Olympus Pen E-P1 initial hands-on review

[nrdlnd]

Hi,
I think this camera is a big mistake! I can't see that it has any image stabilisation or dust reduction system. But even more important; it has no eye level viewfinder! This is not acceptable as it's impossible to hold a camera steady without the support you get from your head and body. It's also very clumsy to use a small LCD especially if you have to use glasses to be able to see the small LCD. I bought my first Olympus camera 1965 an Olympus Pen F. It was a very good camera with many innovative features. For it's size it had a very good viewfinder and was a good photographic instrument. The Pen EP-1 is not in that tradition in my opinion. They could have made a Micro Four Third E300 or E330 but with electronic viewfinder. That could have been interesting!

Per

[John Perriment]

Originally Posted by John Perriment

Rather naively I expected the camera to be a bit smaller than it is, particularly without viewfinder or flash which doesn't actually bother me at all. O.K., it's substantially smaller than a DSLR but it still won't slip into a pocket. You would still need to hang it round your neck or have a waist pouch and therefore may as well have an E620.

The whole point, for me, in having a small camera like this would be to use it with a compact prime lens. 17mm is not a bad choice but wouldn't be my preferred option. Also, I'm disappointed to hear there is a question over the sharpness of this lens, particularly as Olympus have a heritage of outstanding quality small primes.

On reflection, maybe I was being a bit harsh regarding the size. I was hoping for something about the same size as the beloved Olympus 35RC that I used to own. At first I though the Pen was quite a bit bigger but, having checked the measurements, I was wrong. The Pen is actually 10mm wider and 7mm deeper (with the pancake lens) which is not a deal breaker. I used to carry the 35RC in a small padded waist pouch without much fuss and I'm sure the same would apply with the Pen.

The question mark over the quality of the 17mm is still an issue, though, and I would need quite a bit more reassurance on this before committing. Hopefully, though, other primes will follow in the near future.

Price remains the biggest stumbling block, though that is more a reflection on my own current financial position! But prices are bound to fall once the Pen has been out for a while and I have got a complete Bronica system I could put on ebay........

[John Perriment]

Originally Posted by nrdlnd

Hi,
I think this camera is a big mistake! I can't see that it has any image stabilisation or dust reduction system. But even more important; it has no eye level viewfinder! This is not acceptable as it's impossible to hold a camera steady without the support you get from your head and body. It's also very clumsy to use a small LCD especially if you have to use glasses to be able to see the small LCD. I bought my first Olympus camera 1965 an Olympus Pen F. It was a very good camera with many innovative features. For it's size it had a very good viewfinder and was a good photographic instrument. The Pen EP-1 is not in that tradition in my opinion. They could have made a Micro Four Third E300 or E330 but with electronic viewfinder. That could have been interesting!

Per

It has got IS and dust reduction!

The viewfinder issue is a personal thing but for me it is not a problem. I'm very short sighted and find that when I'm using a compact if I look over my glasses at the screen I need to hold it very close to my face. With a wide brimmed hat this solves the problem of glare on a bright day. Also for this reason, I could happily live with a 2 inch screen if it would help reduce the size of the camera.

I find holding any camera still is a bit of a challenge these days and holding a compact away from my face makes little difference.

[nrdlnd]

I'm sorry that I didn't see that it has dust reduction and image stabilisation. The most important thing is that it has no viewfinder! This is an anomaly in modern 'cameras'. Image stabilisation can't compensate for a good viewfinder. The only situation when it's not necessary with a viewfinder is with some 'macro' shots and when the camera is on a stand. If you want to use your camera to record what you see then it's slow and clumsy to use a small LCD! It's a real step backwards. I need my camera at eye level most of the time.

Per

[joachim]

Originally Posted by nrdlnd

I'm sorry that I didn't see that it has dust reduction and image stabilisation. The most important thing is that it has no viewfinder! This is an anomaly in modern 'cameras'. Image stabilisation can't compensate for a good viewfinder. The only situation when it's not necessary with a viewfinder is with some 'macro' shots and when the camera is on a stand. If you want to use your camera to record what you see then it's slow and clumsy to use a small LCD! It's a real step backwards. I need my camera at eye level most of the time.

Per

This seems a very personal thing. Over the period of time I had two digicams (Canon S45 and Lumix TZ3). The first has the second has no eye-level finder. I used both with the LCD as a finder. The Lumix has a 3 inch LCD and I prefer that for framing over my Olympus E-300. It is like looking at a small picture and deciding directly whether I like it or do not. Even in bright light, I find the LCD of the TZ3 to be surprisingly usable when I increase the brightness. I never missed an optical finder.

If anything I feel I can even steady that better than an eye level camera. I had the same impression with the S45 which does not offer any from of IS.

In the end, there are two sets of people the ones which want an optical finder and the ones which don't. Comparing the sizes of the new E-1P to the Lumix G1 and GH1 shows how much a good EVF and flash adds to the design (the SLR bump). If you want a finder and want it now, then I would suggest to have a look a the Lumix offerings.

From my past experience assuming the LCD of the E-1P is of similar quality as the one on the TZ3, I am presently more interested in the E-1P than the Lumix G1, for it's small size. To each his/her own. Hope this makes sense.

[joachim]

Originally Posted by John Perriment

Yes, the U.K. site is doing a similar promotion. To be selected you have to submit a proposal online for a photographic project that you will undertake during your week with the camera. Those with the best ideas will be selected. I almost entered but decided not to for various reasons. With the likelihood of being able to take time off work remote I realised that my project would have to fit in with my day to day life but at the same time have a specific relevance to the new Pen. This is what I came up with:-

MY PEN FRIENDS - ORDINARY PEOPLE, EXTRAORDINARY CAMERA.

For one week take as many pictures as I can of ordinary people that I encounter in my everyday life. Show them the Pen and the picture I have just taken and ask them what they think. Use the built in video to record their responses. Make extensive use of the built in Art Filters to suit the subject's personality and enhance the mood, for example Pop Art for extrovert teenager or Grainy Film for characterful old man.

I must admit I was quite pleased to come up with this idea as I thought it could fit the Pen concept quite well but, as I said, decided not to progress it for various reasons. If anyone else would like to take up this idea and adapt it to their own situation please feel free. Or perhaps you can come up with something much better.

The link, if you are interested, is here. http://www.olympus-europa.com/consum...12222#testapen

I read the terms and conditions. I didn't like the IPR issues involved. The way I understood it, I would need a model release form from every one I take a photo off (since Olympus wants to publish the images for their advertisement). To me that is to much hassle.

[joachim]

Originally Posted by joachim

I read the terms and conditions. I didn't like the IPR issues involved. The way I understood it, I would need a model release form from every one I take a photo off (since Olympus wants to publish the images for their advertisement). To me that is to much hassle.

From the T&C:
"Where necessary, the Reviewer agrees to obtain all consents and approvals for the Images to be used and published by Olympus (in particular, in the cases where persons, logos or artworks are featured in the Images)."

Speak to your lawyer first!

[nad]

anybody seen this one

You Tube

You Tube

niels

[fluffy]

This is one great ad. Almost makes me want one. I hope they (Olympus USA) find some way to give it wider exposure than simply a web YouTube.

Steve

[Patrick Savidge-Smerdon]

Like most posters I'm afraid this is not for me.....
To many missed opportunity's...

Already owning the G1 it brings nothing new to the genre... No Evf or viewfinder
accept that large ugly contraption they call a viewfinder..!! even the Lcd is still only 230,000 dots, come on Oly that's very retro... no pun intended.
Even the movie mode is worse than the G1.

It's not even that much smaller. and don't get me started on the fact that
there's not even a black version,cheap looking silver ERRG and as for the white one lets not go there.

I was hoping Olympus would out do Panasonic being as they have had the chance to see what Panny bought to the table..!!

I own the E3 as well as the E510 so I'm not an Oly basher by any means, but
I think that I may just go for the E620 instead when the price falls a little...

Still those that like the retro look will lap it up, but I think Oly have gone to far down that road for my taste... I do wish them well, and hope they sell a
million or so if only to fund a replacement for the long awaited E4 or whatever.