Olympus E-PL3
Entry interchangeable-lens camera
At $499 with the 14-42mm kit lens, this model, which has since been replaced by the E-PL5, becomes an attractive alternative as a speedy upgrade from a point-and-shoot or compact alternative to a dSLR but for people who want more streamlined manual operation than is offered by the less-expensive Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3.
The good: With a broad feature set aimed at enthusiasts, tilting LCD, nicely implemented filters, good performance, and excellent raw photo quality, plus a price that's less burdensome than the E-P3's, there's a lot to appreciate about the Olympus PEN E-PL3.
The bad: The PEN E-PL3's video disappoints, and the camera's lack of a grip may prove annoying for some shooters.
The bottom line: While it's not the best in any particular aspect, and you probably don't want to use it for video, the Olympus PEN E-PL3 offers an excellent balance of size, features, performance, and photo quality for the money.
November 20, 2012 11:59 AM PST
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET
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