Being too overally critical of my Oly EPL3's performance?

[smoknlegend]

Hey Guys, first off I am new to the 4/3s game, and consider myself a true form of an amateur photog.


I have had this Olympus E-PL3 for about 2 weeks and have been playing with it for a little while. I picked this camera up after playing with a friends Lumix GF2 and wanting to be able to carry something around that can take quality shots while not being as bulky as my Rebel XTI. The EPL3 I bought (bought brand new as well) came with the 14-42mm lens (should have bought with the prime lens though.)


Here is my concern, after playing with the camera on manual mode and automatic mode, I cant seem to get clear shots at 100% crop. My photos look good when at 25% but if i zoom to 100% in PS, no matter what, the image isnt crystal clear. I see noise in the color and the picture is fuzzy from this. I know having a zoom lens doesnt offer as crisp a shot as a prime lens as well, but for what I paid, id figure I wouldnt have this level of noise. Should this be something I should expect from the 4/3's platform? I know some of the areas Im complaining about arent in the focus area (so possibly just need a different fstop.)


Here is an example:
100% crop:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/smokinfastlegend/cropped.jpg


Original resized:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/smokinfastlegend/resized800x600.jpg


100% Crop:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/smokinfastlegend/cropped2.jpg


Original:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/smokinfastlegend/fullsize.jpg





Just color me crazy if you think im being too critical. Im just bothered by the level of noise I am seeing.


I know these pictures arent great, but they were taken as to show the finish of the car instead of artistic.

[RBS]

you should specify your settings for the shot and 100% zoom in on your focal point. If you focused on the tailight and look at a 100% crop of the wheels it wont be too accurate and vise versa..


From what i see it is fine, 4/3 are not comparable to a APS-C/35mm sensor in any way at all.

[RandomGuy]

you should specify your settings for the shot and 100% zoom in on your focal point. If you focused on the tailight and look at a 100% crop of the wheels it wont be too accurate and vise versa..


From what i see it is fine, 4/3 are not comparable to a APS-C/35mm sensor in any way at all.

Jeffrey's Exif viewer (http://regex.info/exif.cgi?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fi18.photobucket.com%2 Falbums%2Fb134%2Fsmokinfastlegend%2Fcropped.jpg)

[smoknlegend]

you should specify your settings for the shot and 100% zoom in on your focal point. If you focused on the tailight and look at a 100% crop of the wheels it wont be too accurate and vise versa..


From what i see it is fine, 4/3 are not comparable to a APS-C/35mm sensor in any way at all.

I asked a few questions over at the mu-43's board and they recommended me shooting in just raw and exposing to the right. I did that and i think i might be happier with the image i am getting.

Here is an edit in light room from the raw file:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/smokinfastlegend/P1010252.jpg

To me it looks as if it has gotten rid of most of the noise i am seeing (some were calling it jpeg smearing ???)