Olympus PEN E-PL3 Recensie | 108 Gegevens vergelijking

The DPReview analysis of the Olympus PEN E-PL3 highlights a highly responsive, compact mirrorless camera featuring a robust metal build, fast autofocus, and a versatile tilting LCD. Key pros include excellent low-ISO image quality, 5 fps continuous shooting, and customizable controls, although the 12-megapixel sensor's high-ISO performance lags behind competitors. Cons include an overly aggressive JPEG noise filter, lack of a hand grip, and an absent built-in flash, forcing users to choose between external flash, EVF, or microphone usage.

The Olympus Pen E-PL3 ("Pen Light") mirrorless camera features a redesigned 12.3-megapixel sensor, a sleek modern body with an extended lens mount, and a physical mode dial that simplifies exposure navigation compared to its rivals. It provides advanced shooting options like PASM modes, results-based "Live Guide" controls, and highly customizable interfaces including a hidden Super Control Panel. Major advantages include an enhanced 35-point contrast-detect autofocus system equipped with an AF assist lamp for better low-light performance, built-in sensor-shift image stabilization offering up to three stops of correction, and a 16:9 tiltable screen that excels for video framing. Performance is quick, delivering a continuous burst speed of up to 6.2 frames per second with image stabilization disabled. However, the camera has notable limitations, starting with the removal of both the built-in flash and the front grip, which leaves the front panel flat and noticeably less comfortable to hold than its predecessor. The transition to a 16:9 aspect ratio screen means that a significant portion goes unused when shooting standard 4:3 aspect ratio still images, resulting in large black bars on either...

The ePHOTOzine review of the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 highlights its premium metal construction, exceptionally fast autofocus, and a 3-inch tiltable LCD screen. The camera offers 5.5 fps continuous shooting, good high ISO noise handling, and pleasant color output, making it highly responsive for daily use. However, critics point out the lack of a hand-grip makes the body slippery, and it lacks a built-in flash, requiring a clip-on unit. Additional drawbacks include a confusing, deep menu system and, sometimes, an awkward 16:9 aspect ratio screen.

The Olympus PEN E-PL3 (also known as the "Lite") is a 12.3-megapixel mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that delivers very sharp pictures and excellent colour rendition at a competitive price point. Key design advantages include a compact body that is 10% smaller and 15% lighter than the E-P3, alongside a flexible 3" rear LCD screen that tilts 80 degrees up and 45 degrees down for easy high- or low-angle shooting. Performance-wise, it features quick startup-to-shot times of about one second, clean ISO performance up to ISO 3200, and full access to the Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem. On the downside, the camera suffers from an overly cluttered, hard-to-read viewfinder menu with minuscule text, and its physical buttons are labelled in a dim colour that makes operation difficult in low light. Video recording capability is a weak point, exhibiting slow autofocus tracking and a disruptive quirk where taking a still photo during video capture causes the recording to completely pause and restart. Additionally, low-light image quality falls apart rapidly at ISO 6400 and above, and the hotshoe layout creates a physical conflict...

The Olympus Pen Lite E-PL3 is a compact and lightweight interchangeable lens camera that packs the same internal components as its pricier sibling, the E-P3, into a 25% smaller and 20% lighter body weighing just 265 grams (body only). Its standout features include a tilting 3-inch LCD screen, six creative art filters, a fast autofocus system for stills, and a continuous shooting speed of up to 5.5 frames per second. The camera shoots very good JPEGs with pleasing color saturation out of its 12.3-megapixel Live MOS sensor, matching the image quality of the E-P3 under optimal conditions. However, the downsized design introduces several usability compromises. The physical body lacks an external grip or indentation, making it slippery and tricky to hold securely. While it delivers strong low-ISO performance, images taken above ISO 1600 suffer from heavy color noise and loss of detail, and the automatic white balance struggles indoors, leaving images with a harsh yellow tinge. Furthermore, the video autofocus frequently hunts during filming, and because the camera lacks a built-in flash, utilizing the included clip-on flash blocks the hotshoe,...

Olympus E-PL3 Review Summary The Olympus Pen E-PL3 is a highly responsive and customizable Micro Four-Thirds camera that delivers excellent out-of-camera JPEG image quality and clean high ISO performance up to 1600. It is praised for its elegant, lightweight, non-retro design and a remarkably fast auto-focus system that silences previous criticisms of the Pen series. Standout features include a versatile, bright tiltable rear screen—excellent for low-angle or architectural work—and a continuous frame rate of 5fps. Users also benefit from an added AF assist lamp, a pocketable detachable mini-flash (FL-LM1) that supports wireless flash control, and compatibility with the high-quality VF-2 electronic viewfinder via the AP2 accessory port. Conversely, the camera suffers from several ergonomic and design flaws, primarily driven by its slim, grip-less body. The 16:9 widescreen format is poorly suited for the camera's native 4:3 image sensor, resulting in a heavily compromised and small viewing area when shooting stills. Physical limitations include tiny, tightly packed rear buttons that are impossible to use with gloves, and a fiddly circular control wheel prone to accidental adjustments. Additionally, the off-center tripod bush...