E-P3 is a good upgrade from an E-PL1

Last year in April I bought a used Olympus E-PL1 from Ebay for $100, complete with kit lens. I loved it so much I bought a couple more for my kids, and a lot of legacy lenses and three MFT lenses, the 40-150 Oly, the 2.8 Oly 17mm, and the 1.7 Panny 25 mm.  I've had a ball learning photography with my PL1, but I've always known Oly made better cameras than the one I have.

While looking for an Oly 45mm prime on Ebay, I came across an E-P3 for the bargain price of $100.  I bought it, and when I opened the box today and started using it, I realized just how much better and more advanced the E-P3 was as a camera than the more basic PL1. The E-P3 is obviously of higher quality construction, has a far better viewing screen with touch functions, more function buttons, two dials, and looks like it should have cost twice as much as the PL1 back when they both were new.

But the best part of the E-P3 is that it's basically the same operating system as my E-PL1 and the skills  I learned on the more basic model should transfer easily to the E-P3.

I've only taken a few photos with the new camera, and so far the IQ seems about the same as what I'm used to. It does focus faster, and the movie camera on the E-P3 has a C-AF that works really well.

I'm keeping my E-PL as an extra camera in the bag. I still believe that the E-PL1 with the kit lens is about the best camera for a complete beginner to buy and learn the basics of photography with, and then they can decide which camera they want to upgrade to, later, after they have learned basic digital photography.

The E-P3 is a good upgrade for the beginner, from the E-PL1.  All the batteries and gear they have from the E-PL1 still work, and it's near the ultimate  Oly achieved with their 12mp sensor.  It has the built in flash, Oly still provides updates for the camera, and all in all it's a better mousetrap than the earlier models.

And if the E-P3 is such a better camera than the E-PL1, then the E-P5 or the Pen F should be all that much better, when I'm ready.

Having had the E-PL 5 before getting the E OM-10, I would suggest skipping the PL-5 and pick up a good deal on the E OM-10.  The built in viewfinder as well as built in flash along with the better controls make it a much better camera than the PL-5.  And, adding the optional grip gives it even a better feel and balance when using a zoom lens such as the 75-300 mm lens.  Don't get me wrong....the PL-5 takes really good pics, but I enjoy the OM-10 so much more than the PL-2 and PL-5 bodies that I've owned.  And, I also picked up those cameras and my OM-10 used and have saved a bundle!!

sbrasure wrote:

Having had the E-PL 5 before getting the E OM-10, I would suggest skipping the PL-5 and pick up a good deal on the E OM-10. The built in viewfinder as well as built in flash along with the better controls make it a much better camera than the PL-5. And, adding the optional grip gives it even a better feel and balance when using a zoom lens such as the 75-300 mm lens. Don't get me wrong....the PL-5 takes really good pics, but I enjoy the OM-10 so much more than the PL-2 and PL-5 bodies that I've owned. And, I also picked up those cameras and my OM-10 used and have saved a bundle!!

Most of what I know about Olympus MFT I learned here, and the rest from Guy Parsons.:)

Olympus has made the Pen series and the OMD series of MFT cameras. Oly also made wireless MFT camera named the Olympus Air, for use with a smart phone, but for traditional cameras

The first MFT Pen was the E-P1. This was followed by the E-P2, E-P3, E-5, and the Pen F. These were "flagship", high dollar, heavy, metal construction, high grade cameras that do not have a viewfinder, except for the Pen F that has a viewfinder on the body. The EP 1,2, and 3 used the 12 mp sensor, the E-P5 used the 16mp, and the Pen F the 20mp sensor. These cameras cost about twice what the Pen Lite (PL) series cameras cost.

The cheaper line of Pen cameras started with the E-PL 1, followed by the E-PL2, E-PL3, EPL5, EPL6, EPL7, and now the E-PL8. They have less features than the flagship Pen cameras, cost about half as much, but use the same basic sensor, a 12mp for the PL 1,2, and 3, and a 16mp for the PL5,6,7, and 8. As the camera gets newer there are more features, Wifi, and flip screens.

Olympus tried a Mini line of Pen cameras, with very basic controls, in the EM-P1 and EM-P2. These were aimed at the "point and shoot" market.

The OMD series of cameras is a separate line of "professional" DSLR styled cameras, with the OMD-1 (now Mark II) OMD-5 (now Mark II), and OMD-10 (now Mark II) in descending rank of quality, features, and cost. The OMD series all have a viewfinder above the viewing screen.

Through all the years and all those models, Olympus has used three basic sensors for all their MFT cameras, the 12mp, 16mp, and the new 20mp.

Of all the MFT models Oly has ever made, the first wildly successful Olympus Pen camera was the E-PL1. It launched Guy Parsons on his never ending quest to catalog the Oly MFT Pen series, and for those of us who love them, no camera Oly has ever made since quite has the styling and charm of the original Pen Lite One (E-PL1).  I include Guy's link here for those who have lost it.

http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~parsog/olyepl1/01-epl1-menu.html

There are some of us that like a little rangefinder styled Pen camera, and others of us that want a small DSLR styled camera, and Olympus tries to find customers from both groups.  Olympus cameras are like everything else in this old sin cussed world, the more money you pay the more camera you get, but the image quality of the cameras seems to be dictated by the sensor, and not how fancy the camera is.

Oly makes and has made so many excellent models of MFT cameras that it's very difficult for some of us to chose which one to "upgrade" to.  But of the Pen series, the top end cameras were the P series and the economy series was the PL, and PML minis.

I've haunted the camera shop at Columbia, Missouri, and played with all the current models of Olympus cameras,  if I had to pick a current model of OMD series camera, that one would be the OMD-10 Mk. II.  It's smaller than the more expensive OMD-5 Mk. II, and brand new OMD-1 Mk. II.

But the flagship Pen series cameras today are the Pen F, the P-5 having been discontinued. The PL-8 is still about half the price of the Pen F flagship model, and uses a 16mp sensor.

If image quality was the last and only consideration for a camera, then the full frame DSLR would rule the world.

But any digital camera has to get up awfully early in the morning to have significantly better image quality  than the lowly E-PL1.   The current E-PL8 and OMD 16mp sensor cameras would be slightly better, and the OMD-1 Mk. II  and Pen F  20mp sensor cameras even better.

But the beauty of the MFT cameras are that I can take any MFT lens I have and mount it on a brand new Olympus or Panasonic top of the line camera and it works.  Compared to DSLRs the MFT is smaller and lighter, and image quality is about equal to the consumer level DSLR cameras, and not far below the professional full frame DSLRs.

So far all four Olympus MFT cameras I've bought have cost about $100 each, and this P-3 is by far and away the best one.  The advantage of lurking here on DP is you get to see and compare images of everybody else's cameras and learn from them.

The next step up from the 12mp sensor cameras in the flagship line of Pen cameras is the P-5.  It has five way stabilization, a bigger 16mp sensor, WiFi, and no doubt more bells and whistles hidden inside the menus.

But for now I'm learning all the new features of the P-3, and having a lot of fun doing it.

When I figure out how to run this P-5 I think I want another, better Pen series camera.

But Olympus gives me the choice of the OMD series, and I like that.

The Olympus E-PL1 was my first introduction to the m43 system.  I bought the kit cheap, albeit on clearance and I thought I couldn't do no wrong.  I loved that camera and used it for a few years before I traded it for an Olympus E-5 which I still shoot today and has the same color rendition of the E-PL1.

I got the E-P5 kit 2 years ago when they were also having a clearance discount sale at one of my camera stores who was dumping Olympus from its camera line.  So I bought it.  The E-P5 is definitely the best 16MP camera I have owned thus far.  It's 5 axis IBIS and low light performance is very good, with only the OMD E-M1 Mark II that can beat it.  If I am to get another rangefinder type camera, I wouldn't get the PEN-F.  It would be the Panasonic GX-8 used with its tilting EVF.  I use the tilting EVF of the E-P5 (the VF-4) quite a lot of landscape stuff.

Enjoy your E-P3!

Humansvillian....thanks for the clarification as I wasn't thinking of the E -P series being different from the E PL series.  In looking at the E-P5, one of the reasons I would prefer the OM -10 is that fact that if you have a viewfinder attached, you can't use an auxillary flash unit.  When I had the PL-5, I used a VF-4 with it, and the VF-4 is a fantastic viewfinder that made using the PL-5 much more enjoyable to use even when compared to using it with the VF-2 which the VF-4 replaced.  Having dealt with having to use an auxillary viewfinder and losing the ability to have an auxillary flash attached taught me that I wouldn't want to buy a camera with those limitations.

Your summarization of the model history triggered my memory and I remotember reading reviews of the E-P cameras along with the PL cameras and others. But, it all boils down to every photographer has to find the camera that works for them.  I could have never anticipated how much more I enjoy using the O M-10 than the PL-5 that it replaced.

Helen wrote:

David wrote:

The Olympus E-PL1 was my first introduction to the m43 system. I bought the kit cheap, albeit on clearance and I thought I couldn't do no wrong. I loved that camera and used it for a few years before I traded it for an Olympus E-5 which I still shoot today and has the same color rendition of the E-PL1.

I got the E-P5 kit 2 years ago when they were also having a clearance discount sale at one of my camera stores who was dumping Olympus from its camera line. So I bought it. The E-P5 is definitely the best 16MP camera I have owned thus far. It's 5 axis IBIS and low light performance is very good, with only the OMD E-M1 Mark II that can beat it. If I am to get another rangefinder type camera, I wouldn't get the PEN-F. It would be the Panasonic GX-8 used with its tilting EVF. I use the tilting EVF of the E-P5 (the VF-4) quite a lot of landscape stuff.

Enjoy your E-P3!

To be fair, the 5-axis IBIS of the OM-D E-M5 Mark II can also beat that of the E-P5 (it is definitely more advanced) - and for that matter, so can the Pen-F, which has the same system as the E-M5 Mark II. Both cameras also benefit from a far softer-action shutter mechanism than their predecessors, which is also useful.

The GX8 is also a lovely camera with an absolutely great viewfinder, though I personally (and I do have one) do have some issues with the fact that the shutter action is incredibly loud and sharp, which can interact with some vulnerable lenses, and its IBIS is not as effective as that in the 5-axis Olympuses - though advanced for its type, it is mechanically more like the earlier Olympus 2-axis system - i.e. not a "floating" type - that has entered the Panasonic system with the GX80/85 and G80/85

I think with astrophotography and low light action photography, where sometimes higher shutter speeds are more desirable, good high ISO performance is probably more useful than with IBIS.

I own a number of Panasonic zooms and primes which DUAL I.S and DFD AF would benefit me more with the GX-8 than an Olympus body.  For bang of the buck, the GX-8 seemed to offer a lot more features, at least to me, than the E-M5 Mark II or the E-M1 Mark II.  Ah yeah, the GX-8 shutter is a little bit obnoxious and has a few flaws and that's good.  It keeps the used prices down a bit more so I can afford one..

Look, the first mindset we have to periodically alter is the one that seemingly embraces the view that the only camera upgrade should be to the latest and greatest model camera.  Because the latest and greatest may not always net you the results (both IQ-wise and emotionally) that you were hoping to achieve.

Over the past decade I've acquired a large collection of cameras that I've kept due mostly to their higher IQ standards and my emotional attachments to them (see profile). The E-P3 is one of those cameras and it is staying in my collection for a variety of reasons. I have it mated to the Panasonic 20 MM f1.7 and those two were made for each other, IMO. In fact, with these two together, the output looks like it came from a much higher MP camera and the detail will surprise you.

In addition, the E-P3 is a gorgeous looking camera and performs quite well. Does it have class leading high ISO capabilities (well, for Micro 43, that is)?  No, it doesn't, and I find that I don't like to go over 2000 - 2500 or so in ISO with the E-P3.

But it does a great job of capturing superb images. And if you can find one at a great price, don't hesitate to act. Here are a few IQ samples - most taken with the Panny 20 MM f1.7.  It's one of those cameras that makes you want to keep it - call it emotional, instinctive, or whatever - it just happens that way.  All of this is my opinion, of course.

ISO 800, RAW, AWB, Aperture Priority Mode - using the Olympus FL-50 flash in bounce mode (and the Gary Fong Lightsphere dome unit).

ISO 200, RAW, AWB, Aperture Priority Mode.

ISO 200, RAW, AWB, Aperture Priority Mode.

ISO 200, RAW, AWB, Aperture Priority Mode.

I want to thank all that replied, and I'd venture to ask a question.

A new, reconditioned P-5 body is about $430, and the OMD-M10 Mk II is about the same price discounted on E-bay.

My question, for those who might know, is what upgrade from my P-3 would represent the biggest bang for the buck, the most improvement in image quality for the dollar, and the most gee whiz toys hidden inside the menus, for the money spent, the P-5 or the OMD-M10 Mk. II?

Maybe I should try a Panasonic camera, but my limited skills are all learned on Olympus cameras, I'm familiar with the system, and my guide book, E-PL1 for Dummies by Julia King, and my batteries and cords are all for Olympus cameras. I'd like to stay Oly, just to keep down the gadget bag.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

BTW, here's some of the first shots from my new gadget. These were taken on Fine setting, full Auto, and downloaded using my Windows 10 photo app, using my 40-150 Oly telephoto lens.  The entire cost of the camera and lens is $200, and I'm as happy with this rig as I was that mini bike I got for Christmas when I was ten years old.:-)

The best bang for the buck would probably go to the E-M10 Mark II, if you're not tied to a rangefinder body.  Same battery type of your E-P3 (BLS-5 and BLS-1) while the E-P5 takes a different battery than your E-P3.  The E-M10 Mark II is a much newer camera and has a lot more bells and whistle than the E-P5.

If you plan to jump onto the 20MP bandwagon; then the Panasonic GX-8 would probably fit the bill.  It's a little pricier used, but I see prices will come down further eventually.

Your E-P3 is still a very good and capable camera, so by the time you need a newer body, prices will surely be much lower later than now.

I'm used to the screen on my PL-1 and this new P3 is like driving a new Cadillac compared to a trusty old Chevy. The touch focus is a great feature, and the two dials make the Program Shift and the Aperture and Shutter and Manual modes much easier to make inputs.  There's even a Function 2 button that toggles on the EV mode, or can be assigned other functions.  And this camera just oozes quality and has sort of a high dollar glow to it when you sit back and look at it.  What a toy.  The P5 looks like about the same rig only improved and made better.  It would be tempting to try one.

But the OMD M10II looks like a little DSLR and has a viewfinder and a flash on top and has lots more goodies and gizmos than the P5.

This is America.  We don't have any camera control laws,,,,yet.

The only solution is to buy both.:-)

But all in due time. I'm still learning this P3.

What, in the world, is a digital teleconverter?

Do I want to "Keep Warm Colors"?

Maybe I need to learn to shoot RAW so I won't be such a newbie, too.

And it's nice to have a real, working movie camera that really does autofocus when you use it.

This P3 ought to keep me busy awhile, before I try to upgrade.

Thanks for all your help.