The PEN is mightier than the sword, oly E-P1

"The Pen is mightier than the sword and a lot easier to take photos with"
http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/21693_pen-camera_e-p1_21723.htm#

http://www.olympus-europa.com/consumer/pen.htm?olycmp=912222#whypen?d-slrqualityincompactsize

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nt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn0PpTXMSK0
It looks fab on the video but.................................
Well it looks very close to what I wanted from a G7 replacement.
But no optical / eyelevel finder is a problem, it has a accessory finder like the LX3.
I like holding the camera to my face it just seems right and helps steady the shot.
No flash, thats a step back in time, if you are wanting to fill flash you gotta carry a strobe. This is all adding to the size of the beast, and making a 420/450 seem more like it for me.
I like the styling but why no black option, white? why would you buy a white camera??????????????????????????????????????????????????
The zoom is just brill so small. the manual focus wheel with zoom (watch the video) is sweet, I take my hat off to that.
The pancake lens at 17mm is OK but just OK I would have expected a 14mm pancake maybe its too expensive to make?
Still its early days, I might have to hold on to the G7 till the mark 2-3 PEN.
Maybe I should just save up for a M8 Leica.
But having said all that I really do hope it sells by the ship load as it is going in the right direction and will help the designers win over the bean counters, then maybe we will have the right tools.
I wonder how much it costs? $600?

Hi Simon,

There will be a black one as well. I think you are right about the size if you are going to add a viewfinder and flash (and the price will go up as well, close to 1.000 euro? ;-( ) A Oly 420/450 is much cheaper, has a bigger sensor, but is lacking IS.
There is another thing i don't like when changing lenses the sensor is unprotected.
Maybe a G10 successor will be a better alternative??
The 17 mm lens is no problem to me, i am used to this owning a G9 and in the past is was much of a standard with many compact film cameras. I am thinking to get the dust of my old Minox ML, this beauty weighs almost nothing and is far more compact.

Best regards,


Rob

Rob, Sorry mate the E-P1 has the same sensor as the E-30.
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I would be thrilled to get at the sensor on my G7 as easily as this, dust is only a problem if you can't get at it.
I clean the sensor on my DSLR all the time it's so easy when you know how.
I would recommend that if you got one of these cameras that you would get an Arctic Butterfly and a rocket blower.
With all its little problems watch the video and tell me you wouldn't want one?
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Funny you should mention the Minox (a fine tool) I have 2 Oly XAs under my desk, one of which I had when they 1st came out and has traveled the world with me back in the 80s the other is for spares I need to take both apart an make one good one. my original is fully working but battered and with broken bodywork the other is as new but I think has been in water so the shutter is sticking. When I get time I will do and write it up.

Oops!

You're right Simon, micro 4/3 has nothing to do with the sensor size
I do know how to clean the sensor of my EOS cameras, it's quite easy but i am a bit lazy so every bit that helps to avoid dust on the sensor is welcome, esp. out there in Africa
But i agree the camara is very tempting but this year i have some extraordinary unforeseen costs so i have to be careful with spending my money.

Best regards,


Rob

Yeah join the club this year sucks for business. Still onward and upwards!
all my best wishes
Si

Priced at $800 with the zoom, ouch!
So in the UK this should see it marked up at £900 rip-off Britain!

Exclusive UK first public event,
Be one of the first to see and touch the much talked about new Olympus Micro FourThirds camera.
Exclusive first opportunity to see, try out and order the stunning new Pen E-P1.

Order on the day and you will be guaranteed to get one of the first in the country.
The first 50 people who order will receive a limited edition engraved £300 Cross Fountain Pen.

Thursday 25th June, London
Jessops, New Oxford Street - 6 pm

The new Pen E-P1 will be unvailed at New Oxford Street and further launches will take place on Saturday 27th June at Bristol Cribbs Causeway, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow.

I think this will be a scrum so no thanks from me.

The PEN does look like a great camera and yes it will most possibly be the most interesting compact around....

I agree that it would have been great to have the view finder build in.

For me the question is, does one really need a compact with SLR photo quality? In addition the price could push it right into SLR market. Fact is the LX3 and the G10 offer awesome pic quality.....so does the G7 plus the G9....

The main reason for me staying with Oly is the awesome lens quality one have plus the lovely rich colors the Oly bodies gives. That said the E420 is currently one of the best DSLR Oly ever made, small, great detail plus awesome color....

Will the PEN lenses be as good as what we use to?

Best

Siegfried

I think that Nikon and Canon will be watching how this does.
It has to be a market they would want to get in to. The pros would buy a body as a light weight back-up, so would I if Nikon made a digital Nikon SP. Also they would get youngsters wanting something better than a P&S and not knowing about DSLRs or wanting the bulk.

It has to be the way of using DX sensors and lenses when the big 2 switch to FX for their DSLRs.

Hi Siegfried,

I do think there is a market for this kind of cameras like in the past like the Leica 35mm rangefinder cameras. Remember, they weren't cheap at all. (In fact there is already a digital Leica M8 out there with a 27x18 mm sensor) Many famous photographers were and still are using this kind of cameras.

Best regards,


Rob

This is the type of camera I have been waiting for. I was hoping that the Canon G7 would occupy this niche (small, lightweight camera for walking around/dinners/parties/travel) but never really felt the IQ (especially at the higher ISOs) was up to what I could get from a DSLR. Got the E420 as my small/backup - but I seriously think that the EP1 will quickly replace that.
And from what I have read, while the sensor is probably the same as the E30/E620, the processor is not. There are improvements shown (from the pics I have seen posted) in noise and supposedly not at the expense of image detail.
Can't wait!!!
Steve

Steve

The PEN does promise great pic quality.....seems Oly did some good work to better in areas they were weak for years. Is that something we can expect from the new E5?

I am looking forward reading your feedback on the PEN.....

Best

Siegfried

Hi Siegfried,
From what I have read (and see in some sites) the sensor is the same as the E30/E620 and the Pana G1/GH1, but the processor is new. What has impressed me so far is the improvement even over the E30/E620 in the areas of noise and keeping details.
This preview/review is from Imaging Resource and if you scroll down to some of the sample images they do a comparison of the EP1 and various other bodies.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/EP1/EP1A.HTM
The only "negative" comment so far that I have seen of this report is the choice of lenses when comparing the Olympus bodies (EP1 and E30 used the Zuiko 50mm f2.0, a very sharp prime) and the Panasonic G1 (used the kit zoom). What I found more interesting was the comparison between the EP1 and the E30 and the higher MP Canon camera.
We (at least I) will just have to wait patiently (yeah right) to get my grubby hands on one.
Steve