Is the Olympus E-PL3 a good choice for macro, general photography, timelapse, and future telescope use?
Asked 3/12/2012
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2 answers
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I’m considering an Olympus E-PL3 for amateur photography and want to know if it’s a good fit for these uses, in order of importance:
- Macro, including possible 3D macro work
- General-purpose shooting, including portraits and panoramas
- Timelapse
What lenses would you recommend for those uses?
I may also want to try astrophotography later using a telescope. Is Micro Four Thirds adaptable to telescopes, or would I need to move to a DSLR system for that?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
1
If my underwater macros with the PEN2 are anything to go by, I would think that the PEN3 is as good or better for macro - with the kit lens. The picture I linked is of a 1cm large pygmy sea horse, and it is cropped. The resolution is amazing and I am sure you can easily fit two of them into the picture with a 3D lens without loosing sharpness or too much resolution. They are even selling some LED lights for macros. That should be great for on-the-go use.
In general I would say that the PEN models are very good cameras for all-round photography. You might want to take a look at the Lumix Lenses to get a bigger variety. I am very happy with the 20mm 1.7 prime lens for example.
Regarding Timelapse you might need to buy an intervalometer to control the camera. There are many models that let you shoot timelapses until the memory card is full and have tons of features. I am using this one here which does everything that I need.
Originally by user9441. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user9441
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—based on user experience with Olympus PEN models, the E-PL3 is a solid all-round amateur camera and should work well for macro and general photography. PEN image quality and resolution are strong enough for close-up work, and macro lighting accessories such as small LED lights can help.
For lenses, the Micro Four Thirds system is a good choice because you can use both Olympus and Panasonic Lumix lenses, giving you a wider range of options. One community recommendation was the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 as a strong everyday prime.
For timelapse, the main limitation is usually triggering the camera repeatedly. You may need an intervalometer or other remote timing solution to automate shots.
For telescope use, Micro Four Thirds is generally adaptable, so switching to a DSLR system is not necessarily required. The key is finding the right mount adapter for your telescope setup.
Overall: good choice for amateur macro and general use, flexible lens options, and timelapse/telescope use should be possible with the right accessories.
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