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| Olympus Pen E-P1 Compact System Camera (17mm Silver Pancake Lens & VF-1 External Optical View Finder Kit) - White |
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Olympus Pen E-P1 Compact System Camera (17mm Silver Pancake Lens & VF-1 External Optical View Finder Kit) - White
Olympus
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4 New and Used from: £ 538.46
List Price: £749.99
Our Price: £544.45
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| Product Details |
ISBN/ASIN: B002CGS53E
Release Date: 2009-06-17
Sales Rank: 5623
Average Rating: 
Media: Electronics
Audience Rating:
Product Group: CE
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| Customer Reviews: Average Rating: 4.5/5 | | This review considers the main features shared by all three Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras, differentiating features, and how: Rating: 4/5 |
Introduction
On 5 August 2008, Olympus and Panasonic announced a new, mirrorless / lens mount, branding this as Micro Four Thirds. The system uses the same Four Thirds sensor size but does away with the mirror box and optical viewfinder. In a pre-Photokina announcement, on 12 September 2008, Panasonic were the first to release a Micro Four Thirds product: the Lumix DMC-G1. When I got to see this camera "in the flesh" at Photokina 2008, I was a little underwhelmed at how much it looked like a traditional DSLR, albeit MUCH smaller. I also found the operation somewhat slow. I was thus very excited to hear the announcement of the Olympus E-P1, introduced on 16 June, 2009. Subsequently the E-P2 being announced on 5 November 2009 and the E-PL1 on February 3, 2010. Since the Olympus Micro Four Thirds offerings share so much of the same "DNA," I feel these cameras cannot be reviewed in isolation. This review considers the main features shared by all three Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras, differentiating features, and how they compare in the hand.
Main Features
Shared Features
* Three frames per second with sequential shooting (max 10 in RAW mode)
* Multi-Aspect ratios 4:3(Default), 3:2, 16:9, 6:6
* 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS Sensor
* TruePic V image processor
* Adapter for all ZUIKO DIGITAL & OM lenses
* Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology
* HD Movie with Linear PCM sound recording
* Multi Exposure function
* HDMI TV interface
* Level gauge
* Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface
* ISO 100-6400 for wide-ranging sensitivity
* Versatile bracketing functions for white balance and exposure
* Reliable Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction system
* Simultaneous writing of RAW and JPEG
* SD memory card slot (SDHC compatible)
* Auto gradation adjustment to prevent blown highlights and blocked-in shadows
* Remote release possible via the optional remote cable RM-UC1
Design & Build Quality
Both the Olympus E-P1 and E-P2 ooze quality and craftsmanship. I found the size of these two models to be almost perfect. Both dials are very tactile and provide strong control over settings. On the other hand, I found the E-PL1 to be very plastic in build quality - except for the mode dial with its very reassuring detent for each position. Although the E-PL1 is narrower, the extra height makes it feel much less compact. Of course, the E-PL1 has a built in pop-up flash that increases versatility. Both the E-P2 and E-PL1 have a hot-shoe accessory that allows for the excellent VF-2 electronic viewfinder. The standard M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 (black or silver) - 28-84mm equivalent - kit lens, I found to be excellent, whereas the M. ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm 1:2.8 Pancake (silver) - 34mm fixed wide equivalent, I found to be less so. Finally, a word on the shutters of these three cameras. I found that the shutter of the E-P1 reminded me of the shutter on the legendary E-1, Olympus' first Four Thirds camera. In fact, I noticed a distinct difference between the E-P1's shutter and that of the E-P2. The E-P1 shutter allows for a true half-press, unlike the E-PL1, and once fully actuated provides a very reassuring action and, while louder than the whisper quiet E-1, does not disturb in discreet environments.
Electronic Viewfinder and Mirrorless / Interchangeable Lens Cameras
Certainly, composing through a viewfinder provides a steadier way of holding the camera and avoids the problem of an inept LCD in bright sunlight. Additionally, many photographers simply prefer to use a viewfinder when composing. At first, having used many excellent SLR / DSLR viewfinders, I was skeptical of the VF-2. Actually using the VF-2, though, dispels any doubts about this revolutionary way of "seeing." Will all mirrorless / interchangeable lens cameras use an electronic viewfinder in the future? Panasonic already feature electronic viewfinders in their Micro Four Thirds offerings. Sony has chosen to ignore any need for a viewfinder other than the LCD in their current mirrorless / interchangeable lens products. Both Canon and Nikon have hinted at entering the fray. Interestingly, in a recent press release Reuters quotes Canon's head of Image Communication Products division saying that in a bid to compete with the new breed of mirrorless cameras, the company was working on a smaller version of its SLR cameras. The report does not provide technical details, but a telling statement toward the end of the report is the observation, looking `directly at something through a viewfinder is different from seeing it indirectly via semiconductors.' Even with digital compact cameras the ubiquitous lack of a viewfinder is simply baffling. In fact, one wonders why manufacturers do not include an efficient optical finder as sported by most of their film compacts. A case in point is the Olympus Trip 35 that featured an albada-type viewfinder. Not the most accurate but "sufficient." Of course, the fantastic VF-2 electronic viewfinder used by the E-P2 and E-PL1 provides far more than a 100% field of view. All shooting information available on the LCD is also provided when looking through the VF-2. Manual focusing is a breeze using the VF-2 and it adjusts well to changing light with brightness increasing to compensate for dimly lit environments. I definitely recommend the VF-2!
Image Quality
Olympus has one of the best JPEG engines, not only in its DSLRs but also in its line of compact cameras. The Olympus Micro Four Thirds offerings maintain excellent JPEG output. In fact, the image quality of all three cameras is as good as their DSLR Four Thirds brothers. I found shooting in RAW provides an added level of image quality.
Using OM System Lenses - I was very keen to take advantage of the reduced flange back distance (distance from mount to the sensor) that the Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras provide that enables the use of almost any legacy lens using adaptors. Olympus provided two adaptors right from the start with the release of the E-P1: the MMF-1 adapter that allows for existing Four Thirds lenses and the MF-2 that enables OM system lenses to be used. It was a truly satisfying experience to mount my OM-System G.Zuiko Auto-S 50mm f1.4 lens on these cameras and then to use the silky smooth manual aperture control and focusing wheel. HOWEVER, I found this pretty arduous when not using the VF-2 electronic viewfinder. Why? Trying to compose on the LCD and holding the camera at arms length while changing aperture and focus was pretty farcical. Using the VF-2 and this manual lens was an entirely different and extremely positive experience.
Conclusion
Yes, the mirrorless / interchangeable lens camera is a break with traditional SLR/ DSLR ethos and introduces a sea change in the camera industry. Olympus chose to enter this new era with two very high quality products, and somewhat less so with the E-PL1. My choice would be the E-P2 with the M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 and definitely the VF-2 electronic viewfinder.
Rating
While it has been my chosen path to provide a joint review of Olympus Micro Four Thirds offerings, this by no means implies the cameras are exactly the same or merit the same rating. Thus, here are the ratings:
E-P1 4/5
E-P2 5/5
E-PL1 3/5 | | Believe the hype.: Rating: 5/5 |
So the ad says: Not a compact. Not an SLR. It's a PEN.
And this aptly describes the PEN experience. For a decent and full review I recommend dpreview as they have covered all areas in far more depth than I could hope to.
However, if you are wondering whether the PEN is right for you, let me tell you why it hits the spot for me. I like photos. I am not an amateur/professional photographer. I have books about how to improve my photos and I know what ISO settings do and bits and pieces about depth of field etc. I have had an excellent SLR (Nikon 35mm) that is now gathering dust due to the expense of developing film. I found it a little large to take to social gatherings too. So I bought a compact. Which was OK. I could never get the results I sometimes got with my SLR (I'm always learning). However, it was small and easy to carry around etc. Having said that, because I was disappointed with the results, I used the compact less and less.
I have now had the E-P1 (14-42mm lens and free Flash unit - I think the promotion has ended now) for several months and despite its limitations, I LOVE IT! OK, it doesn't have built-in flash and it does take a while to get the hang of things, but, I have achieved some fantastic images with this camera. And above all else, I really want to use it all the time! I feel continually compelled to try new shots/effects/exposure settings etc. It is wonderful.
Having been on a few trips and to a few social occasions with it now, I sling it over my shoulder and have it by my side more often than not. If you want great photos from a camera larger and more capable than a compact but in a smaller unit than an SLR, then just do it. Buy yourself a PEN. | | What is it really for???: Rating: 4/5 |
I confess to being a gadget freak and can't resist an innovation! I am also a keen amateur photographer who graduated rather late into digital having experienced the 'quality' of Hasselblad and excellent film SLR's.
The E-P1 is supposed to significantly replace my Nikon D300 outfit for holidays and casual photography with an expectation of similar flexibility and quality for prints up to A3 size. I had hoped that it may replace my excellent Canon Ixus and 10times zoom Lumix to slip into my pocket on all occasions??
Sadly it falls short of my aspirations BUT I have already falen in love with its solid feel and reliable results.
The E-P1 can be used in such a variety of modes effectively. The manual settings allow for full creativity and yet the iAuto allows excellent point and snap facilities.The consistent picture quality, even at high ISO settings, is better than expected and the low light performance will probably compensate for the lack of flash on most occasions.
The prime lens is fine, compact and with good performance, although not approaching that of the Nikon primes.
The zoom is OK but I must find a longer focal length lens for my regular equestrian work. The new Olympus Zuiko Digital ED14-150mm F4.0-5.6 will be a candidate when available.
I intend to keep the E-P1 but have yet to fully evaluate the 'niche' where it will be the camera of choice for any particular situation. I suspect that the Lumix with 10* zoom will still be in my pocket on a regular basis and the Nikon brought out for the 'special' stuff.
In my opinion the price is a bit high on a cost/ perfrmance basis!
With more experience I have found this to be an excellent holiday companion. However, for lens quality and action shots, particularly when the car is near and camera kit weight is less of an issue, I am tending to use my Nikon D300 which is clearly producing a better picture!
Hence I will continue with TWO interchangeable lens outfits! | | Beautiful camera, feels like something from the past: Rating: 5/5 |
Too early to for this to be a photography review - and you'll plenty of those anyway. Beautifully made object, reminiscent of photography when it was film, chemicals and mechanical shutters. My wife said "looks like my Dad's camera from when I was a kid".
And it obviously takes great photos. Moving up from a compact you'll find it very high quality, and the "slow auto focus" won't seem too slow (it is a bit pedantic, going to infinite every time but you can trigger it manually to avoid that). It's great to take back control of aperture, depth of field, shutter speed. Personally I think the art filters are superfluous (you can do it on the computer better I guess). 720p video with image stabilizer is a wonderful bonus.
Like rediscovering my earliest experiences in the 1970s with my first simple SLR. Except way better results. | | A niche product or the answer to many a photographers' prayers?: Rating: 4/5 |
The E-P1 received much fanfare on launch because it is effectively a game-changing product. This was something of a gamble for Olympus, but also part of their heritage; Olympus have a proud history of innovative, high quality, small cameras including this product's namesake, the Pen, and the OM series of manual focus SLRs.
The four-thirds (FT) format has never truly convinced serious photographers for one reason or another. The sensor is considerably smaller than APS-C sensors on other brands' DSLRs which leads to comparatively more noise at high ISO shooting. The image format is a little different to the classic 35mm frame. The depth of field control is a little less pliable. But for all of that, the four thirds sensor is enormous compared to other compacts.
Compact digital cameras have seldom offered the serious photographer much to shout about. The E-P1 changes that - if you are willing to stretch your perception of what is "compact." The E-P1 is smaller than any DSLR... but bigger than anything you might consider a compact camera. It sits in between the two. If you want something to slip into your top pocket, you need to look elsewhere. This isn't the one for you.
The E-P1 produces lovely results in Jpeg and raw formats. I have nothing but praise for the images themselves. Even the ISO performance is more than reasonable at 800+ speeds.
The in-body image stabiliser is a fantastic feature as this means you can use any lens and still get IS-assisted shots. And speaking of lenses, the kit zoom is a fine example of a standard zoom. It is not particularly fast, but it is exactly the same speed (aperture range) as an equivalent Canon or Nikon kit zoom. The 17mm f2.8 prime lens is a beaut on paper, but it falls a little short of expectations in practice. It is neither as sharp nor as fast as its premium price tag suggests.
Of course, a benefit of interchangeable lens system cameras is that you don't need to buy the 17mm. I would recommend the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 prime lens - also a micro four-thirds (mFT) format lens which works beautifully on the E-P1 body -- and benefits from the in-body IS.
Some others are unhappy about the lack of an in-body optical viewfinder and flash. I am inclined to go along with these criticisms, but only to a small extent. An optical rangefinder would have been nice, but it would also have meant a larger form factor and/or optical compromise. I don't really care for flash photography, but I can accept that sometimes, a shot of fill-in flash is nice to have in very contrasty light. However, neither of these omissions are show-stoppers for me because: if it's too dark to shoot, don't; if it's too bright to shoot, don't.
Another area where some web-based reviewers have been critical of the E-P1 is it's "slow auto-focus". I cannot agree with this one bit. The E-P1's auto-focus may not match the speed of a pro-spec DSLR, but then, neither do most DSLRs. I wonder whether people jump on imaginary bandwagons sometimes - if you're buying the camera to take photos at an F1 race, well, you will have to rely on good technique rather than the camera alone to get sharp shots every single time - and that would be the same for just about any DSLR, too. The AF system in the camera is perfectly acceptable - even 'fast' - for all the usual situations. I get as high a proportion of good shots of my restless children with the E-P1 as I do with a high-end DSLR. If you are unsure about the AF speed, don't take web reviewers' word as gospel (not even mine) - go to a store and try it out for yourself.
The ergonomics of the E-P1 are a joy. Lovely to hold and the switchgear is nicely machined and damped. You know you are using a quality product and you feel like you spent your money wisely when you use the camera. Am I over-selling it when I say that there is nothing as tactically orgasmic this side of a Leica or Contax? Probably, but it's so lovely to hold and use! This is where, for me, it is a hands-down winner over the Panasonic GF1, which is conceptually very similar.
Sadly, all digital products seem to be built with disposability in mind. Where film cameras were built with the expectation to work for 20-30 years, digital cameras seem to be replaced by the buyers every couple of years. The E-P1 feels like it would last well beyond 10 years.
Another bonus of the mFT format is that through the use of adapters, you can attach a great range of manual focus lenses to the E-P1. Leica, cine, Zuiko OM, Canon FD... all lovely optics bringing their own character to your shots. And that's not even mentioning the different film modes and frame sizes you can use.
Another thing I love about the camera is the amount of customisation that is available. I am a long-time Canon SLR shooter. I have over 10 years experience of using Canon and so, my fingers and thumbs are drawn to particular gestures and movements as a learned instinct. Typically, Nikon controls are a little different and switching takes some getting used to. The default controls on the Olympus are also a little different to Canon, but I have been able to set them up to work the way I like. For instance, the scroll wheels run counter-intuitively (for me) out of the box. After a little dig into the customisation menu and a single change to one line, the wheels now scroll as I am used to. Switching between cameras is not a chore. This is just one example - users can change so much about how the camera works to suit them. Of course, the defaults are fine especially for those who have no previous experience or are Olympus shooters.
This camera really brings the joy of photography back for advanced photographers, and introduces newbies to a whole new world of creative possibilities.
I cannot recommend the E-P1 highly enough. It only loses a star because the 17mm lens doesn't match the body's excellence or Zuiko's reputation for excellent optics. | |
