There are now plenty of E-P3 comparisons to read:
ePhotozine (Click here) posted a full Olympus E-P3 vs Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-5 vs Samsung NX11 comparison. Guess who won the battle? 🙂
Which One? Sony NEX C3 vs Olympus EP3 (ThePhoBlographer): “I need to give this to the Olympus EP3 and admit that this has been the most difficult comparison review I’ve done to date.”
Panasonic Lumix GF3 vs Olympus PEN EP-3 vs Sony NEX-C3 – Which one to buy? (Digitalrev).
The Olympus E-P3 vs The Sony NEX-5 ISO war (Steve Huff).
The Olympus E-P3 is in Stock at [shopcountry 23568].
New Pansonic GF3 tests:
The polish website Optyczne (Click here to read the google english translation) posted a full E-P3 review. The overall score is higher than the Panasonic G3 and Samsung NX100!
Panasonic GF3 review at Les Numeriques (Click here) and Imaging Resource (Click here).
The Panasoic GF3 is in Stock at [shopcountry 23109].
21 Responses
I am a panasonic guy (GF1 Owner) and the GF3 looks like a misunderstanding between the marketing guys and the techies; the GF3 is a disgrace, I think that the LX3 is much better than that thing, is like an aborted Lumix-G camera. It should stop being reviewed, not even from a marketing perspective sounds good, since a M43 owner is usually some one new in DSLR or a keen amateur, this camera just holds you from doing stuff, and finally… NO DAMN HOTSHOE?!!?!? what where they thinking??
I thought the same until I went out to replace my LX5. Suddenly I ended up buying the GF3! I only used the LX5 in 24-28mm and owned a GF1 at the same time. I actually like the GF3. It’s a P&S with the 14mm. Touch screens are annoying, but for the size it’s okay. Never used the hotshoe, so I don’t think I will miss it.
I plan on buying the GF7 or whatever are released in the high-end og MFT, but for now I use a X100 and a DSLR when I don’t need to have the camera in a pocket. The GF3 fits nicely in between the P&S and “bigger cameras” (be it MFT, APS-C or DSLRs).
Also Steve Huff just published an insightful post about his recent crush for the E-P3 with some nice street shots http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2011/08/20/out-on-the-street-with-the-olympus-e-p3-and-12mm-f2-lens/
There’s a number of photographers that really love the E-Px cameras (Kirk Tuck comes to mind immediately). I’ve noticed that all of the more photographer oriented reviews as opposed to technical reviews seem to really love the E-Px cameras, both for their OOC JPEGS and handling.
Thanks. I like his line: the only people complaining about the E-P3, are people who do not own one!
Something that still estranges me: 4/3 and m4/3 have a sensor with a 4:3 aspect but a display with a 3:2 aspect.
APS-C has a 3:2 sensor but the display is often in a 4:3 aspect.
For APS-C one could argue that the 4:3 display works better for portraits but
Why do 4/3 cameras not have a 4:3 display to make full use of the display in lifeview and playback?
I suspect that it has to do with availability of parts, and also a desire to use a larger display on a smaller camera.
Using a different aspect ratio for the rear display allows you to place information and data [shutter speed/ISO/number of remaining frames on the card etc] along the top/bottom or sides without encroaching [too much] on the picture displayed from the sensor ?
In theory yes but Olympus overlays the information completely on the image, so what’s the point. And this hasn’t changed since at least my first 4/3 in 2006
I’m pretty dedicated to Panasonic lenses and cameras but it looks like Olympus is getting their shit together and starting to knock some socks off! I want the Ep-3 from the good things I am hearing about it. I just spent a thousand dollars on lenses though so it may be a while. 🙂 I’ve been wanting to get an Olympus M43 now ever since I saw Kevin Spacey on those EP1 commercials a few years back!
why are Oly & pana not able to integrate the SWEEP PANORAMA mode?
I mean nobody has to use it, if they don’t like. But I like it very much on my small Sony. Also it would be in line with the in house features the cameras already have!
Yes, I would love an easy panorama fuction, too.
possibly because it’s not been perfected (not even in Sony cameras) with some ghosting occasionally, I imagine it will be in the GH3 and the E-P4 though or maybe it will available as a micro four thirds app in 2012…
The Sony NEX appears like a solution for a problem (lens) that does not exist…
If you have a lens and are in search for a body to mount it to, then it appears the first choice for mirrorless bodies. But right now it is rather like if you buy a lens with an exchangeable body and definitely not a system camera.
Odd how they got the top models from Sony/Oly/Samsung and the lowest from Panasonic… Why no G3? Its still cheaper than the EP3…
+10
No kidding. The GF3 is P&S bait, not on the same level as the others. G3 compared to the rest would have been more fair. And certainly give the M4/3 system wider exposure.
I still don’t know what all the fuss is about. I have a GF1….If I shoot Raw in most situations you would never be able to tell the difference with any of the images from these new MFT cameras… Nada. Its still the same sensor.
When there is a serious improvement in the sensor (not jpeg tweeks ….or art filters)…that is when I will buy my next MFT body. It’s a GREAT format and I still say..if a Foveon sensor was produced for this format..with all the glass that is available and on the way…EVERYONE would flock to the MFT arena…even if that body was a bit pricey. The system has that potential because it feels so good in your hands. Something is right there.,
“It’s a GREAT format and I still say..if a Foveon sensor was produced for this format..with all the glass that is available and on the way…EVERYONE would flock to the MFT arena…”
I think if an MFT body was released with a Foveon sensor, 1% of consumers would gush, 4% would be like “Hmm, Foveon – interesting” and 95% would just stare blankly at the spec sheet and then go look for something with 54,000iso…
The GH2 and the G3 would win over the four contenders. A bit strange to compare the E-P3 and the GF3 i think. The GF3 competes with the smallest Olympus in price and form factor as well as intended customer group.
Bob B: Compared to those you should stick with the GF1 – better usability than competitors if not for focus speed. Myself today reached 2000 exposures with G3 – take a look at that…
Yeah…at that price point for the Olympus camera..the GH2 would have been the one to compare. No doubt. So it goes…. I am going to hang tight… I love my GF1…but I am sure it would be nice to have the faster focus.
Now I’m eager to see what Samsung is going to release. If they release something like the NEX7 and their 16mm pancake is as good as their 30mm pancake, I might have to try out Samsung. This shootout showed Samsung produces fantastic quality images and handily beat the NEX with it’s cheap kit lens.