Review of the Olympus E-PL3 and E-PM1

[slowhands]

What ever happened to the oly housings for the epl3? Have they got lost with the bad management?

Why no early reviews? Phil? Scott? What news?

The problem is availability in the USA. Traditionally Olympus ships new products to Europe and Japan first, USA about 2-3 months later. For USA buyers, this delay is quite annoying. Reviewers don't have them for serious reviews in USA yet. The ones in the USA now are prototypes being demo'd to dealers and distributors.

You can pre-order from the usual good underwater photo stores in the USA, but you'll still have to wait until late December? or even January. This will be available from Reef, Optical Ocean and Bluewater, among specialty UW photo shops. Also full line camera dealers like B&H and Helix will have it, but you won't get the dealer support offered by the specialty UW photo shops. Just google them to find the details.

It appears that it is available from Europe, in UK and Netherlands. By the time you add the cost of shipping and the delay, there might not be much advantage over waiting until the USA channel has stock. But if you really really want one, I recommend CamerasUnderwater in UK. I have ordered from them several times and been very happy with their service:

Olympus housing for Olympus PEN EPL3

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My top of the head impression: The E-PL3 is a very slight upgrade from the E-PL2, with slightly faster autofocus and HD video. It has the same 12.3 MP sensor, so image quality won't be much better if at all. The kit lens is basically the same as the one on the E-PL2, and does focus faster than the kit lens with the E-PL1. (If you have an E-PL1, I suggest getting the newer 14-42 II lens, because it focuses faster and is quieter for video). You can probably tell I'm not too impressed by the E-PL3, it seems like reheated leftovers.

The new housing is very similar to the earlier versions, but has a 67mm mount and target lights. You can add external 67mm wet macro and wide angle lenses easily. If you are content with the 14-42 lens, the standard port is fine. I would probably replace it with the Zen dome for the 9-18mm lens, in which case those benefits disappear. I see no compelling advantages for this housing but nothing wrong with it either.

 

[Sail Rock Diver]

looks like switzerland has it in stock already. Unterwasserfotografie, Fantic UW-Foto AG - Olympus Unterwassergehuse PT-EP05L V6300510E000

 

[TheTrickster]

First video from my E-PL3

[video=facebook;10150394872997727]https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150394872997727[/video]

 

[slowhands]

looks like switzerland has it in stock already. Unterwasserfotografie, Fantic UW-Foto AG - Olympus Unterwassergehuse PT-EP05L V6300510E000

Yes, I noticed that offer, but I was not sure if they really had stock. Having it in the catalog is not the same as having inventory. I saw three of these housings offered on eBay from Hong Kong dealers in early November, but none are now listed, so I think demand is very high and supply is limited. In two months, it should be lower priced and more widely stocked. This housing lists for $200 more than it's predecessors, so that's an expensive target light!

I am very impressed by the broad range from this Swiss dealer FANTIC, but pricing is ... very Swiss! (Price for this housing from FANTIC is CHF 925 = $ 1010.27, including VAT less shipping. I don't know the VAT rate, but usually sellers can deduct that for export sales.) Reef, Optical Ocean, and Bluewater should have it soon.

See: http://reefphoto.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=158&products_id=5479

I was very intrigued by the modular port system FANTIC offers for the Olympus Pen Housings too, and I know Sail Rock Diver uses their macro port for his 50mm macro lens setup, with outstanding results.

http://www.uw-foto.ch/product_info....tem-fuer-Olympus-PEN-Unterwassergehaeuse.html

 

[Sail Rock Diver]

@ slowhands

it is in stock but i know swiss is a bit more expensive.

and thanks for the compliment.

 

[spencerjb22]

I've had mine here in the UK for 3 weeks now. I've pool tested the kit lens/ WA/ Macro lens combos ( Epoque/UWL-04) and Inon UCL 165's single and stacked.

Just fitted the Zen dome and dip tested only with the 9-18mm, looking forward to taking it out for a dip next week.

Once you have the initial flat port the interchange between the zen/stock port is quite easy. The inital getting the stock port off was a really challenge as it was ultra stiff. Once off though it seems to loosen up and not great deal then.

From my pool and land tests, i'm loving this camera for both uses. The auto focus is lighting. The shutter lag is also superb and sync'd with my YS110A it was simply a joy to use in the pool tests I did. The speed/performance seems to be a lot close to the SLR than my compact without question.

The pictures with the wet lens were a lot better than I expected in terms of sharpness, and the macro lighting on the kit port is fantastic.

I used to find carrying my SLR around a really effort, I now take this camera everywhere. I can carry a couple of the M.Zuiko lens in my pocket and you don't know it's there. The wife has said on a few occasions "i thought you said you were bring your camera today"....

Lookng forward to taking it to the Maldives in 6 weeks.

 

[TheTrickster]

Got another day to play with the E-PL3 underwater.

Here is the video (now utilising the UW White Balace)

[video=facebook;10150407555937727]http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150407555937727[/video]