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Olympus E-P1 reviews
You can find here the most interesting reviews / ratings from the well-known expert sites about the Olympus E-P1 Camera. Here are the reviewers:
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- 01 November 2009 - |
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- 4 |
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- 29 September 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 25 September 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 16 August 2009 - |
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- 4 |
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- 14 August 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 10 August 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 29 July 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 13 July 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 09 July 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 03 July 2009 - |
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- 0 |
CameraLabs 's conclusion / rating - 01 November 2009 |
“ When Olympus and Panasonic developed Micro Four Thirds, it was cameras like the E-P1 and GF1 which really had enthusiasts excited: the dream of squeezing a DSLR sensor and interchangeable lenses into as small a form factor as possible.
And in this respect, the E-P1 delivers the goods: the camera really does match (and in some cases slightly exceed) the image quality of models like Olympus’s own E-620 DSLR. Sure, like other Four Thirds models, Micro or otherwise, it may not match the noise levels of the best APS-C DSLRs at high sensitivities, but it’s a world apart from what you’ll achieve with a typical compact – and that in itself will be recommendation enough for many enthusiasts.
As described in detail above, 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 smallest DSLRs while delivering comparable quality – and that’s what you’re paying for.
For some it will be too expensive, or overly compromised in the aspects mentioned above. For others it’ll be exactly what they’ve been waiting for, and if you belong to the latter category, it essentially becomes a two-horse race between the E-P1 and its arch rival the Panasonic GF1. (Yes, we’re not including Sigma’s brave but ultimately disappointing DP1 and DP2 here).
As described above, both the E-P1 and GF1 have much in common including similar dimensions, but it really boils down comparing which style you prefer and weighing-up the built-in stabilisation of the Olympus against the more detailed screen, faster AF and built-in flash of the Panasonic. We can hear the gnashing of your teeth already – if only Olympus had fitted a flash and a better screen; if only Panasonic had built-in stabilisation. But at the same time it seems churlish to complain when after such a long wait we now have the ‘problem’ of not one but two compelling compacts with large sensors to choose from.
Ultimately the leisurely focusing, average screen resolution and absence of a built-in flash mark the E-P1 down from our top award – and indeed may sway you towards the GF1 – but it still easily comes Recommended, and depending on your outlook could represent your perfect camera. Micro Four Thirds is also becoming one of the most exciting systems in digital photography and we look forward to seeing how the standard develops – along with how rival manufacturers respond.
Note: for the scores below we've compared the E-P1 against budget DSLRs like the E-620, although obviously it could also be compared against compacts where it would score highly on image quality, but lower on value... ”
Complete review here
WhatDigitalCamera 's conclusion / rating - 29 September 2009 |
“ Though not aimed at the budget buyer, the Olympus E-P1 is not overly expensive. It is pitched as a premium product and will undoubtedly attract attention due to its looks, but considering it costs £699 with the 14-42mm, it is nearly half the price of the Panasonic Lumix GH1, and just over £200 more than the Lumix G1. Though, in retro terms, it is a relative bargain when placed alongside the £3,000 Leica M8. Put on a broader comparison, it is £130 more than the Canon's G10 creative compact, and £100 cheaper than the Nikon D5000, based on recommended prices, though both of these can now be found on the high street much cheaper.
So, the Olympus E-P1 is not the cheapest option on the market but its unique looks and retro appeal will no doubt bring it a decent audience willing to pay the price. However, considering its current asking price it is unlikely to gain the mass-market sales of the original Olympus Pen... ”
WhatDigitalCamera's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
ImagingResource 's conclusion / rating - 25 September 2009 |
“ I see a lot of cameras, and many of them are excellent and inspire my creativity. But the Olympus E-P1 captured my imagination when it was first announced in wood-block form. Olympus has made a tradition out of creating cameras that defy the trends, even with their E-series of modern digital SLRs, a camera system with a digital-specific lens design. But those cameras ended up looking the same as the cameras they intended to turn on their ear, with large lenses and bulky bodies.
What Olympus needed was to find a new niche. I think the Micro Four Thirds Olympus E-P1 is that niche. First, the Olympus E-P1's image quality won't be held to the standard of bigger, heavier digital SLRs; even when it is compared -- which it will be -- people will make allowances for any shortcomings they see; if they see any at all. Second, there are so many advantages to a camera of this size that Olympus can't help but attract new users on that fact alone. Third, there is so much pent up demand for this form factor that Olympus's biggest problem will be meeting that demand, and introducing a sufficient number of new lenses to keep up with the inevitable demand for more optics to enhance this promising camera format.
If the shipping versions of the Olympus E-P1 can maintain the quality I see in the prototype's images, I think it's going to be enormously popular... ”
ImagingResource's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
LetsGoDigital 's conclusion / rating - 16 August 2009 |
“ However, contrary to all the rational thoughts, there is the feeling the camera gives you. In a way, you can't but love this camera. There is something very special about this camera. Not only its appearance, but something that simply cannot be explained. Don’t ask me why, but the Olympus E-P1 will challenge you again and again to take pictures. Not because you should, but because it is that much fun. The E-P1 takes pleasure in shooting, and so will you, in fact, you will be less inhibited in what you take. Perhaps precisely because of the restrictions the camera also has. Shooting with the Olympus E-P1 is anything but dull and boring, only positive. And that’s what it is all about: truly enjoying photography!... ”
LetsGoDigital's rating: |
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- 4 |
Complete review here
DigitalCameraReview 's conclusion / rating - 14 August 2009 |
“ As soon as we saw the Olympus E-P1 we fell in love. Unfortunately, that initial feeling quickly gave way to a love-hate relationship. The E-P1 is as close as anyone has come to developing a "pocket-sized DSLR" ... a camera that delivers exceptional image quality and the flexibility of interchangeable lenses in a package that's small enough to fit in your pocket. This alone makes the E-P1 an instant winner. The single biggest problem with the E-P1 is that it is unacceptably slow. I didn't expect the E-P1 to be faster than Olympus's top-of-the-line E-3 camera, but I certainly expected it to be faster than a camera from 2006 or 2002. It's not.
On one hand I can't tell you how happy I am to see the return of the Olympus "Pen" series to the world of digital photography. On the other, I can't tell you how frustratingly slow this camera is if you're used to the speed of a DSLR. Despite this fundamental flaw, the E-P1 makes a superb photographic tool for photographers who are willing to take their time with photography. If you're not trying to grab snapshots of running children or motor sports then the E-P1 proves to be a capable camera. The lack of built-in flash and optical viewfinder are two other issues that might prove troublesome to some photographers, but if you know what to expect, this camera can produce some fantastic photos... ”
DigitalCameraReview's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
DCResource 's conclusion / rating - 10 August 2009 |
“ Olympus has never been one to shy away from trying something new. In 2006, they introduced the first digital SLR with live view support: the E-330. Back then I wrote that it was a great first effort, though there were important tradeoffs to consider. That couldn't be more true here in 2009 with the Micro Four Thirds based E-P1. It does so many things very well: it takes great pictures, has plenty of features for both the point-and-shoot and enthusiast crowds, and can record HD movies. And let's not forget the incredible retro styling. The trade-offs are many: the autofocus is painfully slow, there's no viewfinder or flash (and those accessories have their own issues), and highlight clipping is a problem -- just to name a few things. The E-P1's biggest issue is the first one I mentioned: the AF performance. If you're taking photos of things that aren't moving (or aren't moving very fast), then you should be able to deal with it. But if you're shooting sports or trying to capture an active toddler in action, forget about it. Repeating what I said three years ago: if you can live with the E-P1's tradeoffs, then it's absolutely worth a look. If capturing fast action is important to you, you'll want to check out something else instead... ”
Complete review here
DPReview 's conclusion / rating - 29 July 2009 |
“ The E-P1 is one of those rare products in this mass-produced age that can provoke an emotional response in even the most jaded shooter, which is a tribute to the Olympus design team as much as a reflection of any pent-up desire for a new category to bridge the yawning gap between compact cameras and entry-level DSLRs.
It's easy to come up with a list of reasons not to buy one; the slow focus, the dime-store screen, the lack of built-in flash, the paucity of Micro Four Thirds lenses, the unimpressive 'iAuto' mode, not to mention the fact that Panasonic could - and probably will - produce something that fixes half these problems at some point by making a compact version of the GH1.
In fact the biggest question I'm left with looking at that list is why don't I want to give this one back? Because in spite of - perhaps in a small way because of - the E-P1's limitations (some of which could be solved with a much-needed firmware upgrade), it's a camera that ticks an awful lot of boxes and fills an awfully big hole in the digital camera market. And it's also a camera that is, literally, in a class of its own - at least for now... ”
Complete review here
PhotographyBLOG 's conclusion / rating - 13 July 2009 |
“ Despite these short-comings, the Olympus EP-1 is still a very appealing and refreshingly different camera that does indeed combine the best features of compact and DSLR cameras. It's not a pocketable camera by any means, contrary to how Olympus are marketing it, but it is small and unobtrusive enough to carry over a shoulder without attracting too much attention. The EP-1 represents a significant upgrade for compact owners who don't want the bulk of a DSLR, and a great second camera for DSLR users who want something smaller without sacrificing image quality, ultimately satisfying the needs of both groups. Olympus have taken the bold step of creating a camera that fills a clear gap in the market, rather than just following the crowd, and the EP-1 certainly deserves all the success that it will surely get... ”
PhotographyBLOG's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
DigiCamReview 's conclusion / rating - 09 July 2009 |
“ When announced the Olympus PEN E-P1 caused quite a lot of interest - here is a camera promising Digital SLR quality from a stylish metal body that is similar in size to a serious compact camera, and can fit in your pocket! Now that the camera is available and has been tested, the camera not only delivers the results, but exceeds expectations. The E-P1's large sensor is the heart of the camera and combined with excellent Olympus digital lenses it provides simply stunning image quality.
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 by the sensor-shift based image stabilisation, and dust reduction.
The camera doesn't stop there; it also offers 16:9 720p HD Video at 30fps with stereo sound, which looks great. It features a level gauge, art filters, multiple exposures, multiple aspect ratios, 3fps shooting, RAW support, and a whole host of other features that makes this accessible and suitable for all levels of photographer. If you're a beginner who want greats image quality then you can simply pick this up, put it in i-Auto and start using it, or if you're an advanced photographer then you can delve deep into the cameras numerous manual controls and get results as good as professional (and bulky) Digital SLRs.
One aspect of the camera's design that could put buyers off, is the lack of built in flash, and particularly in the UK, the price of the camera and optional flash could seem a little steep. However, the camera provides excellent results even at high ISO settings, so it's possible that you could, shock horror, start taking more natural looking photos of people without flash!
So to summarise - The Olympus PEN E-P1 really is a ground breaking, genius product, with a gorgeous metal body that fits in your pocket, compact lenses that retract inside themselves, and image quality and features to rival some of the best Digital SLRs. It not only lives up to the hype surrounding the product, but in my opinion, exceeds expectations, and is well worth the seemingly expensive outlay. Highly Recommended!... ”
DigiCamReview's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
Steves Digicams 's conclusion / rating - 03 July 2009 |
“ I feel Olympus has hit a home run with their new PEN series model. While there are a few things that I feel could be better (shooting performance, low-light AF performance, etc.), the list of positive aspects of this camera far out weight the negatives. With the ability to capture beautiful photos, a host of creative still and video options, pleasing HD video quality, and various accessory options, the E-P1 is one well-rounded digital camera. With an MSRP of US$799.99 as tested, the E-P1 isn't cheap. However, for the level of sophistication, easy or use, and the level of features and performance you are receiving, I feel it still offers a great value... ”
Steves Digicams's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
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