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Now reading: Olympus PEN E-P5 preview updated with more impressions and samples 60 comments

Olympus PEN E-P5 preview updated with more impressions and samples

Published May 30, 2013 | dpreview staff

We've had a chance to take another look at an 'initial production' Olympus PEN E-P5, and have updated our preview with some more first impressions and image samples. Olympus has only allowed us to publish downsampled images, but we've still been able to get more of an idea of how well the camera works. We hope to get our hands on a production E-P5 that we can use to shoot full size images towards the middle of June, but until then click through for our updated preview to whet your appetite.

Click here for our detailed 9-page preview of the Olympus PEN E-P5

Click here to jump directly to our updated 'First Impressions' page

Tags: preview, olympus, samples

Comments

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Most popular (9)

Editors' picks (0)

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Oldest first

abekrup

now that Sony has bought into Olympus is the 2 milion plus pixel evf a Sony unit or the new epson?

Jun 9, 2013permalink

Strikeroot

No 24p and the same meager 20Mbps bit-rate. It's so conspicuously missing, as if Sony sold them the sensor on the condition that they cripple movie mode.

Jun 4, 2013permalink

57even

I have to say this is Oly's best looking camera for a while. It has a far more functional/purposeful look than any previous model, especially the EM5.

Having said that, there seems to be precious little separation between models.

Jun 3, 2013permalink

systemBuilder

Did you notice the $450 price boost compared to the E-PL5 ?? Or is that "insignificant" to you ??

Jun 11, 2013permalink

white shadow

Enjoy photography with whatever camera you are using. Having the latest camera / model does not make one a better photograher immediately. Buy the Olympus E-P5 when you are ready or can afford it. Even if you do, it may not suit the type of photography you are doing. Definitely, its an excellent travel camera for the intrepid photographer but if you are shooting sports, wildlife or models on a catwalk, please use a DSLR like the Canon 1DX or 5D MkIII and an appropriate professional lens.

Always, be prepared to pay for quality and the right equipment for the right job.

If you are an experience photographer you can shoot using any camera using digital as well as film.

If the E-P5 is suitable for you, go for it. Its a very well made camera for what it is design to do. The price should be a secondary factor.

Jun 3, 2013permalink

sadwitch

I hope dpreview test shooting the E-P5 into glittering light source.... say a lighted Christmas tress or any shiny objects, there's where in my experience OM-D gets very confused and starts hunting without getting any focus.

Jun 1, 2013permalink

c76

Many people did not own any Olympus EPXX camera, these are quality made cameras, if you haven't hold one and test yourself, you should stop those none sense comments.

May 31, 2013permalink

Scott Birch

Finally. The camera for me. Now I don't have to wait for the Fuji XE-2 ;)

May 31, 2013permalink

Ridethelight

Can you view the replayed images through the built in viewfinder ?

May 31, 2013permalink

blohum

You can with the EP3/VF2 so I'd assume you can...

Jun 3, 2013permalink

oxcarh

I'v got a FujiFilm X100. I love it and use it to make lots of photos. People in the street doesn't notice it when I point it to them. The only problem is that sometimes it's slow and I lose a photo from time to time.

I'm looking to alternatives. Right now I'm trying to choose between a X100s, X-Pro1 or a E-P5. anyone else with the same problem?

:-)

May 31, 2013*permalink

BSweeney

With an Olympus product, wait a year for a 40% price drop. 2 years, 70% price drop. They need to price the camera at a reasonable price, recover NRE over more sales, and lower product turn-over rate. My lesson learned with the EP2.

If you have money to burn, love u43, go for it.

May 31, 2013permalink

Martin.au

That worked so well with the EM-5

May 31, 2013permalink

don_van_vliet

...says the Leica user.

May 31, 2013permalink

BSweeney

Can't complain about Leica. Bought the M9 and M Monochrom by selling off duplicates of lenses. Once upon a time you could buy a Leica Summicron, Nikkor 5cm F1.4, Canon 50/1.5, or Zeiss Sonnar for under $100. I did.

I bought the EP2 when it first came out, and bought an EPL1 for $130 last year. Lesson Learned.

May 31, 2013permalink

bryanbrun

I bought an E-PL1 over two years ago for $300, a 40-150mm for $99 and Sigma 30mm for $199. I don't have money to burn and have taken thousands of great photos.

May 31, 2013*permalink

BSweeney

I think that's the problem with Olympus turning over their product line so quickly- they are relying on the same customers buying the new camera everytime one comes out, they need that "high-margin markup". Unsold stock of "yesterday's model" gets dumped at deep discounts. They would be better off introducing new cameras at a slower rate, and at a lower margin. I've lost track of how many Olympus and Panasonic u43 cameras have been introduced after the EP2 and EPL1. My two continue to work and takes great pictures.

May 31, 2013permalink

Macx

A high cadence keeps their cameras in the magazines and on the websites with new previews and reviews.

As per your own expeience, the old cameras don't stop working just because a new model is announced, and while communities like these (which I in other ways enjoy and appreciate) can give you the sense that you need the latest and greatest, there really is nobody forcing people to buy either the newest or the top of the line.

Instead, if you're more concerned about depreciation than having new features, the best advice is to simply not buy the newest models.

May 31, 2013permalink

c76

The omd em5 do not get much discount even it came out over 15 mos, not all the m4/3 follow that trend, if you don't flash your camera every year, m4/3 just be fine with you.

May 31, 2013permalink

BSweeney

The new VF-4 has twice the pixels of the VF-2, meaning that a new version of the OM-D will be coming out soon. Reading the Olympus information on the VF-4, it works with "reduced resolution" on models prior to the EP-5.

Jun 1, 2013permalink

Sad Joe

At 70 % off I'm really interested !! Still waiting for the Canon EOS-M lens/flash kit to hit £299 - not long now - unless Canon redraw them, dig a big hole and forget they ever made such a poor AF mirror less camera.....If only it could focus like a Pen !!

Jun 1, 2013permalink

white shadow

Macx is right. No one is saying one must buy the latest camera / model all the time. Having the latest camera does not make one a better photographer immediately. Similarly, having the latest laptop does not make one a better writer or whatever you are doing. Best to save the money to concentrate on learning the skill of doing whatever you are doing.

Photography is a skill that one need many years to acquire or if you can, go do a degree course in photography like the one offered by Southampton Solent University in England or the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. Other than having a reasonable camera, one must master lighting, composition and the ability to capture decisive moments. Sometimes, creativity is difficult to teach and learn. One must have vision (how you see things) as well.

Camera equipment are just tools to get the job done.

Jun 2, 2013*permalink

Jorginho

The fact that the only negative found here (mostly) is price speaks volumes about its specs and features....Again a well rounded product you simply won't find anywhere else in the mirrorless world.

May 31, 2013*permalink

Digitall

In fact the price is not friendly at all, and you can not physically justify this PEN model the asking price. Maybe the price will drop a lot as usual, especially when the new OMD come out or even earlier.

Jun 3, 2013*permalink

Clarkey

I can understand the cost concerns anout the e-p5 kits, but for those people eith concerns, this package just isn't for you. Buying a new kit, I personally would'nt eant anything to do with the kit zooms. I want the 17/1.8, 45/1.8, 75/1.4... and might you also want the best olympus evf available?? With the e-p5 kit you get the prime and viewfinder for $200 less than retail.

Overall, the w-p5 represents a perfect camera for anywone concerned with portability (optional evf & built in flash) but needs the latest freatest functionality olympus offers. And yeah, i don't see a problem with the kit price frankly. If you want a decent sensor in a portable but terrible handling body go buy the e-m2.

May 31, 2013permalink

G Davidson

Well I'm a 'waiter' and look forward to trying this when he price has dropped after a while. Really, you're paying not just for abilities, but ergonomics. Whilst the EPL-5 seems to be the best 'deal' in this range, along with all the new features, this looks like a camera to enjoy shooting with.

May 31, 2013permalink

Sudo Nimh

DPR, could you please implement a cheapskate filter on this forum? I'm tired of wading through the it-costs-too-much whining.

Ideally, the cheapskate filter should also catch comments wanting new camera features (focus peaking, faster shutter, coffee brewing) through a free firmware upgrade.

May 31, 2013permalink

Gunnlaugur Gudmundsson

funny :-)

May 31, 2013permalink

GeorgeZ

..or maybe a moron filter, that way people who won't tolerate reasonable discussions about trifles such as consistent pricing and value can't be bothered anymore by such postings as they won't be able to access the site anymore.

May 31, 2013permalink

zinedi

And what about so-called positive filter? Any negative not-complimentary comment should be filtered off !! The most servile comments would be remunerated. And DPR rename to DPadverts !

May 31, 2013permalink

Gesture

That expensive optical viewfinder has been done away with; not to mention smaller without being exotic miniaturization. These cameras should cost less.

May 31, 2013permalink

Photomonkey

Yes, even though the camera division loses money, they should charge less to make you happy?

May 31, 2013permalink

RAG64

Charging more could mean less people buy them. How exactly does that help the camera division in your opinion?

May 31, 2013*permalink

WACONimages

Dear Dpreview,

Why, oh why do we always have to click and click before we can read the article or/and review!!??? You read news on the front-page and think, well I'm interested to read this and give it a click! A new page opens and surprise the same announcement as on the front-page shows up! and only after another click you get to the article.

Is it just me who isn't funned of this... I know it is just another click, but don't see why this is needed?

May 31, 2013permalink

nowo1978

Motion seconded!

May 31, 2013permalink

Shamael

I ask this, and another friend of mine, asks this, since a long time. This eternal, click to read the review, and then you end on another page like this one, and there again, "click her to read our detailed ..." This is boring and when you live in the jungle like we do here, with as only solution a wireless low speed system you can get, it takes sometimes 5 minutes to end where you want to go, not to forget the change from one page to another in a review. So, when will this end, and will be ever see something a bit more simple and organized than this click a dozen of times to end where you expect to go system?

May 31, 2013permalink

DamianS

Its quite simple really. the more times you click and the more pages you open, the more ads you will be (potentially) exposed to.
That is why the reviews and previews are multiple pages with no option to display the entire content on a single long page.

Jun 1, 2013*permalink

NevilN

I don't understand how some of you can compare the price of EM5 and P5. Do you know the cost of a two way lever switch? Do you know the cost of a 1/8000th shutter mechanism? Do you know the cost of adding weather seal? If not, how can you compare the two based on selling price?

Furthermore, the selling price is based on a forecast of demand. I believe the pre-order quantity of P5 has way exceeded that of Panny GH3 when I looked at the top selling chart at amazon.

If you love the features and can afford it, go ahead. If you love the features but cannot afford it now, just wait.

May 30, 2013permalink

yabokkie

people won't buy it if they know it.
best customers buy what they don't know.
others can go way.

May 30, 2013permalink

Caulfield

I'm on the market for a second mft-camera, I already own the GH2, which delivered good results over the last two years. The EP5 looks just fine, and I'm impressed by it's overall IQ and performance, besides the fact, that it combines focus peaking and IBIS in one body finally, good for me and my older lenses. That said, I'm a bit confused, since there seems to be a significant difference between the high ISO samples shown here and those at olympusimage.com .

http://www.olympusimage.com.my/products/dslr/ep5/images/ep5_sample_02.jpg

Especially sample 2 over there at the ep5 site, shot with ISO 1600, a night scene beneath a blue and violet illuminated bridge, looks quite noisy to me at full size, unlike the samples at dpreview. Ok, these samples here are scaled, we can't say much about it. But is that sample over there really as bad as it seems? What do you think?

May 30, 2013*permalink

yabokkie

it depends on the application but my thresholds are
ISO400-800 for 4/3",
ISO800-1600 for APS-C, and
ISO1600-3200 for 35mm format.
one stop faster for sports.

the Panasonic sensors improved a lot but I hate the noise reduction more than noise. I think they engage too much noise reduction at high ISOs (> 400-800).

May 30, 2013permalink

ThePhilips

> http://www.olympusimage.com.my/products/dslr/ep5/images/ep5_sample_02.jpg

The image is some sort of HDR - lighting is unrealistic. At a glance, lots of shadows were pulled. I do not think you should take this one particular image as any indication for anything.

The E-P5 sensor is the same as in widely reviewed E-M5 and matches very closely the sensor in the also widely reviewed NEX-5N.

May 30, 2013permalink

Caulfield

DPreview should provide the samples in full size. It's a pre-production body, but that's also the case with the camera they used at olympusimage.com. At least we could compare and see what we can expect.

May 31, 2013permalink

Andy Westlake

@Caulfield: We'll provide full size images just as soon as we can. But if we make an agreement with Olympus that we can publish images from an early E-P5 only as long as we downsize them, then we'll honour it.

As for the image you've linked, that's shot using Olympus's super-saturated iEnhance mode, which accentuate colours and therefore, inevitably, chroma noise. However there's nothing in the EXIF data to suggest any kind of HDR processing (in Olympus-speak, it's shot using Normal Gradation).

May 31, 2013permalink

Caulfield

Andy, I totally respect your agreements. So we have to wait. I just would like to see the pics in full size right here right now, since DPreview is one of the few sites I get the hard facts from to make my decisions. Actually, I wonder why at the same time these full sized images are published somewhere else, including Olympus Malaysia by the way. AND, why the hell do they publish such suboptimal (at best) images for marketing purposes, demonstrating, that iEnhance just can't do it?

May 31, 2013*permalink

MI6G

Post new message ... Well the same happened with the first impressions of the FUJIFILM X100S and the full review of x100s? .

May 30, 2013permalink

simpy

It looks like a really nice camera, especially in combination with the VF-4. It seems to offer better button placements and VF than the E-M5.

However, does anyone know if the E-P5 supports the E-M5's 'viewfinder mode', in which the shooting information is displayed *below* the image instead of overlaid on it? The manual doesn't seem to mention this, and neither do the previews on the web.

May 30, 2013permalink

Anfy

I never make use of this mode on the E-M5, since this way the EVF image is cropped a bit both if you choose a blue background or a black one.

May 30, 2013*permalink

simpy

Yes, that's true, but the info overlay on my E-P1 really bothers me. The VF-4's bigger image could give the best of both worlds :) If Olympus has enabled it, that is.

May 30, 2013permalink

GeorgeZ

It MAY cost more with the OVF than the EM5?
It costs more even without it!
The EM5 now is € 1099 here with the 12-50mm, the E-P5 will cost as much but with the 14-42mm.
And if Olympus doesn't change its policy, that price will be the fixed price for the first couple of months, maybe by then the EM5 will even be further reduced.
The P5 is certainly a nice camera but Olympus is asking too much.
The PM2 can be found for almost a third of the P5, the E-PL5 for less than half- both with the same sensor/engine.
I just don't get it Olympus.

May 30, 2013*permalink

Vinc T

PM2, PL5, EM5, P5 have different features. e.g. P5 has 1/8000 and an improved 5-axis IBIS. The new EVF is better too. You just cannot beat the price of the P5 combo with 17mm f1.8 and the new EVF.

May 30, 2013permalink

Iskender

Early adopters pay the price. That's just the way it is, across all brands. Sometimes the deal is further sweetened with oil on the sensor, or other manufacturing defects.

If you think the other cameras are better deals then you should buy one of those. Others will think the P5 is a better deal now, and they will buy that.

May 30, 2013permalink

bluevellet

Vinc T is right.

And some of us, while impressed with the specs, are not so pleased with the E-M5 ergonomics and its small, sticky buttons.

The E-P5 looks like a more physically solid, ergonomically correct camera, with extra features and an optional EVF.

If you don't like the price, no one is forcing you to buy at launch. You could always wait. Discontinued E-P3s and GX1s are a steal right now.

May 30, 2013permalink

GeorgeZ

Ok, let me spell it out:
I know that early adopters pay a premium.
I know the P5 has some improvements (and no weather sealing).
It's the order of magnitude I'm talking about.
As it is, it costs 25% more with the VF-4 and 14-42 than the EM5 with the 14-42mm.
I'm a big fan of Olympus and their handling of jpgs but this constant over-pricing is not going to save the company.
That's just my opinion, if you guys are ok paying 3x more for the same IQ it's fine with Olympus I'm sure.

May 30, 2013permalink

geoson

I think by now Olympus has to revise it's "early adapter" pricing. Mirrorless is relatively new, but if you look at its capabilities now compared to the first generation, it is absolutely viable as a primary camera for some people. With more players in the game, Olympus will need more than even this for premium pricing.

May 30, 2013permalink

bluevellet

And let me spell it out for you. If you don't think the extra bells & whistles are worth it, just get the more affordable E-PM2, E-PL5 or even an earlier generation of Pens.

Some people are happy with their Ford Escort bringing them from A to B. Others pay extra for the Mustang and take the same commute.

May 30, 2013permalink

yabokkie

I think the G5 is quite good.
both in quality and cost performance,
in m4/3" standard of course.

May 30, 2013permalink

DMillier

Most mirrorless cameras are overpriced compared to DSLRs- the Nikon D3200 for example.

You get compactness which is good but you pay a lot for that.

Despite the fact that Mirrorless cameras are DSLRs with the expensive mechanical/optical systems removed, that once companies have geared up to produce them, must cost a lot less to make than a DSLR they typically cost double the price for similar sensors. And they don't always have the speed and responsiveness of equivalent DSLRs (eg Fuji models).

So they all seem overpriced to me - that, or entry level DSLRs offer phenomenal value that mirrorless can't match apart for fire sale models.

May 31, 2013permalink

Geir Ove

The missing EVF is such a let down. I have the XZ-1 with the extra EVF, but it makes the camera clumsy to handle....

Come on, is a built iin EVF that complicated? My old Minolta A1 had one back in 2004-ish...

May 31, 2013permalink

JEROME NOLAS

With 17mm f1.8 and EVF this will be a killer combination, maybe I should start thinking about micro 4/3.... Great job Olympus!!!

May 30, 2013permalink


Above and beyond: Lenovo Moto G Plus first impressions review May 17, 2016	Super stable: Panasonic GX85 pre-production sample gallery Apr 21, 2016	Update: Olympus issues emergency firmware fix for E-P5 May 23, 2014	Olympus updates PEN E-P5 with electronic shutter '0 sec anti-shock' May 14, 2014

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