Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus Pen E-P3
Overview
TypeMicro Four Thirds, interchangeable lens camera
Lens
LensMicro Four Thirds System mount
Sensor/medium
SensorFour Thirds System 18.00 × 13.50 mm (17.30 × 13.00 mm imaging area) Live MOS
Maximum resolution4032×3024 (12.3 megapixels)
Film speedISO 200–12800
Storage mediaSecure Digital card; SDHC; SDXC
Focusing
Focus modesSingle, continuous, manual
Focus areas11 area contrast detect auto-focus, selectable
Exposure/metering
Exposure modesProgram, shutter-priority, aperture-priority, manual
Exposure meteringDigital ESP metering, Centre weighted average metering, Spot metering
Metering modesTTL ESP multi patterned (324-area multi pattern metering), Center-weighted average, Spot (1%)
Flash
FlashBuilt-in pop up, TTL, GN 10.5m equivalent (ISO100 · m); hotshoe for external flash attachment
Shutter
Shutter1/4,000 to 60 s, 30 minutes bulb
Continuous shooting3 frame/s
Viewfinder
Viewfinderlive preview, optional electronic viewfinder VF-2; optional electronic viewfinder VF-3; optional optical viewfinder VF-1
General
LCD screen3" 614K dots OLED LCD on screen with live preview with capacitive touchscreen control
BatteryOlympus BLS-1 or BLS-5 Lithium-ion battery
Dimensions122 × 69.1 × 34.3 mm (4.8" × 2.72" × 1.35")
Weight321 g (11.3 oz) (body only) 369 g (13.0 oz) (body, battery and SD memory card)
Footnotes
Optional, exchangeable grips are available for right side of body

The Olympus PEN E-P3 announced on 30 June 2011[1] is Olympus Corporation's seventh camera that adheres to the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system design standard. The E-P3 succeeds the Olympus PEN E-P2, and was announced in concert with two other models, the Olympus PEN E-PL3 (Lite version of E-P3), and the Olympus PEN E-PM1 (a new "Mini" version of the PEN camera line with similar features to the E-PL3).

The EP-3 addresses some of the concerns that critics had about previous PEN models, notably, slow handling, due to slow autofocus speed and difficulty seeing the LCD panel under certain (e.g., bright, sunny) conditions.

The E-P3 increases autofocus speed through use of a 120 Hz refresh rate for its sensor, similar to the technology used in the recently released Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 and G3 cameras. Olympus claims, based on in-house testing, that the E-P3 has the world's fastest autofocus speed of any camera as of the product announcement date.[2] The benefits of the 120 Hz refresh rate also provides the ability for continuous autofocus tracking during bursts of exposures, a faster shutter response (less lag) and less blackout time between exposures.

The E-P3 now uses a capacitive touchscreen for creative camera control, and a new OLED type display[3] that is supposed to vastly improve performance in sunny conditions, and off-angle viewing. The EP-3 continues with the proprietary Accessory Port, a power and communication port, which allows the use of various accessories, such as an external stereo microphone for HD video recording, LED macro lights, and a bluetooth communications adapter. The accessory port continues to be compatible with the high resolution, optional hotshoe mounted VF-2 electronic viewfinder (EVF). The VF-2 had a flip angle eyepiece, allowing viewing from 0–90 degrees. The VF-2 had been criticized for being very expensive and for not having a locking device, with some users reporting easy dislodgement of the VF-2 from the hotshoe. To address these criticisms, in July 2011, Olympus announced the introduction of an optional VF-3 EVF, which has a lower resolution, a locking device, and probably most importantly a US$100 lower MSRP.

In the United States the E-P3 MSRP with new 14–42 mm kit zoom lens or 17 mm f/2.8 pancake lens was US$899. The accessory VF-3 EVF was also available separately for US$180.00. Available body colors were black and silver.

  1. ^ "Olympus PEN E-P3 announced and previewed". Digital Photography Review. Center Valley, Pennsylvania. 30 June 2011. Archived from the original on 11 December 2014.
  2. ^ "OLYMPUS | News Release: World's fastest AF*, Flagship of PEN series "OLYMPUS PEN E-P3"". Olympus Official Website. News Release List. 30 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011.
  3. ^ Murph, Darren (29 August 2011). "Olympus PEN E-P3 Micro Four Thirds camera review". Engadget. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.