Tweaks aside, the raison d'etre of the E-P元 remains the same as its predecessors: high quality images (and video) from an interchangeable lens camera that's perceived to be less fussy to operate and transport than a DSLR. Once again there's no viewfinder supplied here as an alternative, though like the recently reviewed E-P3 there is an accessory port Version 2 to be found above the screen at the E-P元's rear. Still, let's not criticize the E-P元 for what it doesn't do and just be grateful that Olympus, unlike Panasonic with its GF models so far, has included a usefully non-fixed screen for easier low or high angle shooting. While its angles of adjustment are slightly restricted then, it's also not, as might be reasonably expected, a touch screen like the one on the new E-P3, and to be honest its on-screen icons are a little on the small side for accurate selection via a finger tip anyway. Nor can it be turned so that the screen is facing the body for added protection against scratches when being transported (without lens) in a jacket pocket. In respect of its adjustable LCD it recalls Sony's NEX series, and also mirrors its rival in the fact that said screen can be pulled out from the body and tilted up or down, but not, however, swung out through 180° so that it is parallel to the chassis, like on a camcorder or mid range DSLR such as the Canon EOS 600D. It's 3-inches in size, offers a widescreen aspect ratio and comes with a respectable 460k dot resolution, so visibility is certainly clear enough if not quite a match for the OLED screen on the E-P3 model. To get straight to the point, even though the headline resolution of 12.3 megapixels from a high speed Live Mos sensor has remained static, the hot-out-of-the-factory E-P元 is the first Olympus Digital Pen to include an angle adjustable, wide-screen ratio tilting LCD screen at the rear. So perhaps Olympus, who arguably brought the first truly compact mirrorless model to market in 2009's E-P1, following on from Panasonic's G1, is looking to maintain its early lead in winning over the hearts, if not always the pockets - in the UK at least that'll be Panasonic - of keen amateur photographers wanting near DSLR quality without the attendant bulk. But, with the tandem launch of the flagship E-P3 and baby of the range E-PM1 'Mini' Pen models at the close of June, Olympus seems to be very much throwing down the gauntlet to rival mirror-less, interchangeable lens compact system camera manufacturers.Īt the last count these competitors included Sony with its ever-increasing Cyber-shot NEX range, Samsung with the less well adopted NX, Panasonic with its ever popular Lumix G series, and Pentax with its interesting looking new Q system. According to Olympus, sales of the E-PL2 have now ceased. ![]() Ease of UseĬonsidering that Olympus only announced the E-PL2 at the start of 2011, the appearance of the E-P元 Digital Pen, also colloquially known as the Pen 'Lite', just over seven months later seems almost indecently quick. ![]() ![]() The Olympus PEN E-P元 is available in silver, black, white or red for a retail price of £549.9 / $699.99 for the 14-42mm standard zoom lens kit. With a stylish metal body, the EP元 features the world's fastest auto-focus system, a high resolution and tiltable 3 inch LCD screen, 5fps burst shooting, 1080i HD video recording, a maximum sensitivity of ISO 12800, sensor-shift image stabilisation, a hot shoe and an accessory port. The Olympus E-P元 (also known as the Olympus PEN Lite) is a brand new 12 megapixel compact system camera.
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