The Olympus E-P1 was a digital camera revelation. By removing the mirror Olympus squeezed a FourThirds sensor, producing DSLR quality images, into a compact and incredibly stylish body, based on the original 1950s/60s ‘Pen’ camera.
Available in black, gold, white or red, the E-PL1 shares a 12.3 megapixel photo resolution and 1280x720p HD video with the pricier rivals retro-look models; Olympus has improved things by finally adding a built-in flash. Like its predecessors and DSLRs, the lens on the front can be changed if so desired.
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At £550 with kit zoom or £700 with additional 40-150mm the E-PL1 is currently the most affordable route into Olympus’ Micro Four Thirds system, so comparable to the Panasonic GF1.
The cheaper price does mean compromises – the E-PL1’s build is mainly plastic where its siblings offer stainless steel, plus the LCD screen is smaller at 2.5-inches, in comparison to 3-inches. But these are minor complaints; the camera feels sturdy and sufficiently lightweight at 300g (body-only) to cart around all day.
Zoom control
The same 14-42mm (28-84mm, 35mm equivalent) lens that came with the E-P1 and E-P2 before it is supplied, featuring a retractable mechanism so that dimensions of body (plus lens) remain as compact as possible. This means that the lens has to be extended by hand before the camera is switched on to avoid an error message – something that’s easy to forget. Also, while overall size is smaller than a DSLR, the camera and lens combined are still too much of a squeeze for trouser pocket or handbag.
The E-PL1 includes features from the E-P2 range topper, such as an accessory port for attaching an optional electronic viewfinder or microphone, situated just below its hotshoe for accessory flash. A colour saturation increasing iEnhance function, plus Diorama Art Filter, (which makes subjects look like citizens of a toy town village by mirroring the effects of a specialist tilt and shift lens), are also included from that more expensive model.
Newcomers welcome
Complete beginners will find the new Live Guide very useful. By nudging an on-screen side bar users are shown in real time the effects of adjusting – for example – depth of field. Alternatively the camera can simply be left on iAuto – the E-PL1 accurately choosing the most appropriate settings – and used as a high quality point and shoot.
Pictures prove a match for its more expensive Pen siblings, if just falling short of an actual DSLR, while having a flash to fall back on should see the appeal of this fledgling range extend beyond bearded enthusiast.
