The camera that truly started the mirrorless interchangeable lens system cameras, Olympus E-P1 nevertheless was full of flaws, packaged in an awesome looking body design. We fell in love with the camera when it came through our doors two years previous. We also were somewhat smitten with the sequel the E-P2, but we felt that it wasn’t a significant upgrade to the E-P1 that it should be. Now however the promised upgrade is here, with the new E-P3.
Avant-garde Design
Design wise the E-P3 inherits it from the E-P2 in terms of the shape and even the make. It keeps the same hotshoe and accessories port from the E-P2 and the original design from the E-P1. It is even made in brushed aluminium – just like the E-P1. Actually, if you did a once glance over, you will swear that it is the E-P1. It still has a grip, the triangular eyelets for your neck camera strap and the nice feel shutter button from the E-P1.
What differentiates this camera than the predecessor is just about everything but the body – even then there are some differences. First of all, if you notice in the photos, the mode selector is now next to the shutter button. This is because the spot previously where the mode selector is at now houses a built-in flash! Yes, the flagship PEN now has a built-in flash! Better yet, the flash supports remote flash triggers, so off-body flash is a piece of cake now.
Touch Away!
One mentionable new feature that I really love is the touch screen. Yes, the PEN now has a touch screen. The camera uses the capacitive touch screen that allows pin point accuracy with your finger tip, without the need to mash the screen in to access any menu or even take photos. You heard it right – there is a mode where you literally touch the screen to take your photo. The touch function also works to change your focus point in the photo – just touch and the next time you press the shutter button, the camera will focus on that point only.
For the more technical of you readers, here are some more juicy notes – the E-P3 now has 35 focusing points – up from the previous 14 on the E-P1 and E-P2. It also has a re-worked button layout – a Fn button is now next to the shutter button, and the mode dial is next to the shutter as well. Olympus has opted to use their purpose-built 12 megapixel sensor that is not shared with any other manufacturer.
Better in Low Light
In low light conditions, the camera now supports up to ISO12800 – while still having a good day at the park (or night park as it is) with photos. While they may not be the best quality photo – for everybody else, the photos are still good enough to have 4 x 6” or 5R prints made.
While the camera retains the ten art filters that was already present in the E-P2, but now you can have additional effects to your Art Filter photos – for example in the Dramatic Tone effect, you can add starlight effects to the photo. In essence, you can have 34 different combinations for your photos.
Photo Quality
Check out the gallery of samples we featured in the review. As you can see, there is one subject where we seem to replicate about 17 times with different art filters. What we have here actually is the new Art Filter Bracketing function. Set the function on, select which filter to use and then snap away. If you have all filters selected, the camera will process all of the photos – full 12MP images mind you – in under ten seconds. Incredible! (Note: Full-res pictures on click)
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More pictures for your viewing pleasure (full-res pics on click):
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We also have a small sample of raw files available for download, simply click here.
It Is Blazing Fast Now
One more complaint that E-P1 and E-P2 users always have is that the autofocus is not fast enough to capture the critical moments. That has been rectified. The E-P3 has officially the fastest autofocus system in the camera world, with instantaneous lock on to any subject within miliseconds, and also an updated user interface, that is much more user friendly to the consumer.
We fell in love with the E-P1. We didn’t as much with the E-P2. With the E-P3, we fell in love all over again.
