High image quality free from camera shake, plus whisper quiet lens

As the latest addition to the Pen camera range, the E-PL3 comes with the sculpted and near silent M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 II R lens, providing a versatile equivalent of 28-84mm in 35mm film terms. This lens, one of 20 available to E-PL3 users, has the advantage of not only providing faster focusing, but also preventing the audible whirr of the lens' mechanics that can otherwise ruin the audio track of your home movies.

What's more, with up to ISO12800 light sensitivity (up from the E-PL2's ISO6400) aiding shooting in lower light conditions without flash for more naturalistic results, shutter speed of up to 1/4000th per second, and high speed sequential shooting at 5 frames per second (fps), the E-PL3 is fully equipped to provide the best marriage with the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL lens system.

Another advantage of the Olympus system is that its lenses are lighter than rivals', as they don't require built in 'IS' of their own. What's more the supplied lens also features a swappable decorative ring, so you can match the lens to the body colour of the PEN camera you've chosen.

Extensive accessories, ever expanding lens range

Other potential must have accessories include the FL-300R external flash in silver with the wireless flexibility and the affordable and tiltable new Electronic Viewfinder with a 100% viewing angle and 920,000-dot resolution. Attached via the E-PL3's Accessory Port 2, it's excellent for shooting in bright sunshine or with a telephoto lens.

What's more the E-PL3 is not only compatible with 20 Micro Four Thirds lenses, it also offers access to 27 Four thirds system and more than 500 other lenses via adapter.

Newly developed high speed Live Mos sensor with wide dynamic range

With its 12.3 effective megapixel High Speed Live Mos sensor,
 Multi Exposure mode for combining up to three top quality Raw
 images – the outstanding photo heritage provided by the Olympus
 Pen range shines through.

Add in a Supersonic Wave Filter dust protection system 
to prevent any undesirables attaching themselves to the
 camera's sensor when swapping lenses and the result is 
consistent excellence, no matter how relatively unskilled the user may be.

The Olympus PEN E-PL3 is available in black, white, silver 
or red in the following configurations:

• E-PL3 Kit with M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 II R lens
• E-PL3 Double Zoom Kit* with M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm
•  1:3.5-5.6 II R and M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm 1:4.0-5.6 R lenses

* Silver is not available in Double Zoom Kit configuration.

Product Description

Olympus Pen E-PL 3 Kit black + EZ-M 14-42 mm II black

Olympus E-PL3 Compact System Camera

The Olympus E-PL3: Third generation PEN 'Lite' adds tilting LCD screen to straight-up technical innovation

Olympus has done it again. In every aspect a feast for the eyes, the E-PL3 builds on the success of the easy to use and compact E-PL1 and E-PL2 Digital PEN cameras.

In the impressively chic brushed metal 12.3 megapixel E-PL3, Olympus once again provides digital SLR image quality in convenient compact size for anyone who finds DSLRs overly complex, and this time around has even found space to shoehorn in a tilting LCD screen for increased framing flexibility. So, even if you consider yourself an amateur, you'll soon be shooting like a pro.

Inspired by the head turning original PEN series designed by Yoshihisa Maitani, which shifted over 17 million units worldwide, and aimed at fans of fuss free photography, the mid-range E-PL3 also continues the PEN tradition of offering super image quality and unlimited creative freedom with no associated hassle. What's more, with aluminium finish it looks like a dream as well as handling like one.

FAST AF: World's fastest autofocus system

A case in point, the E-PL3 has inherited some of the latest technologies incorporated in the equally new flagship E-P3 model, including the advantage of the world's fastest auto focus system among interchangeable lens cameras.

Plus with 35 separate focus points spread over almost the entire sensor it is even possible to zero focus in on subjects tucked away in the corners of the screen display.

An AF illuminator for lower light work plus AF tracking technology further ensure that subjects stay sharp no matter where they are in the frame, and even when they dip in and out of it. No special skills are required of the photographer as thanks to the E-PL3's Full Time AF facility it is, as it sounds, 'always on'.

Effortless operation via Live Guide and fast access buttons

The E-PL3 builds on the success of its forbears and once again sports a lightweight and compact design to aid portability, the look of which is both classic and contemporary.

In order to achieve results like the professionals with the minimum of effort, the E-PL3 once again features the E-PL1 and E-PL2's revolutionary Live Guide, selectable in HD movie mode as well as when shooting stills, and allowing photographers to watch in real time the results of changing functions and settings before even taking a shot.

For example, depth of field can be adjusted to make a shot more dramatic by moving an onscreen slider up or down, with users quickly able to master those little settings that make all the difference in terms of more professional looking shots – such as motion and background blur, colour intensity, lighting mood and brightness.

In addition menu settings have now been made more user friendly, with each selection triggering a pop up window detailing how it works. Olympus has additionally fitted a row of fast access buttons on top of the camera next to the shutter release so users really can't miss them.