Olympus Pen E-P1

OLYMPUS PEN E-P1

Review on 3rd Jul '09

OLYMPUS has launched this smallest Digital SLR camera on 16th June . Weighing only about 335 grams. This is the lightest DSLR camera on market, lighter then Nikon D40. The OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 is an interchangeable lens digital camera that compliant with the Micro Four Thirds System.The nickname "OLYMPUS PEN" comes from company's legendary half-frame film camera, which was released in October 1959. It does not use a quick-return mirror, thereby enabling a reduction in size.

It can be a best travel camera due to its compact design.

OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 in Silver is also available

Normally SLRs are heavy and big. Pro people and serious amateurs use SLRs to take high quality pics, but they also feel some times that its tedious to carry this amount of load of camera bodies and lenses and mostly leave the load at home.

I also some times reluctant to carry my Nikon D80 with me and prefer something smaller. I was also looking something like this PEN camera. It produces high quality images same like an SLR and keeping the weight at minimal. I have added it to my wish list and will try definitly in near future.

At rear side big 3" LCD and all the required controls, like Menu,AEL,ISO,WB,AF,Selftimer etc.

As you have noticed that external flash can be also attached.

It doesnt have the Optical View finder (OVF), for that you have to shell out some more $$ as its optional and fits on top at flash panel. It has inbuilt Image stabilization, Sensor shift type, like Sony has it. Normally in SLR photography you will see stabilization in lenses only but now trend has started by major brands like these and we can use this must have feature with all our non stabilized lenses. Now no need to worry about low light camera shake.

OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 (White) with M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm f2.8

OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 (Silver) with M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6

Main features:

1. It has 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS Sensor
2. Sensor size 4/3 " (18.00 x 13.50 mm, 2.43 cm²)
3. Pixel density 5.1 MP/cm²
4. Two new kit lenses are introduced (14-42mm M.Zuiko and 17mm F2.8 Pancake) 17mm is very small lense and perfectly matches with this small body and it has fast aperture also for low light.
5. A new TruePic V image processor
6. ISO : Auto ISO (200 - 3200), Manual ISO (100 - 6400), its good range will have to see how acceptabel is the noise at high ISO.
7. 3.0" LCD screen (fixed, 230k dot resolution)
8. HD movies (720p) with stereo sound, now coming in each point & shoot and SLRs
9. Linear PCM sound recording
10. Auto Focus : Contrast Detection
11. 3.0 fps sequential shooting (its acceptable)
12. Great Built-in IS with max. 4 EV steps efficiency is wonderful more than enough.
13. Optional Adapters for all ZUIKO DIGITAL & OM lenses, it will be more useful to Olympus users, coz they can use all their trusted lenses
14. Newly developed GUI for easier operation via Live Control
15. Automatic recognition of common scenes possible with i-Auto
16. Dual control dials
17. Face Detection & Shadow Adjustment is a cool feature common now days
18. Art Filters, multi-aspect ratios, multi exposure
19. In-camera raw conversion (including application of Art Filters). it will be useful for those who can not find any good RAW converter softwares like Adobe Photoshop CS4/CS3

(Images credit : Olympus.com , xitek.com )
Olympus Press Release