Being the gadget hounds that we are, we’re still struggling to fully digest the Micro Four Thirds / interchangeable lens camera market. The performance freak in us suggests that one simply buy a smaller DSLR given the parallel annoyance of carrying around a bag full of lenses, but the mobility junkie in us does appreciate the downsizing — however minor. Olympus’ PEN line has been a beautiful one from the start, but one that found itself out of consideration for many due to the poor value proposition. Even the newest PEN E-P3 isn’t a bargain; at $900 with a somewhat versatile 14-42mm lens, it’s well north of most entry-level DSLRs, and on-par with many mid-rangers. So, is it really worth splurging on a slightly more compact frame, devilishly good looks and “the world’s fastest autofocus system?” Read on for our take.
Image and video quality
For an absurdly in-depth look at what the “new” 12.3 megapixel Live MOS sensor is capable of in just about every scenario, we’d encourage you to peek the extra reviews linked below in our ‘More Coverage’ section. From an amateur’s viewpoint, we have to confess that our love affair with the design and usability don’t entirely bleed over to the image results. For all intents and purposes, the output you’ll get here is eerily similar to that found in the E-P2. Even more depressing is the low-light performance; while the ISO ceiling sits at 12,800, anything over 3,200 results in a tear-jerking amount of noise.
Source: engadget.com
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