Lots of E-PM1 love lately because of the great prices, but it's big brother the E-PL3 is only $249 (demo) at Cameta:

Olympus PEN E-PL3 Micro 4/3 Digital Camera Body (Black) - Factory Demo includes Full 1 Year Warranty

Panasonic must have better inventory and production control than Olympus - tons of refurb & new older Olympus bodies everywhere but very few Panasonic refurb/new older bodies out there...

__________________
Olympus E-PL5
M. Zuiko 17mm ƒ1.8 | M. Zuiko 17mm ƒ2.8 | M. Zuiko 14-42 II | M. Zuiko 14-150 ED | M. Zuiko 45mm ƒ1.8 ED | M. Zuiko 75mm ƒ1.8 ED | M. Zuiko 75-300 ED II | Leica DG Summilux 25mm ƒ1.4 ASPH | Lumix G Vario 45-200 |

I have always thought Panasonic bodies had better quality control. I've had a number of both and the Panasonic bodies always struck me as better assembled. That said, $249 is an outstanding price for an E-PL3.

I have bought several of the Olympus refurbs and they are great. In fact I have not bought a "new" body of any brand, ever! I have either bought a good used one or a refurb. I have held several of the Panasonic bodies and don't think they are any better built than the Olympus ones. It may be how each company handles returned and demos, some companies refurb them and other companies part them out.

__________________
Olympus E-PL1, E-PL2
VF2 two of them!
Oly 14-42mm, Oly 40-150mm, Oly 14-150mm, Pan 14mm, Pan 20mm, Oly 45mm, Sigma 30mm - more coming soon!
Many legacy lenses, mostly Nikkor.

Thing is...
There are lots of new -> old Olympus bodies (E-P1/E-P2/E-PL1 all new) at CAMETA which appears to me like over-production by Olympus (or less than expected sales).

__________________
Olympus E-PL5
M. Zuiko 17mm ƒ1.8 | M. Zuiko 17mm ƒ2.8 | M. Zuiko 14-42 II | M. Zuiko 14-150 ED | M. Zuiko 45mm ƒ1.8 ED | M. Zuiko 75mm ƒ1.8 ED | M. Zuiko 75-300 ED II | Leica DG Summilux 25mm ƒ1.4 ASPH | Lumix G Vario 45-200 |

Other than their own website, I believe that Cameta is one of the primary dealers that handles their refurbs, so the concentration of equipment there may appear a bit like over-production. Just a thought.

--Ken

There are new Olympus (older models) at Cameta too that are not refurbished. Where are alll the new (older model) Panasonics at?

__________________
Olympus E-PL5
M. Zuiko 17mm ƒ1.8 | M. Zuiko 17mm ƒ2.8 | M. Zuiko 14-42 II | M. Zuiko 14-150 ED | M. Zuiko 45mm ƒ1.8 ED | M. Zuiko 75mm ƒ1.8 ED | M. Zuiko 75-300 ED II | Leica DG Summilux 25mm ƒ1.4 ASPH | Lumix G Vario 45-200 |

I honestly think that Panasonic simply doesn't care about the US market as much as Olympus does. That is why people here wait months after a new release to get their hands on bodies like the gh2 or gh3...they are being sent elsewhere. Olympus on the other hand floods our market, and obviously doesn't have a problem selling old inventory at refurbished prices...if they weren't making money at those prices we wouldn't be able to buy them that low (except used). They rode that 12mp sensor for what, 4 years? The rest of the cameras are just other molded and manufactured parts that probably run under $100/unit to make. I for one don't mind waiting until the back end to pick up a refurb from them at severely discounted prices!

__________________
G5 | D600 | K20d | K-01 | K100d
Tilt/Ap control/fixed K and F adapters
Gear | Galleries

If you do a little looking you can find refurbished Panasonic cameras. I found some on Amazon, Overstock.com and Best Buy. They are fewer and harder to find than Olympus cameras.

__________________
Olympus E-PL1, E-PL2
VF2 two of them!
Oly 14-42mm, Oly 40-150mm, Oly 14-150mm, Pan 14mm, Pan 20mm, Oly 45mm, Sigma 30mm - more coming soon!
Many legacy lenses, mostly Nikkor.

You just might be right here....

__________________
Olympus E-PL5
M. Zuiko 17mm ƒ1.8 | M. Zuiko 17mm ƒ2.8 | M. Zuiko 14-42 II | M. Zuiko 14-150 ED | M. Zuiko 45mm ƒ1.8 ED | M. Zuiko 75mm ƒ1.8 ED | M. Zuiko 75-300 ED II | Leica DG Summilux 25mm ƒ1.4 ASPH | Lumix G Vario 45-200 |