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Olympus PEN camera review
Dennis Hissink : August 15th 2009 - 14:00 CET
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 Olympus PEN system camera review : It's not an SLR camera, not a compact, but a PEN. This is the name Olympus gave their latest camera model, the E-P1. And it might just be the most discussed camera lately. During the Photokina 2008, the Micro Four Thirds camera from Olympus was already a hot topic. The mock-up that was showcased reminded of earlier times, some fifty years ago. It resembled a PEN, and everyone hoped that the camera would indeed turn out to look that way. This hope was fulfilled; as Olympus, contrary to Panasonic, opted for a unique design for the Micro Four Thirds System.• Read our full Olympus PEN camera review.
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Olympus PEN review - Retro design
Put the E-P1 next to an Olympus PEN F from 45 years ago, and you will immediately see where the inspiration for the Olympus PEN E-P1 came from. It is a beautiful camera to look at and thanks to its retro design, it has a modern appearance. A major advantage for street photographers is the fact that the digital PEN isn’t all that conspicuous, which leaves you to freely take your pictures. And that is so much to be said for that. The Olympus PEN housing feels sturdy and the size is fine, it's not too small, yet still a lot more compact than most other D-SLRs. Especially the 17 mm pancake makes a good combination.
Olympus camera review - Micro Four Thirds lenses
You can change the lenses just like you can with a digital SLR, however, the Olympus PEN E-P1 works more like a compact camera. Since a viewfinder is lacking, you're forced to use the LCD screen on the back. This means that you have the camera in front and away from you. For most users this won't cause any problem, but if you normally only work with a digital SLR, you will just have to get used to it. The pancake does allow you to use an external viewfinder, but all it displays is the image frame. You cannot see the settings in the external viewfinder, nor whether the camera is focusing precisely.
Olympus PEN camera review
A compact camera, interchangeable lenses, a good resolution, RAW and a relatively large sensor, make the Olympus E-P1 not only interesting for consumers but also for the professional photo journalist. We had the Olympus E-P1 in the office for quite a while, and our findings can be read in the following Olympus camera review. |
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