The Phoblographer has tested the Olympus E-P3 up against the dual-processor Canon 7D and gives the slight edge on autofocus speed to the E-P3 (while assessing them as "very close"). A video is posted above, making me wonder about the methodology a bit. In the test, the E-P3's focus is done via touchscreen- while fair, this may not be the way many users actually focus the camera in many fast-changing situations. So I would have been interested to also see a focus comparison with both cameras being triggered by the shutter at single-point focus. Regardless, the E-P3 is blazing fast; so fast I couldn't believe the camera had already fired. Future tests will also compare the new speed of the autofocus to its accuracy. To date, contrast detect autofocus systems (like on the E-P3 and other mirrorless cameras) have had a pretty good track record for accuracy.
For street work, the judgment of the Phoblographer tests seems to give the E-P3 a clear advantage- smaller, quicker.
For sports, the 7D still has a large advantage with its faster frames per second (8 vs. 3), shorter black-out times (I'm guessing?) and access to Canon's rich line of telephoto lenses. One also has to take into account what it might be like to try to focus through the Olympus E-P3's optional electronic viewfinder. Finally, single-servo focus and continuous (tracking) autofocus are two completely different stories, and there is no discussion in the mini-review of tracking focus.
In low light, it can be a pretty close call- the 7D looks better to me with its 18-megapixel APS-C sensor but not by a very wide margin. The Phoblographer said they like the 7D at night for its "versatility and control" but I don't know all of what they meant by that. For landscapes, APS-C still offers the better dynamic range.
Some commentators on the Phoblographer website have also suggested they would like to see autofocus tests done in low light or on some of the outer AF points. The E-P3 does have a focus assist lamp, something Canon has still not yet figured out how to put into its DSLRs.
The Olympus E-P3 can now be pre-ordered at Adorama, available as a kit with either the 14-42mm zoom lens seen in the video or a 17mm f/2.8 pancake for $899. Link is below:
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