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Olympus PEN E-PL3

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Olympus Pen E-PL3
A black Olympus PEN E-PL3 with the standard flash attachment and 14-42mm lens fitted
Overview
TypeMicro Four Thirds, interchangeable lens camera
Lens
LensMicro Four Thirds System mount
Sensor/medium
SensorFour Thirds System 17.30 × 13.00 mm Live MOS
Maximum resolution4032×3024 (12.3 megapixels)
Film speedISO 200–12800
Storage mediaSecure Digital card; SDHC; SDXC
Focusing
Focus modesSingle, continuous, manual
Focus areas35 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
FlashNo built-in flash, but has Clip-on flash included, TTL, GN 10m equivalent (ISO200 · m); hotshoe for external flash attachment
Shutter
Shutter1/4,000 to 60 s, up to 30 minutes bulb
Continuous shooting4.1 frames/s (5.5 frames/s in case of "I.S. OFF"
Viewfinder
Viewfinderlive preview, optional electronic viewfinder VF-2; optional electronic viewfinder VF-3; optional optical viewfinder VF-1
General
LCD screen3" 460,000 pixel TFT LCD on screen with live preview
BatteryOlympus BLS-5 Lithium-ion battery
Dimensions109.5 × 63.7 × 37.3 mm (4.31" × 2.51" × 1.47")
Weight265 g (9.3 oz) (body only) 313 g (11.0 oz) (body, battery and SD memory card)

The Olympus PEN E-PL3 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-PL3 succeeds the Olympus PEN E-PL2, and was announced in concert with two other models, the Olympus PEN E-P3 (the flagship version), and the Olympus PEN E-PM1 (a new "Mini" version of the PEN camera line with similar features to the E-PL3). The E-PL3 is commonly said to be the "Lite" (less full featured) version of the E-P3, much as the E-PL1 and E-PL2 were "Lite" versions of the E-P1 and E-P2, respectively.

Technology

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The E-PL3 addresses some of the concerns that critics had about previous PEN models: slow handling, due to slow autofocus speed and difficulty seeing the LCD panel under certain (e.g., bright, sunny) conditions.

The E-PL3 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-PL3, along with its E-PM1 cousin, have similar characteristics to the flagship E-P3, which according to Olympus 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-PL3 lacks the E-P3 capacitive touchscreen for creative camera control, and the E-P3 OLED type display that is supposed to vastly improve performance in sunny conditions, and off-angle viewing. Instead, the E-PL3 has a tiltable LCD, which allows easy above the head, waist level, or low off the ground viewing. The E-PL3 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 and a locking device.[citation needed]

Differences over Olympus PEN E-P1

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  • Addition of an Accessory Port that can be used for an electronic viewfinder, external microphone or external flash
  • Two new Art filters-simulating Diorama and Cross process in camera
  • Black finish widely available
  • Auto focus tracking
  • Colour boosting function named i-Enhance

Specifications not in the infobox

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See also

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Micro Four Thirds Camera introduction roadmap

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Item Model Sensor Electronic View Finder (EVF) Announced
1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effective) EVF; 1.4x magnification; 1.44M dots 2008, October[4]
2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 4:3; 3:2; 16:9 (multi-aspect); 14.0 mp (12.1 mp effect) EVF; 1.4x mag; 1.44M dots 2009, April[5]
3 Olympus PEN E-P1 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) optional hotshoe optical VF-1; 65-degree AOV 2009, July[6]
4 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect) opt hotshoe EVF LVF1; 1.04x mag; 202K dots 2009, September[7]
5 Olympus PEN E-P2 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2009, November[8]
6 Olympus PEN E-PL1 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2010, February[9]
7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect) EVF; 1.04x magnification; 202K dots 2010, March[10]
8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect) EVF; 1.4x mag; 1.44M dots 2010, March[11]
9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 4:3; 3:2; 16:9 (multi-aspect); 18.3 mp (16.0 mp effect) EVF; 1.42x mag; 1.53M dots 2010, September[12]
10 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect) opt hotshoe EVF; 1.04x mag; 202K dots 2010, November[13]
11 Olympus PEN E-PL1s 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2010, November[14]
12 Olympus PEN E-PL2 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2011, January[15]
13 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 4:3 / 16.6 mp (15.8 mp effect) EVF; 1.4x mag; 1.44M dots 2011, May[16]
14 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.1 mp effect) N/A 2011, June[17]
15 Olympus PEN E-P3 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2011, June[18]
16 Olympus PEN E-PL3 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2011, June[19]
17 Olympus PEN E-PM1 4:3 / 13.1 mp (12.3 mp effect) opt hotshoe EVF VF-2; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2011, June[20]
18 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 4:3 / 16.6 mp (16.0 mp effect) opt hotshoe EVF LVF2; 1.4x mag; 1.44M dots 2011, November[21]
19 Olympus OM-D E-M5 4:3 / 16.9 mp (16.1 mp effect)[22] EVF; 1.15x mag; 1.44M dots 2012, February[23]

References

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  1. ^ "Olympus PEN E-P3 announced and previewed: Digital Photography Review". Dpreview.com. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  2. ^ "OLYMPUS | News Release: "OLYMPUS PEN E-P3" New generation System Camera". Olympus-global.com. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  3. ^ Olympus Imaging India Private Limited. "E-PL3 Specs". olympus-imaging.co.in. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1: World's Smallest and Lightest Digital Interchangeable Lens Camera*" (Press release). Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 April 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Olympus E-P1 'digital Pen' - in depth preview + samples".
  7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 April 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ "Olympus launches E-P2 Micro Four Thirds camera".
  9. ^ "Olympus unveils the affordable Pen". Digital Photography Review. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  10. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 April 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "OLYMPUS PEN Lite E-PL1s|デジタル一眼カメラ|オリンパスイメージング".
  15. ^ "Olympus E-PL2 announced and previewed".
  16. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 May 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 May 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ "OLYMPUS | News Release: World's fastest AF*, Flagship of PEN series "OLYMPUS PEN E-P3"".
  19. ^ "OLYMPUS | News Release: High functionality and high performance into a small body, "OLYMPUS PEN Lite E-PL3"".
  20. ^ "OLYMPUS | News Release: First model of the New Line of "PEN mini" Series "OLYMPUS PEN mini E-PM1"".
  21. ^ "DMC-GX1 | PRODUCTS | LUMIX | Digital Camera | Panasonic Global". Archived from the original on 19 May 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  22. ^ "Olympus announces OM-D E-M5 weather-sealed Micro Four Thirds camera".
  23. ^ "OLYMPUS | News Release: The OLYMPUS OM-D, a new generation system camera compliant with the Micro Four Thirds System standard".
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Media related to Olympus E-PL3 at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by Olympus PEN E-PL3 Micro Four Thirds System Camera
Autumn 2011–present
Succeeded by