Customer Reviews

Olympus PEN E-P1 12.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 17mm f/2.8 Lens and Viewfinder (Silver)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I needed something decent to have in my laptop bag when i wasn't lugging around all my SLRs and Lenses. This camera seems to be the perfect blend SLR and Point and shoot. The f/2.8 lens allow me to take great, non-flash photos in low-light situations without an obscene amount of noise. It has a great, solid build and with a decent amount of weight, it doesn't feel like it will fall apart at any minute like your point-and-shoot. I would say if you are in the market for something more advanced than a point and shoot, but nice and small, pick it up.

Also, I believe this is the smallest device to be able to take 720p video at f/2.8 (m4/3) with stereo audio. Great video device if you ask me.

This camera has been a very pleasant surprise for me. The low light capability is extraordinary and as for framing pictures in bright sunlight I am very glad I got the optional optical viewfinder that fits in the hotshoe. But the picture sharpness and color quality are breathtaking. There is a learning curve on the menus but once you get used to it there are many in-camera scene types to fool with, such as old-fashioned grainy black and white. Most importantly, it is ultra-portable and unobtrusive in a good-looking way. I am thrilled with it!

As a owner of a Canon DSLR, I feel both love and annoyance towards this camera. I bought this camera mostly for its portability, and it is good. I do love its small size (with the 17 mm lens), and I can bring it everywhere (which I will not do with my Canon). And I love its look too.

I also find the menu easy to use. The super control panel allows one to control nearly everything needed in taking a photo, and it is easy to access. There are also many interesting features not existent in my Canon.

It does have its drawbacks. You would not expect the image quality as decent as an APS-C or full-frame camera, and it is apparent, esp. in low-light shots. There are more serious ones:

1) Slow focusing. It is not at all comparable to a DSLR, but more like a point-and-shoot DC. The continuous AF is even worse. At least the Fujifilm and Nikon DCs I used before did not continuously refocus when the object did not move. For single AF, the lens will move even when the object is full in focus. There are reviews that the Panasonic micro four thirds are much better in this aspect.

2) Slow processing speed. While there are interesting features (like the art filters), they are slow and consumes a lot of battery power. It makes them less useful.

3) Bad SD video. While I like the HD video results, SD simply sucks. It is apparent the downscaling is done badly without proper anti-aliasing, and a lot of artefacts are visible. You simply should not shoot videos in SD.

UPDATE: After using it for half a year, I think I like this camera. I also tried a Panasonic telephoto lens, and can confirm that the number 1 issue, slow focusing, is only related to the lens. Both Olympus and Panasonic have some nice lenses that can work fast and silently on E-P1.

So I am changing my rating to four stars.

I purchased the E-P1 to complement my Canon Rebel XSI and as a "camera body" to try out the highly acclaimed Panasonic Lumix 20mm F1.7 lens. I use this outstanding pancake lens with the VF-1 optical viewfinder that came with E-P1.

I opted for the E-P1 after also checking out E-PL1 & E-PL2 for the following reasons:

1. Image quality: E-Px and E-PLx all share the same sensor and after comparing the images on DPReview, I concluded that they are basically the same. I have also compared the pictures taken with E-P1 vs Canon XSI and I am impressed by the JPEG quality from E-P1. The color and contrast are very similar to Canon.

2. Performance: Out of the box, E-P1's auto focus was sluggish and shot-to-shot time was long. I immediately updated the camera's firmware from 1.1 to the latest 1.4, and voila, problem solved...the auto focus is now as fast as the E-PL2 I tested in a camera shop. It is adequate for most landscape and portrait or street photography but I can see the performance as an issue if you are doing a lot of sports photography. For that, I will still need my Canon XSI.

3. Size & Handling: The E-PL2 feels a little smaller and more compact than the E-P1. But I like the E-P1's retro styling better. I also prefer the E-P1's controls and buttons layout. There are dedicated buttons for Exposure Compensation, White Balance, ISO, AF Mode so you don't have to dig into the menu. I also like the two dials, which make it easier to make adjustments and change settings. Of the three cameras, E-PL1 is probably the worst in this department, the best being E-P1/E-P2.

4. Features: I think E-PL2 being newer, has more features, e.g. art filters, built-in flash. I was at first concerned about lack of built-in flash. But once I started using the 20mm F1.7 fast lens and was able to capture images in very low light conditions without cranking up the ISO beyond 400, the concerns went away. I also found out that my Canon 430 EX speedlite works on the E-P1 hot shoe in manual mode, so I can still use it for fill flash if needed.

5. Value: E-P1 is being phased out so they can be available at very good price...in many cases $400-450 for new camera + kit lens or Zuiko 17mm F2.8 + VF-1. It is the same price as E-PL1 and $150 cheaper than the newly released E-PL2 selling for $550-$600.

Overall, I am very pleased with the camera, as well as the micro 4/3 system.

For those who are wondering about the quality of the Zuiko 17mm F2.8 pancake lens, I have to say that it is a great lens and worthy of being included with the camera. It is more compact and lighter than the Panasonic 20mm. The color and contrast of this lens is almost indistinguishable from the Panasonic 20mm F1.7...which is very good. In terms of sharpness, you really have to pixel peep (zoom in to 75-100%) to see the slight difference. Zuiko 17mm F1.8 is NOT soft, contrary to what I had read. It is SHARP, just not as sharp compared to another outstanding lens. On a scale of 1-10 for sharpness, I would rate the 20mm F1.7 a 9/10 and the Zuiko 17mm F2.8 at 8/10. The price difference is around $150-$200 between the two. To me the biggest reason I opted for the more expensive 20mm f1.7 is because of the extra 1.5 stops of light which is valuable to me because I do a lot of low light, evening photography, and the E-P1 doesn't have a built-in flash. Otherwise, the Zuiko 17mm F2.8 would be a great complement with the E-Px/E-PLx series. It also looks nicer on the camera!

I use to roam around with a Leica and 35 mm lens and have missed doing so since buying a dslr. This little camera is an excellent way to indulge a good old habit. I an having fun and am very pleased with the results. The lens quality is outstanding. The optical finder is very good and allows me to operate a camera in the way that I was taught.

I've been shooting with my trusty Pentax K-1000 or my 4x5 field camera for years. I finally decided it was time to move into the digital era. I cannot even begin to express how impressed I have been with this camera. It's light weight, easy to use, has superb picture quality, and has done really well in low light so far.

A few people have complained about the view finder issue. Or, lack there of. Honestly, being someone who has mostly been shooting with my 4x5, I've had no problem with focusing and viewing everything on the LCD screen on the back. The screen is large, I can see it just fine in sunlight.

It's my new baby. I take it with me everywhere. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a mid-range DSLR.

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.

I've been a film photographer for over 40 years and have had some difficulty making the transition from my Nikon F to anything digital, until the E-P1 came along. The E-P1 produces film-like skin tones and colors. Results require little or no post-camera tweaking. Low light, hand-held shots are accomplished easily in most situations. Unlike my old Nikon F (and digital SLRs, for that matter) the E-P1 will fit in a jacket pocket. Adapters are readily available for 35mm film lenses such as Nikon, Canon, etc. Great Bokeh when hooked up with an old 50mm Nikkor or Canon FD!

The menu has somewhat of learning curve to it, but even someone like me can deal with it. The viewing screen could stand a little more resolution for low light shooting, but is not a terribly big issue.

If you are looking for a point-and-shoot camera, the E-P1 is perhaps not for you.

It always amazes me the depth of reviews that are available at websites (dpreview, imaging-resource, to name a few but the list goes on) plus the super-detailed online reviews from pros and fanatics. These are great reviews, but with a many technical details or features that are not always relevant to me. I am just an average guy who still wants to have amazing photos of my friends, my family, my travels, the scenery around my country house and a bit for my business. So here is my take:

WHY DID I PURCHASE THE PEN E-1?
The main reason was I wanted much better quality than my collection of decent point-and-shoots and much more portable than my DSLR which as a few years old anyhow. Had been admiring the Pen since it came out but found it a little expensive. Loved the design and the reviews regarding picture quality were almost all outstanding. With the the discontinuation of the EP1 replaced by the EP2, the price came down a lot (about $450 is what I paid, half the launch price). From all accounts the most important aspects (sensor, pic quality) are the same as EP2 but price is lower. The additional features of the EP2 were not that interesting to me and I like the classic silver design of the original better anyhow

WHAT I LOVE?
The picture quality (#1 criterion for me) is outstanding. Great colours, unbelieveable detail. The build quality and feel are just stunning. Really a classic look. I have the viewfinder and the pancake lens kit as my basic set up. Great family, walking around, street camera. I also enjoy some of the art settings to create some nice effects. Bought an adapter for my old Canon lenses so now I have a total set up for superior results. The size, ergonmics, feel, controls are all superb also.

WHAT I DON'T LIKE AS MUCH?
Slow and difficult focus in dark settings - this has been mentioned in many reviews. Makes interior shots a problem. This is mostly auto mode, but with manual focus and settings it works better. The lack of flash is also missed. Would have also liked 1080P video vs. the 720.

THE BOTTOM LINE
Despite some limitations, it just takes the most fabulous shots I have ever had and this means that I am very happy with the purchase. Also by having around my neck when walking around I am taking a lot more shots and hence multiplying the real winner results. The feel and design are just fabulous and I just love picking it up. Plus it is a beauty - long after all my old cameras are given away or thrown away, this one will also be on my shelf as a classic - I think I will get many years of pleasure and results out of it plus even if I stop using it I will never throw this baby away. It just looks beautiful and is a first edition of a new classic.

The Olympus E-P1 is a camera you just want to pick up and begin using. Styled after the PEN cameras of yesteryear, Olympus did a great job making the E-P1/E-P2 look "retro", while still retaining plenty of functionality in the digital age. There are some subtle differences between the two different models from what I have read; the E-P1 is a little more basic, while the E-P2 has support for an accessory port under the hot shoe (electronic viewfinder, external mics, etc.). As far as picture quality goes, both units are purported to be identical. Now that some time has passed since the introduction of the E-P1, there are additional newer models in the PEN lineup to consider. In fact, as of the date of this updated review (2/2011), Olympus considers the E-P1 camera a "discontinued product."

But don't worry, the E-P1 is still more than capable of holding its own, discontinued or not. The color rendition of JPG files straight from the camera is amazing. (As an amateur photographer, I don't bother with RAW files, so I can't comment on that aspect.) The primary reason that I went with this model was to have a great travel camera that did not sacrifice quality for size. In fact, I have sold off my Nikon dSLR setup in favor of the E-P1. The included 17mm kit lens replicates a ~35mm field of view (2.0x crop factor). The included VF-1 viewfinder has markings to correspond to the 17mm lens, and is just a piece of glass inside some plastic that slips onto the hot shoe. There is nothing displayed in the VF-1, so if you want something fancier you would do better getting an E-P2 or newer model that supports the VF-2 electronic viewfinder.

One downside: If you want a flash unit you have some decisions to make, as there is no built-in flash. The Olympus FL-14 is styled to match the E-P1 and E-P2 cameras, but flash output is somewhat pathetic, with no bounce function. The next step up would be an Olympus FL-36R or third-party Nissin di466 flash, both of which are far larger (practically the same size as the camera itself) and have more output & bounce capability.

Overall, the E-P1 has a few quirks (sometimes frustrating menu system, no built in flash) but these alone shouldn't stop you from getting this excellent camera.