Compact digital camera Olympus E-P1
The Olympus E-P1 is that gadget. Modeled around Olympus’ ultra-cool Pen series of cameras that were introduced at the beginning of the ’60s, this modern-day update manages to be the King of retro-cool while also packing enough cutting-edge tech to compete with the DSLRs of the world.
Although the E-P1 has an interchangeable lens system, the camera can’t quite call itself a DSLR. This is because it makes use of the innovative Micro Four Thirds system - a crafty bit of tech that allows smaller cameras to adopt different lenses. Not that you will care what the stuffy purists call the camera as it’s one of the most innovative gadgets on the market at the moment.
Movie mode
Just to re-emphasize that the E-P1 is tech savvy Olympus has added 720p video capabilities to the shooter. This means you can record HD footage in seven-minute bursts or double it in standard-def mode. What’s even better is that the Movie mode also supports the art sift option. This did take a while to render, however, on playback. In short, the Olympus E-P1 is a brilliant-looking camera, and possibly the best example so far of what the Micro Four Thirds technology is capable of.
Art attack
For those who want to get creative with their shots, there are a number of options available in the camera’s menu. Not only is there 19 'scenes' available - including Night+Portrait, Children and Macro - you can also select an art filter to make your photos look like a bit more creative.
As for things like focusing, The E-P1 makes use of 11-point focus system which worked well under our tests, although a tad sluggish. To be fair, though, with the countless manual options available you should be focusing on your own in no time. Taking photos with the E-P1 was a light wind. Although there’s not much in the way of modernization - Burst mode is a meager 3fps - because of the pocket-sized of the camera, you forget just how much power is under the hood. Then you see the vibrant images the E-P1 constantly takes and it all make sense.
While we only made use of the camera’s pancake lens, there is also a 14-42mm zoom one available for the camera. And with the E-P1 being Micro Four Thirds you can pretty much attach any lens to the camera via a separately sold adaptor. However, we’re not sure how good a glossy new lens would look with the camera’s deliberately retro look.
Retro cool
Instantly from the off, you can see that E-P1 is a competitor for the ‘coolest camera of the year’ award. Complete with a leather-style strap, holder and a pancake lens,
the E-P1 looks like a Rangefinder that David Bailey would have used in the Sixties to capture any one of his famous celebrity portraits.
Sporting a large 12.3-megapixel sensor, the E-P1 works well in low-light conditions, squeezing more light out of a scene than pretty much every compact on the market. Although it falls short against, say, a Canon 500D it does fantastically well in pretty much any shooting situation. The picture is also perked up by the cam’s use of TruePic V image processing.
Placed on top of the camera’s frame is a sunken Mode dial, which you control with a flick dial on the back. Here you can choose a number of options, including Auto, Programmed Auto and Manual shooting.
Also on the back is a three-inch LCD screen. This is where you both view and compose your shots. There is an external optical viewfinder available, which clicks straight to the hotshot, but we didn’t have a problem lining up shots like you would any compact cam on the market.
The Olympus E-P1 is that gadget. Modeled around Olympus’ ultra-cool Pen series of cameras that were introduced at the beginning of the ’60s, this modern-day update manages to be the King of retro-cool while also packing enough cutting-edge tech to compete with the DSLRs of the world.
Although the E-P1 has an interchangeable lens system, the camera can’t quite call itself a DSLR. This is because it makes use of the innovative Micro Four Thirds system - a crafty bit of tech that allows smaller cameras to adopt different lenses. Not that you will care what the stuffy purists call the camera as it’s one of the most innovative gadgets on the market at the moment.
Movie mode
Just to re-emphasize that the E-P1 is tech savvy Olympus has added 720p video capabilities to the shooter. This means you can record HD footage in seven-minute bursts or double it in standard-def mode. What’s even better is that the Movie mode also supports the art sift option. This did take a while to render, however, on playback. In short, the Olympus E-P1 is a brilliant-looking camera, and possibly the best example so far of what the Micro Four Thirds technology is capable of.
Art attack
For those who want to get creative with their shots, there are a number of options available in the camera’s menu. Not only is there 19 'scenes' available - including Night+Portrait, Children and Macro - you can also select an art filter to make your photos look like a bit more creative.
As for things like focusing, The E-P1 makes use of 11-point focus system which worked well under our tests, although a tad sluggish. To be fair, though, with the countless manual options available you should be focusing on your own in no time. Taking photos with the E-P1 was a light wind. Although there’s not much in the way of modernization - Burst mode is a meager 3fps - because of the pocket-sized of the camera, you forget just how much power is under the hood. Then you see the vibrant images the E-P1 constantly takes and it all make sense.
While we only made use of the camera’s pancake lens, there is also a 14-42mm zoom one available for the camera. And with the E-P1 being Micro Four Thirds you can pretty much attach any lens to the camera via a separately sold adaptor. However, we’re not sure how good a glossy new lens would look with the camera’s deliberately retro look.
Retro cool
Instantly from the off, you can see that E-P1 is a competitor for the ‘coolest camera of the year’ award. Complete with a leather-style strap, holder and a pancake lens,
the E-P1 looks like a Rangefinder that David Bailey would have used in the Sixties to capture any one of his famous celebrity portraits.
Sporting a large 12.3-megapixel sensor, the E-P1 works well in low-light conditions, squeezing more light out of a scene than pretty much every compact on the market. Although it falls short against, say, a Canon 500D it does fantastically well in pretty much any shooting situation. The picture is also perked up by the cam’s use of TruePic V image processing.
Placed on top of the camera’s frame is a sunken Mode dial, which you control with a flick dial on the back. Here you can choose a number of options, including Auto, Programmed Auto and Manual shooting.
Also on the back is a three-inch LCD screen. This is where you both view and compose your shots. There is an external optical viewfinder available, which clicks straight to the hotshot, but we didn’t have a problem lining up shots like you would any compact cam on the market.
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