New PEN 3

reviews are in for the ep3 now for dxomark and shutter lag from imaging resource

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/EP3/EP3A6.HTM

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/C...and3%29/Olympus

They gave up a tiny bit of sensor DR, and noise, to get the faster AF readout, it looks like. An excellent trade off in my experience.

Funny they keep sticking with basically a 4 year old sensor...

Funny they keep sticking with basically a 4 year old sensor...

Don,

Thanks for the links. May be not so funny; I think Panasonic makes their sensor. Let's see what the Pany G3 new sensor will do and maybe Sony's Nex 7 in August.

Bob

g3 is already up there, at dxo mark, so it the new sony nex:

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/C...d3%29/Panasonic

If you look at the SNR, it is just a hair better than the gh2. The DR is funny, because it is worse below 800 ISO, and better above.

Of course, it is only 16 mpix, compared to 18 for the gh2.

I agree the nex 7, or or A77, or gh3 are looking to be stellar, based on the rapid improvement in this category.

PEN E-P3 – main features:Image Quality

Powerful image processor TruePic VI, a faster response time and excellent picture quality

Extremely effective, integrated in the body image stabilization for both video and sharp, blur-free images – works with any lens

12.3 effective megapixel sensor, High Speed ​​Live MOS sensor for the perfect operation in low light and when shooting HD

To ISO 12800

Record 1080i HD video with stereo audio, AVCHD recording format or the Motion JPEG

Compatibility with the new generation of dedicated lenses PEN

I'm really puzzled by the pen cameras. Except for the P1, none of them have Sensitivity lower than ISO 200.

Whats up with that? Are they saying that image noise is so low at 200 that it's not worth a detent on the dial, or are they saying that at lower ISO their noise does not come down enough to be competitive with other cameras (so they don't invite the flogging)?

I'm really not interested in another noisy camera, even if it does have nice lenses. I can fix a lot of stuff in LR3 but images are just cleaner looking without the NR applied.

So why are the Oly's all 200 or higher after the P1?

Hello Bullshark,

Sorry but you need to go to DP Review.com and look at the fine print in the specifications section. All of the latest Pen cameras go to ISO-100 in manual, the ISO-200 is a low if you are using auto settings. Most U/W shooters are shooting in manual modes not auto. True Olympus likes to stress the high end of the ISO scale because the smaller 4/3 size sensors are greatly improved in that area over sensors from past camera models.

Phil Rudin

Sorry but you need to go to DP Review.com and look at the fine print

No need to be sorry Phil. You need to go look at the fine print at Olympus.com; especially at their specifications for the P3. DPReview is wrong.

ISO range low is 200 in both manual and auto in the ISO sensitivity section, and ISO 100 is specifically termed as not available in in the guide number section. The same is true for the specifications for the E-PL3.

Nevermind that you're apparently wrong about the P3, the P2 line has the same problem, so even if the P3 had 100 available, the question remains the same.

I still wonder why Olympus is doing this to their PEN cameras (not providing lower sensitivity).

I stand corrected bullshark and would point out that in DPreviews full report on the E-PL2 they point out near the bottom of page "9-dynamic range" that at the base ISO of 100 less dynamic range is produced in the highlights and that it was a "sensible" move for Olympus to remove the ISO 100 setting entirely. Given the above mistake they may be wrong about that as well.

Phil Rudin

at the base ISO of 100 less dynamic range is produced in the highlights and that it was a "sensible" move for Olympus to remove the ISO 100 setting entirely.

Phil Rudin

It doesn't really matter. By Olympus choice, the camera line is crippled. I never liked Oly in the first place, and I like them even less now.

You can now make comparisons with http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

Unfortunately, it looks very noisy to me.

Several folks in the dpreview forums, have the gh2 and ep3 in hand, and alas, reports on the EP3 are that it focuses just as fast as the gh2 or g3, in great light, high contrast. But it slows down and has trouble, much more than the panys, when the light or contrast drop.

Sigh.

Here is the latest full review from dpreview.

Bob

Conclusion of Review

if you search the micro 4/3rds forum, you'll find a whole bunch of folk who own both the ep3 and a recent pany such as the g3, gf2, or gh2.

Invariably they conclude that the autofocus speed is indistiquishable in bright sunlight conditions. But the panys hold up, as the light drops, while the ep3 slows down dramatically, and slows and slows.

if you search the micro 4/3rds forum, you'll find a whole bunch of folk who own both the ep3 and a recent pany such as the g3, gf2, or gh2.

 

Invariably they conclude that the autofocus speed is indistiquishable in bright sunlight conditions. But the panys hold up, as the light drops, while the ep3 slows down dramatically, and slows and slows.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/7t79mFyoy8w

slow?

The shutter lag of the NEX-5 was severly panned in the DivePhotoGuide writeup. Someone should take the EP3 and check the shutter lag versus a low-end dSLR to see just how it matches up. i recommend trying to capture a Fairy Basslet in 3/4 profile with a swished tail