Olympus E-P1 Micro Four-Thirds camera

 

Review of Olympus E-P1

The Olympus PEN E-P1 Micro Four-Thirds camera is a beautiful piece of hardware and something photo geeks can’t help but want. After all, it has lots of history behind it, it’s one of the best looking digital cameras on on the market, and it packs much of the power of a DSLR into a size close that of to a point-and-shoot. But it’s not a DSLR and it’s too big to fit into a pocket, so as a result the E-P1 falls into a middle ground where might not be just right for anyone.

 

The PEN series has a long and storied history, so its return in 2009 was big news in the photo community. The use the Micro Four-Thirds standard meant that the camera would have a small body and could use lenses from Four-Thirds cameras but it also meant that the sensor size would be limited when compared to a standard DSLR. It also means that the camera can’t have a through-the-lens optical viewfinder, something that would no doubt be an issue with the photography fans who were most interested in this unique breed. But it does have a generously-sized LCD with live-view and with the E-P1 you get an interchangeable lens system on a camera that is under a pound.

Specifications:

• Megapixels: 12.3
• Mount: Micro Four-Thirds Mount
• Sensor: High speed Live MOS
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33 (4:3)
• Memory: SD/SDHC
• LCD: 3.0-inches
• ISO sensitivity: AUTO: ISO 200 – 6400 (customizable, Default 200-1600) / Manual ISO 100 – 6400, 1/3 or 1 EV steps, Movie ISO 160-1600
• File Formats: RAW (12-bit lossless compression), JPEG, RAW+JPEG
• Image size: RAW: 4032 x 3024, JPEG: 4032 x 3024 pixels – 640 x 480 pixels
• File Size: Raw: Approx. 13.9MB, JPEG (4032 x 3024 Fine): Approx. 5.7MB
• Sequential shooting speed: Approx. 3 frames/sec. in sequential shooting
• Video Format: AVI Motion JPEG(30fps)
• Video Modes: HD: 1280(H)x720(V) Aspect 16:9, SD: 640(H)x480(V) Aspect 4:3(VGA)
• Max. Recording Times: HD: 7min, SD: 14min
• Shoe: Hot shoe
• Dimensions: 120.6 mm (W) x 69.9mm (H) x 36.4 mm (D) (excluding protrusions)
• Weight: 335g (body only)
• Battery: About 300 shots

Olympus E - 620 Review

Facts you have to know about Olympus E-620

The Olympus E-620 is a 12.3 Megapixel DSLR with built-in anti-shake facilities and Live View enhanced by a fully-articulated 2.7in screen. Announced in February 2009, it’s positioned between the entry-level E-4xx series and the higher-end E-30, and while Olympus continues to sell the E-520 at the time of writing, we expect the E-620 to replace it over time.

As such, the E-620 represents a step-up from budget entry-level models for those who want a more sophisticated camera without having to invest in an upper mid-range or semi-pro body.

The E-620 inherits a number of key aspects from the higher-end E-30 including the same 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS sensor, six creative ‘art-filters’ and the articulated 2.7in / 230k monitor, allowing you to easily compose at any angle in Live View – although the screen panel itself is a newer version.

These are also the headline improvements over the earlier 10 Megapixel E-520, although the new E-620 additionally addresses several complaints of its ‘predecessor’ by featuring a more sophisticated phase-change AF system (7-point vs 3-point) and a slightly larger viewfinder (0.96x vs 0.92x); continuous shooting is also a little quicker (4fps vs 3.5fps). The E-620 is also a little smaller than the E-520 without sacrificing too much of a grip, making it the smallest DSLR with built-in Image Stabilisation. It's even more impressive when you consider there's also a fully articulated screen in there.

At price RM 2,399.00, it’s become another compelling DSLR specification although one that approaches the price of two key rivals: Canon's EOS 500D / Rebel T1i and the Nikon D5000. In this Olympus E-620 review we’ll compare all three models closely, starting with their physical differences and ending with how their respective image quality measures-up. So if you’re considering one of these three DSLRs or are simply after a step-up from a budget, entry-level model, you’ve come to the right place!