Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 61
 Works Great--Even Better With Panasonic 14-140mm f/4.0-5.8 Micro Four Thirds Lens September 3, 2010
J. Weber
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Great camera and sensor. Great autofocusing (especially with firmware upgrade from Olympus). Surprisingly, when coupled with the Panasonic 14-140mm f/4.0-5.8 OIS Micro Four Thirds Lens, the optical image stabilization (OIS) in this lens is much better than that in the Olympus E-PL1 body. About 50% more slow shutter shots were sharp for me with the Panasonic lens OIS than using the Olympus E-PL1 body OIS, using the same body/lens combination. Video is also much more stable using the Panasonic lens OIS. You can try it in a store and check it out for yourself--the difference is very visible even without taking a shot. So, for me, the Olympus E-PL1 body and this Pansonic zoom lens has been the ultimate combination--best of both worlds.
Great Value August 25, 2010
Patrick O'Brien (KC, MO USA)
Great camera with great options. Easy to use for a starter! HD Video is great.
Zero Trade-Off for Portability August 23, 2010
road warrior (CT)
Finally, Olympus has delivered on the promise of a full-featured high-performance dslr-like digital camera that is truly portable and retains the controls and flexibility of a full-sized heavy dslr. Being able to travel without the bulk and weight of a full size dslr bag and accessory lenses is the biggest advantage to getting this camera. You can now take it with you and and your travel weight is well under 5 LBS with the camera, battery, and 2 lenses.
The sensor and imaging engine are the key differentiators in this camera as they help this camera with high iso setting images by keeping the noise levels down thereby making this a terrific camera for low light scenarios.
What good is taking along a travel digital camera if it cannot produce dslr like quality images? The Olympus Pen system with the detachable lenses still weigh more than a point and shoot, but weigh far less and take up much less space in a camera bag than a full sized dSLR camera kit with lenses and accessories.
Having the camera with you at all times will ensure that you get the rare photo or candid that usually happens only a few times a year. Carrying an Olympus Pen with a lens attached is so much easier on the shoulders and back than say a Canon Digital Rebel or a Nikon with the kit lens.
Before you make that upgrade to a dSlR, check out the Olympus Pen and you will not be disappointed. You will find that it can do almost 90-95% of what an entry or medium advanced consumer dSLR can do function and image quality wise.
You'll look even less dorky by carrying and shooting with such a cool looking and innovative camera.
The point n shoot the pro adores... July 31, 2010
I. Lozada (Lexington, KY)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I've been a pro photographer for 5 years now, and I never know what to tell average people when they ask me about what camera they should buy if they aren't asking about DSLR's. To me, point and shoots produce noisy files, they have the flashes in the precise place to maximize the potential to make you look awful, and given my choice, I'd probably rather shoot with my iPhone instead.
Of course, it's not like I haven't had to deal with them- my wife still has her Canon SD600 and until last year, I had a Leica D-Lux3, which had nice glass but couldn't be trusted above ISO 200, because of the blotchy noise that would show up, largely from putting too many pixels on a sensor that's a quarter the size of a postage stamp.
When the Leica was lost, I put off replacing it for the longest time because I didn't have to, and I just couldn't commit to a Canon G11, which could work with my pro flashes on its hotshoe, but was still pretty bulky.
Then I discovered the Pen.
I've always liked Olympus cameras for great color rendering, ease of use, but hated their insistence on using their proprietary xD card format-- hard to find and too expensive. But the Pen is SD/SDHC memory, and even better, it has this HUGE (for a point and shoot ) sensor- a touch smaller than a crop frame DSLR, and about 5x larger than most p&s cameras. That makes the images sharp, the higher range ISO choices usable, and in general, the files don't look point and shoot-like.
The Pen is part of an interchangeable lens system, but I didn't purchase anything beyond the lens that's included, a 14-42mm lens. I might buy a 17mm prime lens for it, as the camera is a little thick (about 2 inches from screen to lens cap) in the closed position, and is not a pocket camera configured thus. It runs on the Four Thirds format, but I immediately told it to shoot stills in 2:3 ratio for easy 4x6 printing, and set the video capture (720p HD, for those of you scoring at home) to 16:9 widescreen. My feeling is why set yourself up for disappointment when your framing of a photo/video leads to you having to crop out something important just to make it usable.
The menus give you tons of control if you want it, with ability to set ISO, white balance, exposure compensation, and all the things pros like, but it also has some simple modes like Intelligent Auto and some scene specific things for people who know what they're hoping to shoot but don't know how to get there without hand holding. It even has tips for improving your shot built in for newer Photographers.
But for me, the big pleasant surprise was the flash. Olympus gave you one that pops up on a spring loaded arm, but they tucked that under the flash when not in use, so that when it opens, the flash head is brought up and forward. I discovered that I could use a finger on my left hand and bend the flash arm back SO I COULD BOUNCE THE FLASH OFF THE CEILING. It's a whole new world when your flash opens up the room instead of microwaving your subject. (I recommend an extra tick of exposure compensation for this.). There's also a hotshoe for external flashes or radio controllers.
Video was very smooth, microphone nice and sensitive. It looks much better than other P&S HD video, again, sensor size makes a massive difference.
I've had mine for a month, and used it as a walk around camera for 4 days at Disney World, and used it as a location scouting notebook for a job. The client liked the Pen images so much she ordered 7 of them as 20x30 and 40x30 canvas prints! What other P&S could you blow up files that large with?
I am completely thrilled to death with the Pen. Now all I need to do is convince Apple to support the Raw files in iPhoto...
Best camera around July 15, 2010
geprieto
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This camera is just too close to be perfect. I originally had my sights on the pen e-p2 and the panasonic G1, but I decided on the e-pl1. Not because of the price, but for the flash (not present on the e-p2) and the bulb mode (limited to 4 minutes on the G1). The build quality is excellent, and is more heavy than I imagined. The sensor quality is VERY good! I had a Canon SX before, DSLR, and the quality is even better, especially at high ISO modes. And just as they say the auto mode of this camera really works. I used to shoot almost always in Aperture priority mode, or at least in Program. With this gadget I almost never leave the auto mode. True, I do photography for hobby, but I know my way around cameras.
The only issue I have with it is that for now there is no cheap lens to buy with a high field of view. Since it is micro 4/3 you get 2x of the focal distance, so the kit lens performs like a 28-84mm, and you will find yourself walking quite some steps back to get your subjects into the picture. But the video mode on its own helps to forget this. Before this camera I never shoot video. Now I find my photo albums are a multimedia mix, since the steps form one to the other almost disappear with this unit.
If you got tired of carrying around your bag with the DSLR, lenses, flash, etc this is a MUST BUY.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 61
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