- 12.3-megapixel interchangeable lens digital camera; Micro Four Thirds format
- Includes 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko digital zoom lens
- 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)
Product Description
Designed around a 12.3-megapixel Live MOS imaging sensor, the E-P1 enables pro-quality still and video imaging abilities in a small, unassuming package. The Olympus E-P1 marks the formal introduction of the Olympus Micro Four Thirds camera system in the form of a high-quality, sub-compact digital camera…. More >>
5 Comments
I was REALLY disappointed in this cameras inability to focus in low light. The instruction manual seemed to concur saying if you are having trouble focusing, then focus on something else equidistant and then recompose. That’s pretty a bad solution from a company that I used to love (OM-2). But Olympus didn’t seem to get-it with their digital cameras (e.g. using xp flash for a long-long time).
The E-P1 had fallen into the bad neighborhood in the back of my dresser drawer where all my old, antiquated or broken d-cams go to retire and become forgotten. And I felt let down by Olympus again.
I read on a couple of web-sites they had a firmware update, but you wouldn’t know it from the Olympus website which makes no mention of it. The only way you can get the update is via their supplied software: OLYMPUS Master 2.
I really disliked that Master 2 required a reboot on my Mac after installing.
But it seems to have worked wonders for focusing and I’m jazzed with this babe-magnet, cutie-pie camera again. It is still in probationary testing (I finished the body and lens patch download 15 minutes ago) but I really want to like this camera and the new firmware seems to give it a new chance.
I’d love to hear, I mean read anyone elses take on the v1.1 firmware upgrades. A critical before vs after analysis is going to be hard because you cannot go back
Rating: 4 / 5
Photographers have been anxiously awaiting a small light-weight DSLR replacement with baited breath. Unfortunately Olympus PEN E-P1 is not it. The autofocus is way to slow. Therefore, this puts the PEN more in the realm of the Canon G10 and the Panasonic LX3. I have a Nikon D700, Nikon D300, and Canon Powershot G10 14.7MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom so I will compare the PEN to the G10.
Picture quality: The Olympus PEN has a bigger sensor and therefore has a better picture quality(PQ) and noise handling than the G10. However, at ISO80, the G10 makes stunning pictures. Winner PEN
Ergonomics: Both cameras are heavy and solidly constructed. Both cameras are really too bulky to fit into a pocket. However, the G10 feels better in the hand and the controls are better placed and easier to use. Additionally, the G10 actually has a built in viewfinder. Winner G10
Handling: The G10 is flat out the best handling camera that I have used. I prefer it in many cases to my D700 and I think that is a fantastic camera. I will say that the PEN controls are really good. I did find them easy to use but not as fast and nice as the G10. Winner G10.
Performance: The G10 is pretty quick at focusing and, in my subjective opinion, is faster than the PEN. Other than that it is a slow camera as it has no buffer and has to write to the memory card. The PEN, once it actually focuses, can snap off pictures quickly. However, the slow focusing was a big disappointment for me. If you are trying to shoot pictures of your kids, you will miss a whole bunch of them. I will give the slight nod to the PEN but the performance is way way way off a DSLR mark.
Flash: I do a ton of off camera flash work and the G10 is fantastic for this. Because there is no shutter I can sync the flashes up to the fastest shooting speed of the G10(1/4000! of a second. The D700 only syncs to 1/250 on normal). However, in a pinch I do use the built-in flash on the G10 and have shot some really nice photos with it. The PEN lacks any sort of built-in flash which is an exceedingly poor design decision. Additionally, the flash sync speed is a measly 1/180 of a second. Forget using flash in bright sun. However, it does have a built in flash shoe so you can use a radio transmitter (Pocket Wizard) for off camera flash work. Overall the lack of flash and slow sync speed is a deal breaker for me and a huge disappointment. Winner by a long shot, G10.
Subjective: No other type of digital camera replaces a DSLR for speed and picture quality. However, carrying around and swapping lenses is a big hassle. Also, lugging around 10-40lbs of camera equipment is not really practical for day to day. The PEN still has many of the DSLR vices (extra lenses to buy, carry, and swap) and is really lacking on a DSLRs virtues (fast start up and focusing speed). The G10 lacks the speed and picture quality of a DSLR but makes up for that with a faster flash sync speed and an all-in-one purchase. At less than half the price of a PEN, better portability and very good PQ at ISO 80, the G10 is the winner of this category.
Overall: I really really wanted to love the Olympus PEN. However, the Canon Powershot G10 14.7MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom is a better power-user camera. For portability, I will continue with the G10 for my day to day photography and wait for the elusive holy grail of a small and fast DSLR replacement. The PEN is a nice camera with outstanding PQ but for the price I would get a Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens or for less than half the price I would get the Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens. I am sure this camera will find a nice niche with Leica or Ricoh users but if you are someone looking to step up from a basic point-and-shoot camera to delve into more advanced techniques or reliably shoot your kids, I would recommend either the Nikon D40 or a Canon G10 or, maybe, both for the same price as the PEN.
Please, someone stuff a four thirds sensor into the Canon G10 and create the digital camera holy grail.
Rating: 3 / 5
There is no way to use video from this camera on a Mac OS 10.6.1 out of the box, so be warned. I have a tech support inquiry into Olympus for any fixes before I return the camera so I’m reviewing based upon the out-of-box experience. (They take up to 48 hours for response and I’ll update this review with the reply).
The problem is that the .avi video files cannot be imported into the Olympus Master 2 (the software they provide and recommend quits (on both of my computers) upon starting the import process, even though I have the latest software. In other words, the video files cause their photo software to crash, which makes using the camera difficult since you need that software to import their proprietary RAW files, which will not work in iPhoto or Photoshop.
I would expect that there would be upfront fixes for these issues posted at Olympus and that these issues would be fully disclosed here at Amazon on the listing, which they are not. Mac users be warned. Olympus’ support provides no acknowledgement that Apple’s OS even goes beyond 10.4. If I get a usable fix I’ll add it here and update my review. Hopefully there will be one and I won’t have to return what looks to be a gorgeous camera with great build. For now, my rating reflects the camera being made effectively unusable on a MAC when shooting video (You have to delete the video file in-camera before being able to once again import images.
UPDATE: I received a response from Olympus within 24 hours but they provided no information about how this issue can be fixed and I’ve received nothing further to my inquiries in 5 days now. So they appear currently stumped and I’m on my own, unable to shoot video. So, I’m considering making a return. I’ll update this review when I hear back from them.
Rating: 1 / 5
It’s a great camera!
The onlly thing missing would be an external flash for free…
Anyway, you can balance colours by adjusting time of expositure, ISO and F.
I recomend it!
Rating: 5 / 5
The low ease-of-use score relates to a really terrible manual. Major basic steps are left out, leaving the user unable to figure out how to access important menu areas. Symbols in the menu are arcane and trying to go between modes to make changes in menus non-intuitive. I had to make 6-7 phone calls to Olympus in the first two weeks, after which I got the first photo that could be enlarged to the max in iPhoto with acceptable clarity. Online support from Olympus is pathetic; they lose original emails. The poor display score doesn’t refer to ease of seeing the image in the LCD display – it’s ok – but rather to using the display menus, which are far too busy and change/blank out within a few seconds.
Rating: 3 / 5