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Product Description
Manufacturer's Description
The Olympus Pen: a legend returns
When he originally designed the first of many Pen cameras, Yoshihisa Maitani could not have suspected that he was starting a revolution. Selling over 17 million units, the Pen became one of the most trusted, popular, and successful camera series ever. The removal of the mirror box in the 21st century has brought the legendary series back. Mirror-less construction is the foundation for both the Olympus Pen E-P1's stunning new design and its remarkably compact size. Everyone will fall in love with the camera's irresistible retro-look. It is reminiscent of the classic Olympus Pens, which were cherished for their compactness, usability, and affordable price.
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Five decades later, the E-P1 promises to honour the memory of its famous forefathers and hails the beginning of the next generation of the digital era. Added to all the advantages of Olympus imaging technology, the new ultra-compact hybrid device can even record HD quality movies with sound and stunning creative effects familiar from still photography. Plus, with the application of Art Filters, it includes the ability to vary depth of field, angle of view and autofocus during recording as well as adding artistic creativity to photographs.
The Olympus Pen E-P1 reinvents high-end stylish photography for the digital era. The new model and its two accompanying Micro Four Thirds lenses are available from July 2009.
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Miniaturised Optics, Maximum Brilliance
Thanks to the mirror-less construction, the flange back is half the distance from the sensor compared with standard FourThirds cameras. Therefore making the camera significantly thinner and more compact.
High ISO shooting: ISO 6400
The high ISO sensitivity allows you to capture low light subjects using available light without the need for a tripod (e.g. birthday parties and night scenes) due to the faster shutter speeds.
Image Stabilisation
Regardless of the lens you select, the built-in IS system effectively counters camera shake. A gyro sensor detects the precise direction of the shake. Using the on-board Supersonic Wave Drive (SWD), the image sensor shifts to compensate for this movement. The maximum effectiveness of IS system is 4 EV (exposure value) steps. (In a movie shooting, an electric image stabilisation works.)
High image quality
Producing clear images and rich colour the M. ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses continue the high performance of the ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses and a newly developed TruePicV image processor bring out the true potential of the system, delivering sharp images rich with colour. Realise the image quality of a DSLR in a compact and easy to use camera. Discover the fun and expanded creative possibilities of using an interchangeable lens camera system.
Newly developed compact dust reduction system
Dust entering digital cameras with interchangeable lenses can cause damage to photos. The Supersonic Wave Filter (SSWF) is a transparent filter which is located between the camera's shutter and sensor. It shakes off settled dust particles by generating a series of ultrasonic vibrations. Olympus was the first to incorporate dust protection.
Effortless handling and full control
The newly developed Live Control interface ensures effortless operation: it is incredibly easy to use and the effects of selected functions can be viewed immediately on the 7.6cm/3.0" HyperCrystal LCD. In addition to easy focusing for sharp and crisp shots, an intelligent i-Auto option also allows the camera to automatically adjust to six common scene modes such as portrait, landscape and night. What's more, subjects can be sure they will always look their best with e-Portrait - a practical option that smoothes away wrinkles and eliminates imperfections and blemishes. This way everyone can look like a top model, especially when they appear on TV via the practical HDMI output. SD card compatibility eliminates concerns about storage by providing ample space for recorded images and movies as well as convenient file storage and transfer.
Creative Magic: Art Filters
Turn your memories into works of art. A choice of six Art Filters are available to instantly give both your images and movies a unique look and feel. Just select the desired Art Filter before taking a picture or shooting a movie, the effect is then shown directly on the LCD in Live View Mode.
Pop Art: Enhances colours, making them stronger and more vivid to create high-impact pictures in the style of Pop Art.
Soft Focus: Creates a soft tone, which gives pictures an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere without obscuring details such as hair or flower petals.
Pale & Light Colour: The foreground is enclosed in flat, gentle light - similar to a flashback scene in a film - creating a sense of deja vu.
Light Tone: Creates a picture with shade and highlight areas rendered very softly to provide a sophisticated atmosphere with a gentle feel.
Grainy Film: Recreates the effect of grainy, high-contrast monochrome pictures. The strong presence and dramatic atmosphere amplify the impact of the subject.
Pin Hole: Reduces the peripheral brightness like an image seen through a pinhole camera. Added to this is a unique colour tone and the results have an air of secrecy or otherworldliness.
Multi Aspect:
Choose from four different aspect ratios that enable individualised framing of scenes. These provide a new means of adding expression to shots and the selected ratio can be seen directly on the camera's LCD. The available aspect ratios include: 16:9, 3:2, 4:3, and 6:6.
HD Movies
High-definition video (HD video) mode delivers high-quality movies at a resolution of 1280x720 pixels (or STD 640x480) both at 30 frames per second. Featuring controls and quality that camcorders cannot deliver.
Control background blur with aperture control. Record sharp blur-free movies with in-camera Image Stabilisation. Apply built-in Art Filters to your movies for added creative flair.
(Frame rate dependent on selected Art Filter. 3 min movie is recordable. File format is the AVI Motion JPEG® .)
Movie operation + still image recording
Automatically records a high resolution still reference frame at the end of movie recording. Great for use as a location reference or to expand the movie's storyline.
Product Description
- SLR image quality with a High Speed 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS sensor
- Art Filters,Multi-exposure,Wireless flash,Multi-aspect
- High-performance built-in image stabiliser
- Excellent variety of digital lenses
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
150 of 151 people found the following review helpful
The E-P1 received much fanfare on launch because it is effectively a game-changing product. This was something of a gamble for Olympus, but also part of their heritage; Olympus have a proud history of innovative, high quality, small cameras including this product's namesake, the Pen, and the OM series of manual focus SLRs.
The four-thirds (FT) format has never truly convinced serious photographers for one reason or another. The sensor is considerably smaller than APS-C sensors on other brands' DSLRs which leads to comparatively more noise at high ISO shooting. The image format is a little different to the classic 35mm frame. The depth of field control is a little less pliable. But for all of that, the four thirds sensor is enormous compared to other compacts.
Compact digital cameras have seldom offered the serious photographer much to shout about. The E-P1 changes that - if you are willing to stretch your perception of what is "compact." The E-P1 is smaller than any DSLR... but bigger than anything you might consider a compact camera. It sits in between the two. If you want something to slip into your top pocket, you need to look elsewhere. This isn't the one for you.
The E-P1 produces lovely results in Jpeg and raw formats. I have nothing but praise for the images themselves. Even the ISO performance is more than reasonable at 800+ speeds.
The in-body image stabiliser is a fantastic feature as this means you can use any lens and still get IS-assisted shots. And speaking of lenses, the kit zoom is a fine example of a standard zoom. It is not particularly fast, but it is exactly the same speed (aperture range) as an equivalent Canon or Nikon kit zoom. The 17mm f2.8 prime lens is a beaut on paper, but it falls a little short of expectations in practice. It is neither as sharp nor as fast as its premium price tag suggests.
Of course, a benefit of interchangeable lens system cameras is that you don't need to buy the 17mm. I would recommend the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 prime lens - also a micro four-thirds (mFT) format lens which works beautifully on the E-P1 body -- and benefits from the in-body IS.
Some others are unhappy about the lack of an in-body optical viewfinder and flash. I am inclined to go along with these criticisms, but only to a small extent. An optical rangefinder would have been nice, but it would also have meant a larger form factor and/or optical compromise. I don't really care for flash photography, but I can accept that sometimes, a shot of fill-in flash is nice to have in very contrasty light. However, neither of these omissions are show-stoppers for me because: if it's too dark to shoot, don't; if it's too bright to shoot, don't.
Another area where some web-based reviewers have been critical of the E-P1 is it's "slow auto-focus". I cannot agree with this one bit. The E-P1's auto-focus may not match the speed of a pro-spec DSLR, but then, neither do most DSLRs. I wonder whether people jump on imaginary bandwagons sometimes - if you're buying the camera to take photos at an F1 race, well, you will have to rely on good technique rather than the camera alone to get sharp shots every single time - and that would be the same for just about any DSLR, too. The AF system in the camera is perfectly acceptable - even 'fast' - for all the usual situations. I get as high a proportion of good shots of my restless children with the E-P1 as I do with a high-end DSLR. If you are unsure about the AF speed, don't take web reviewers' word as gospel (not even mine) - go to a store and try it out for yourself.
The ergonomics of the E-P1 are a joy. Lovely to hold and the switchgear is nicely machined and damped. You know you are using a quality product and you feel like you spent your money wisely when you use the camera. Am I over-selling it when I say that there is nothing as tactically orgasmic this side of a Leica or Contax? Probably, but it's so lovely to hold and use! This is where, for me, it is a hands-down winner over the Panasonic GF1, which is conceptually very similar.
Sadly, all digital products seem to be built with disposability in mind. Where film cameras were built with the expectation to work for 20-30 years, digital cameras seem to be replaced by the buyers every couple of years. The E-P1 feels like it would last well beyond 10 years.
Another bonus of the mFT format is that through the use of adapters, you can attach a great range of manual focus lenses to the E-P1. Leica, cine, Zuiko OM, Canon FD... all lovely optics bringing their own character to your shots. And that's not even mentioning the different film modes and frame sizes you can use.
Another thing I love about the camera is the amount of customisation that is available. I am a long-time Canon SLR shooter. I have over 10 years experience of using Canon and so, my fingers and thumbs are drawn to particular gestures and movements as a learned instinct. Typically, Nikon controls are a little different and switching takes some getting used to. The default controls on the Olympus are also a little different to Canon, but I have been able to set them up to work the way I like. For instance, the scroll wheels run counter-intuitively (for me) out of the box. After a little dig into the customisation menu and a single change to one line, the wheels now scroll as I am used to. Switching between cameras is not a chore. This is just one example - users can change so much about how the camera works to suit them. Of course, the defaults are fine especially for those who have no previous experience or are Olympus shooters.
This camera really brings the joy of photography back for advanced photographers, and introduces newbies to a whole new world of creative possibilities.
I cannot recommend the E-P1 highly enough. It only loses a star because the 17mm lens doesn't match the body's excellence or Zuiko's reputation for excellent optics.
The four-thirds (FT) format has never truly convinced serious photographers for one reason or another. The sensor is considerably smaller than APS-C sensors on other brands' DSLRs which leads to comparatively more noise at high ISO shooting. The image format is a little different to the classic 35mm frame. The depth of field control is a little less pliable. But for all of that, the four thirds sensor is enormous compared to other compacts.
Compact digital cameras have seldom offered the serious photographer much to shout about. The E-P1 changes that - if you are willing to stretch your perception of what is "compact." The E-P1 is smaller than any DSLR... but bigger than anything you might consider a compact camera. It sits in between the two. If you want something to slip into your top pocket, you need to look elsewhere. This isn't the one for you.
The E-P1 produces lovely results in Jpeg and raw formats. I have nothing but praise for the images themselves. Even the ISO performance is more than reasonable at 800+ speeds.
The in-body image stabiliser is a fantastic feature as this means you can use any lens and still get IS-assisted shots. And speaking of lenses, the kit zoom is a fine example of a standard zoom. It is not particularly fast, but it is exactly the same speed (aperture range) as an equivalent Canon or Nikon kit zoom. The 17mm f2.8 prime lens is a beaut on paper, but it falls a little short of expectations in practice. It is neither as sharp nor as fast as its premium price tag suggests.
Of course, a benefit of interchangeable lens system cameras is that you don't need to buy the 17mm. I would recommend the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 prime lens - also a micro four-thirds (mFT) format lens which works beautifully on the E-P1 body -- and benefits from the in-body IS.
Some others are unhappy about the lack of an in-body optical viewfinder and flash. I am inclined to go along with these criticisms, but only to a small extent. An optical rangefinder would have been nice, but it would also have meant a larger form factor and/or optical compromise. I don't really care for flash photography, but I can accept that sometimes, a shot of fill-in flash is nice to have in very contrasty light. However, neither of these omissions are show-stoppers for me because: if it's too dark to shoot, don't; if it's too bright to shoot, don't.
Another area where some web-based reviewers have been critical of the E-P1 is it's "slow auto-focus". I cannot agree with this one bit. The E-P1's auto-focus may not match the speed of a pro-spec DSLR, but then, neither do most DSLRs. I wonder whether people jump on imaginary bandwagons sometimes - if you're buying the camera to take photos at an F1 race, well, you will have to rely on good technique rather than the camera alone to get sharp shots every single time - and that would be the same for just about any DSLR, too. The AF system in the camera is perfectly acceptable - even 'fast' - for all the usual situations. I get as high a proportion of good shots of my restless children with the E-P1 as I do with a high-end DSLR. If you are unsure about the AF speed, don't take web reviewers' word as gospel (not even mine) - go to a store and try it out for yourself.
The ergonomics of the E-P1 are a joy. Lovely to hold and the switchgear is nicely machined and damped. You know you are using a quality product and you feel like you spent your money wisely when you use the camera. Am I over-selling it when I say that there is nothing as tactically orgasmic this side of a Leica or Contax? Probably, but it's so lovely to hold and use! This is where, for me, it is a hands-down winner over the Panasonic GF1, which is conceptually very similar.
Sadly, all digital products seem to be built with disposability in mind. Where film cameras were built with the expectation to work for 20-30 years, digital cameras seem to be replaced by the buyers every couple of years. The E-P1 feels like it would last well beyond 10 years.
Another bonus of the mFT format is that through the use of adapters, you can attach a great range of manual focus lenses to the E-P1. Leica, cine, Zuiko OM, Canon FD... all lovely optics bringing their own character to your shots. And that's not even mentioning the different film modes and frame sizes you can use.
Another thing I love about the camera is the amount of customisation that is available. I am a long-time Canon SLR shooter. I have over 10 years experience of using Canon and so, my fingers and thumbs are drawn to particular gestures and movements as a learned instinct. Typically, Nikon controls are a little different and switching takes some getting used to. The default controls on the Olympus are also a little different to Canon, but I have been able to set them up to work the way I like. For instance, the scroll wheels run counter-intuitively (for me) out of the box. After a little dig into the customisation menu and a single change to one line, the wheels now scroll as I am used to. Switching between cameras is not a chore. This is just one example - users can change so much about how the camera works to suit them. Of course, the defaults are fine especially for those who have no previous experience or are Olympus shooters.
This camera really brings the joy of photography back for advanced photographers, and introduces newbies to a whole new world of creative possibilities.
I cannot recommend the E-P1 highly enough. It only loses a star because the 17mm lens doesn't match the body's excellence or Zuiko's reputation for excellent optics.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Peter Bailey
Amazon Verified Purchase
I confess to being a gadget freak and can't resist an innovation! I am also a keen amateur photographer who graduated rather late into digital having experienced the 'quality' of Hasselblad and excellent film SLR's.
The E-P1 is supposed to significantly replace my Nikon D300 outfit for holidays and casual photography with an expectation of similar flexibility and quality for prints up to A3 size. I had hoped that it may replace my excellent Canon Ixus and 10times zoom Lumix to slip into my pocket on all occasions??
Sadly it falls short of my aspirations BUT I have already falen in love with its solid feel and reliable results.
The E-P1 can be used in such a variety of modes effectively. The manual settings allow for full creativity and yet the iAuto allows excellent point and snap facilities.The consistent picture quality, even at high ISO settings, is better than expected and the low light performance will probably compensate for the lack of flash on most occasions.
The prime lens is fine, compact and with good performance, although not approaching that of the Nikon primes.
The zoom is OK but I must find a longer focal length lens for my regular equestrian work. The new Olympus Zuiko Digital ED14-150mm F4.0-5.6 will be a candidate when available.
I intend to keep the E-P1 but have yet to fully evaluate the 'niche' where it will be the camera of choice for any particular situation. I suspect that the Lumix with 10* zoom will still be in my pocket on a regular basis and the Nikon brought out for the 'special' stuff.
In my opinion the price is a bit high on a cost/ perfrmance basis!
With more experience I have found this to be an excellent holiday companion. However, for lens quality and action shots, particularly when the car is near and camera kit weight is less of an issue, I am tending to use my Nikon D300 which is clearly producing a better picture!
Hence I will continue with TWO interchangeable lens outfits!
The E-P1 is supposed to significantly replace my Nikon D300 outfit for holidays and casual photography with an expectation of similar flexibility and quality for prints up to A3 size. I had hoped that it may replace my excellent Canon Ixus and 10times zoom Lumix to slip into my pocket on all occasions??
Sadly it falls short of my aspirations BUT I have already falen in love with its solid feel and reliable results.
The E-P1 can be used in such a variety of modes effectively. The manual settings allow for full creativity and yet the iAuto allows excellent point and snap facilities.The consistent picture quality, even at high ISO settings, is better than expected and the low light performance will probably compensate for the lack of flash on most occasions.
The prime lens is fine, compact and with good performance, although not approaching that of the Nikon primes.
The zoom is OK but I must find a longer focal length lens for my regular equestrian work. The new Olympus Zuiko Digital ED14-150mm F4.0-5.6 will be a candidate when available.
I intend to keep the E-P1 but have yet to fully evaluate the 'niche' where it will be the camera of choice for any particular situation. I suspect that the Lumix with 10* zoom will still be in my pocket on a regular basis and the Nikon brought out for the 'special' stuff.
In my opinion the price is a bit high on a cost/ perfrmance basis!
With more experience I have found this to be an excellent holiday companion. However, for lens quality and action shots, particularly when the car is near and camera kit weight is less of an issue, I am tending to use my Nikon D300 which is clearly producing a better picture!
Hence I will continue with TWO interchangeable lens outfits!
11 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Applemana2
A beautifully built metal body gives this camera a premium, old fashioned feel. The 17mm lens suits it well and delivers clean, rich images.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Aesthetics over practicality
We read lots of great review of this camera and loved how it looked so we decided to buy one, and found one at a great price on Amazon. It is a lovely piece of equipment... Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2009 by Vince Noir
4.0 out of 5 stars
SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL
I use a Canon 5d for landscape work and looked at the EP-1 with the intentions of buying it for street use. Read more
Published on 28 Sep 2009 by K. C. Towers
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