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Average rating:
4.45
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Olympus PEN E-P112.3 megapixels | 3" screen | Four Thirds sensor
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Average rating:
4.45
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Opinion: -step forward in image quality over "large" sensors 1/1.8 and 1/1.6 in compact cameras
-rock-solid buildup
-very nice retro-look
-720p videos with nice DOF (although not for serious film-making)
-future of compact-cameras rely on 4/3 technology
Problems: -slow and noisy auto-focus
-i prefer Panasonic GF1 over this camera
Opinion: I bought this as a bundle deal for a good price. I like it's true to history no flash and great build quality and metal finish. It has a real camera look and feel to it where there is a feeling if the back popped open you would see a role of 35.
The AF was very slow out of the box but once i upgraded the firmware to 1.4 it was fast enough not to even notice.
JPG are awesome and a real surprise for a small camera.
I just love the look and feel and how pure the design process has been. It is sad that the later versions have offered compromises to the point and shoot people. I like the original.
Problems: None so far.
Opinion: With the firmware update 1.4 Olympus manged the miracle to implement
the fastest state of the are contrast based focus and put th camera back to the top of it's class.
Find the complete review with samples on: ahaack.net/photography/e-p1/
With the upcoming of the PEN class cameras I was looking to improve :
1) Handling with more manual controls then compact cameras
2) Improved ISO performance (lower pixel density)
3) Being able to thought out background accentuate the subject (large sensor)
The complete review and sample image find on
http://ahaack.net/photography/e-p1/
== Focus ==
With the firmware update 1.4 Olympus manged the miracle to implement
the fastest state of the are contrast based focus. Even with the firmware
upgrade 1.1 you could not catch anything faster then a snail but now
focus speed is very close, if not equal, to my Nikon D90.
I could catch cars running at 27 m/s, that is 100 km/h,
as well as bicycles and motor bikes and sport shoots.
== Image quality ==
I like to take the final image as JPEG rather then raw formated images
and finalize it later.
The E-P1 certainly does, unlike the Panasonic - G-1, a good job catching JPEGs.
First I had some complains about some minor grain and artifacts left
with the large-fine settings compared to my D90. But then I discovered that
there is a Superfine setting which produces cutting edge quality JPEGs.
== Iso Performance ==
One of the reasons you want a camera with a large sensor is better Iso-performance due to the lower pixel density of only 5 MPix/cm2. Is does a good job so far with little chroma noise and you have good control over noise reduction. I have not finished testing ISO performance jet. So far HI ISO is slightly less good then on my Nikon D90.
== Lenses ==
The other advantage you get with a large sensor is a shallow death of field (DOF) and being able to thought out background accentuate the subject of your image.
For an enthusiast quality is everything. That is why she spends so much more money compared to a compact camera.
I would have certainly expect an bright lens with an minimum aperture of 2.8
for the 14-42mm lens even if it adds to size.
Now I have a lousy 3.5 to 5.6 aperture loosing 2 stops compared to my Panasonixc LX-3 with 2-2.8 aperture.
While high-Iso performance gets you short shutter speeds and thus sharp images in low light High-ISO is not a replacement for slow lenses as it always adds you some grain and noise. H
While the camera is perfect in bright conditions the zoom kit gets a real handicap in less bright environment. If you are not working in bright conditions you are loosing compared to the LX-3.
It is a big mistake of Olympus to release a number of slow lenses. Enthusiast need fast lenses.
Luckily Panasonic understood our needs by releasing the excellent Panasonic 20mm/1.7 prime lens.
My four Leica 14-50m and Olympus 50-200m third lens work very well withe
Olympus mmf-1 adepter
Problems: == Handling ==
With an barrel dial and a turn dial the camera and a number of buttons the camera has good ergonomics and I am able to change important settings quickly.
A user expect a consistent interface that she can operate blindly.
An image is TAKEN AND DISPLAYED. Now I decide I need more depth of field a turn on the upper barrel dial should change the aperture number.
If I want to change the with balance pressing the button should bring up the white balance menu.
This is however not the case and the actual behavior is very annoying.
If an image is displayed after shutter is pressed the buttons act unexpectedly as in review mode so when I press white balance the next picture is displayed.
This makes no sense at all.
The turning/screw motion of the lower turn dial is much more natural for zoomin in and out then the upper barrel dail. It is a constant annoyance to me.
The single focus followed by manual focus with the 10x focus assistant is an
an absolutely great invention that makes it possible to have sharp images.
When changing shutter speed or aperture a sliding scale, like the compition has done, would give a much better optical feedback.
Picture mode is not displayed and not in the quick menu. This would much more useful then have the aspect ration in the quick menu.
The fastest way to confirm a delete operation would be to press the delete button twice rather then using a menu like on other cameras.
The rule of third is an important rule in photo composition. Although there is a grid the is no true 1/3 grid which is a annoying.
After shooing the image it would be nice if the camera automatically zooms in shortly to see quality at 1:1, like the competition has done.
== Flash ==
One of the big criticism is that the E-P1, compared to GF-1, lakes a flash.
In contrary flash of the GF1 is very small and the same size as
on my LX3. In praxis this flash is absolutely useless for any purpose, even fill in.
However it could use a good flash even if the camera is gets slightly larger.
In line with the hype and feature set would be a flash like on my Panasonic L1 with also adds indirect 45° position.
== Image stabilization ==
I am missing a valid test on this topic at dpreview. While the Panasonic L1 was mentioned to have stabilized 1/3 of a second many stabilizations can not cope well with anything less then 1/60 s which renders image stabilization useless.
== Portability ==
LX-3: 265g
E-P1: 490g
D-90: 1190g (Tamron 16-50mm A 2.8)
While the Nikon D90 is certainly a portable camera that fits in a handbag or
my handle bar bicycle bag it needs a lot of enthusiasm to carry it and is with 1190 g it certainly does not fit into the "always-carry-with-you" category.
The E-P1 however with just 40% of my D90 just fits into the "always-carry-with-you" class.
Also the LX-3 would only fit in a coat pocket and is thus not much more portable
then the E-P1.
== No AF illuminator ==
Seems not to be such a big problem as I expected. Amyzinly I could even
auto-focus pin sharp in low light.
== Conclusion ==
With the lasted firmware update adding state of the art focus speed
the camera this excellent camea is certainly class-leading and delivers DLSP quality in a small package.
The only issues are kit lens with its slow aparture rendering many advantages useless and some handeling problems.
Pros
* Superb JPEG - Quality
* Ultra fast auto focus
* Single Focus - Manual Focus with 10x: Cool feature that does works well.
* Manual focus assistat: Zooms 10x in and you can focus pin sharp.
* Very clever collapsible kit lens that's small, but offers decent quality
* In-body IS
* Autofocus does work with all legacy Four Thirds lenses
* Quick menu on ok button for many settings are great.
* It is much smaller, due to collapsible lens, does superb JPEG quality and
has excellent handling
* Small size: Big cameras are often not allowed on like football events or concerts.
* Highlight an d shadow view
* No AF disturbing illuminator:Seems not to be such a big problem as I expected. I could even auto-focus pin sharp in low light.
Short comings
* No Flash: However the flash of the GF1 is very small and the same size as
on my LX3. In praxis this flash is absolutely useless for any pupose, even fill in.
* An important composition rule is the rule of the 1/3. Various grids are available but none true 1/3rd grid which would be important for 1/3. Panasonic has it for a long time.
* Autoreview zoom function: This shortly zooms during the auto review and is greatly missing
* On my Nikon the extended menus are labeled with letters and numbers like e.g. A2 would be AF-Area. This for better communication.
* Turns dial in review mode changes sound volume instead of zoom which is annying.
* No color correction in white balance.
* Delete confirm is cumbersome.
Opinion: Normally, I am a Canon Man, and my preferred kit is my EOS-400D C/W 17-85mm IS lens, backed up with a Canon G10 compact whose lens' focal length just happens to exactly match that of my DSLR - perfect!
Well, not quite. The only cloud on the horizon is the rather small and somewhat noisy sensor of the G10, restricting my available sensitivities to ISO 200 or less. With the arrival of the G11 with a lower pixel density and improved noise performance I was all set to upgrade when Olympus threw down the gauntlet with the EP-1.
After examining the sample images from both contenders, there really was now a compelling case for changing my compact to the EP-1, its larger sensor afforded greater ISO flexibility, its interchangeable lens afforded greater creativity, and it was still a compact camera.
The technical features and performance has been well covered, so I will not repeat them here. After several months with this beautiful instrument, I have to say that I am well pleased. The images are excellent, the 14-42mm kit lens, although showing some minor compromises, performs extremely well, and overall I find it a delight to use.
Having said that, I make no use of the Art Filters. Indeed, I consider that image editing as such is better performed with an editor rather than being an in-camera facility. I would be quite happy to see this "feature" removed. Similarly, I make no use of the video capabilities, and again would not be sorry to see this extraneous feature removed.
It was quite a steep learning curve to adjust to the Olympus menu system from the Canon, but with that behind me, I am appreciating the logic of this system, and in particular I really like the super control panel feature. True, as an old-fashioned photographer, I would much prefer knobs to twiddle, but the super control panel is an excellent compromise for a small camera with limited real estate for knobs. Indeed, the comprehensive depth of customisation and overall control capabilities are amazing, and greatly appreciated.
All is not perfect, the exposure system has a tendency to under-expose by about 0.3EV, not necessarily a bad thing as it errs on the side of caution; the contrast detection auto-focus, whilst fine in good light, although a little slow, often fails in poor light, but this is somewhat offset by the ability to set the AF to S-AF-MF so that a twist of the focus ring immediately gives an enlarged display and easy manual focus override. The display tends to get washed-out in bright sunlight, which makes accurate framing difficult. These factors pale into insignificance however when the overall capability of this instrument and its excellent images are all taken into account.
In the end, it is the quality of the images that count - the camera is simply an image recording tool, not a fashion accessory, and its ultimate utility stands or falls on its images. This camera could well become as iconic as its PEN predecessors.
Problems: None so far!
Opinion: A GOD send camera, very easy to use and most of the time I put it on auto mode and the result is wonderful! I took over 3000 photos in the last 4 months both indoor and outdoor, wedding, holiday etc and the I would rate photo quality result as 60% good, 10% excellent and 15% out of focus and 15% bad in low light too dark...and Love the art filter and its allow to create many nice image with very little effort.
EP1 is so easy to use its actually outperform and better in low light condition as Nikon D80.
Well design and style this must be the most beautiful camera around and a classic! For the size and quality its an amazing camera!
Problems: bad LCD screen hard to see image under the sun
Lack of flash light is very negative
Slow focus of 14-42mm lens
Opinion: This camera is one of the best features. The art filter and scn features are great even for use at night, unbelieable.
Opinion: Excellent camera ith twin kit. Build is excellent as is overall quality and with a free flash.
Best Olympus yet and with lots of features and so portable.
Problems: none
Opinion: This is a wunderful camera and some faults are corrected in it`s successor.
Handling is nice and easy and there isn`t mutch to complain about it.
I carry this camera with me alll the time and for me it is the perfect small pocketcamera with good image guality.
Problems: I would like to see more serious glass.
The 17 mm is rather dissapointing.
Olympus you`re known for good lenses.
It would be nice if you would bring some new pancakes with better optical quality even if they`ll cost a bit more.
Opinion: I like the idea of being micro, silent, with DSLR image quality and built in stabilization.
I would buy this camera, if only olympus would adress the serious problems in the nearest future.
Problems: Very slow unreliable focus!
Small resolution screen. The great screen is a must for cameras without viewfinder.
Art filters are useless for those who shoot in raw. They could be apropriate for some point and shoot camera, for beginners.
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 | 22.3 megapixels 3.2" screen Full frame sensor |
