Olympus PEN E-P1

Last updated

Olympus Pen E-P1
Olympus Pen img 3486.jpg
Overview
TypeMicro Four Thirds, interchangeable lens camera
Intro price$899.99
Lens
Lens Micro Four Thirds System mount
Sensor/medium
Sensor Four Thirds System 18.00×13.50 mm Live MOS
Maximum resolution 4032×3024 (12.3 megapixels)
Storage media Secure Digital card
Focusing
Focus modesSingle, continuous, manual
Focus areas11 area contrast detect auto-focus, selectable
Exposure/metering
Exposure modesProgram, shutter-priority, aperture-priority, manual
Metering modes ESP multi patterned, Center-weighted average (60%), Spot (2%)
Flash
Flash hot shoe allows for external flashes
Flash synchronization 1/250
Shutter
Shutter 1/4,000 to 60 s, 30 minutes bulb
Continuous shooting 3 frame/s
Viewfinder
Viewfinder live preview, optional optical viewfinder
General
LCD screen3" 230,000 pixel TFT LCD on screen with live preview
BatteryOlympus BLS-1 Lithium-ion battery
Dimensions 121 × 70 × 36 mm (4.7" × 2.8" × 1.4")
Weight 335 g (11.8 ounces)
Footnotes
[1] [2]

The Olympus Pen E-P1 announced on 16 June 2009 is Olympus Corporation's first camera that adheres to the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system design standard. The first camera to use the Micro Four Thirds mount was Panasonic's G-1 camera.

Contents

Features

The design of the camera is reminiscent of the Olympus Pen half frame film cameras and is marketed as the Olympus digital PEN. The model presented on 16 June 2009 was very similar in looks to the Olympus Pen F. Initially, two micro 4/3 lenses were available from Olympus, one 14–42 mm f/3.5–5.6 zoom and a 17 mm f/2.8 pancake prime lens. Remarkably, with the exception of the optical viewfinder, the E-P1 seemed to fit most of the features found on the Olympus E-620, a larger Four Thirds system DSLR, into the small, compact MFT form factor. [3] [4]

In addition to Micro Four Thirds lenses, Olympus offers adapters allowing the use of Four Thirds lenses, or OM Zuiko lenses originally manufactured for use on the classic OM series of film SLR cameras that Olympus was famed for years ago.

The E-P1 does not have a built-in optical or electronic viewfinder, but instead uses the large 3-inch (76 mm) inch color "HyperCrystal" LCD on the back of the camera. The fixed LCD panel with anti-reflective coating presents a 100% live preview of the image as seen by the sensor. Olympus did offer an optional accessory hotshoe mounted optical viewfinder, the VF-1, that provided for a 17 mm lens angle of view

The E-P1 auto focuses using contrast-detection. [2]

Other features include 720P30 video recording [5] with the ability to process the video in camera with different effects.

In an interview, Mr Akira Watanabe, SLR Planning Department Manager for Olympus Imaging, said that for a number of reasons Micro Four Thirds was developed to meet the demands of those who wanted a DSLR, but without the size problems that come with one. [6]

The 17 mm f/2.8 pancake lens or the 14–42 mm f/3.5–5.6 zoom lens are of the Micro Four Thirds lens mount which means they are smaller than Four Thirds lenses which require an adapter to fit the Micro Four Thirds body.

Several third-party manufacturers offer adapters for lenses of virtually all single-lens reflex and rangefinder systems, plus some cinema lenses.

Comparison with Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, the only other Micro Four Thirds camera at the time of the E-P1 release Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1.jpg
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, the only other Micro Four Thirds camera at the time of the E-P1 release

At the time of the announcement of the Olympus E-P1, there was one other Micro Four Thirds camera on the market, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1. The two cameras materialize two very different concept, but both are built around a Four Thirds sized sensor and the Micro Four Thirds lens mount.

The Panasonic G1's body is SLR-style, with the bump on the top of the camera, where the pentaprism is placed in SLR's, in the G1, it houses the electronic viewfinder. the E-P1 does not have one, so it is almost flat, which makes it a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

It is not only the styling though, the G1's ergonomics and handling are more like a DSLR camera. It has a much larger grip and dials and switches on the top, on the grip and a lot of buttons on the back and the top laid out loosely. The E-P1 has a smaller grip and a much tighter button layout. It has non-conventional controlling methods, like the mode dial, which is sunk in the top panel and controlled through the back, or one of the back dials, which is placed where usually the thumb is rested during the use of the camera.

The E-P1 has a premium aluminium construction, the G1 is made out of plastic.

In terms of features, the E-P1 offers more, which is not surprising, considering it started on $899 instead of $699. The E-P1 has a built-in 3 axis sensor stabilization system and video recording capabilities, 6400 maximum ISO, the G1 does not have any of these. However, the G1 has an adjustable angle display, an electronic viewfinder and a built-in flash.

Successor models

The E-P1 was replaced by the Olympus PEN E-P2 which was announced in November 2009 and complemented by the low-end Olympus PEN E-PL1.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital camera</span> Camera that captures photographs or video in digital format

A digital camera is a camera that captures photographs in digital memory. Most cameras produced today are digital, largely replacing those that capture images on photographic film. Digital cameras are now widely incorporated into mobile devices like smartphones with the same or more capabilities and features of dedicated cameras. High-end, high-definition dedicated cameras are still commonly used by professionals and those who desire to take higher-quality photographs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Thirds system</span> Digital camera design standard

The Four Thirds System is a standard created by Olympus and Eastman Kodak for digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) and mirrorless camera design and development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital single-lens reflex camera</span> Digital cameras combining the parts of a single-lens reflex camera and a digital camera back

A digital single-lens reflex camera is a digital camera that combines the optics and the mechanisms of a single-lens reflex camera with a digital imaging sensor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canon PowerShot G</span> Series of digital cameras

The Canon PowerShot G is a series of digital cameras introduced by Canon in its PowerShot line in 2000. The G series cameras are Canon's flagship compact models aimed at photography enthusiasts desiring more flexibility than a point-and-shoot without the bulk of a digital single-lens reflex camera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumix</span> Brand of digital cameras made by Panasonic

Lumix is Panasonic's brand of digital cameras, ranging from pocket point-and-shoot models to digital SLRs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1</span>

The Lumix DMC-L1 is Panasonic's first DSLR camera, and was announced in February 2006. This camera adheres to the Four Thirds System lens mount standard, making it the first non-Olympus Four Thirds camera, and thus confirming that the Four Thirds System is a semi-open standard such that compatible camera bodies can be built by different companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Live preview</span>

Live preview is a feature that allows a digital camera's display screen to be used as a viewfinder. This provides a means of previewing framing and other exposure before taking the photograph. In most such cameras, the preview is generated by means of continuously and directly projecting the image formed by the lens onto the main image sensor. This in turn feeds the electronic screen with the live preview image. The electronic screen can be either a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an electronic viewfinder (EVF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympus E-3</span>

The Olympus E-3 was until 2010 Olympus Corporation's flagship camera, positioned as a professional DSLR camera. It is the successor to the Olympus E-1, which was launched in November 2003. The E-3, originally codenamed Olympus E-P1, was announced on 17 October 2007. The E-3, like the other cameras in the Olympus E-series, conforms to the Four Thirds system. It was succeeded in 2010 by the Olympus E-5 professional DSLR flagship camera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenses for SLR and DSLR cameras</span>

This article is about photographic lenses for single-lens reflex film cameras (SLRs) and digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs). Emphasis is on modern lenses for 35 mm film SLRs and for DSLRs with sensor sizes less than or equal to 35 mm ("full-frame").

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micro Four Thirds system</span> Digital camera design standard

The Micro Four Thirds system is a standard released by Olympus and Panasonic in 2008, for the design and development of mirrorless interchangeable lens digital cameras, camcorders and lenses. Camera bodies are available from Blackmagic, DJI, JVC, Kodak, Olympus, Panasonic, Sharp, and Xiaomi. MFT lenses are produced by Cosina Voigtländer, DJI, Kowa, Kodak, Mitakon, Olympus, Panasonic, Samyang, Sharp, Sigma, SLR Magic, Tamron, Tokina, TTArtisan, Veydra, Xiaomi, Laowa, Yongnuo, Zonlai, Lensbaby, Kowa, Venus Optics and 7artisans amongst others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1</span>

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 was the first digital mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera (MILC) adhering to the Micro Four Thirds system design standard. The G1 camera is similar to the larger Four Thirds system format DSLR cameras, but replaces the complex optical path needed for the optical viewfinder with an electronic viewfinder EVF displaying a live view image directly from the sensor. Eliminating the mirror box and optical viewfinder allows for smaller and lighter camera bodies, while the less complex optical path also allows for smaller, lighter lens designs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1</span>

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 is a digital mirrorless interchangeable lens camera adhering to the Olympus and Panasonic developed Micro Four Thirds System (MFT) system design standard. Panasonic classified the GH1 as a hybrid stills/video camera and the GH1 was introduced and marketed as a higher end camera than Panasonic's first MFT camera, the stills only, non-video capable Lumix DMC-G1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympus PEN E-P2</span>

The Olympus Pen E-P2 announced on 5 November 2009 is Olympus Corporation's second camera that adheres to the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system design standard. The E-P2 succeeds the Olympus Pen E-P1 a little over five months after the introduction of the EP-1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mirrorless camera</span> Compact camera with a user-removable and replaceable lens

A mirrorless camera is a photo camera featuring a single, removable lens and a digital display. The camera does not have a reflex mirror or optical viewfinder like a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, but may have an electronic viewfinder. Many mirrorless cameras retain a mechanical shutter. Like a DSLR, a mirrorless camera accepts any of a series of interchangeable lenses compatible with its lens mount.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2</span>

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is a digital camera with HD video recording capability that is part of the Micro Four Thirds system. Though commonly referred to as a DSLR camera, it has no mirror or optical viewfinder, but has instead both a fold-out LCD screen and a electronic viewfinder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3</span>

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 is a digital mirrorless interchangeable lens camera adhering to the joint Olympus and Panasonic Micro Four Thirds System (MFT) system design standard. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 is the eighth Panasonic MFT camera introduced under the standard and the thirteenth model MFT camera introduced by either Olympus or Panasonic, as of the G3 product announcement date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2</span> Digital camera model

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 is a digital mirrorless interchangeable lens camera adhering to the Olympus and Panasonic developed Micro Four Thirds System (MFT) system design standard. It was announced in March 2010 along with a lesser featured Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 is the sixth digital mirrorless interchangeable lens camera introduced that adheres to the Micro Four Thirds System (MFT) system design standard, and the fourth Panasonic model MFT camera. The G10 model was announced concurrently with its more capable sibling, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2, in March 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympus PEN E-P3</span> Digital camera model

The Olympus PEN E-P3 announced on 30 June 2011 is Olympus Corporation's seventh camera that adheres to the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system design standard. The E-P3 succeeds the Olympus PEN E-P2, and was announced in concert with two other models, the Olympus PEN E-PL3, and the Olympus PEN E-PM1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3</span>

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 is the eighth camera in Panasonic's Lumix G-series adhering to the Micro Four Thirds System (MFT) design standard, and was announced in June 2011.

References

  1. "E-P1". Hamburg: Olympus Europa. 2009. Archived from the original on 9 September 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  2. 1 2 Joinson, Simon (July 2009). "Olympus Pen E-P1 In-depth Review". Digital Photography Review. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  3. "Olympus E-P2 Review", Digital Photography Review, 1. Introduction, retrieved 4 September 2011.
  4. "Olympus PEN E-P1: Digital Photography Review".
  5. "Olympus E-P1 Review", Digital Photography Review, 15. Video, retrieved 4 September 2011.
  6. Grayson, Matt (18 June 2009). "Olympus E-P1 Digital Camera Review". ePHOTOzine. Shireoaks: Magazine Publishing. Retrieved 25 September 2009.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Olympus E-P1 at Wikimedia Commons

Reviews

Preceded by
None – new line
Olympus Micro Four Thirds system PEN cameras
November 2008–present
Succeeded by