Olympus E-P1 Review by DPinterface

Average Camera Review Rating [10 reviews]
Currently priced at $799, the Olympus PEN E-P1 comes with a sleek and compact body as it uses the 4/3 sized image sensor. The internal structure eliminates the traditional DSLR quick-return mirror allowing a radical reduction in camera size without compromising the benefits of digital SLR photography with its high shooting performance and high quality images. This new camera is equipped with the Intelligent Auto (iAUTO) function that automatically evaluates the scene and sets the optimum scene shooting mode to take the selected shot. The imaging system uses a 4/3-inch type, 12.3-megapixel high speed Live MOS Sensor and a newly developed TruePic V image processing engine to provide high quality still images. This impressive processing engine also enables non-flash shooting up to ISO 6400.

It is worth noting that the camera began shipping the 12.3Mp Olympus PEN E-P1 in Japan on July 3 and it quickly rise to a number 2 sales ranking position within a few days over the July 4 weekend, getting a total of 19.1% of sales share in Japan. It later dropped to #7 position the following week and now at #6 ranking this week. DPinterface recently posted a review of the Olympus E-P1 and here is the summary of the review:

"Image quality produced by the Olympus E-P1 ranged from good to very good, depending on what aspects you look at. I found noise levels to be low and usable till ISO 1600; photos had just the right amount of sharpness and high levels of detail. Other things like distortion and overall resolution/corner-to-corner sharpness depend highly on the lens used, but rest assured, the E-P1's 14-42 mm kit lens was no slouch (unlike the typically mediocre to so-so kit lenses bundled with other digital SLRs). There was moderate distortion, some edge softness but very little color fringing, that's close to unnoticeable most of the time - those characteristics are pretty good for a kit lens, even more so when you consider the E-P1's lens that's retractable and compact in size.

The Olympus E-P1 is a great concept, a rather compact camera with a big sensor, aimed at those hounding for a portable photographic device with good image quality (those who don't want to carry a big SLR and a bag full of lenses). And looks like that concept is working - the E-P1 is indeed a good camera (but not without its flaws) and a close friend of mine in the industry told me last week the E-P1 has built a fanbase on those who want a 'rangefinder' camera, but are unwilling to drop a few grand on an actual Leica rangefinder.

That said, I think E-P1 is a niche camera for street shooters and those who NEED to travel light; at least for now with its premium price tag. For the same price, one can get the 'dual lens kit' for the Olympus E620, which is almost the same camera feature-wise with better overall value, improved more-SLR-like ergonomics, a flip-out and rotate LCD and faster performance, but minus the 'cool' factor and movie mode of the E-P1. So you need to know what you're doing before swiping the plastic for the Olympus E-P1."

Olympus E-P1 Camera Reviews Roundup

PhotoZone: "Finally Olympus released their first micro-four-thirds digital camera styled in the retro design of the classic Olympus PEN - a highly successful series of half frame cameras in the 60ies. Obviously they feel that the time is about right for such dwarfish, rock solid cameras and they may be right. The E-P1 inherited most of its technologies from the "normal" 4/3 system including a 12.3-megapixel Live MOS s..." - Nov 22 2009 More »
CameraLabs: "...there are some disappointments such as relatively slow focusing, a screen with average resolution and the absence of a built-in flash and viewfinder, not to mention a relatively high price for which you could buy a fairly decent DSLR which addressed all these concerns. But of course the thing which makes the E-P1 special is its size. It may be bigger than it looks, but it's still much smaller than even the smalle..." - Nov 02 2009 More »
PhotographyBay: "As noted earlier, I have seen other sites review the Olympus E-P1 and give boisterous recommendations to readers.  I said before that I have had a hard time figuring out who this camera is for - I am still unsure.  I've read that photo geeks are all about it; however, I think most photo geeks would really miss some the crucial functionality that we are accustomed to in modern digital cameras.  The Oly..." - Aug 27 2009 More »	N/A
LetsGoDigital: "The quality of the pictures is fine. Better than recent cameras from the E-series, and even that is an excellent achievement by Olympus. Also the lenses do not disappoint when it comes to their optics. Especially the pancake is an outright winner in my opinion. Not only because this lens is so compact, but also because of its excellent optical performance and because the auto focus works better. I believe that the z..." - Aug 15 2009 More »
DigitalCameraInfo: "Beyond look and feel, the strong suits of the E-P1 are superior color accuracy and very good resolution results. High image noise (typical of a small-sensor format) and limited dynamic range are problems, but the results aren't scandalous -- you just don't' want to push your luck with high ISO shooting. As for the hardware, what's missing that matters are a built-in flash and some kind of eye-level viewfinder. Consi..." - Aug 15 2009 More »
dpreview: "As mentioned earlier the E-P1's appeal to photo geeks like us is easy to see, and the results will for the most part justify the extra effort (or at the very least the change in shooting style) involved in getting them. This is the kind of camera that you just want to pick up and take out shooting, and the wealth of features and controls (not least the Art Filters), combined with a highly portable body make it the p..." - Jul 29 2009 More »
PhotoReview: "With the Pen E-P1, Olympus has stated a clear intention to establish the first product in what we hope will be a profitable niche between top-end advanced digicams and compact DSLRs. Serious photographers have been crying out for years for a capable small camera with P, A, S and M shooting modes, interchangeable lenses and a larger sensor than any digicam has yet provided. In many respects, Olympus has done a better..." - Jul 27 2009 More »	N/A
TrustedReview: "...the Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens is excellent, producing pin-sharp detail from corner to corner at all focal lengths with barely any optical distortion and no trace of chromatic aberration thanks to the use of ED glass...In terms of overall image quality the E-P1 is a bit of a mixed bag. Exposure metering is up to Olympus's traditional high standard, and in good light the results are excellent. In high-contrast c..." - Jul 25 2009 More »
CNET: "One of the big points that Panasonic and Olympus are marketing these micro four thirds cameras on is the SLR-like quality of the images. So, despite the E-P1 looking like a compact, the images it delivers should stand up, theoretically, to an equivalent-level SLR. The physical size of the sensor, however, is smaller on a micro four thirds camera than with most SLRs, which does play into image quality. How does the E..." - Jul 21 2009 More »
Digicam Review: "Even at a pixel level images look excellent, with low noise, useable ISO1600 and above, excellent detail, excellent colour, and the 14-42mm kit lens provides impressive macro performance, and gives sharp crisp images - unlike kit lenses from other manufacturers which tend to be overly soft. The results are consistent as well, with excellent auto white balance, exposure, dynamic range, and good focus, helped in part..." - Jul 18 2009 More »	N/A
SLRgear: "The 17mm ƒ/2.8 is a fairly sharp lens wide open at ƒ/2.8, though its optimal results for sharpness are achieved at ƒ/5.6. At ƒ/2.8, we note a small central area of sharpness (~1.5 blur units) offset by some corner softness (on average, 3 blur units). Stopping down improves image sharpness: at ƒ/4, central sharpness improves slightly, and corner softness is essentially eliminated. Things beco..." - Jul 14 2009 More »	N/A
PhotographyBLOG: "While the lack of an optical or electronic viewfinder won't phase upgraders from compacts, who are used to composing a picture holding the camera at arm's length, DSLR users will certainly miss being able to hold the camera up to their eye. The lack of a flash won't bother the latter group, but the former will wonder why on earth a compact camera from 2009 doesn't have a built-in flash. Both issues can be solved by..." - Jul 13 2009 More »
Pocket-lint: "Detail is very good and with around two to three stops of exposure and detail headroom in the RAWs there's plenty of extra detail to pull out of shadows and highlights if you need to. The Large Fine compression JPEGs are very clean however and compression artifacts are kept to minimum even at 100%. At first the E-P1 seems a bit of an anachronism, neither fish nor fowl and priced at a point that puts it firmly into t..." - Jul 13 2009 More »
DigiCamReview: "Even at a pixel level images look excellent, with low noise, useable ISO1600 and above, excellent detail, excellent colour, and the 14-42mm kit lens provides impressive macro performance, and gives sharp crisp images - unlike kit lenses from other manufacturers which tend to be overly soft. The results are consistent as well, with excellent auto white balance, exposure, dynamic range, and good focus, helped in part..." - Jul 09 2009 More »
B&H Photo: "During our brief hands-on intro to the new camera, we had a chance to shoot with both of the new Micro-4/3 lenses, as well as an Olympus 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye ED Zuiko and an Olympus 40-150mm f/4-5.6 Zuiko ED zoom lens using the MMF-1 lens adapter. The results from each of these lenses were equally impressive.Older Olympus OM-series manual-focus lenses can also be adapted to the Digital Pen using the optional MF-2 l..." - Jul 09 2009 More »	N/A
TechRadar: "Whether the Olympus Pen E-P1 is a one-off camera, never to be reproduced again remains to be seen. But from our hands-on, Olympus' homage to its 50-year-old film equivalent is a superb effort - both in the style and substance stakes. The camera is a joy to use, and the detail Olympus has put into making the camera as retro as possible is superb; down to leather-style strap and matching slip case.In our short time wi..." - Jul 07 2009 More »	N/A
StevesDigicam: "I was very pleased with the image quality from the E-P1's 12.3-megapixel Live MOS imager and TruePic V imager processor. While shooting outdoors, the E-P1 was able to capture tac sharp images, that showed pleasing contrast and color saturation. Exposure was good most of the time, however we did have several instances where some images were a bit strong, with several blown out highlights. We used either iAuto or Prog..." - Jul 06 2009 More »	N/A
Zone-10: "So why should the E-P1 be a success? Because for the first time in a very long time, there is a true Bridge Camera in sight. The industry has seen numerous pretenders for years but in the E-P1, the market now has a form factor that is closer in size to a typical compact camera but possesses the flexibility, image quality and performance features of a full-fledged DSLR camera. Moreover without the mirror box, shutter..." - Jul 06 2009 More »	N/A
PCWorld: "We were really taken with the 3in, vibrant LiveView LCD of the Olympus E-P1 which offers plenty of detail (230,00 dots, in fact) and is effective for viewing and playing back video. The LiveView display was almost able to keep up even as we barrelled through the city on our bust journey. Video is one of the distinguishing features of the Olympus versus its rival Micro FourThirds camera, the Panasonic G1. However, in..." - Jun 28 2009 More »	N/A
Wired UK: "Inevitably, some compromises have had to be made to fit all this technology into such a slender frame. There's no viewfinder, for example, and framing shots using the LCD screen is less precise than getting your face up against the glass. It's also more of a strain on the eye, especially when the sun's out. Nor is there a built-in flash, but with relatively fast lenses and good low-light performance, that's less of..." - Jun 25 2009 More »	N/A

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