Olympus PEN E-P1 12.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 17mm f/2.8 Lens and Viewfinder (Silver)
by Olympus
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: OlympusModel: Silver w/ 17mm Lens
Color: silver
Product features:
- 12.3-megapixel interchangeable lens digital camera; Micro Four Thirds format
- Includes 17mm f/2.8 lens and Olympus optical viewfinder
- In-body Image Stabilization; 3-inch HyperCrystal LCD with Live View function
- Record HD video with high-quality audio; in-camera creative features (for still images and video)
- Capture images and video to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
- Olympus BC-2 Body Cap for E-P1 Micro Four Thirds Digital SLR Camera
- Olympus LR-2 Rear Lens Cap for Olympus Lenses
- Olympus LC-37 Front Lens Cap for Olympus 17mm f/2.8 Lens
- Olympus 11-22mm f/2.8-3.5 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens for E1, E300 & E500 Cameras
- Olympus FL-50R Electronic Flash for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Olympus PEN E-P1 12.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 17mm f/2.8 Lens and Viewfinder (Silver)
Customer Review: Not perfect but very, very good
Summary: 4 Stars
Ever since I started using digital cameras, I've wished for one to replace my Leica M6 film bodies. The digital M-series Leicas are beyond my means and are likely to remain that way. Small, simple and fast, Leicas became my most used cameras in the last years film was my dominant medium and I will always have a fondness for them. Well, let me first state that the Oly E-P1 is not the perfect replacement for the Leicas. But it is a camera that can be utilized in a comparable way. The E-P1 is small (a little too small to suit me, actually), it is fast if set up properly for quick shooting (otherwise it is slow to get into operation and in focusing) but it is not simple by any means. While the camera body seems to be well put together, the 17mm lens and the 14-42mm kit zoom both feel light and flimsy. Optically, the lenses are fine. Maybe not stellar in performance but in the digital world of photography they are as good as will be needed by 95% of photographers 95% of the time.
While I do rate this camera and the 17mm lens highly, I also have to point out numerous criticisms based on my own use. First of all are the multiple menus that initially confuse and complicate the new owner. Fear not, this hurdle can be overcome but it takes some patience and persistence. I recommend putting aside the owner's manual and buying copy of the Magic Lantern guide to the E-P1. It explains the menus in a much more understandable way. Once understood, the owner will determine how he wants the camera to function, set the functions and forget about the complicated navigation. I could tell you how I simplified my own E-P1 but it's irrelevant to anyone else's purposes. Next, the E-P1's ergonomics are not as user friendly as I wished. The location of the buttons near the right thumb are my main problem. I have large hands and I tend to push the wrong button at times while shooting. I also would prefer the control wheel to be located atop or on front of the camera instead of positioned near the right thumb since I will inadvertently turn it without realizing it and change my settings. The control dial on the back of the camera with associated buttons also can be infuriating when the dial is turned or the buttons pushed simply from the camera bumping and rubbing against my chest while carrying it. While on the subject of the controls, I always carry the camera with the power on with the LCD off (if I can manage to keep it off). The Oly batteries don't have great capacity and they run down pretty fast. You don't get a lot of advance warning either--the battery seems to go from slightly discharged to virtually dead within a short period of time. For that reason I recommend a spare. Personally, I have two spares because I've picked up the camera with the battery indicator showing fully charged, gone out for a couple of hours of light shooting and returned with a nearly exhausted battery.
Last nitpick concerns the lenses. The 17mm with optical finder is a joy to use. With AF being quite accurate, I simply ignore the LCD while shooting with it. By setting AF to the AFL/AEL button, you can set up a zone of sharp focus and shoot quickly without having the camera refocus for each press of the shutter button. The lens is sharp but, as previously stated, the performance is not stellar. I have dozens of lenses collected over 40 years of shooting and very few of them could be called stellar. I consider the 17mm to be an average good lens in a field of good lenses. The same for the 14-42mm zoom. It performs well for what it is. My nitpick is the build quality of these lenses. They are simply tinker-toy plastic with loose barrels and what appears to be very fragile construction. I wish Olympus had put some of the build quality of the camera into these lenses. Sure, they are light in weight and small but I would prefer a bit more heft to inspire confidence. Another point on the lenses is the speed. Discounting the 14-42mm as a simple kit zoom, I don't understand the philosophy Olympus has fostered in building their only (at this time) prime lens as an f/2.8 instead of an f/2 or faster. The Panasonic 20/1.7 has a more realistic maximum aperture although the focal length is not as appealing to me as the 17mm (35mm vs 40mm in 35mm format equivalence).
Okay. I've given Olympus a hard time so far. You might ask why I rate this camera so highly given the list of criticisms. First of all is the innovation. Micro 4/3 as a concept is appealing. It allows a lot of latitude and versatility in lens selection. Adapters abound to fit most anything to the cameras with varying degrees of function. Great idea. Also, the concept of building a camera that looks back to photographic tradition. This looks like a camera. I really like that. Next, it really does produce excellent images. The pictures are better in quality than the standard pocket camera but not quite as good as the better APS-C format DSLRs. It's a good compromise in a camera body that is designed to be in-between.
Overall, this is a great first step. The E-P2 has been introduced now with its accessory EVF and it will replace the E-P1. Something else will come along later. Hopefully Olympus will continue the evolution of the Pen design with an optical viewfinder built into the body. Already we are seeing other cameras being announced that sprang from the retro Olympus design--cameras such as the recently announced Fuji X100 that is in the larger and potentially better quality APS-C format. I enjoy using the E-P1 despite my criticisms. I like it a lot and recommend it highly to anyone interested.
More Olympus PEN E-P1 12.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 17mm f/2.8 Lens and Viewfinder (Silver) reviews:
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Description of Olympus PEN E-P1 12.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 17mm f/2.8 Lens and Viewfinder (Silver)
ULTRA CONVENIENCE, MEGA FUNCTIONALITYThe E-P1 is the world's smallest 12.3-mexapixel interchangeable lens system camera, yet has the creative flexibility to give you a true professional experience with ease. A still photo, video and audio recorder in one, the E-P1 creates exceptional photos, inventive slide shows, and remarkable videos both for personal use or for posting on many of today's social networking websites. It delivers professional quality images without the bulk of a conventional DSLR, thanks to its slim body and advanced high-speed imager AF (Live View) technologies. The lens mount diameter has been reduced, enabling the use of smaller, lighter interchangeable lenses that perform at the same level as larger DSLR lenses. The camera fits easily in many pockets and purses. 12 MILLION PIXELSWith 12.3 megapixels at its disposal, the E-P1 delivers image quality that makes the difference between ordinary and exceptional still and video imaging. A Live MOS image sensor is complem...Digital SLRs
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