising. I think it’s a stretch to think the grip is for 4/3 lenses. I would think it would have the function of most modern grips more batteries to power things like video and prolonged shooting.
STOKED! Love the styling of the E-P1 and E-P2, and if these changes don’t mangle it much, the E-P3 is mine!
+1
the pen design is a pretty darn good one. no need to make radical changes.
Hope it’s not the XZ-1 display though. Very overrated. It bleeds vertical lines when there are bright points in a dark image.
Can’t wait for the focus tests though. Number one cause of a lost shot for me is poor focus.
Same here. My E-PL1’s weakest points are lack of auto-focus speed and the lack of usability with too few direct exposure controls to bypass the menu. The E-P2 would have solved the latter for me already and it seems the E-P3 is finally addressing the auto-focus – and it comes with a flash. Great!
I really hope it will be in US stores by mid July, hopefully as a kit with the new viewfinder if that one is considerably smaller than the VF-2.
I guess the vertical lines you mention are caused by the XZ-1 CCD sensor (ccd blooming). CMOS sensors are much more resistant against these effects.
Re: 1080i 60frs AVCHD or JPEG video
The owners of the AVCHD is jointly PANASONIC & SONY, if I remember correctly. This means that Olympus is a licensee of the AVCHD feature, and probably also that it is a sensor of either Panasonic or Sony origin. I was expecting Aptina, but this new info lowers that probability.
Yes, Panasonic and Sony own the AVCHD format, and presumably to use it Olympus would have to pay a licensing fee to use it. But it is just a format for encapsulating video. I imagine you could put any sensor you want and make AVCHD movies. As somebody who has been frustrated at wanting to record live 1/2 hour performances with my E-P2, the fact that Olympus has finally offered AVCHD is a good sign.
Correction: they own the trademark for AVCHD. The format itself is (reasonably) public, although developed by Panasonic and Sony.
I hope it’s not Aptina…. I went to their website before (maybe I should visit again) and I have to say the company shows some photos that doesn’t quite right to my eyes, in term of color reproduction. That means their sensors aren’t usable unless some serious tuning to the color palette. Either that or the photos are taken by non professionals who shot on vivid mode all the time (or monitor not calibrated).
Well, now I want the E-PL3 specs…
I am wondering why I should buy the E-P3 to upgrade from my E-PL1…
Maybe it will be better to go for the E-PL3 or stick with the E-PL1 until september…
What did I miss? What i happening in September?
The rumored PEN pro is supposed to be announced in Sep
Pablo you are a comic genius! To criticise a camera for BS gimmicks and then get excited about ISO102800 is just brilliant! Do you do bar mitzvahs and weddings too?
LOL, I rate your comment 11/10.
12/10!
And.. Hopefully no design flaw in microlens (red flares/spots effect like PL2). This was the only reason I sold my PL-2.
Fast AF-lock combined with one-touch AF selector and precise white balance while retaining baseline ISO at 100. Surely, a great companion for travellers like me.
Anton – good point. I wonder whether Oly were fully aware of the problem and found a solution. I appreciate for some people it didnt occur or matter but for others it did … and even from a marketing point of view its worth trying to minimise the occurrence of red spots.
I suspect the base ISO will be 200. But it should give better performance than ISO100 of a couple years ago.
The current base ISO is already at 200…. ISO 100 is down tuned ISO 200, so people who asked “where is ISO 100” will get one, but ISO 100 can’t provide best performance unless the lighting is absolutely even (and then the color gamut is still very narrow).
That’s probably one of the reasons why Olympus is releasing an E-PL3 so soon.
Thanks Admin. Any news on whether there is an improvement in the AF speed for existing 4/3 lenses? You hinted at that a week or two ago but never let us know the details. On-sensor phase detection??
One source told me he “believes” there is an AF improvement on old lenses.
Thanks Admin. Does the E-P3 have a focus assist lamp at all?
Thanks for all your help.
Don’t know yet, but sources are reading the comments so I might get an answer soon!
hi sources. more please! thanks! 😀
will the 4/3 legacy lenses with Af phase detection benefit from the af speed increase of the ep3 ?
I have a difficult time imagining that they would. They aren’t designed for CDAF.
i am glad i’m just a “interchangeable grip” fan, instead of a “7 or 10 fps” fanboy
LOL HA HA HAAA 😀
If Oly is working on a high end m4/3 body, with all the new features on ep3, and an EVF, I might have to wait little longer.
Al – that is what I am thinking about too. The E-P3 sounds like a really good improvement but if there’s an EVF model coming soon I would prefer that and some time down the road to get an E-P2/E-P3 used body for a more compact second option. It would be great if when they release the three new pens next week, they gave some hints or show a prototype of an EVF model. Unlikely I know. They need something soon to keep the 43 users happy as well.
Not trying to be negative, but isn’t that wishful thinking? If Olympus are simultaneously releasing 3 models now and a new external EVF, why would they hold off a 4th camera in a couple of months time..? I think it’ll at least be next year before we see one with a built-in EVF. Just my belief though…
Michael – you are right it could just be wishful thinking!! Admin has hinted at more Olympus stuff coming in September on comments from previous posts. It could just be another lens. Someone asked him if Oly were working on an EVF model and he hinted they were. You could be right – it could be next year before its released.
I’d be willing to wait another year for the flagship PEN with the built-in EVF while still using my E-P2 with some of these new lenses. I’ve got the 25/1.4 pre-ordered and may get the new m.Zuiko 45/1.8 if it comes out soon as predicted as well. I can’t spend much more than that for awhile anyway.
I think another hint included the Exx DSLR, hopefully. That would make me feel better about buying another 4/3’s lens, like the ZD50-200 SWD lens & it would be nice if these lenses could work nicely on the new PENs (just because a PEN can make a great backup for a DSLR).
That might be a wishful thinking…. Though certainly I would love to see an E-50.
If size isn’t your thing, you’re better off buying a 4/3 anyways. m4/3 has no advantage over 4/3 currently except for size (which can be a big plus depends on your shooting style). I’ve had my E-620 for two years now and I haven’t seen a model (yet) that can make me switch. Zuiko 50-200mm SWD is my favorite lens by the way. I had very high expectation for it and it doesn’t fail my expectation, and that’s how good it is. If you use telephoto a lot, that’s a best buy and extremely versatile (except for minimum focus distance, which makes it not so good for macro that requires short working distance).
Just what I was thinking…
will it have AF assist lamp? I mean it’s pretty annoying to have that fast AF and have alot trouble focusing in ~low light …
Yes it does!
Where did you see that there is an AF assist lamp? It would be great if it did.
He sees and knows all.
🙂
Oh, thank god :).
You damn right!
Can’t tell where or when I saw, but it does have an AF Illuminator.
Yeah, on an FL36 or 50 flash unit. 😀
Though given none of the current micro 4/3rds cameras use the AF illuminator on the flash (Panasonic has it builtin into some bodies), it is now more of an appendix (something which used to have a useful purpose, but not doesn’t). It would be nice if Olympus re-enabled it, or at least provided it in a new flash.
Or on FL-300R 😉 ?
Not on the flash, built in the body. And it does a damn good job!
All three new PENs have it?
You mean the red light thing instead of that annoying quick flash strobes? Yes, that would be very welcome. 🙂
The E-P3 sounds like a very nice little iteration of the E-P2. I could do without the pop-up flash, but I guess you need that if you want to work the Olympus wireless flash system.
I’d buy one, but Olympus will probably charge $1,500 USD for the stupid thing. 🙂
OK, I really wouldn’t buy one, as I don’t buy cameras (other than the iPhone 4) that don’t have a viewfinder of some type. But other than that, sounds very nice.
The big $64,000 question though, is going to be the IQ. I would hope for something that exceeds the E-5 and E-PL1, but we’ll see.
Olympius
Touch screen?
TOUCH SCREEN?!
NOOOOOOOOO
If at least there are two dials, it’s okay to have a touch screen. Those are only problematic when you just have them to operate the camera.
YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS
how is having a touch screen in and of itself a bad thing? serious question.
I’m guessing there will be a grip incorporated with a m4/3 to 4/3 adapter, essesentially turning it into a 4/3 camera.. without the pentaprism.
Hope you are right. The interchangeable grip thingy is rather intriguing.
Depends how the AF works with the ‘old lenses’. Grip might carry additional batteries for powering their motors. I see 2 events:
* predictive AF speeds up PDAF too
* one of the grips might have a mirrored adapter for PDAF
Very intriguing, although only the latest lenses will be optimised for true dSLR speed.
However double processori might speed up all the rest of Micro lenses too.
Oly’s bad rep for poor AF speed might be gone forever!
Let’s cross fingers…
Thats an interesting idea. I am not so sure about whether it will include a 4/3 adapter. I was just thinking that it would be two optional grips: a slim grip and then a thicker grip to help with bigger lenses. But maybe you are right. Or maybe thats another grip option to come later.
There was a rumor about a modular camera last year. I thought that Oly might be working on a modular camera which is a micro 4/3 with EVF and the M4/3 mount plus EVF could be removed and replaced by a 4/3 mount and an OVF mirror box. Maybe it is not going to reach production. Admin any more news on this? Anyway thats nothing to do with the E-P3.
http://www.43rumors.com/a-bird-told-me-you-should-look-at-those-pictures-olympus-modular-camera/
I think Oly are already starting with the modular design idea by having the EVF removable for one & I’m not sure if this grip is a battery grip or just a physically larger attachment to assist holding the body (which is how I read it).
Any idea about the price, guys?
Should be circa $850 excluding the viewfinder and the optional grip (just an educated guess).
Hope $850 will be real, then I can spend more on lens, ha
My Plan is to have Leica 24mm+OLYMPUS 12mm, ha~~
Pfft. For $50 less I can get the new Pentax mirrorless! Olympus needs to get on the ball and price this thing at $200. Also, I need a full-frame sensor in there because I NEED SHALLOW DEPTH OF FIELD AND 34 STOPS OF DYNAMIC RANGE ZOMG!
/sarcasm
Just put my Fuji X100 up for sale, never really liked the IQ compared to my EPL1 + 20 anyways, besides I need the money to invest in all the new Olympus/Panasonic glass !!!
Good enough so far, i never had an issue with the design still love my EP1, finally compressed video format, good autofocus, the pen has grown mature
now then most important, that sensor better be good..
then i buy that thing on day 1..
admin, thanks for proving such great service, much appreciated.
now leak that image, common… 😉
Agreed! Pretty much all I’m hoping for now is a new and improved sensor. If I can get good ISO3200 I will be dead happy 😀
Maitani!! ha hah.. back from the dead eh!
+new Olympus-tweaked 12 Megapixel Sensor
+Truepic VI
+ISO 100
+1080i 60frs AVCHD or JPEG video
+OLED touch Display (610k resolution)
+fastest AF to date
(so-so) 3D still images
+Interchangeable grip
I hope grips won’t differ in color only.
So, all postives. I don’t care about ISO12800, while two dials have been on E-P1/2 already. The real pity is keeping large(ish) size and retro look. Let’s hope we’ll get something like this from Oly in G3 shape as well. But let’s see first what those grips and new viewfinder look like.
love the retro look, but that’s because i’m far more hip and stylish than you are 😉
Hmmm, pretty nice and interesting features here. But I don’t see any reason for me to upgrade my e-pl2 now, so I’ll be waiting for the Pro-Pen with built-in EVF — well, if it ever comes.
i don’t need to upgrade from my e-p2 either but i am considering a 2nd body 🙂
People still do that with digital ? Used to be just to fill one with 100asa film, and one with 800asa, but now, you’re worried one breaks down ?
I know someone shooting concerts and weddings having two 5D with a fast portrait prime mounted on one and a tele one the other, just to avoid having to change lens and miss some shots in the meanwhile… For a professional, it possibly makes sense.
Even for amateurs it can make sense if you are shooting events. One of the nice things that upgrading within the same system gives you is the ability to use the same lens on either body. I often go with the E-1 with 14-54mm lens (or E-P2 with a micro 4/3rds lens) and the E-3 with the 50-200mm lens. For example, when I go out on whale watches, I don’t want to be changing lenses on a boat out in the ocean.
one with a portrait lens, the other with a wide angle…for lazy photographers
Second body isn’t just for lazy photogs, having a second body in your case is a great idea for any arranged shoot.
Heck, even if it’s an E-PL2 with a four thirds adapter, or a Rebel, if it can service and save a shoot, it’s worth bringing.
Ever since I began to shoot film, I now carry three cameras…. Very cumbersome and annoying! One film camera for color, one film camera for black and white, and I still carry my DSLR with me in case of a scene where digital would be better for it.
Digital is very convenient that you don’t need to have separate films for separate jobs…. Films have its unique look (though you won’t win award if itsy bitsy detail is what you’re shooting for because film grain is much coarser than digital’s grainless look).
admin, could you please elaborate about the “interchangeable grip” or would you rather keep this info to yourself until the 29th? My imagination is all over the place 😉
They didn’t explain me how it works. I think you can attach it on the side of the camera.
It is more like the 30th!
Admin, are the grips E-P3 only or for E-Pl3 too ?
E-P3 only!
I think the is so on OM-2s/p, OM-3 and OM-4,
you can use camera grip on and without grip, also winder and motor drive.
But on E-P3 think i the is only difference size grip.
So if it announced on June 29/30 does anyone have a thought on when it will be released to own? I need it by September!
Olympus are usually pretty good at getting things in stores. Who knows if its in July – I would have thought at the latest in August.
Yes they are good. Stuff should be in Stock after a couple of weeks.
Thanks! Going to preorder it ASAP. My first non p&s camera! Can’t wait
lots of improvements for one generation! pretty nice…
@admin
any infos about af assist lamp?
just a little tool, but very usefull for party pictures
is the lcd screen in the 3 new models different?
Admin, do you know if the camera they are working on it with the integrated EVF is in a higher range than the EP3? And will it be available in 2012?
If that is like that I think I will wait for it and take a EP2 now that are at a reasonable price with some lenses.
Thanks for your work 😉
Deifnitely Higher Range than E-P3! Don’t know when they will announce it. But I will talk about that in July after the PEN announcement.
Admin.
So we can say, Pro Pen and water pro, to the camera by EVF body coming later?
Don’t know yet.
Thanks!! That is all I needed to know to decide what to do. 😀
I am impressed. Oly is getting to feature sets that are much more in line with what I want from a camera. Faster autofocus, a more substanial grip, full HD video, and a swivel-tilt LCD (for odd angle shots) are important to me.
A small pocketable camera body is good so long as I can solidly attach a more ergonomic grip that I would use most of the time. Also most of my shooting (except for odd angle shots) is done through the viewfinder to help steady the camera. A detachable EVF would be OK so long as the attachment mechanism is: 1) very secure and sturdy, 2) does not interfere with using an external flash (wirelessly or through the hot shoe), and 3) allows use of the hot shoe for attaching a third-party, shutter-synchronized GPS.
The new Pens are getting closer to meeting my needs. I still would probably wait on a newer Oly model with an integrated EVF. I hope ia future Oly model has capablities similar to a GH2 or forthcoming GH3 but with Oly’s build quality and advancments such as autofocus speed and IBIS.
I prefer a larger, more ergonomic grip for most of my camera use, but having a single system of lenses with different solutions for a more ergonomic grip and for ultra-portability is very attractive. I could even buy different grips or different camera models to meet my primary shooting use with a focus on ergonomics and a second use in which portability is more important. The commonality of the lens system makes such a configuration attractive.
Agree with that. The features are starting to come together. I am still not so sure about what Olympus is doing at the low end with the E-PM1 and E-PL3 – the features, size and naming doesnt sound spot on. That doesnt matter to me that much for my purchases.
But at the higher end the E-P3 seems like a good improvement (depending of course on IQ and sensor performance). All that Oly needs then is a model with EVF which admin says they are working on. Between Panasonic and Olympus the quality lenses are starting to come together – perhaps with the exception of a fast zoom. Its looking better.
Does it have 1080p? 1080i is not full HD, not even at 60fps. It remains to be seen how the codec is, and how 1080p at 30 fps will look like if it needs to be done in post.
well at least you can do slowmotion… of course 1080p will be better.
Oh, well. I had hoped Oly would go to 16mp in at least its high-end PEN body, but I guess I will have to wait. No reason to move on from my E-pl2 at this point because, bottom line, these incremental improvements don’t justify the hassle and cost. Really, for anyone owning a current 12 mp body from either panasonic or Olympus, I don’t see the point of changing.
Well, magapixels isn’t everything you know.
why on earth would you replace your e-pl2 already?
I would have considered it for a substantial increase in resolution, but not now. I do like my e-pl2 and the other improvements are not compelling enough fo rme to switch.
so I have to wait for 2012 for a good mirrorless camera? 🙁
no, you’re never getting what you want. so move on.
Safe, if a good camera is 16 mpx or more.
wondering if the pl3 is more video optimized than just the swivel screen…
Nice specs, I assume it will have AF help light ?
Yes!
Yeah, baby! More art filters! And we can combine them, too!
Olympus, now be a good company and release E-650, E-50 and E-5 MkII. I’d like to get a bank and purchase the 7-14 and an upgrade for my E-3 (which the E-5 IMHO isn’t), but you’re not letting me do that.
Hell yes! Where are those DSLR’s? We need new DSLR’s!!!! I can’t mount my 50-200 SWD on a Canon or Nikon, that’s for sure.
In regards to art filters: I’ve been AMAZED by that dramatic tone filter on the E-5 in samples I’ve seen, no need for HDR anymore.
I’d be happy with just the E-50.
Olympius
Wait and look, maybe new F/T come before year is finished.
Speaking of the 50-200… Olympus would do well to release an updated version with an internal zoom. I love my 50-200, but I’ve heard many horror stories about the weather-sealing gasket falling out. So, along with those new 4/3 bodies, they should release a 50-200 II (hopefully a constant f/2.8) and a native 100-400 f/3.5 or so.
I want a new DSLR! And I don’t want to switch systems! Olympus, are you reading this?
I’ve had it for more than one years now, and I’ve taken it to many places (I hike a lot and go to beaches, too) and I never had the experience of weather sealing problems. BTW, 50-200mm SWD is already MK II in a sense. The first version is just called 50-200mm (without SWD and without the extremely important rounded aperture diaphragm).
A constant f2.8 would be in SHG territory, which would be really big. Probably no point using it on a m4/3.
“1080i 60fps AVCHD or JPEG video” 🙂
The EP-3 is so much going to be the perfect camera for me. The image quality will allegedly be on Olympus DSLR level, its got the worlds quickest auto-focus and now it also seems to have an excellent movie mode. Huge props to oly!
@Admin, do you already have any information about the E-P3’s price?
No idea yet 🙁
Iso 12800, Invisage Quantumfilm on standard CMOS ?
Specs are looking good, I might have to get the EP3 to go with my EPL2. The sensor, screen and AF are the three features that appeal to me the most.
How about this? A hotshot flash port on the grip, or even better an accessory port to put the viewfinder on. Bets of both worlds, and then you can take it apart and be stealth.
Having some phase detect focus in the grip to make our 4/3 lenses work well would put me over the top.
Olympus could ver quickly get into the game.
i can imagine a modular grip, that also covers part of the lens mount, adding the pd-sensor near the mount (so your right hand does not cover it accidently). the grip needs to have electronic contacts to deliver the sensor-data to the cpu, and perhaps a battery to add power.
this would result in a modular m43/43 camera, with heavy grip for heavy zuiko-glass and light grip for “m43 only” lenses. then we just need the EP-4 with weatherproof body, internal evf (external optional) and the 43’s body are history. 2012 we might say: it’s not like chuck norris shooting olympus, it’s more like olympus shooting chuck norris 😉
t.
You lot are making too much of the grip thing.
Good imagination you all!
Well i see the you say, but i think Olympus not combe lens mount and grip.
If we look the Mantani moduler camera from year 1969,
so is the middleformat type but a modulmount for moduls and lens mount for lens.
It would be a smart move to include external microphone ports so you didn’t have to use both EVF and SEMA-1 at the same time when making a movie.
I wonder whether the grip will use BLS-5’s or BLM-5’s.
Given my E-3 had a sulk when I purchased the E-P2 and stopped focusing for awhile and then stopped focusing all together when I bought the 14-150mm lens and needed a trip to Haupage NY for repair, I wonder if the E-P2 will throw a hissy fit if I buy the E-P3.
It will be interesting to see the announcement, and see how much these marketing leaks in drip marketing mirror the actual reality.
The word “tweaked” and “designed” have been mentioned regarding the upcoming sensor. This is the riddle that I am awaiting. Given Thom Hogan’s comments, it appears to be a warmed over old sensor. I hope it is something truly different. Trupic VI gives up hope that it’s a significantly different and improved sensor.
AF speed should improve on lenses where the camera is the bottleneck. We saw this with the GH2. The zooms are in particular focusing much faster. I don’t see why we won’t see similar gains in the existing lenses (including CDAF capable 43 lenses like the 14-54 mk2), while simultaneously seeing another faster level on newer lenses. This bodes well for a large number of m43 and potential m43 users, as well as 43 glass owners. The AF on the EPL1 for candids (with say the 20mm/1.7) is slow enough to be problematic at times. An increase in the number of AF points is also indicative of a more accurate AF system — or at least one hopes.
S
Trupic is just the name Olympus uses for the microprocessors in the camera. Who knows if they are even in the same chip family, or whether Olympus switched processors between models. I think the old processors were MN10300’s. Maybe the new ones are ARM’s or maybe a newer version of the MN10x00, maybe something else.
I would love to know the difference(s) between the imminent E-P3 sensor and the rumored “all-new” Pen Pro sensor. If the Pro has a further f-stop or two of improvement (and is on schedule for September 2011), I would be inclined to wait for the Pen Pro (even if it’s a little bigger (EVF) and more expensive than the E-P3). IMO, a high ISO sensor body would be worth waiting for and a godsend for MFT.
Given the Pen Pro rumors, Oly would seem to be taking the Nikon approach of modest resolution (12MP) but high ISO performance. That worked well for Nikon… though Nikon is now upping their MP game tremendously. Oly could do Nikon style ISO MFT, while Panny could do Canon style high MP MFT for a nice set of body/sensor choices for MFT.
Admin, any more rumors/info about the Pen Pro sensor? Is it different than the E-P3 sensor, and if so, any details on the ISO or other spec.s? Is Pen Pro still on schedule for September?
Nice to see Olympus putting some nice pieces together. (Fingers crossed the 45mm is macro, though the rumors are against it. Doh.)
>Admin, any more rumors/info about the Pen Pro sensor? Is it different than the E-P3 sensor, … Is Pen Pro still on schedule for September?
No, it’s not. Why is everybody still talking about Pen Pro? Olympus THEMSELVES said that such a thing can only be expected in some two years! Also, if they now release 3 cameras at once, there is little probability that there will be another in September. Try to think realistically, just a little bit..
Various people refer to September when another Olympus is supposed to arrive. According to an earlier rumor, we are due an EVF pro body later this year. The E-P3 has no EVF, therefore we are still due another body (assuming all these rumors are true)
http://www.43rumors.com/ft3-olympus-revolution-the-next-pen-pro-with-own-designed-sensor/
I’m not saying you’re wrong, sir, but I’m hoping I’m right. A more substantial pro camera than the E-P3 would be welcome, especially if it has a major sensor upgrade.
As for the 2-3 years out, I recall that rumor as well. I am hoping that refers to a full replacement for the E-5… in the sense of weather sealing, comprehensive pro lens line-up, etc..
Time will tell. I still hope the E-P3 is a surprisingly good camera, and I don’t really care about EVF, but I would really like Oly and Panny to leapfrog their current sensor lineup(s).
I think we will see an E-700 or E-70 camera with EVF and micro 43 mount to compete with G3 (same form-factor) before the end of the year. It wont be called a Pen.
@Mal
E-700 or E-70 maybe, but certainly not with an EVF and m4/3 mount. In my opinion, if another camera appears till the end of the year, it will be a DSLR, not a micro.
Would like to see the EP3 with Pentax-Q style magnesium build quality instead of Oly’s thin metal and plastic build.
pentax q looks like crap.
I disagree about the looks and the build quality looks really nice. Especially compared to Oly’s plastic ep1 with thin metal skin.
Too bad about the q’s small sensor though.
+1 to deniz
A small camera with an interchangeable grip? Hmmmm…hmmmmmm…
http://www.olympus.co.jp/jp/fun/wallpaper/camera/dl.cfm?id=304&type_id=1&la=en
Why do we need an E50?
When auto focus with FT lenses are fast, you only need a grip like this!
“Why do we need an E50?
When auto focus with FT lenses are fast, you only need a grip like this!”
For the same reason I would want an E5 with an OVF but at a more affordable price. I still don’t think the PEN E-P3 can satisfy a DSLR user fully but it is obviously getting closer. I don’t think the SWD lenses will work at the same response on the E-P3 as the E5 & E30. That’s why I have an E30 now & would be comforted to know there is another DSLR affordable body I can still buy.
Sounds good to me, especially with the new primes coming out. But I’m still lugging around my dinosaur E5 for a while yet. Might be a good time to get one of the older m43 cameras and a couple of the new lenses.
Dinosaur be bird in photographys world also.
This jkrumm guy is full of it. Who does he think he is? The Olympus Guru?
Wow Olympus, at least give it a new body for a change. It’s a freaking 3 year old body!! What? Too lazy to design a new one? Geez…
you mean 3 years yong!
No reason to change a body design every year…
(for example compare all te body’s of nikon and canon)
Yes, example EOS-1D vs. EOS-1D mk.IV, body look very like. 🙂
Right people can’t forget ISO performance is key image quality factor over megapixals. I wonder what’s the max performance we can extract out of a sensor.
If ISO performance goes up, that would be key in comparison results.
If there’s a next generation sensor option, I think kodak would be smart, since kodak doesn’t have competing products against olympus. They don’t have alternative motives against providing the best sensor possible to olympus. Kodak already provides sensors to the overrated Leica.
The key is in the tweaking, and I suspect that the progress is in the use of the dual core technology.
It’s been a while since DPR reports that there are no advantages in DR to be had in Oly’s RAW.
I also understand that there are diminishing returns in increasing the Mpx count. Denoising must be increased at base ISO and that spoils resolution.
All in all one can’t say a next generation sensor is a progress, except that it allows to reach higher ISO to the expense of base ISO performance.
In terms of resolution and IQ Oly included the ‘old’ 12 Mpx sensor in the E-5 and nobody protested except the clueless.
Can somebody just come out with an X100 with interchangeable lens, stick a $750 tag on it, and be done with it? Is that too much to ask???
Andrea, does the E-PL3 screen flip up just like the NEX?
Can somebody just come out with an X100 with interchangeable lens, stick a $750 tag on it, and be done with it? Is that too much to ask?
What? No iPod connector??? I will definitely not buy this.
maybe the EP3 will be useful for wildlife/birding if the focus is so fast and a grip to hold the 70-300mm 43 lens..mmmmm
just wish it had a tilt screen as it so usefull…
would love an OM2 sp design digital as that was my fav camera for 20 years… but maybe we must wait for the Pro body
I love the swivel-tilt screen on my E-30 for composing odd angle shots. Although most of my shooting is through the viewfinder, a tilt-swivel EVF does not solve the odd-angle shot problem like a tilt-swivel LCD. I have a solid leather hand strap in addition to the neck strap on my E-30. I can use the swivel-tilt LCD to accurately compose shots while securely hold the camera with my arm outstretched directly over my head when in crowds or holding the camera out over a ledge or bridge. I am not a pro enough to get a harness and straps to physically crawl over the railing of a tall building or bridge. However, I can hold the camera out in a place that would be unsafe for my torso while still composing the shot accurately. This use of a tilt swivel screen is much better than just random press and pray with the shutter hoping to get a good composition when extending an arm to put a camera without a tilt-swivel LCD into an awkward or unsafe location (e.g. over the railing of a high bridge). Also, I like being able to turn the swivel-tilt mechanism to securely stow the LCD to keep it from getting scratched during the more common time that I use the view finder to take shots.
The tilt-swivel LCD just allows me to get shots that look like I am a dare devil that climbs over bridge railings or like a pro that rigs up safety harness equipment for odd or unsafe locations. I am not crazy enough to actually climb over the safety fence or rails at a place like Niagra Falls. Instead, I would just hold my E-30 at arms length over the rail and compose the shot after adjusting the tilt-swivel LCD to be able to perfectly see the camera’s view for the photo.
While a twist and shout lcd allows you to photograph in some hard to reach places, it still has its limits. There are devices on ebay right now that completely remove the screen from the camera, using the A/V out and remote shutter release that is in most of the Pens (except for the E-PL1). For example, you can put your camera on a pole to shoot over a crowd. Trust me, in shooting on a pole, you get a crick in your neck if you have to look upwards to a twisted lcd. While it would be nice if Olympus provided such an accessory, they likely would want to charge a fairly high price for it.
Here is an image using A/V out on my E-P2 (I don’t yet have one of the combined units):
http://www.the-meissners.org/2010-small-albums/2010-pimp-my-ep2/small/2010-06-11-09-42-033-mymovie.jpg
Am I the only one who does NOT want a built in EVF? I’ve already got the VF-2, paid quite a bit for it, it’s pretty decent for now. I’d say give it about two more years when tech improves before they put in a bigger, brighter, newer EVF. I don’t want to pay extra for a built in EVF for now.
I like the idea of being able to separately update the EVF independently of the camera and to share the EVF across multiple cameras.
However, Oly’s EVF adapter solution uses up the hot shoe that is needed for external flash, shutter-synchronized GPS geotagging, and some external microphone mountings. These problems with an attachable, non-integrated EVF can be solved with Oly thinking more about the I/O ports on a camera.
Also, in my opinion Oly’s VF2 is not attached securely and sturdily enough. It feels like a kludge appendage that could fall off or break if the camera hits something while shooting. This type of problem with an attachable EVF can be solved by designing a mechanically sturdier attachment mechanism. The lens mount on SLRs and mirrorles EVIL cameras is an example of a very sturdy mechanical and electrical connector. Furthermore, the tilt-swivel VF-2 is nice, but the high profile also makes the VF2 more likely to get hit or jostled when carrying the camera. I’m not sure of a way to solve this because the high profile and tilt-swivel also allow the user to look down into the EVF for low angle shots.
Since most of shooting is through the viewfinder to be able to better steady the camera close to mt face, a view finder would be attached close to 100% of the time. Unless the add-on EVF has a sturdy mechanical connector to the sturdiness level of a lens mount, I would prefer an integrated EVF.