Olympus PEN Lite (E-PL3) announced

The new PEN Lite E-PL3 is ideal for those seeking high-end features in a lighter package than the just-announced PEN E-P3. The brushed-aluminium finish of the E-PL3 maintains a stylish finish for the PEN range. 

Like the top-of-the-range model, the PEN Lite is packed with some of the very best imaging innovations around including FAST AF, the world's fastest autofocus system for interchangeable lens cameras. There's also in-body Image Stabilisation and combinable, one-touch Art Filters for adding creative flair to Full HD movies and still images.

Add a new tilt-angle LCD and the E-PL3 makes its own individual mark. The 3in, tiltable display makes capturing stand-out images in awkward situations as easy as taking a regular shot.

The Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 will be available from autumn 2011 with pricing TBC.

Watch our hands-on preview of the new Olympus Pens:

Olympus PEN Lite features at a glance:

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3: Image Quality


• Powerful TruePic VI image engine for faster recovery time and excellent image quality

• Ultra-effective in-body image stabilisation for blur-free movies and stills with any lens

• Compact M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm (28-84mm) 1:3.5-5.6 II R fast and near-silent (Movie and Still compatible) lens

• 12.3 effective Megapixel High Speed Live MOS sensor for excellent low-light performance and Full HD movie recording

• Up to ISO 12,800 sensitivity

• 1080i Full HD stereo movie recording as AVCHD or Motion JPEG

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3: Ease of Use

• FAST AF, world's fastest autofocus system. Always on, with 35 AF points, low-light AF Illuminator and out-of-picture AF Tracking

• Tiltable 3in LCD with 460k-dot resolution for easily capturing otherwise awkward shots

• Direct access buttons (one customisable) for quick manual adjustments

• Live Guide in HD Movie, still and P/S/M/A mode

• Pop-up description for each menu point

• Live View in HD Movie and still mode

• Easy-to-use Live Wheel feature menu

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3: Creativity & Flexibility

• Six creative Art Filters in HD Movie and still modes, combinable with Art Filter Effects incl. new Starlight and White Edge

• Accessory Port 2 for compatibility with the growing family of PEN accessories

• Compatible with 20 Micro Four Thirds, 27 Four Thirds and more than 500 other lenses (via an adapter)

• Compatible with optional underwater case

• 1/4000th sec. shutter speed with 5fps sequential shooting

• Multi Exposure mode for two RAW images

• Long-life BLS-5 Li-ion battery

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3: Design

• Beautiful, compact design with premium brushed aluminium casing

• Interchangeable decoration ring on supplied lens

• Available in four attractive colours: black, white, silver and red

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3: Other highlights

• External, tiltable flash supplied

• 3D still photos

• Slideshow playback

• SDXC card and Eye-Fi compatible

• Wireless flash control