Olympus PEN E-P3 Review

The newest member of the Micro Four Thirds Olympus PEN family is without a doubt the company’s best model to date. I was fortunate enough to receive an Olympus PEN E-P3 well before the camera’s August release date in order to crank out this full review. At the end of my quest with the Olympus PEN E-P3, I was left in a mound of shrapnel from all of the exploding awesomeness that the camera succeeded in exuding throughout the course of my testing. Typically, a manufacturer will retain last year’s imaging sensor and throw in a few additional scene modes or manual controls. Not Olympus. The E-P3 is a radical divergence from the first and second-generation Olympus E-P1 and E-P2 cameras.

First off, the E-P3 utilizes a capacitive touchscreen LCD for particular menu operations, focusing, and touch capture. I was skeptical at first, but wait until you read of my findings. Olympus also tacked on a pop-up flash that was missing in action on the E-P2, and significantly fortified the camera’s Art Filter shooting mode. The addition of 1080i AVCHD video recording also graced the likes of the E-P3 in order to contend with Panasonic Micro Four Thirds machines like the Lumix DMC-GH2 and newly announced DMC-GF3. But the nacreous core of the Olympus E-P3 has been entirely revamped with a brand new 12MP Live MOS sensor and dual-core True Pic VI image processing. And how about the expanded 35-point AF, quicker focus times, manual controls in video mode, and, well, let’s just start the engine and Zamboni our way through the full review.

There has been a little further rejigging of the buttons on the back of the E-P3 since the E-P2. The auto exposure and auto focus lock (AEL/AFL) button has gone and the Menu, Info and Function buttons have been switched around. It shouldn't take users too long to get used to it, but it will make a slight difference.

It will be interesting to see how much difference the alternative grips make to the feel of the E-P3.

Touchscreen

The new PEN E-P3 is the first PEN from Olympus to feature a touchscreen. The E-P3 features touch AF, which instructs the camera to focus on the point in the scene chosen by a touch of a finger, and, like the Panasonic G3 and GF3, it also has a touch shutter.

Hopefully, the Anti-Fingerprint Coating will help keep the LCD smudge free so that provides a clear view in all lighting conditions.

Autofocus

Olympus shares technology with Panasonic, including the sensor in the new PEN E-P3, PEN Lite and PEN Mini. The Live MOS device has a fast read-out speed of 120fps, which helps to speed-up the contrast detection autofocus (AF) system.

Olympus claims that the TruePic VI processing engine inside its new PEN cameras is faster than Panasonic's Venus Engine VI FHD and it can therefore push the AF system further. As a result, Olympus claims that its new PEN cameras have the world's fastest AF when used with it's MSC (Movie Stills Compatible) optics. We will be putting this and the improved AF tracking ability to the test.

Olympus's TruePic VI processing engine is also claimed to decrease the length of time that the screen blacks-out between exposures, which should make shooting sport much easier.

The newest member of the Micro Four Thirds Olympus PEN family is without a doubt the company’s best model to date. I was fortunate enough to receive an Olympus PEN E-P3 well before the camera’s August release date in order to crank out this full review. At the end of my quest with the Olympus PEN E-P3, I was left in a mound of shrapnel from all of the exploding awesomeness that the camera succeeded in exuding throughout the course of my testing. Typically, a manufacturer will retain last year’s imaging sensor and throw in a few additional scene modes or manual controls. Not Olympus. The E-P3 is a radical divergence from the first and second-generation Olympus E-P1 and E-P2 cameras.

First off, the E-P3 utilizes a capacitive touchscreen LCD for particular menu operations, focusing, and touch capture. I was skeptical at first, but wait until you read of my findings. Olympus also tacked on a pop-up flash that was missing in action on the E-P2, and significantly fortified the camera’s Art Filter shooting mode. The addition of 1080i AVCHD video recording also graced the likes of the E-P3 in order to contend with Panasonic Micro Four Thirds machines like the Lumix DMC-GH2 and newly announced DMC-GF3. But the nacreous core of the Olympus E-P3 has been entirely revamped with a brand new 12MP Live MOS sensor and dual-core True Pic VI image processing. And how about the expanded 35-point AF, quicker focus times, manual controls in video mode, and, well, let’s just start the engine and Zamboni our way through the full review.

There has been a little further rejigging of the buttons on the back of the E-P3 since the E-P2. The auto exposure and auto focus lock (AEL/AFL) button has gone and the Menu, Info and Function buttons have been switched around. It shouldn't take users too long to get used to it, but it will make a slight difference.

It will be interesting to see how much difference the alternative grips make to the feel of the E-P3.

Touchscreen

The new PEN E-P3 is the first PEN from Olympus to feature a touchscreen. The E-P3 features touch AF, which instructs the camera to focus on the point in the scene chosen by a touch of a finger, and, like the Panasonic G3 and GF3, it also has a touch shutter.

Hopefully, the Anti-Fingerprint Coating will help keep the LCD smudge free so that provides a clear view in all lighting conditions.

Autofocus

Olympus shares technology with Panasonic, including the sensor in the new PEN E-P3, PEN Lite and PEN Mini. The Live MOS device has a fast read-out speed of 120fps, which helps to speed-up the contrast detection autofocus (AF) system.

Olympus claims that the TruePic VI processing engine inside its new PEN cameras is faster than Panasonic's Venus Engine VI FHD and it can therefore push the AF system further. As a result, Olympus claims that its new PEN cameras have the world's fastest AF when used with it's MSC (Movie Stills Compatible) optics. We will be putting this and the improved AF tracking ability to the test.

Olympus's TruePic VI processing engine is also claimed to decrease the length of time that the screen blacks-out between exposures, which should make shooting sport much easier.

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Toshiba Camileo B10 cost $120 And P100 $180 Full HD recording Camcorders Now Available in United States.

The B10 pictured below is a pocket camcorder weighing just 3 ounces and is equipped with a two-inch diagonal LCD screen on the back of its candy bar design.

The Camileo B10 And P100 Camcorders are primarily entry level cameras the B10 will cost $120 and the P100 $180. Both offer 1080p full HD recording, impressive zoom capabilities, double as 16-megapixel still cameras and are compatible with Windows and Mac OS systems.

The P100 pictured above offers a 5x optical zoom and a 16-megapixel photo resolution that leverages real-time interpolation when in camera mode and is equipped with a swivelling three-inch diagonal LCD touchscreen display.

The B10 pictured below is a pocket camcorder weighing just 3 ounces and is equipped with a two-inch diagonal LCD screen on the back of its candy bar design.

The Camileo B10 And P100 Camcorders are primarily entry level cameras the B10 will cost $120 and the P100 $180. Both offer 1080p full HD recording, impressive zoom capabilities, double as 16-megapixel still cameras and are compatible with Windows and Mac OS systems.

The P100 pictured above offers a 5x optical zoom and a 16-megapixel photo resolution that leverages real-time interpolation when in camera mode and is equipped with a swivelling three-inch diagonal LCD touchscreen display.

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The Perfect Group Shot | How your camera phone is about to get way more awesome.

 Check the video below:Rewind captures a burst of five full resolution photographs, allowing the user to pick and choose the best bits from each photo. The selected faces are immediately composited into a single photograph, ready for sharing. We found Scalado on the show floor for a repeat performance.

As you can see in the video, Rewind is intelligent enough to detect faces and allow the user–ahem,photographer–to select which faces should be used in the final shot. Scalado said they’re working on a new version with smile and blink detection that can even do the selecting for you, making the process of getting the perfect group shot an almost automatic experience.

The only downside is that, at this time, they’re only looking to distribute the technology via OEMs–meaning you shouldn’t expect to see a Rewind app in the market any time soon. The burst photo capture is processor-intensive, ultimately limiting the end range of devices it can run on (and explaining why Scalado has paired with Qualcomm and is testing on that beast of a device).

What say you, the avid phone photographer? Is this something you’d want in your phone? If manufacturers started offering the feature, would that be a real draw to the device or just a “nice to have?” Personally I think it’s pretty awesome tech, but I’m still waiting on the boost in cell camera optics to really make it worth it.

 Check the video below:Rewind captures a burst of five full resolution photographs, allowing the user to pick and choose the best bits from each photo. The selected faces are immediately composited into a single photograph, ready for sharing. We found Scalado on the show floor for a repeat performance.

As you can see in the video, Rewind is intelligent enough to detect faces and allow the user–ahem,photographer–to select which faces should be used in the final shot. Scalado said they’re working on a new version with smile and blink detection that can even do the selecting for you, making the process of getting the perfect group shot an almost automatic experience.

The only downside is that, at this time, they’re only looking to distribute the technology via OEMs–meaning you shouldn’t expect to see a Rewind app in the market any time soon. The burst photo capture is processor-intensive, ultimately limiting the end range of devices it can run on (and explaining why Scalado has paired with Qualcomm and is testing on that beast of a device).

What say you, the avid phone photographer? Is this something you’d want in your phone? If manufacturers started offering the feature, would that be a real draw to the device or just a “nice to have?” Personally I think it’s pretty awesome tech, but I’m still waiting on the boost in cell camera optics to really make it worth it.

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« TechiePK » Big Camera in a Small Package | LUMIX DMC-G3 –

I consider myself a pretty serious amateur photographer, I love the hobby and have taken some very professional looking shots if I do say so myself. What I don’t enjoy is lugging around my huge camera and hefty lens, just for a trip to the beach, but I don’t want to miss out on any potentially amazing photo opportunities…

Well, Panasonic just announced a brand new addition to the LUMIX G Series of Compact Cameras, the LUMIX DMC-G3, this is the smallest and lightest digital interchangeable lens camera with a viewfinder that they’ve ever made. This new camera offers a much lighter and smaller camera than your more traditional DSLR allowing for much greater portability and more creative control.

The G3 also features a new 16.0-megapixel sensor that produces rich, true-to-life, high quality images, plus 1920 x 1080 full-High Definition (HD) video recording capability with stereo sound in AVCHD. The Panasonic LUMIX G3 is the ideal hybrid, offering superb still and video capabilities with many easy-to-use features so users at any level can create professional-quality images.

The LUMIX G3 offers photographers the opportunity to express their creativity with cool pre-sets like Creative Control mode, which allows for images to be taken with popular visual effects like Retro, High Key, Sepia and High Dynamic.  The conventional film mode has also evolved with a new effect control, Photo Style, which has Standard, Vivid, Natural, Monochrome, Scenery, Portrait settings that allow finer adjustment of contrast, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G3 is made of aluminum and will be available in a variety of attractive colors, including black, red, white and brown, starting in June 2011. Suggested retail price of the LUMIX G3 WITH the 14-42mm Zoom Lens Kit will be around $699.99.

Source www.panasonic.com/lumix.

I consider myself a pretty serious amateur photographer, I love the hobby and have taken some very professional looking shots if I do say so myself. What I don’t enjoy is lugging around my huge camera and hefty lens, just for a trip to the beach, but I don’t want to miss out on any potentially amazing photo opportunities…

Well, Panasonic just announced a brand new addition to the LUMIX G Series of Compact Cameras, the LUMIX DMC-G3, this is the smallest and lightest digital interchangeable lens camera with a viewfinder that they’ve ever made. This new camera offers a much lighter and smaller camera than your more traditional DSLR allowing for much greater portability and more creative control.

The G3 also features a new 16.0-megapixel sensor that produces rich, true-to-life, high quality images, plus 1920 x 1080 full-High Definition (HD) video recording capability with stereo sound in AVCHD. The Panasonic LUMIX G3 is the ideal hybrid, offering superb still and video capabilities with many easy-to-use features so users at any level can create professional-quality images.

The LUMIX G3 offers photographers the opportunity to express their creativity with cool pre-sets like Creative Control mode, which allows for images to be taken with popular visual effects like Retro, High Key, Sepia and High Dynamic.  The conventional film mode has also evolved with a new effect control, Photo Style, which has Standard, Vivid, Natural, Monochrome, Scenery, Portrait settings that allow finer adjustment of contrast, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G3 is made of aluminum and will be available in a variety of attractive colors, including black, red, white and brown, starting in June 2011. Suggested retail price of the LUMIX G3 WITH the 14-42mm Zoom Lens Kit will be around $699.99.

Source www.panasonic.com/lumix.

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Nikon D5100 D-SLR Camera With In-Camera Special Effects

Targeting a new digital camera? If a DSLR is your cup of tea, then Nikon might reel you in to their camp with the D5100 DSLR. This will be a new 16.2-megapixel shooter, as it will definitely come with a wide range of innovative features that will offer photographers the tools to go beyond creative constraints and let one take visual storytelling to another level – not to mention the ability to shoot HD movies as well, just like any other self-respecting DSLR camera ought to be able to do these days.

For starters, the Nikon D5100 will come with an impressive 3″ super sharp 921,000-dot Vari-angle LCD screen, full HD (1080p) movie recording capability with full-time autofocus, as well as in-camera effects which you can apply right on the spot to photos and movies so that everyone else can follow your creative expression all the better.

With the D5100, it doesn’t matter if you’re a pro or not – regardless of your level, you can be confident of pulling off difficult shots as well thanks to the aforementioned swing-out style Vari-angle LCD display, giving you access to new angles that you would not have managed to pull of using a standard DSLR. This extremely sharp LCD display comes with a 1000:1 contrast ratio and 921,000-dot resolution, where you can rotate it 180 degrees horizontally and vertically to boot.

If you love being in control, then the Nikon D5100 is one versatile puppy, coming with advanced camera features that will include full manual controls (P,S,A,M on the mode dial), letting one control the camera’s aperture and shutter speeds in a jiffy. The moment you capture that Kodak moment, you will be able to take advantage of the flexible retouch menu which allows you to apply extra in-camera effects and editing options.

Sporting a wide ISO range of 100-6400 (which can be expanded to a staggering 25,600 ISO) ought to be a confidence booster for photographers as they attempt to shoot in outdoor and indoor low-light situations – heck, you can also use just your hands sans tripod in low noise conditions. Nikon’s Active D-lighting feature will also do its part in keeping shadows and highlights consistent for even exposures.

Expect the Nikon D5100 DSLR to arrive in the US from the middle of this month onwards, where it will retail for $799.95 for the body only, and $899.95 for the body and lens outfit which comprises of the AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens.

Press Release

“The D5100 is a great camera that allows you to express your artistic side through impressive images and movies,” said Jordi Brinkman, Product Manager of Nikon Europe. “You can shoot with creative effects and unique angles, all at the level of superior image quality seen in the D7000!”

	Nikon D3100	Nikon D5000	Nikon D5100
Sensor (effective resolution)	14.2-megapixel CMOS	12.3-megapixel CMOS	16.2-megapixel CMOS
	23.6x15.8mm	23.6x15.8mm	23.6x15.6mm
Color depth	12-bit	12-bit	14-bit
Sensitivity range	ISO 100 (expanded)/200 - ISO 3200/12,800 (expanded)	ISO 100 (expanded)/200 - ISO 1600/3200 (expanded)	ISO 100 - ISO 6400/25,600 (expanded)
Continuous shooting	3fps n/a raw/100 JPEG	4 fps 9 raw/100 JPEG	4 fps n/a raw/100 JPEG
Viewfinder magnification/effective magnification	95% coverage 0.80x/0.53x	95% coverage 0.78x/0.52x	95% coverage 0.78x/0.52x
Autofocus	11-pt AF center cross-type	11-pt AF center cross-type to f5.6	11-pt AF center cross-type to f5.6
Shutter speed	1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 sec x-sync	1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 sec x-sync	1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 sec x-sync
Metering	420-pixel 3D color matrix metering II	420-pixel 3D color matrix metering II	420-pixel 3D color matrix metering II
LCD size	3 inches fixed 230,000 dots	2.7 inches articulated 230,000 dots	3 inches articulated 921,000 dots
Video	1080/24p; 720/30p/25p/24p H.264 QuickTime MOV	720/24p Motion JPEG AVI	1080/30p/24p; 720/30p/25p/24p H.264 QuickTime MOV
Rated estimated max HD video length	4GB/10 minutes	2GB/5 minutes	20 minutes
Audio	Mono	Mono	Mono; mic input
Manual aperture and shutter in video	Aperture only	Aperture only	Yes
Wireless flash	No	No	Yes
Memory slots	1 x SDXC	1 x SDHC	1 x SDXC
Battery life (CIPA rating)	550 shots	510 shots	660 shots
Dimensions (inches, WHD)	4.9x3.8x2.9	5.0x4.1x3.1	5.0x3.8x3.1
(ounces)	17.7	21.6	19.6
Mfr. price	n/a	$629.95 (body only)	$799.95 (body only)
	$699.95 (with 18-55mm VR lens)	$699.99 (est, with 18-55mm VR lens)	$899.95 (with 18-55mm VR lens)
Ship date	September 2010	April 2009	April 2011

Targeting a new digital camera? If a DSLR is your cup of tea, then Nikon might reel you in to their camp with the D5100 DSLR. This will be a new 16.2-megapixel shooter, as it will definitely come with a wide range of innovative features that will offer photographers the tools to go beyond creative constraints and let one take visual storytelling to another level – not to mention the ability to shoot HD movies as well, just like any other self-respecting DSLR camera ought to be able to do these days.

For starters, the Nikon D5100 will come with an impressive 3″ super sharp 921,000-dot Vari-angle LCD screen, full HD (1080p) movie recording capability with full-time autofocus, as well as in-camera effects which you can apply right on the spot to photos and movies so that everyone else can follow your creative expression all the better.

With the D5100, it doesn’t matter if you’re a pro or not – regardless of your level, you can be confident of pulling off difficult shots as well thanks to the aforementioned swing-out style Vari-angle LCD display, giving you access to new angles that you would not have managed to pull of using a standard DSLR. This extremely sharp LCD display comes with a 1000:1 contrast ratio and 921,000-dot resolution, where you can rotate it 180 degrees horizontally and vertically to boot.

If you love being in control, then the Nikon D5100 is one versatile puppy, coming with advanced camera features that will include full manual controls (P,S,A,M on the mode dial), letting one control the camera’s aperture and shutter speeds in a jiffy. The moment you capture that Kodak moment, you will be able to take advantage of the flexible retouch menu which allows you to apply extra in-camera effects and editing options.

Sporting a wide ISO range of 100-6400 (which can be expanded to a staggering 25,600 ISO) ought to be a confidence booster for photographers as they attempt to shoot in outdoor and indoor low-light situations – heck, you can also use just your hands sans tripod in low noise conditions. Nikon’s Active D-lighting feature will also do its part in keeping shadows and highlights consistent for even exposures.

Expect the Nikon D5100 DSLR to arrive in the US from the middle of this month onwards, where it will retail for $799.95 for the body only, and $899.95 for the body and lens outfit which comprises of the AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens.

Press Release

“The D5100 is a great camera that allows you to express your artistic side through impressive images and movies,” said Jordi Brinkman, Product Manager of Nikon Europe. “You can shoot with creative effects and unique angles, all at the level of superior image quality seen in the D7000!”

	Nikon D3100	Nikon D5000	Nikon D5100
Sensor (effective resolution)	14.2-megapixel CMOS	12.3-megapixel CMOS	16.2-megapixel CMOS
	23.6x15.8mm	23.6x15.8mm	23.6x15.6mm
Color depth	12-bit	12-bit	14-bit
Sensitivity range	ISO 100 (expanded)/200 - ISO 3200/12,800 (expanded)	ISO 100 (expanded)/200 - ISO 1600/3200 (expanded)	ISO 100 - ISO 6400/25,600 (expanded)
Continuous shooting	3fps n/a raw/100 JPEG	4 fps 9 raw/100 JPEG	4 fps n/a raw/100 JPEG
Viewfinder magnification/effective magnification	95% coverage 0.80x/0.53x	95% coverage 0.78x/0.52x	95% coverage 0.78x/0.52x
Autofocus	11-pt AF center cross-type	11-pt AF center cross-type to f5.6	11-pt AF center cross-type to f5.6
Shutter speed	1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 sec x-sync	1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 sec x-sync	1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 sec x-sync
Metering	420-pixel 3D color matrix metering II	420-pixel 3D color matrix metering II	420-pixel 3D color matrix metering II
LCD size	3 inches fixed 230,000 dots	2.7 inches articulated 230,000 dots	3 inches articulated 921,000 dots
Video	1080/24p; 720/30p/25p/24p H.264 QuickTime MOV	720/24p Motion JPEG AVI	1080/30p/24p; 720/30p/25p/24p H.264 QuickTime MOV
Rated estimated max HD video length	4GB/10 minutes	2GB/5 minutes	20 minutes
Audio	Mono	Mono	Mono; mic input
Manual aperture and shutter in video	Aperture only	Aperture only	Yes
Wireless flash	No	No	Yes
Memory slots	1 x SDXC	1 x SDHC	1 x SDXC
Battery life (CIPA rating)	550 shots	510 shots	660 shots
Dimensions (inches, WHD)	4.9x3.8x2.9	5.0x4.1x3.1	5.0x3.8x3.1
(ounces)	17.7	21.6	19.6
Mfr. price	n/a	$629.95 (body only)	$799.95 (body only)
	$699.95 (with 18-55mm VR lens)	$699.99 (est, with 18-55mm VR lens)	$899.95 (with 18-55mm VR lens)
Ship date	September 2010	April 2009	April 2011

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