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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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

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.

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.