Author Topic: Dpreview E-PL3 review (Read 1073 times)

voyager · « **on:** September 19, 2011, 09:35:26 PM »

The E-PL3 is a small, light, pleasingly-designed camera that handles well and makes everyday picture-taking a fast, intuitive process. Olympus has managed to reduce size and weight in their 'second tier' PEN lineup while maintaining direct control point access to shooting and exposure controls. Overall, the PEN Lite conveys the feel of a well-executed refinement of the E-PL2. While basic image quality is essentially unchanged from its predecessor, the E-PL3's design and handling marks a clearer distinction between Olympus' E-P and E-PL series cameras without making the lower-cost unit feel like a stripped-down budget model.

With the E-PL3, Olympus offers sleek design and fast AF performance in a package priced to appeal to users looking to trade in their compact-camera for higher image quality without adding too much bulk. To consumers for whom the E-P3 is literally too much camera at too high a price, the E-PL3 offers identical image quality and performance with a compelling feature set. While the PEN series menu system still requires an unnecessarily steep learning curve for new users, most will find that after one or two initial visits, time spent scrolling through menu trees will be on the rare side.

We find the PEN Lite to be a well-thought out attempt to lure compact-camera upgraders to both higher image quality and the opportunity to explore manual controls while providing a day to day handling experience that will be far from intimidating. As such, we have handed the E-PL3 our Silver Award. Potentially awkward handling with the control dial, a disappointing noise reduction/sharpening default and and a digital image stabilization system (for video) that can produce less than pleasing results prevent the E-PL3 from receiving our Gold Award.

http://dpreview.com/reviews/olympusepl3/

Thoughts?

lisandra · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2011, 10:39:46 PM »

and here we go...

Dpreview E-PL3 review