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Olympus PEN E-PL3

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  1. User ratingsUser ratingsratings of product added by Productz users
  2. Expert ratingsExpert ratingsexperts ratings from editorial reviews
  3. Consumer ratingsConsumer ratingsratings from the biggest online stores worldwide
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  1. Excellent
  2. Good
  3. Poor
  4. Average
3.8
based on all reviews
User ratings:
41
4.1 out of 5
41 user ratings
5 stars
36 %
4 stars
43 %
3 stars
17 %
2 stars
2 %
1 stars
0 %
Consumer ratings:
3.5 / 5
Editorial reviews:
29
  1. See more
3.9 out of 5
17 user ratings
5 stars
11 %
4 stars
76 %
3 stars
11 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews

Pros

  • very sharp pictures and excellent colour rendition
  • good image quality and low noise capability
  • Build quality is good and the E-PL3 handles well

Cons

  • The camera loses the built-in flash present on its predecessors
  • annoying background whir
  • lack of a built-in flash

Key specs

  • Live MOS
  • Four Thirds
  • 17.3x13 mm
  • 12 Mpx
  • 4032, 3024 px
  • Four Thirds
  • Continuous Auto Focus, Face tracking, Single Auto Focus
  • 3.0 in
  • no

Compare technical data of the product to its category

Olympus

Olympus PEN E-PL3 - Pros & Cons

Olympus PEN E-PL3

Pros

  • very sharp pictures and excellent colour rendition
  • good image quality and low noise capability
  • Build quality is good and the E-PL3 handles well
  • fold-out screen is handy for shooting at new and interesting angles
  • fast Auto Focus and shutter speed
  • fast and responsive camera
  • solid and very well made camera
  • Stylish and easy to use
  • both looks and feels very classy
  • image quality is very good
  • Controls and buttons are nicely spaced and easy to reach

Cons

  • The camera loses the built-in flash present on its predecessors
  • annoying background whir
  • lack of a built-in flash
  • image quality in low light is disappointing
  • adjustable LCD monitor and lack of built-in flash
  • pop-up flash
  • Art Filters do tend to make the live view feed stutter a bit
  • Battery performance is a bit poor
  • lack
  • screen doesn t swing out to the side
  • E-PL3 s buttons are somewhat unnaturally placed

Olympus PEN E-PL3 - Technical Overview

PoorAverageGoodExcellent
IconScreen size
3 in
Best:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710
Screen size: 6.7 in
IconISO maximum
12800
Best:
Pentax KP
ISO maximum: 819200
IconEffective pixels
12 Mpx
Best:
Hasselblad H6D-100c
Effective pixels: 100 Mpx
IconMax resolution
4032 x 3024 px
Best:
Leica M11
Max resolution: 9528 x 6328 px

Olympus - Video Reviews (2)

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Olympus PEN E-PL3 - Full Specifications

Icon
Sensor
Sensor typeLive MOS
Image sensor formatFour Thirds
Sensor size0.68 in
Sensor photo detectors13.0 Mpx
Effective pixels12.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h4:3
Max resolution4032 x 3024 px
Other resolutions
  • 3200x2400
  • 2560x1920
  • 1600x1200
  • 1280x960
  • 1024x768
  • 640x480
ProcessorTruePic VI
Icon
Optics and focus
Lens mountFour Thirds
Optical zoom3.0 x
Digital zoom14.0 x
Magnification (Crop factor)2.0 x
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)Lamp
Focus adjustmentAuto/Manual
Contrast autofocusyes
Contrast adjustmentyes
Saturation adjustmentyes
Brightness adjustmentyes
Autofocus in recording modeyes
Focal length multiplier2x
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Face tracking
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyes
Manual focusyes
Auto Focus (AF) points selection
  • Auto
  • Manual
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyes
Number of focus points35
Image stabiliserBuilt-in
Image stabiliserBuilt-in
Filter diameter1.46 in
Phase detection autofocusno
Icon
Photography features
Shooting modes
  • Aperture priority
  • Auto
  • Movie
  • Shutter priority
Minimum shutter speed60.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s
Shutter priorityyes
Aperture priorityyes
Manual exposure modeyes
Number of exposures2
Exposure compensation plus3
Exposure compensation minus-3
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1
Auto exposure lockyes
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 2/3
  • 1
Continuous shootingyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 12
Histogramyes
AE frames
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 7
WB Bracketing
Yes
Subject / scene modesyes
Flash sync speed1/160s
Flash sync speed1/160s
Built-in flashyes
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Fill-in
  • Flash OFF
  • Manual
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Second-curtain Sync
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoe
Flash metering systemFP-TTL
External flashyes
Continuous drive5.5 fps
Scene modes
  • Beach
  • Candlelight
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Documents
  • Fireworks
  • Night
  • Night portrait
  • Panorama
  • Portrait
  • Snow
  • Sports
  • Sunset
  • Landscape
Self-timeryes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
3D supportyes
Manual settingsyes
Manual settingsyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 12
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 1.0±EV
Icon
Audio features
Built-in microphoneyes
Microphone typeStereo
Voice recordingyes
Audio systemStereo
Supported audio file formatsPCM
Noise reductionyes
Icon
Dimensions
Weight9.35 oz
Width4.31 in
Height2.51 in
Depth1.47 in
Icon
Power
Power source typeBattery
Battery life (CIPA)330
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Battery level indicatoryes
Number of batteries supported1
AC adapter includedyes
Icon
Other features
Timelapse recordingno
GPSno
Orientation sensorno
Calendaryes
Energy Star certifiedno
Languages support
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • EST
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • GRE
  • HUN
  • ITA
  • LAV
  • LIT
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SLK
  • SLV
  • SWE
  • TUR
  • UKR
Tripod mounting supportedyes
On Screen Display (OSD) languages
  • CRO
  • CZE
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • EST
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • GRE
  • HUN
  • ITA
  • LAV
  • LIT
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SER
  • SLK
  • SLV
  • SWE
  • TUR
  • UKR
Image editing modes
  • Rotating
  • Trimming
Icon
Image
ISO
  • 200
  • 250
  • 320
  • 400
  • 500
  • 640
  • 800
  • 1000
  • 1250
  • 1600
  • 2000
  • 2250
  • 2500
  • 3200
  • 4000
  • 5000
  • 6400
  • 12800
  • Auto
ISO Autoyes
ISO minimum200
ISO maximum12800
Maximum image resolution4032 x 3024 px
White balance presets8
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Sunny
  • Tungsten
Custom white balanceyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPEG
  • RAW
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Art
  • Muted
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
Image stabilizeryes
Image stabilization typeSensor-shift
Supported aspect ratios
  • 3:2
  • 3:4
  • 4:3
  • 16:9
Uncompressed formatRAW
HDRno
AEB/HDR supportyes
Icon
Screen and viewfinder
Screen size3.0 in
Articulated LCDyes
Screen technologyLCD
Display aspect ratio16:9
Screen dots460000
Touch screenno
Field of view100.0 %
Live viewyes
Viewfinder
Electronic
Viewfinder coverage100.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.19 x
Separate info displayno
Icon
Videography features
Maximum resolution1920 x 1080 px
Video recordingyes
Recording resolutions
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
HD typeFull HD
Supported video file formats
  • AVCHD
  • M-JPEG
Analog signal format system
  • NTSC
  • PAL
Camera playback
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
Max resolution (highest frame rate)1920 x 1080
Max frame rate (highest resolution)60.0 fps
Max frame rate (highest resolution)60.0 fps
Max frame rate (regardless of res.)60.0 fps
Max frame rate (regardless of res.)60.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate30.0 fps
Icon
Design
Body typeMILC
Body materialAluminum-magnesium
Body materialMetal
Colour of product
  • Black
  • Red
  • Red,Silver
  • Silver
  • Silver,White
  • White
Colour of product
  • Black
  • Red
  • Silver
  • White
Anti-dust systemyes
Environmentally sealedno
Icon
Storage
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Maximum memory card size64.0 GB
Memory slots1
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
Camera file systemExif 2.2
Icon
Connectivity
Mini HDMI type-Cyes
HDMI ports quantity1
HDMI connector typeMicro
USB version2.0
Microphone portyes
DC-in jackyes
Remote controlyes
PictBridgeno
NFCno
NFCno
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)no
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)no
Bluetoothyes
Bluetoothyes
Firewireno

Olympus PEN E-PL3 - Q&A

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Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus - Editorial Reviews (29)

3.9
Based on 29 reviews
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3
Photo Review logo
Photo Review
Published: 17.02.2012
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3
4.3

The first PEN series camera with a tilting 3.0-inch widescreen monitor screen.The PEN Lite E-PL3 sits in the centre of the new PEN camera range and features the same image sensor and processor as the flagship E-P3 as well as that camera's FAST AF system and support for 1080i Full HD video capture. With an RRP $200 less than the E-P3's, a few features have been lost. The LCD screen has lower resolution but it tilts and provides 16:9 viewing. There's no built-in flash, no grip moulding, four fewer Art Filters, no level gauge and top flash synch is 1/160 second (instead of 1/180 second).

Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus PEN Lite / E-PL3 Review
DPReview logo
DPReview
Published: 20.09.2011
Olympus PEN Lite / E-PL3 Review
3.6

The Olympus PEN Lite/E-PL3 is identical in terms of output to the recently reviewed Olympus E-P3. We have tested to verify image quality (and of course include these tests in the review). Where appropriate, you will find our comments and judgements identical to those expressed in our in-depth review of the Olympus E-P3. Much of the original content in this article then is devoted to assessing features and functionality unique to the E-PL3.

Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 camera
Good Gear Guide logo
Good Gear Guide
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 camera
3.5

A Micro Four Thirds camera that can supply clear and vibrant results, but it isn't great for motion pictures

Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus E-PL3 Review | Photography Blog
photographyblog.com logo
photographyblog.com
Published: 29.08.2011
Olympus E-PL3 Review | Photography Blog
4.0

The Olympus E-PL3 is a stylish new addition to the ever-growing compact system camera market. Also known as the PEN Lite, the EPL3 boasts the World's fastest autofocus system, a 3 inch tilting LCD display, new 12.3 megapixel Live MOS sensor, full 1080i HD movie mode with stereo sound, and an extensive range of creative filters. Read our in-depth Olympus E-PL3 review.

Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus PEN E-PL3 Camera Review | TechNave
TechNave logo
TechNave
Published: 29.09.2013
Olympus PEN E-PL3 Camera Review | TechNave

Olympus launches the new generation of the compact PEN cameras that offer SLR creativity, simple, no-nonsense controls. The new Olympus PEN E-PL3 (Lite) off

Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus E-PL3 Camera | LiveatPC.com - Home of PC.com Malaysia
LiveatPC.com logo
LiveatPC.com
Published: 29.08.2011
Olympus E-PL3 Camera | LiveatPC.com - Home of PC.com Malaysia

A significant upgrade to the E-PL2 in terms of design and speed. Very classy looking too. Tested by PC.com

Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus Pen E-PL3 Review | Digital Trends
Digital Trends logo
Digital Trends
Published: 18.11.2011
Olympus Pen E-PL3 Review | Digital Trends

Review: Olympus continues to package high-quality stills and user-friendly features into its PEN series with the seriously slimmed down E-PL3.

Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus E-PL3 Review
Photoxels logo
Photoxels
Published: 15.11.2011
Olympus E-PL3 Review

Review Date: November 15, 2011 Category: Beginner to Serious Amateur Photoxels Gold Award – Interchangeable Lens Camera Executive Summary Image Quality Photo Gallery Handling & Feel User&…

Olympus PEN E-PL3 The Olympus E-PL3: DSLR Power In A Point-And-Shoot Package
TechCrunch logo
TechCrunch
Published: 09.09.2011
The Olympus E-PL3: DSLR Power In A Point-And-Shoot Package

Short Version It's hard to recommend the E-PL3 over the more powerful and touchscreen-capable E-P3 but if you're in the market for a much more compact micro 4/3s shooter and you can survive without a built-in flash, this may be the camera for you.

Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus PEN E-PL3 - The LITE Sibling
hardwarezone.com.ph logo
hardwarezone.com.ph
Published: 08.11.2011
Olympus PEN E-PL3 - The LITE Sibling
4.3

The Olympus PEN E-PL3 is a good alternative for those who prefer a smaller and more handy version of the E-P3. Under the hood, it shares the same 12-megapixel sensor and dual-core TruePic VI processing engine as its more expensive sibling. We show you what this minute snapper can do.

Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Micro Four Thirds Review
ePHOTOzine logo
ePHOTOzine
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Micro Four Thirds Review
4.5

Joshua Waller tests the latest Olympus PEN camera, the Lite E-PL3, with...

Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus PEN E-PL3 REVIEW
Digital Photography School logo
Digital Photography School
Published: 19.10.2011
Olympus PEN E-PL3 REVIEW
5.0

For me, this camera is a bit of a puzzle. Why? Having just spent a week or so with the Olympus PEN E-P3, and coming away very impressed, I wondered why the company launched another model that seems to be virtually identical, except for price and some minor mods. I am now eagerly awaiting the […]

Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus PEN E-P3, E-PL3, Panasonic Lumix G3 Size Comparison
ePHOTOzine logo
ePHOTOzine
Olympus PEN E-P3, E-PL3, Panasonic Lumix G3 Size Comparison

Size comparison hands on with the Olympus PEN E-P3, Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 and the Panasonic Lumix G3.

Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus E-PL3 Review
Imaging Resource logo
Imaging Resource
Published: 30.06.2011
Olympus E-PL3 Review

Olympus E-PL3 review, find out how the E-PL3 stacks up against the competition in our real-world review with in-depth image quality comparisons.

Olympus PEN E-PL3 Olympus PEN E-PL3 - The LITE Sibling
hardwarezone.com.sg logo
hardwarezone.com.sg
Published: 08.11.2011
Olympus PEN E-PL3 - The LITE Sibling
4.3

The Olympus PEN E-PL3 is a good alternative for those who prefer a smaller and more handy version of the E-P3. Under the hood, it shares the same 12-megapixel sensor and dual-core TruePic VI processing engine as its more expensive sibling. We show you what this minute snapper can do.

Often compared with Olympus PEN E-PL3