Olympus Pen E-PL3

Zitat: Die Olympus PEN E-PL3 setzt sich vor ihr teureres Schwestermodell E-P3 - vor allem, weil das Fotografieren per Klapp-Display einfacher und die Kamera handlicher ist. Sonst unterscheiden sich beide Modelle nur in wenigen Punkten. Im Vergleich zur E-P3 fehlen ihr allerdings Blitz, Touchscreen und die praktische 3D-Wasserwaage.

Zitat: Getestet mit Olympus M.Zuiko 2,8/17 und Olympus M.Zuiko 4-5,6/9-18

Zitat: The Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 is a great, easy-to-use compact system camera that provides quality images – perfect for anyone looking to step up their photography

Zitat: Pro: + Good starter option + tilting LCD screen aids visibility + Art Filter effects are fun and effective + warm + bold colours + easy to use + dedicated video record button Contra: - Integral flash and handgrip have been removed - plastic clip-on flash and kit lens - Olympus faces regulatory probes that may not bode well for the company

Zitat: Highly Pro: + Built-in stabilisation works with any lens. + Excellent all-round image quality. + Highly customisable. + Good range of movie exposure modes. + Fast startup and AF response. Contra: - 16:9 screen not ideal for still photos. - Poorly positioned control wheel. - Lacks composite HDR and low light mode. The Olympus Pen E-PL3 sits in the middle of the Olympus Pen range between the flagship E-P3 and the Pen Mini E-PM1. This makes it a good choice both for compact upgraders looking for more control than the entry-level Pen Mini can offer and enthusiasts for whom the E-P3 is out of reach or overkill. The Pen E-PL3 shares most of the E-P3´s strengths: excellent image quality, fast performance, 1080i AVCHD video and huge potential for customisation all in a smaller body with fewer controls and a flip-up LCD screen. Crucially, the E-PL3 retains a physical mode dial, a feature that Sony has never deemed necessary on its NEX range and Panasonic dropped from the GF2 onwards. As well as being able to directly access exposure modes, the E-PL3 has a movie mode with comprehensive exposure settings for movie shooting including fully manual exposure control. The 16:9 proportions of the screen won´t be greeted with unanimous approval, as composing and viewing 4:3 stills effectively means working on a 2.5in screen with black bars down either side. And though the extension of the ISO sensitivity range enhances the E-PL3´s low light capabilities, the lack of composite modes made popular by Sony´s NEX is something Olympus is going to have to address in the future. But those are fairly minor points that do nothing to dim an otherwise shining performance from the Pen Lite E-PL3 and one thoroughly deserving of our Highly Recommended award.