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Olympus PEN E-P1 Ultra Compact Camera

Olympus PEN E-P1 Ultra Compact Camera

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Key Features of the Olympus PEN E-P1 :
  • Enthusiast's Digital SLR Camera with 10 Megapixel CMOS Sensor.
  • 2.5" Live View HyperCrystal LCD Screen.
  • Mechanical Image Stabilization for sharp images.
  • Dust Reduction System for spot-free images.
  • TruePic III for image clarity.
  • Included 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko lens.
  • All E-Series cameras support the Four Thirds Standard.
  • Easy-to-use, easy-to-handle light and ergonomic design.
  • Accepts both CompactFlash Type I & II, Microdrives, and xD-Picture Cards.
From the Manufacturer

A new era of digital imaging begins with the Olympus E-P1. The world’s smallest 12.3-megapixel interchangeable lens system camera blends the high-quality still images of a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) with High Definition (HD) video, stereo Linear PCM audio recording and In-Camera Creativity within an ultra-portable body. The easy-to-use E-P1 expands your creative horizons and its diverse multimedia features offer something for everyone. Built for today’s visual generation who lead active lives online and offline, the E-P1 will make you rethink what you can do with a camera.

Olympus PEN E-P1 digital camera highlights

Capture More of the Life You Live
Shooting spontaneous images of your daily life usually means snapping small, grainy images with your cell phone or using a point-and-shoot if it’s handy. A DSLR delivers incredible image quality, but most aren’t compact enough to roam with you. Now, the E-P1 changes the game with a compact body that delivers the professional quality images of a DSLR without the bulk. Moreover, its sharp HD video capture and stereo audio helps you live a better-documented life because you’re carrying one portable camera rather than a DSLR, an HD camcorder and a high-end audio device.

You can share more of your life with the world when the E-P1 travels with you. Make your Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter and personal blog postings unique by capturing and sharing more videos and photos. You can chronicle more of the life you actually lead, rather than just special occasions you prepare for, like weddings, holidays and birthday parties. Since it’s the only camera to offer in-camera art filters for both still photography and videos with high-end audio, even your everyday activities will look and sound amazing!

Beautifully Designed Stainless-Steel Body
The new camera’s high-end, stainless-steel body is easy to handle and carry, and has the styling and refinement of a precision watch. Its retro-chic look turns heads, from tech aficionados and camera buffs to the fashion-conscious and everyday point-and-shooter. Built to be solid, it fits comfortably in a jacket pocket or a handbag for a night on the town, or to take on any spontaneous adventure. The E-P1 lets you do more and go more places while capturing your life, thanks to its compact size--4.75 x 2.75 x 1.43 inches (W x H x D)--and light 11.8-ounce body. Attention to detail is visible in every aspect of the camera’s retro-style metal body design, available in either silver or white with accompanying new small and lightweight Olympus M. ZUIKO Micro Four Thirds lenses: 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 (28-84mm equivalent) and 17mm f2.8 (34mm equivalent).
Olympus PEN E-P1 digital camera highlights

The new E-P1 offers many great features derived from the E-System, as well as many breakthrough innovations, including:
  • Superior DSLR Image Quality
  • In-body Image Stabilization
  • Amazing 3-inch LCD
  • Proven Dust Reduction System
  • 12 megapixels with next-generation TruePic V
  • HD video with high-quality audio
  • In-camera creative features (for still images and video)
  • Multiple exposures
  • Multi-aspect shooting
  • Multimedia slideshows
  • Digital leveler
  • Magnified focus assist
  • 18x18 metering modes
Olympus E-P1 Highlights and Features

Ultra-Compact Body Delivers Superior DSLR Image Quality
The E-P1 erases all doubts about whether a compact camera can take images that are equal to those taken by a DSLR, because it has everything you need to produce vibrant DSLR-quality images: a large 12.3-megapixel imager, In-body Image Stabilization, fast Imager Autofocus, the proven Olympus Dust Reduction System and the new TruePic V Image Processor.

As the first Micro Four Thirds camera from Olympus, the E-P1 provides the same image quality as current Four Thirds format E-System cameras because it has the same image sensor size as the E-30 and E-620 DSLR models, but in a much smaller body. This high-performance 12.3-megapixel Live MOS image sensor delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate color fidelity, and a state-of-the-art amplifier circuit to reduce noise and capture fine image details in both highlight and shadow areas.

Olympus PEN E-P1 digital camera highlights
Be a Mover, Not a Shaker
Any lens attached to the E-P1 will deliver blur-free images thanks to three modes of In-body Image Stabilization that compensate for up to four steps EV (exposure value). Mechanical Image Stabilization works to automatically compensate for camera shake in low light or when using a telephoto lens. And because the E-P1 is the world’s smallest interchangeable lens camera with built-in Image Stabilization, you’ll feel comfortable taking it on the road with you to capture the action.

Small Real Estate with an Amazing 3-Inch LCD View
What you see on the new camera’s 100 percent accurate, 3-inch full color HyperCrystal LCD is what you get. Photographers accustomed to composing and focusing using a point-and-shoot camera’s LCD will appreciate that the E-P1 offers the same easy, seamless experience when shooting still images or videos. With the new Live Control function, icons appear on the LCD, making it easy to compose, edit and shoot pictures or videos without stopping to access various menus. The E-P1’s fast Imager Autofocus in Live View also enables you to compose, focus and capture the shot quickly and easily without ever taking your eyes off the large LCD.

The LCD displays 230,000 pixels in vivid color and includes HyperCrystal technology, which offers many times the contrast of conventional LCD monitors for easier viewing in both preview and playback. It also provides a wide viewing angle of 176 degrees, which ensures that images can be composed from even the most obscure angles.

This Camera Leaves Others in the Dust
You don’t have to waste precious time worrying about dust ruining the perfect image; instead, spend more of that time shooting with the E-P1. The proven Olympus Dust Reduction System produces spot-free photos with the exclusive Supersonic Wave Filter, a patented ultrasonic technology that vibrates to remove dust and other particles from the front of the image sensor, capturing it on a special adhesive membrane every time the camera is turned on.
Olympus PEN E-P1 digital camera highlights


Unleash 12 Million Pixels on Your Canvas
The E-P1’s Live MOS image sensor is complemented by Olympus’ next-generation TruePic V Image Processor, which produces clear and colorful photos using all the pixel information for each image to provide the best digital images possible. The new image processor is noted for accurate natural color, true-to-life flesh tones, brilliant blue skies and precise tonal expression; it also lowers image noise in photos shot at higher ISO settings (ISO 100 to an incredible ISO 6400), enabling great results in low-light situations.

Olympus PEN E-P1 digital camera highlights
What Will You Create with In-Camera Creativity in HD?
Olympus pioneered easy-to-use Art Filters for still images captured inside its E-System DSLRs, and now those same In-Camera Creative Features are built into the E-P1 with a fresh twist--they can also be applied to High Definition video recordings to take your videos to a new level of creative expression and put you in the director’s chair.

Your movies and YouTube videos will have the incredible clarity of HD whether Art Filters are applied or not. Just imagine how dramatic and unique your videos will appear with any one of the six in-camera Art Filters applied as effects: Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film or Pin Hole. Whether you’re a videographer, documentarian or established director--or just want to shoot like one--Art Filters set your images and videos apart from the pack. Since they’re built into the camera, you can achieve dramatic results on the go without needing a computer or editing software.

Because the E-P1 is an interchangable lens system camera you have more creative options in composition for video capture, to add to your visual palette. You can attach any one of the new super-compact Micro Four Thirds lenses or, because the camera can accept all other Four Thirds Format lenses with an available MMF-1 Four Thirds System Lens Adapter, you can add anything from an extreme wide-angle fisheye lens to a super telephoto lens for a wide range of expressive options. All the while you will have more DSLR-like control over depth of field, focus, white balance and ISO.

What You See Is What You Get
When viewing the LCD in Live View, Art Filter effects and settings like white balance and exposure are viewable right on the LCD, and their impact is seen instantly on the display. This real-time monitoring offers amazing versatility and creative control, and users who apply a setting have instant gratification because what they see on the camera’s LCD is what they’ve captured. For musicians used to applying audio effects like reverb to their instruments before recording them, the concept of setting the E-P1 to capture precisely the kind of image they want before they press the shutter makes perfect sense. For imaging purists who want to shoot without filters, and apply them to unfiltered images inside the camera later, or just edit images back at their computers, the E-P1 provides these options and opens more in-the-field creative possibilities.

Mix It Up with Multiple Exposures
With the E-P1’s Multiple Exposure function available for still image capture you are free to tell a visual story your way, whether in a portrait, a landscape or a combination of both. The image capture options allow you to shoot one shot, then another and combine them in real time, or capture both shots separately and combine them in the camera later. Overlay your face on top of your pet’s face. Create an "identical twin" of yourself. Put the moon in the sky at noon. Your ability to manipulate space and time makes this new creative multimedia device a veritable time machine.
Olympus PEN E-P1 digital camera highlights

Frame Your Works of Art Inside the E-P1
You can often achieve greater photographic expression by framing a scene in a unique way. The E-P1 provides four aspect ratios that serve as masks to frame your image to the desired proportions, including: the standard 4:3 aspect ratio that is perfectly suited to an 8 x 10-inch enlargement; the 16:9 aspect ratio that will display your images beautifully on a widescreen television; and other popular aspect ratios such as 3:2 and 6:6. The Multi-Aspect Shooting further expresses your creative vision when combined with Art Filters and multiple exposures.

Stereo Audio Sounds As Good As the E-P1 Images Look
Like the innovative Olympus LS-10 portable audio recording device that puts the power of a recording studio in your pocket, the E-P1 features uncompressed 24 bit/96kHz Linear PCM recording capability to capture the rich sound quality of your scene. When you shoot with the E-P1, it’s like having a sound technician built into your camera to capture the nuances of the audio happening all around you. It has the versatility to record and play back in the WAV format and records with its built-in stereo microphones. Whether recording audio while shooting a video or adding audio by recording a narration to your still images, the E-P1’s audio sounds as great as its images look.

Create Your Own Multimedia Slideshows with Stills, Video and Audio Inside E-P1
Content is king, and with the E-P1 you have your own portable kingdom of still images, HD video, and audio to remix at your command. In playback mode you can seamlessly mix stills and movies inside the camera to create a multimedia slideshow and dub in one of five built-in dramatic background music options to provide a soundtrack for your cinematic creation. Plug the E-P1 into any HD television with an HDMI cable and show off your masterpieces to your audience before the DVD arrives in stores.

As Easy to Use As a Point-and-Shoot with SLR-Quality Technologies
The E-P1 is equipped with 19 automatic scene modes for effortless picture taking. Standard scene modes like Night-Scene, Portrait and Landscape are easy-to-use solutions for everyday shooting. Capturing beautiful portraits is easy with the new ePortrait Mode. It enables you to smooth your subject’s face--all in the camera and before capture! Additionally, edits can be made post-capture using the ePortrait Fix mode.

Shooting scenes with both highlights and shadows can often be dicey because of the extreme contrast between dark and bright areas. The E-P1 addresses this challenge with Shadow Adjustment Technology that adjusts for extreme light variations and maintains visible detail in both the shadow and highlight areas of the scene. Now users can see and preview the gradation on the Live View LCD and capture images showing the shadow detail they saw. This feature is also accessible in the Edit menu after the shot has been taken.

The E-P1’s Face Detection reduces the chance of blurred subjects in images by recognizing up to eight people’s faces and the background, tracking the faces within the image area, even if people are moving, and automatically focusing and optimizing exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures (ideal for large family or party group photos).

If you don’t want to change camera settings every time you’re shooting something different, then the E-P1’s Intelligent Auto Mode is for you. It automatically identifies what you are shooting (Portrait, Landscape, Night + Portrait, Macro, Sports) and adjusts settings to capture the best result depending on the situation. First-time users will enjoy this quick and hassle-free feature, which does the thinking for them and produces incredible images like a pro.

The New Super Control Panel with Live Control technology, along with the camera’s intuitive button layout, enables you to see both the image and the controls on the 3-inch HyperCrystal LCD, making the camera simple to use. The E-P1 records to SDHC media cards to accommodate large files including videos with In-Camera Creative Features and uncompressed audio.

Olympus PEN E-P1 digital camera highlights
Digital Leveler
The E-P1 is equipped with an internal Digital Level Sensor that detects the camera’s pitch and roll and indicates it on the control panel. This Digital Leveler is a tremendous benefit when capturing landscapes. Level the perfect coastline shot on your next tropical vacation without being tethered to a computer and editing software.

Magnified Focus Assist
To enable accurate manual focusing the E-P1 provides MF Assist Function and Magnification Display. In S-AF + MF or MF, the MF assist enables you to zoom up the central part of the image by up to 5 times by turning the focus ring. The Magnification Display lets you magnify the image on the LCD by up to 7x at the touch of a button. Additionally, if you use the dial, you can boost magnification all the way up to 10x for more precise manual focusing.

18x18 Metering Modes
This mode divides the image area into an 18 x 18 grid, metering each of the 324 separate cells to obtain optimum exposure. In addition to 324-division ESP metering, center-weighted metering and spot metering modes are also available.

Smaller Accessories for Small Camera
In addition to the new Micro Four Thirds lenses, Olympus also offers an optional Clip-on Optical Viewfinder for use with the Micro Four Thirds 17mm f2.8 (34mm equivalent) lens. The MMF-1 Four Thirds System Lens Adapter enables all Olympus ZUIKO Digital lenses as well as Four Thirds System lenses from Sigma, Panasonic and Leica lenses to attach to the E-P1. If you have Olympus OM lenses and want to attach them to the E-P1, that is possible with the MF-2 OM Lens Adapter. Additionally, an optional FL-14 flash unit, suitably small for the camera, adds more lighting versatility to your shots.

Olympus Master 2 Software
Use the included Olympus Master 2 software (Mac and PC) to easily download images from the camera or other external device, such as a USB drive, and automatically organize them into albums and groups and by date. Develop high-quality RAW images, apply Art Filter effects, edit and print images. Update camera and lens firmware through the software and download additional menu languages. A direct link makes uploading your images and videos to YouTube easier than ever.

Olympus Studio 2 (Trial Edition Included)
Extend the capability of Olympus Master 2 with Olympus Studio 2. In addition to the functions of Olympus Master 2, this software includes a lightbox mode and selection marks for comparing and sorting multiple images. RAW processing is enhanced with additional controls for finer adjustments. The trial edition can be used for 30 days after installation. After the trial period has expired, a license key is required for further use.

What's in the Box
  • PEN digital camera
  • Li-ion battery BLS-1
  • Li-ion battery charger BCS-1
  • USB/Video Multi cable
  • Shoulder strap
  • OLYMPUS Master CD-ROM
  • Instruction manual
  • Warranty card



Product Description
The new PEN offers groundbreaking technology to a whole new generation of users - users that have active lifestyles both online and off. They shoot pictures and videos, like to download, upload and share their lives. The E-P1 offers it all. It's the world's smallest 12.3-megapixel interchangeable-lens camera, provides superior optics, interchangeable lenses and multimedia capabilities - and combines the creative freedom of a digital SLR with the simple controls and small size of a point-and-shoot. It uses a 12.3-megapixel high speed Live MOS Sensor and the newly developed TruePic V image-processing engine to capture high resolution images, exquisite detail and accurate color with low noise. With three modes of image stabilization built right into the camera body, the E-P1 compensates for camera shake in any direction, and with any lens. Olympus' proven Dust Reduction System ensures spot-free photos - no retouching required - with the exclusive Supersonic Wave Filter. With high-sensitivity shooting at ISO 6400, the E-P1 takes brighter, clearer shots in low-light situations. It has 6 Art Filters to apply to pictures and movies. It shoots HD-quality movies, too. With its abilities and stylish design, the photographic possibilities are endless. Lens Mount - Micro Four Thirds Mount Recording Format - DCF, DPOF/Exif, Print Image Matching III File Format - RAW, JPEG, RAW+JPEG Recording Image Size - (RAW) 4032x3024 pixels; (JPEG) 4032x3024 pixels - 640x480 pixels Recording Movie Format - AVI Motion JPEG (30fps) Movie Mode - HD - 1280(H)x720(V) Aspect 16 - 9; SD - 640(H)x480(V) Aspect 4 - 3 (VGA) TruePic V image-processing engine are the same as used in all the Olympus E-System DSLRs In-Body Image Stabilization & Dust Reduction System Bring style to your photos with 6 Art Filters - Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pin Hole Create Multiple Expsosure & shoot in Multi



Olympus PEN E-P1 Photo Samples

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These are actual photos taken with Olympus PEN E-P1.
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Compare Olympus PEN E-P1 with similar cameras

Name: Nikon D40X Canon XSi Canon Rebel XS Olympus PEN E-P1
Megapixels: 10.0 12.2 10.1 12.3
Optical Zoom: N/A N/A N/A N/A
Max Res: 3872 x 2592 4272 x 2848 3888 x 2592 4032 x 3024
LCD Screen: 2.5 " 3.0" 2.5 " 3 "
Digital zoom: No No No Unknown
Image stabilizer: No No No Yes, Sensor shift
Media Card: SD / SDHC card SD / SDHC / MMC card SD / SDHC / MMC card SD / SDHC card
Battery: Nikon EN-EL9 Lithium-Ion & charger included Canon 1050mAh Li-Ion & Charger Canon 1050mAh Li-Ion & Charger BLS-1 Lithium-Ion rechargeable
Weight (with batteries): 522 g (18.4 oz) 0.0 502 g (17.7 oz) 355 g (12.5 oz)
Lowest Price: $609.95 $559.95 $494.99 $649.95
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Olympus PEN E-P1 User Reviews

Avg. Rating
4.0
Out of 5
This item is reviewed by 33 people so far.
Click here for complete reviews.

5
Out of 5
Fantastic Camera
- Reviewd on: 3/11/2010 12:00:00 AM By: John N. Marzich
Was tired of my big canon 40d and big lenses. Great pictures but too large hour after hour. This camera took an indoor shot with no flash at over 1000 iso and looked excillent!
Very portable and the depth of field looks more 3d than just a flat sharp picture. I have owned an e-300 and e-510 and new olympus had a major idea with the high end Zuiko lenses.
Have 2 panasonic lenses and they are excillent also and made in japan.
World class camera minus a built in flash.

5
Out of 5
Tons of horsepower in a small package
- Reviewd on: 2/12/2010 12:00:00 AM By: JAGFB
Overall we are very pleased with the E-P1. The micro four thirds form factor is great in that we are not lugging a full sized DLSR around.
We have only had this camera for a couple of week and are learning the ropes.
Will provide more information in this review as we get more time with it.
The camera is extremely solid and I am sure that it is going to be with us for a long time.
5
Out of 5
I love it
- Reviewd on: 2/12/2010 12:00:00 AM By: J. Montgomery
For this camera, either you "get it" or you don't. For me, I love it. For several years my camera of choice was Hasselblad. I do fine arts portraiture, often in monochrome. With my Hasselblad, I loved the quality of the image, the square format, the projected image on a screen for composition, the quality of the camera itself and the versatility of the system. Now that I have gone digital, the Olympus Pen is my main shooter - for less than the cost of a Hasselblad lens. Image quality is top rate. In fact, it is often too sharp and I soften (selectively) in photoshop. I set it to shoot in square format (one of several options) and i enjoy the projected image for careful composition and understanding of the subtlety of the light falling on my subject. This camera works great for me because my subjects are sitting still. If you are trying to get a grab shot of those geese flying overhead, forget it. This is not a camera for sports or nature photographers. But for portraiture and landscape it is great. The camera body quality is top rate. I shot with Canon prosumer slr's for several years and never warmed up to the plastic, light weight feel. By contrast, while Olympus Pen is not heavy, it is "dense". Solid. And with the adapter, I am able to use my old lenses from my 20 year old Olympus OM4 (another great camera). I love that versatility. Negative comments? I do very little video, but for interviews I would like to have had an external jack for a microphone (added on the newer model). The menu choices are excessive and confusing, and the documentation -- of course -- is poor. Its all there, but if you are trying to go for a simple experience you have to figure it out. Other than that, the camera is a tremendous success. Just be sure you know what you are about with your photography so you will know whether this is a good fit for you.
4
Out of 5
A good camera, but definitely a "niche" camera...
- Reviewd on: 12/17/2009 12:00:00 AM By: Harry M. Shin
1. For reference sake, I've used many cameras before (film and digital) and thus realize that there is no "perfect" camera. For most photographers who are "into" photography, they will agree with my contention that you need at least two cameras; one for "serious" work (ie typically a DSLR, but not always) and a compact camera for snapshots (which is also an important part of one's personal photography).

2. With the above said, I have a DSLR (currently E-620), I have a fairly compact camera (Ricoh GX200), but for various reasons, I wanted a smallish camera with HD video (a fair amount exist, most of which was much more compact than the EP-1) that also has good image quality (which for me also means the ability to shoot RAW)--> which really narrowed down the choice to the EP-1 and the Panasonic G1. I'll conclude this rambling point, by noting that it's important for folks to realize that the EP-1 is a niche camera; ie it does produce nice quality images, it has many (not all) performance features more similar to DSLRs than compact cameras, but it is NOT a compact camera... nor is it as big as a DSLR, even the smallest DSLR. I just wanted to make this point, because even though it is smaller than any DSLR, no matter what most folks say, unless you solely use the pancake lens, you are not going to be putting this into your pocket. Even if you did exclusively use the pancake lens, the entire unit is relatively hefty (which is a testament to the construction) and thus most folks wouldn't feel comfortable walking around with this thing in their pocket. Thus on a personal side note, I've come to the conclusion that I'll use / need a DSLR for my "serious" work, EP-1 for most family shots, family travel vacations (ie excellent image quality equal to that of my E620 but without the bulk, HD video etc...) AND a true compact for those situations where I actually need to carry something in my pocket (ie Birthday dinner etc...).

3. Sorry for the long personal ramblings above; so here are my other brief impressions:

a. Build: very solid. As noted via others, kind of relatively heavy, but for me, that's a good thing.

b. Image Quality: I shoot RAW all the time, very good image quality.

c. HD Video: I'm not a video expert, but it's overtly better than my regular resolution videos via my other digital cameras. Via apeture priority mode, you can set the apeture and then one can also adjust the exposure via exposure compensation. It would be nice if there was a manual focus assist like when one shoots photos (ie having an enlarged image). The continuous focusing mode is lame and thus one needs to focus manually or single focus lock (which is basically like shooting manually). Supposedly the EP-2 will be able to track subjects better in video mode. Unless one shoots subjects which come to / fro in the video and shoots long segments, the above problems should not be much of an issue.

d. Focusing: ... it's not bad. It's not great, but I didn't expect anything super great in the first place. When using the zoom kit lens, it is definitely fast enough for 90% of situations. I agree with many that it is irritating that the camera has to refocus each time you press the button, but in the end it's a minor annoyance. I haven't used the pancake lens with the EP-1 yet; I'll get it soon. Another very important point in regards to focusing, the EP-1 has this very cool feature that if one is in manual or S-M focus mode (I think that's what it's called), as soon as you touch the focus ring, you'll get a 7x or 10x view on the LCD--> translation, it is the quickest manual focus via LCD I've come across thus far. It's so quick and accurate (because you're actually doing the focus) that when I use my 4/3 Olympus lens on the EP-1 (ex: 12-60mm or 9-18mm) I always use the manual focus method and it works fairly well.

e. Lack of Flash? It's a nonissue for me because I rarely ever use an onboard flash. When I need a flash, I use a hotshoe flash (ex: Olympus FL-36 or better yet--> Olympus FL-50R). But I do agree that having a built in flash is important, especially the smaller the camera you have simply because the purpose of having a small camera is to avoid carrying other gear... like a flash.

f. IS: I assume it works. It works in my E-620 and this was one of the reasons I stuck with the Olympus Line; ie the G1 doesn't have in body IS. To me, this feature is more important than having an onboard flash that I might use 1% of the time. I use IS a fair amount.

g. LCD: I've used the camera in various conditions, including the worst LCD shooting situation; sunny day at the beach. Yea, it can be challenging in such situations but again, only in certain conditions: trying to manually focus at telephoto. For most shooting situations while at the beach, on a sunny day, using autofocus--> no problem. I just turn up the LCD to max brightness.

h. Other stuff: frame rate is decent, turn on / off time is ok, writing to card seems ok--> ie none of this issues have been noticeable or an irritating issue to me.

4. In summary, it's a no brainier that this camera is more than capable of producing great images and it has the flexibility that all serious photographers want. I would say the primary issue that one has to clearly figure out in one's mind is for what purpose one envisions using this camera. It is not a DSLR replacement, but in many instances it could provide similar images (at least non-full frame DSLRs) and it is NOT a replacement for a true compact camera. It is a niche camera that is capable of some very good images.
5
Out of 5
Olympus EP-1: The Best Compact DSLR
- Reviewd on: 12/15/2009 12:00:00 AM By: J. Cauchi
I've had a 35 mm, film, Olympus camera for more than a decade which always took great pictures and still works great . After the Olympus, when digital cameras came put, I used mostly phones for digital picture taking-2 (Sony) to 5 megapixels (Nokia). So, when I decided to upgrade and found that Olympus was releasing a compact DSLR, I decided to get it to see if the quality was still there. I was amazed by the quality and good design of the camera. But, of course, I was also looking for the DSLR quality of the pictures and was not disappointed. I took a lot of pictures of moving people and still life-plants and trees, etc, and all and all the picture quality was excellent-don't forget to focus-video was also great when there is light around but it uses a lot of memory.
I think, it's better to get the 17 mm lens to have a smaller body overall and much easier to carry around-and the FL-14 flash is a plus-very light..
All and all the EP1 is an excellent upgrade from a standard point and shoot camera since it's much more compact than the standard DSLRs-Nikon, Canon, etc.-and it takes pictures/videos with about the same quality as a standard DSLR.

Olympus EP1 Pros and Cons:
Pros:
1. Excellent modern, fancy, high quality design.
2. Menus are easy to use
3. Very nice high quality pictures and videos.

Cons;
1. Low resolution screen
2. No integrated flash or light (Videos)
3. Video mode uses a lot of memory.