Olympus PEN E-P1 production unit unboxed, we shudder with jealousy
By Paul Miller 
posted June 28th 2009 8:20AM
posted June 28th 2009 8:20AM
posted June 28th 2009 8:20AM
Olympus E-P1
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Well, I think I'd want three lenses (35mm equiv, all): 28mm, 50mm, 90mm.
35mm, which what the 17mm prime is roughly equivalent to, isn't wide enough to be WA, but is too wide for an walk around lens.
This camera is for still subjects like engadget.com
I have to say I really like the design, but I would never buy an Olympus.
Because you'd have to change your fanboy avatar?
Never is a strong word. Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai used to make rustbox cars, now they're the most reliable cars on the road.
Damn engadget comment system.
I was going to continue by saying that Many people, including myself, have said that they'd NEVER buy a Hyundai. Can you guess what type of car I drive these days?
Uh no Lloyd, because they're pieces of shit.
A little butthurt I see, quick to jump on the fanboy insult wagon, which might have had ground to stand on if I came in here babbling about Nikon cameras, but I didnt.
And having sold thousands of cameras I can easily say I would never buy an Olympus.
And Hyundai still makes junk cars.
I don't get the hype for this camera... Don't tell me I won't understand the answer either, I know more about cameras than you I promise. I just don't see any practical application for it where I would choose it over an SLR. Or even a point and shoot. It's a pretty package and a great sensor, that's about it. Stop freaking out about it. Buy a real camera.
The practical application is that it's much smaller. Not everyone wants to drag along the giant SLR all the time to take high quality pictures.
Anyway, the fact that there's no built-in flash at all sort of sucks. I mean, I realize built-in flashes suck anyway, but at least something would be nice, because the more you have to carry around, the more it defeats the purpose of what I said above.
Which is why I would carry a point and shoot. Like my Canon SD780is... it even has the view finder this lacks (though useless), multiple focal lengths, 12 MP, 720p video, a flash... I just don't see why anyone would want to use this PEN15 camera.
E-P1 has a much bigger sensor than your SD-780is. It also has a 17mm f/2.8 normal lens that your SD780is.
I also know more about cameras than you I promise and I see the E-P1 as a very capable and portable alternative than my Canon 50D + grip + 17-55mm f/2.8 IS + 580EX.
Stop being a jerk and say I don't get it and I don't like it and thus there is no need for anyone else in the world to like this camera.
"Or even a point and shoot." There you go an prove your ignorance.
The Pen aims to put dSLR image quality and the versatility of interchangeable in a point-and-shoot sized body with point-and-shoot ease of use. If you can't figure out why that's a pretty neat idea there's no helping you, honestly.
Now, I'm in the "I'll take a compact dSLR with a small prime lens and keep my viewfinder thank you very much" crowd. The PEN isn't for me, but I can still recognize a game-changing camera when I see one.
There are three major market segments: professional (DSLR and above), consumer (Point & Shoot), and prosumer (fixed-lens hybrids, a-la Canon G series, Nikon P90/L100/etc, Sony DSC series, and so on). The Olympus E-P1 fills an existing gap between professional and prosumer, where entry-level professional DSLRs often have cheaper build quality and inferior kit lenses (or disproportionately expensive pro lenses), while prosumer cameras suffer from their non-interchangable lenses.
Obviously the appeal is the portability of a prosumer, with the flexibility of a DSLR -- much in the way of the Leica M8/8.2, just minus the extremely high entry price the Leica brand commands. Of course if you demand higher image quality you should go for a proper DSLR, but there -are- photogs who are only interested in the lenses and not so much the sensor.
The E-P1 itself may not be a very exciting camera, but my guess is that its segment should see some substantial growth, and we might see some more powerful/cheap/portable cameras in the same formfactor in the near future.
"I know more about cameras than you I promise"
You may know something about cameras, but not as much as me for I am the one true camera God made may mortal on this earth. Anyway, what about shooting video with shallow DoF using a small format camera?...
It is there to take large-sensor (dSLR) quality pictures in a smaller camera. You can use an assortment of high quality lenses.
Yes, I know the sensor is smaller than even an APS-C dSLR, but with sensor advancements, it'll take pictures that are as good or better quality than the original popular dSLRs (10D, D70).
Basically, it'll fill the same market that rangefinder cameras like Leicas filled for years.
I have to agree with the hype. It isn't smaller than SLR camera when you add a viewfinder, put on the lens, mount a flash. With all those add on, the camera look pretty weird. The LCD drain battery like crazy so if you took it on a long trips you have to buy extra battery. Add all those thing up and it's just a point and shoot with added accessories. Also look at some images in low light; noise creep in just around 200iso, that just isn't so hot.
I want something more like a micro4/3 version of the ZS3, or at least the LX3 or G10. Something with a great, retractable lens, a big sensor, built in flash and a hot shoe. OVF or EVF would be nice, but I could live without it if I could have everything else.
You mean a DP1 with a zoom lens, or a GX200 with a big sensor? Not gonna happen. The bigger the sensor, the bigger the lens, all other things being equal.
One thing that really brings this home is to look at the PEN with the zoom lens on it, fully extended. No way is all that going to collapse completely into the body.
Olympus is already using a retractable design for the zoom lens. A few more millimeters into the body definitely won't make much of a difference.
Not very impressed by the sample photos. Bummer.
LOL I should have filmed my unpacking yesterday too. This camera is just amazing. It is small and extremely powerful at once. I used Nikon only so far, but never made the jump for digital. Simple reason: there is no reason in switching to a camera which is just as heavy and big as my F5. And all the stuff smaller or older than the D700 is simply not an option. The APS-C Format is horrible. Olympus is interesting since they really went for it with the introduction of the E system. The Four Thirds standards makes total sense and is not some try to adapt a new technology in an aging concept.
The PEN rocks when it comes to that. Big Chip (for its compact size), optimized interchangeable lenses and nearly as small as a compact one. I've shot about 40 pics so far and I'm more than happy with them. Unlike people who carry heavy Nikon or Canon gear, I can act like a tourist running around while in reality I take high quality SLR like shots.
The only thing I'm hoping for is a bigger collection of native Micro Four Third lenses. It would be very interesting to see a full zoom range (from 7 to 300mm) and a set of pankake lenses (17, 25, 50). Since I use mostly AIS Nikon lenses the novoflex converter is very interesting. I look forward to try some of my "lightholes" on it :D
cu
puphin
If you have the right "shoulder" strap then most camera won't make you feel like a chore to carry around. Neck strap are laughably a pain in the neck. I don't think that you can put this Olympus camera in you pocket comfortably with the lens sticking out.
True, you can't do it in a nrmal sized pocket. At least not the zoom. The double lens kit is still not available in the UK. And about the strap, right, but can you imagine carrying a D3 + 1kg lens in 45C heat around? No strap will help you then. Weight is weight, and the strap does not change the law of gravity ;)
I face this problem quite often. In addition a big camera grabs the attention of just about everyone around. Ok not where its touristy, but thats not where I'm working. Having a chip that size plus interchangeable lenses does the trick.
Huge cameras are fine for the use in a studio or dedicated sessions, but very unhandy on travels and the daily use.
cu
There is already new firmware for this unit. Still concerned about the noisy focus (like grinding glass in the video's audio).
Also, apparently low f-stop quality lenses are still very expensive, so you really aren't saving any money, this is an exercise in form factor.
The sensor in this camera is still too small i.e. 2x crop.
You have to use crazy wide lenses to get a normal shot.
Getting there though.
Someone with a clue, like Canon or Nikon needs to build one of these.
2x is still much closer to APS-C, or even 135FF, than it is to the sensors used in most compact cameras. And native lenses are already designed around the crop factor anyways. It's only an issue when adapting other lenses.
*Or rather I should say native lenses are designed around the format size. Since they won't work on a 135FF sensor.
did this link die? it's not working for me.
me either. lame
"They even bothered to shoot an unboxing of the little Micro Four Thirds wonder, like we would care." - Then why do you post stories about every Apple product unboxing? Why do we need to see a story about the unboxing of EVERY model macbook pro when they're all the same? Sorry this camera isn't made by Apple...
shaunisadirty: Fail.
They put 'like we would care.' in italics to emphasise the point that they actually do care very much.
Easy on the anti-Apple zealotry, sheesh.
erm... ever heard of sarcasm?
check out their thorough coverage since the announcement of the PEN...
looks like a Leica camera...minus the price :)
I want one of these so bad >_< !!
http://www.buycheapguide.com or http://www.buycheapguide.com/c/electronics/digital-cameras