Reading mode: Light Dark

E-PL3 for $300?

Go to last post
N

nekrosoft13

Forum Enthusiast
Messages
456
Reaction score
91
Location
US
Is brand new E-PL3 for $300 a good starting point for someone interested in M4/3 system?



Right now I have 5DIII with bunch of lenses and S95, was thinking about selling S95 and replacing it with E-PL3. Will be keeping my 5DIII.



Eventually if I like M43 will be getting OMD EM5 or what ever will be replacing it.
 
nekrosoft13 said:
nekrosoft13 wrote:

Is brand new E-PL3 for $300 a good starting point for someone interested in M4/3 system?

Right now I have 5DIII with bunch of lenses and S95, was thinking about selling S95 and replacing it with E-PL3. Will be keeping my 5DIII.

Eventually if I like M43 will be getting OMD EM5 or what ever will be replacing it.
Click to expand...

and good price too.



If you keep your 5DIII, you may not need anything more than the E-pl3 and a few lenses.



TEdolph
 
I guess never mind.... store sold out, even the one that they supposed to hold for me....
 
nekrosoft13 said:
nekrosoft13 wrote:

I guess never mind.... store sold out, even the one that they supposed to hold for me....
Click to expand...
Get the E-PL5. Worth every cent of the extra for the new sensor and one or two tweaks. Check Guy Parsons's posts.

Alternatively, depending on the price, get the Panasonic G5 (in Australia, where I am at present, it is priced 50% higher than the E-PL5 but in the US it seems to be about the same price). I'm tending to favor the G5 myself as a replacement for the E-PL3.

Cheers, geoff
 
That's ok, don't want to spend that much right now.
 
The Panasonic GX1 (body only) is currently $275 or so at Amazon (though I've not looked for 5 days or so). I prefer it to the E-PL3 (which I owned), but then I prefer the Panasonic ergonomics, AF system and menus; not all do.
 
if I was to jump into m43 system, I would preffer Olympus for the build in sensor-shift technology
 
nekrosoft13 said:
nekrosoft13 wrote:

if I was to jump into m43 system, I would preffer Olympus for the build in sensor-shift technology
Click to expand...
Many do, but since I also prefer the Panasonic lenses -- and don't care to use an adapter + heritage lenses -- Panasonic works best for me.
 
nekrosoft13 said:
nekrosoft13 wrote:

That's ok, don't want to spend that much right now.
Click to expand...
you can get one new, with the kit lens and the 40-150mm zoom for less than $400.00.



Everybody is going to telll you that the old 12mp sensor is no good, the new sensor is so much better, etc.



Don't believe it.



At ISO's under 1600 the old sensor looks just as good as the new one. Take a look at the DPReview Compare-O-Meter and compare a new sensor camera to an E-pl2.



Tedolph
 
Tedolf



You are sooo right, gee I hate it when you're always right.
 
If you already have a m4/3 lens, you can get the E-P3 body from Cameta for $369. That price has not changed for at least 5 months.
 
tedolf said:
tedolf wrote:
tedolf said:
nekrosoft13 wrote:

That's ok, don't want to spend that much right now.
Click to expand...
you can get one new, with the kit lens and the 40-150mm zoom for less than $400.00.

Everybody is going to telll you that the old 12mp sensor is no good, the new sensor is so much better, etc.

Don't believe it.

At ISO's under 1600 the old sensor looks just as good as the new one. Take a look at the DPReview Compare-O-Meter and compare a new sensor camera to an E-pl2.

Tedolph
Click to expand...

- sight comparing both; - both look stellar from my point of view

Loading…

snapsort.com
 
tedolf said:
tedolf wrote:

you can get one new, with the kit lens and the 40-150mm zoom for less than $400.00.

Everybody is going to telll you that the old 12mp sensor is no good, the new sensor is so much better, etc.
Click to expand...
It's not that it's no good, but the OP has been shooting with a 5D-III. You and I have been shooting with EPL1's with a 5 year old sensor. Sure, it's fine in daylight at ISO 200, but so is the S-95.
tedolf said:
At ISO's under 1600 the old sensor looks just as good as the new one. Take a look at the DPReview Compare-O-Meter and compare a new sensor camera to an E-pl2.
Click to expand...
That's a clever choice of words. They really do not look the same at ISO 1600. Under that, somewhat similar at ISO 800 although the comparator shows detail loss starting at ISO400 between the EM5 and EPL3. I'd suggest the OP plug in the EM5, EPL3, S95 and his 5D-III on that comparometer.

Nonetheless, for $299 the EPL3 is a fine purchase and good for someone coming up solely from the S95. The $219 EPM1 is also a good piece of gear for that kind of money.

However, I suspect most FF users will be disappointed with the constraints of the old PEN's, especially if they plan to put more money into lenses. Better to spend the money now and have a better base for the body.

What's $200 more to a Canon 5D owner? Look at the EPM2 at $499 now and the EPL5 will be down to $549 for the Olympus Mother's Day Sale.
 
also wanted to add that my GF has 7D and S95 (also)



So we have two S95, one has to go, that why I want to sell my S95 and get something in M43.
 
baxters said:
baxters wrote:
baxters said:
tedolf wrote:

you can get one new, with the kit lens and the 40-150mm zoom for less than $400.00.

Everybody is going to telll you that the old 12mp sensor is no good, the new sensor is so much better, etc.
Click to expand...
It's not that it's no good, but the OP has been shooting with a 5D-III. You and I have been shooting with EPL1's with a 5 year old sensor. Sure, it's fine in daylight at ISO 200, but so is the S-95.
baxters said:
At ISO's under 1600 the old sensor looks just as good as the new one. Take a look at the DPReview Compare-O-Meter and compare a new sensor camera to an E-pl2.
Click to expand...
That's a clever choice of words.
Click to expand...




Heh, heh.......

it was clever wasn't it?





Thanks for noticing.

baxters said:
They really do not look the same at ISO 1600. Under that, somewhat similar at ISO 800 although the comparator shows detail loss starting at ISO400 between the EM5 and EPL3. I'd suggest the OP plug in the EM5, EPL3, S95 and his 5D-III on that comparometer.
Click to expand...


My next point would have been that the vast majority of photo's taken by most people are taken well below ISO 1600.



So except for very challenging situations, the difference between the senors for most people is academic.


baxters said:
Nonetheless, for $299 the EPL3 is a fine purchase and good for someone coming up solely from the S95. The $219 EPM1 is also a good piece of gear for that kind of money.

However, I suspect most FF users will be disappointed with the constraints of the old PEN's, especially if they plan to put more money into lenses. Better to spend the money now and have a better base for the body.
Click to expand...


Seems to me the $$ is better spent on lenses rather than sensors.


baxters said:
What's $200 more to a Canon 5D owner? Look at the EPM2 at $499 now and the EPL5 will be down to $549 for the Olympus Mother's Day Sale.
Click to expand...

Tedolph
 
Anyway if I where to chose I would rather have the EPM2 or the EPL5, because I think the IQ is the most important thing and the IQ difference is much much better with either of these. The GX1 has clearly better RAW output too btw. I would never buy an EPL3 nowadays. Even not for 100 dollars. I have the exact same sesnor in my G1 and GH2 and EPl5 completely mop the floor with it. Especially the dynamic range is a huge difference, colourdepth etc.
 
From any ISO range the new sensors have vastly better dynamic range, better noise handling. Simply better sensors. The EPL3 is not bad, but the newer sensors are much better. In fact: the DR of the EPM2 and EPl5 is better at base ISO than the 5DMKIII.
 
there is much more to a camera then DR.



I might look into E-PL5... will see.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top