Olympus PEN E-P3 12.3 MP Live MOS Mirrorless Digital Camera with 14-42mm Zoom Lens (Black) (Old Model)

Overall a good product for it’s price. Recommended for amateur photographers. My unit however, has some stuck pixels on the sensor which become visible at low light environment. Couldn’t tell why is that happening or have happened, maybe I need to contact the seller and sort things out. Overall you’ll be satisfied by this camera with the right lens choices for sure.

I am giving 4 starts for the price. Otherwise it is an outstanding camera. This is my first m43 camera. I've owned the E-P3 for a little over a month.Pros:- Very responsive and customizable, which makes it fun to use. Do not underestimate the fun part of having a camera - look beyond the specifications.- Nice screen.- Auto focus is stupid fast with the kit lens in good light. Pretty fast with the panny 20mm.- Build quality seems very good to me.- Excellent IQ. No its not full frame but if you want full frame - get full frame.- JPEGS are really good, great color and white balance.- Did I say that this was a fun camera to use?- Good lens selection. About all I could ask for now is a lightweight m43 version of Oly's 12-60mm.- The touch screen auto focus is almost instant and fun to use. Sometimes I bump it accidentally but who cares.Cons- Sensor is old news, so high ISO can't match the APS-C competition. But don't let that kill the deal, for most stuff you should be using a flash if its too dark.- A little pricey IMO.- Kit lens sharpness is not stellar (but good for a kit lens).- Low light auto focus is not what I would call stellar, but is on par for CDAF cameras.- 3 FPS continuous is kind slow for a nicer camera. This is not a sports camera.- I wish the screen was reticulated.In short it is excellent for everyday use, particularly when you do not want to lug your DSLR around. With the Panasonic 20mm I can fit it into a coat pocket comfortably which is nice. It will fit in large cargo short pockets with the 20, but its a little heavy to walk around with like that. With the kit lens it'll fit in a big jacket pocket, but that is starting to push it. Once you figure out the menu system, you will like it, especially the super control panel, which has been an Oly feature for a long time and is great.I tried a NEX-5N, and while the high ISO was really, really good (yep, its good), I enjoyed using the E-P3 more. It just feels a lot more responsive, shot to shot times seem significantly quicker. It has a built in flash which does come in handy. You can use other flashes, the NEX is limited (although the fl-36r which I have feels big on it). High ISO is not as good for the pixel peepers but who cares for 90% of the stuff you're going to use. The only reason I would get an NEX-5N over the E-P3 is if I was into manual focus which I am not, or need high ISO a lot.

I waited and debated for a long time before finally ordering this camera and I adore it. I considered Canons and Panasonics, but my previous camera - the Olympus FE-370 was a decent point and shoot that lasted a long time. I also found myself drawn to the throwback look and feel of the E-P3 - like a modern version of the clunky, but classy film cameras I used in HS Photography.The pictures are stunning. The clarity, even in lower light, is amazing. The shutter is fast and responsive and ready to take another shot almost instantly. I really like the option to click on the screen to focus/snap on a particular spot. The digital menu is overwhelming at first, but fairly easy to use and all the most useful tools are accessible from actual buttons on the camera. The pop-up flash is nice and easily adjustable to a variety of brightness and delays. My only gripe is that the macro settings pale in comparison to those on my FE-370. There's macro lenses available - but for another $300-$400.The camera itself feels a lot sturdier and well-built than I expected based on some reviews. It is lightweight for its size, but still feels solid and steady in my hand - especially with the optional side grip attached. I expect this camera to last me for a long time, so I'm pleased at the material and build quality.I was going to give this 5 stars, but was disappointed to see the price as dropped over $150 since I made my purchase just a few months ago. That difference almost covers the additional 40-150 zoom lens I just bought. I'm still happy with the camera, just a little bummed to have overpaid so much.

This camera yields a very fine image in regular manual mode and is equipped with several filter and special effect modes. The zoom lens works great for both far and close up shots. Silver finish looks fantastic and all the mechanics work fine. On-board flash works well for a basic flash. Package comes complete with battery and charger, charger cord, TV and computer hook-up cords, manual, warranty, and lanyard. About the same size as a medium film camera, but at half the weight.The focal length of the lens handicaps the camera somewhat in low light conditions, but that can be corrected with a shorter lens and tripod. One major drawback of this camera is its lack of a viewfinder; this forces the operator to use the touch screen, which guzzles the battery power like there's no tomorrow. The attachable Olympus Viewfinder is not included in the package. Other than that, this is a great intermediate SLR camera which I would recommend to any aspiring photographer who wants something between a point-and-shoot and a large professional grade camera.