Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)All compact point and shoot cameras have tiny sensor about the size of a fingernail on the pinkie finger and then the manufacturers cram a large number of pixels onto the sensor so each photosite is too small to be effective at capturing light. This results in pictures that seldom look great at 8x10 and picture taking at ISO 400 or lower. Add in slow lenses and these are good only for snapshots and 4x6 pictures. Enter the new Micro Four Thirds camera format that has a sensor that is 6 times the size of the compact P&S cameras and with a more conservative 10-12 megapixels in total and able to produce good looking 11x14 prints from pictures taken at ISO 1600.
This is still a small and lightweight camera. The camera with its 14-42mm lens attached and battery inserted weighs only 17 ounces. My DSLR zoom lenses alone weigh more than that, and some more than twice as much. The camera is unusual in that it not only has an internal flash and a hot shoe for a standard flash it will also wirelessly control an off camera flash which can be either one of the expensive Olympus strobes or the excellent Metz 50 AF-1 strobe that costs half as much at $199. The upper end Nikon cameras have this feature but it is unusual to find it on a small camera such as this.
Lens quality is good though they are slow. f5.6 at most focal length settings which is why the high ISO capabilities are so valuable. The camera has internal optical stabilization that is not very good. Optically stabilized lenses are at least 3 times as effective. This is compounded by the lack of a viewfinder. Having to hold the camera away from your face to frame a picture increases camera motion a good deal. I took a series of shots at 1/160th with this camera, a D300, and a D3, and the lenses on the Nikon cameras were not optically stabilized but still the Nikon shots were a great deal sharper. Bracing the camera against something, a tree, wall, rock, or using a tripod would help.
In spite of the camera's shortcomings it is a very big improvement over the very best compact point and shoot cameras available. The larger sensor is the critical factor. For 50% more cash the Sony NEX cameras provide a still bigger sensor and faster lenses but the advantage in size is not nearly as great as with the MFT micro four thirds cameras. For anyone seriously into photography and less concerned about weight on of the entry level DSLR's from Nikon or Canon are a better long term investment.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Olympus E-PL1 - Digital camera - mirrorless system - 12.3 Mpix - Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm and Zuiko Digital 40-150mm lenses - optical zoom: 3 x - supported memory: SD, SDHC - black
The Olympus PEN E-PL1 is truly greater than the sum of its parts, with a surprisingly small camera body packed with technology normally found in bigger, bulkier and heavier professional Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras and High-Definition (HD) camcorders. This third-generation PEN is built for shutterbugs who always wanted better pictures and considered a DSLR, but were intimidated by the bulky size and complex interface. The camera's simple design and easy interface enable photographers to easily create amazing images never dreamt possible.FEATURES:Easily Pen Your Story with a PEN - This third generation of the Olympus PEN series combines powerful features in an easy-to-use package that will make capturing your life more fun. The new direct record button makes taking videos easier than ever and the new Live Guide functionality makes it simple to learn photography techniques without requiring the skills of a pro shooter.Direct Button for HD Movies - Recording HD movies with the E-PL1 is simple, thanks to an easy-to-reach red "direct button" (red record button) on the back of the camera body. If you're about to snap a photo and you realize a video would capture the spirit of the scene even better, simply press the record button and instantly you're capturing videos! Easily toggle back and forth between capturing stills and videos by using your index finger to press the shutter button or your thumb to press the red record button. Having the ability to shoot still images and videos opens up a world of imaging possibilities.Live Guide Sets the Scene Before You Shoot - The E-PL1's new Live Guide interface simplifies great photography and gets the results you desire at the touch of a button. Want more vivid or muted color in your shot? Want warmer or cooler color? Want a brighter or darker subject, or a sharper or softer background? Or maybe you want to capture the fast-moving action of your subject with a little artistic blur, or perhaps freeze
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