|
Olympus PEN E-PL1 12.3MP Live MOS Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens (Black) | 
 enlarge
| Brand: Olympus
Category: Photography
List Price: $599.99
Buy New: $523.00
You Save: $76.99 (13%)
New (24) Used (4) from $485.00
Rating:  57 reviews
Sales Rank: 153
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 2.8 x 4.5 x 1.6
MPN: E-PL1 Black Kit
Model: E-PL1 Black Kit
UPC: 050332173231
EAN: 0050332173231
ASIN: B0035LBRJO
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Features:
| • | 12.3-megapixel interchangeable lens digital camera; Micro Four Thirds format | | • | Includes 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 digital zoom lens; features built-in flash | | • | 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD with Live View function; Continuous Autofocus (C-AF) tracking system | | • | Capture HD video with high-quality audio; new "Direct Button" for easy recording | | • | New Live Guide interface simplifies great photography; capture images to SD/SDHC cards (not included) |
|
| Accessories:
|
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
12.3 megapixel Live-MOS 3" LCD True-Pic (TM) image processor World's smallest 12.3-megapixel interchangeable lens system Micro 4/3 camera Autofocus life view Blur-free, dust-free images 17 automatic scene modes Shadow adjustment technology 6 built-in art filters Multiple exposure function allows user to capture & combine multiple images Includes E-PL1 body, body & lens caps, user manual, USB cable, BLS-1 battery charger & AC cable, Olympus(R) software, strap & warranty card Black with M. Zuiko 14-42mm lens
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 57
 Alot of camera in a small package and smaller price tag March 24, 2010
Mario Antoine (Kansas City Missouri)
198 out of 208 found this review helpful
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R6S9GQZN0AQK8
Budget Admission into Micro-4/3 February 26, 2010
Paul Liesenberg (bay area, california)
58 out of 66 found this review helpful
I just bought the Olympus E-PL1 so this review will be updated once I have truly learned to exploit the cameras ability a bit further. First of all - if I could give it 4.5 stars if this system allowed for it.
If you are looking into this camera, chances are you are like me: you already own a good compact (in my case, among others, the Canon S90, which has very positive reviews for its fast lens and image quality) but you always wonder if you will take better pictures with a bigger, more serious camera. The lure of the bigger sensor, since it promises better results, especially in low light conditions - all the experts say so, right? Then again, a full-blown DSLR seems too big and bulky, and you wonder if you'll really take that thing anywhere. Luckily, vendors came out with the micro-4/3s format, which packs a much larger sensor (5 to 9 times larger than a compact camera's!) into a typically stylish, sleek looking design. Panasonic and Olympus had been offering models that, with lens and all, would set you back around $1,000. A tad too pricey for an experiment. Obviously Olympus set out to truly makes the E-PL1 appeal to the masses with the price point for the E-PL1. I was like, "sure, at least this will not be the most expensive mistake I've ever made".
The camera feels solid. I love its Bauhaus style retro design that supposedly harks back to some very collectible Olympus classic model. Well, I'd never seen one, but I like the looks of the E-PL1. Side by side with its more expensive micro-4/3 competitors (in house from Olympus and the Panasonic) the E-PL1 seems more plasticky and lighter. But compared to a compact it feels like the proverbial metal brick. I picked the silver one (it's also offered in other colors, make sure to pick the one you like so you don't regret it later).
The package is the usual fare - charger for the battery, battery, camera body, the 14-42mm lens, and a few convenient covers for lens openings. Also included a USB cable. A proprietary one, of course, it annoys me that vendors keep doing it, there is absolutely no reason why Olympus should not have used a standard USB cable format. Also a cable to attach the Olympus to your TV. Finally, the usual software package (I own Photoshop, so I do not install the vendors' packaged software) as well as a suitably thick instruction book. Which I will make a point of reading thoroughly, probably more than once. Needless to say, no SDHC card included, and a fast one is recommended. Especially if you shoot RAW (which I admit I just do for 5% of my shots, if that).
The feature set is very impressive, and I shall not bore you cutting and pasting the many modes etc from other places. Everything you'd expect is there: full auto (come on, we don't but a camera like this to leave it in full auto, do we?), P mode (programmable auto, which is what I typically use on the Canon S90 for point and shoot), and aperture and shutter priority. See a list of the specs here (Olympus site, Amazon cuts off links).
But one set is something new and needs to be pointed out - the Art Filter. Very cool for playing around, I immediately played with the Soft Focus and the Diorama mode, very fun effects and very well done. Of course it's stuff you could do in Photoshop later with any picture, but it's also great to have the ability to capture a mood and differentiate your shot in real time. It's a great idea by Olympus so that people can feel like artistic photographers right away within minutes of buying the E-PL1.
The sensor in the camera's body is large, you can take a good look at it when you take the lens off. Which also means it is exposed, so be very aware you need to protect it like your own eye. Talking about the included kit lens, the 14-42mm needs to be multiplied by 2 to arrive at the equivalent 28-84mm range. Which means it is fairly wide at the low range, but a 3x zoom may be very limiting to those used to their 5x and higher in compacts, especially since it starts at 28mm. Focus enthusiasts should mentally factor in the $ for a more powerful lens. As well as its potential size.
First impressions: it starts up very fast, an SLR advantage in general. Ready to shoot right away. Of course, first you must have removed the hood lens and perhaps unlock the lens if you had collapsed it for easier transportation (most pictures you see of the 14-42 lens are in the collapsed compact position - it's quite a bit larger when you take pictures. That makes the speed advantage against a compact more relative. The E-PL1 also focuses and does it's scene evaluation faster than a compact. Not immediately as some larger SLRs, but quite quickly. Since it doesn't have an assisted AF beam, it remains to see how it performs in low light. But the camera's speed seems very good. The LCD is 2.7 inches, meaning it's smaller than the one on my 3 year old Canon G9, but it is a very nice one. And it better be, since you don't have an optical viewfinder (which I admittedly never use on my cameras which offer it).
I know what you are thinking - "Stop telling me the obvious, tell me how it compares against that Canon S90 you also claim to have!". Ok, impatient reader, I have a gallery for you:
[...] [again, Amazon does not allow external links, sorry]
A very important caveat as you look at these shots: I know how to use the Canon S90 and have it set up so it performs in ways I like. But as you can see, that is within limits, and while I could have further optimized the results... I decided not to, because for obvious reasons I do not yet know how to truly go about exploiting the E-PL1's capabilities, which I am sure reach significantly further than these shots reveal. Up to now, I have taken exactly a dozen shots with the E-PL1, so I would suggest you do like me, and take the shots as very inconclusive. The *one* thing that matters is that depth of field shot: the S90 is lauded for having the ability to create depth of field effects, as the f2.0 lens suggests, and as you can tell from that shot, great for a compact camera and all. The Olympus lens spec does not get anywhere near f2.0 because it doesn't have to - the lens and sensors are much bigger, and thus far more light makes it in anyhow. Check it out - the depth of field is much better defined on the E-PL1, it blows the S90 easily away in all aspects of that shot. But I have to admit I was a bit surprised the bigger dynamic range of the bigger sensor wasn't more visible in the contrast rich shots.
But I think one thing you should take away from this is that you probably should not expect to see a *huge* difference in everyday shots between a good compact like the S90, and a camera like the E-PL1 - or a $5,000 full blown DSLR kit, for that matter. What you do get is more flexibility and creative control - not necessarily far more detail and what not, not for your average snapshot. If you like to take difficult shots, different matter. So make sure you buy a camera for the right reasons.
I for one know I am going to like taking pictures with the E-PL1 a lot. I also am already considering buying other lenses, and have already ordered the external flash (the E-PL1 does include a pop-up flash, but it's small and as such probably limited). There it is, the trap of the modular kit - the camera price is just for admission. As I consider lenses, I find myself wondering whether to go for specifically built micro-4/3 lenses, or more generic 4/3... hmmm. If you buy this camera and start buying lenses (there isn't a lot of choice in lenses built specially for this camera, but supposedly a few are coming), you'll have to do the same, and I shall be interested in your thoughts.
The final question you may ask me is "hey you say you like it, why only 4.5 stars?" - like I said, I think it's 4.5 stars, very good. I may update that once I learn to further optimize results and they start to blow me away, which hasn't been the case yet. Probably it was a bit much to expect to be blown away by the difference without having learned the camera more.
PS on 3/20/10... a few weeks into ownership, I *LOVE* this camera and it entirely and totally deserves 5 stars. I changed the default settings, and now to my eye and the eye of people that look at the pictures results are fantastic. I am able to chose utterly sharp or utterly artistic pictures, and the quality of them right away out of the camera is fantastic. I ove the freedom it gives me in lower light situations - it will not challenge a top range Nikon, but it is amazing and far more portable.
I am *VERY* happy with this purchase, and have already bought several lenses to expand on my toolset.
Amazing little camera. I am a huge fan!
These are my preliminary impressions for the E-PL1. I hope to soon read others' too!
Nearly perfect solution April 15, 2010
V. Ariel
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
I was looking to replace the trusted Fuji-F31FD point-and-shoot, which was getting a bit old after 3 years of heavy use. My other camera is Canon 450D DSLR, which is most often used with Canon L EF 24mm 1.4 lens.
I became intrigued by micro 4/3 standard and checked reviews for the latest offerings by Panasonic and Olympus with the following priorities in mind:
1. Picture quality (both JPEG and RAW)
2. Size
3. Price
4. Ease of use
5. HD video
I did not care for a super-quick AF since will continue using Canon for sports pictures. Built quality is not as critical since I do not expect the camera to last more than 5 years anyway. In the end, I bought Olympus EPL1 with the kit 14-42mm lens and an additional Panasonic 20mm 1.7 pancake lens.
I find the initial results truly amazing:
1. Picture quality with Panasonic lens is much better than expected. In many cases, IQ is better than my Canon DSLR. Panasonic lens is incredibly sharp while the Olympus colors are gorgeous (may be a bit over-saturated). Actually, some of my friends are complaining that there is to much detail in their portraits taken with EPL1. Brought the camera to the local pro-photo store and the owner (professional newspaper photographer) could not believe picture quality from EPL1. Panasonic lens is excellent in low-light and Olympus in-body stabilization makes the combination even better.
2. The size is not as small as a regular P&S but comparable to super-zooms. I think it is good for hiking, skiing, city, and restaurant photos (people do not really like a huge DSLR lens pointed at them in a restaurant)
3. The price is good in comparison with the results
4. The camera is very easy to use. It has some learning curve due to many options (more than Canon). I find that AF speed with Panasonic lens is not an issue and the latest Olympus firmware upgrade is supposed to eliminate the problem completely (Update: 24-Apr-10 According to the latest DPReview comparison after the firmware upgrade, Olympus auto-focus with Panasonic lenses is the fastest in the class).
5. HD video is great (though MJPEG with 720P or 1080i and not MPEG4 or H.264 with full HD)
Cons:
1. The screen is relatively low resolution. Still the displayed image is clear and in my opinion better than Canon 450D.
2. I do not care much for the included IB software, prefer using Lightroom3 Beta2 instead.
Since the camera is new, it is a bit difficult to find the right accessories. After some shopping on the internet and in a local photo-store, I added the following:
1. A couple of MaximalPower replacement batteries
2. Transcend 16 GB Class 6 SDHC Flash Memory Card
3. B&W 46mm Sky filter and Hoya 46mm multi-coated UV filter (for Panasonic lens)
4. Opteka Professional Wrist Grip Strap
5. Tamrac 5693 camera bag with belt loop. Perfectly fits the camera with either kit lens or the 20mm pancake with an extra pocket for spare battery and filter (but not much more).
6. Lens cap keeper
In short, I really enjoy the camera and with the accessories it is a nearly perfect solution for my needs
PS 17-Apr-10
After about a thousand pictures and one hiking trip:
1. Pictures are still amazing, both JPEG and RAW. I noticed that the camera encourages me to take more creative shots
2. Great improvement in camera size over 450D particularly for hiking
3. A wheel would be useful for quick aperture changes during hiking trips
4. A non-standard USB cord is a nuisance
Finally, I think EPL1 is a great little camera, may need to upgrade my 450D though
Great move up for P&S users, Cheap alternate for DSLR users March 4, 2010
N. Iqbal (USA)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful
I bought the slate blue version last week. I already own an Olympus E620 DSLR. So this camera will serve as my go anywhere portable compact(dslr). Mind you, the Olympus E620 is already one of the smallest dslrs' you can buy in the market, but it wasn't always convenient to carry it around, especially when you with a group of friends at a dinner or just walking around the city. The EPL-1 is almost inconspicuous, just a bit bigger than your more advanced point and shoot.
Feature wise, its a step down from the EP1/2 in a few areas, and a step up in others. For one the build is not as stellar as the elder PEN siblings, but still good enough. It feels solid and it is comfortable to hold. The interface is a little complicated if you upgraded from a P&S, but if you moved down from an Olympus DLSR, you welcome the familiarity. I love how Olympus allows you to make your menus as complicated or simple as you wish, hiding the more advanced options until you need them. So I can set it up just like my E620, and yet have my wife use the compact like menu options when she uses the camera.
The picture quality is just the same as the E620, as they use much of the same internals, sensor, a new image processing engine. So in many ways you are getting the same picture quality, while giving up very little (max shutter at 1/2000, weaker image stabilization) while you get the newest features that improve upon the E620 (new image processing engine, 720p video)
I have largely compared the EPL-1 with the E620 rather than the EP1/2 because these two camera fall in the same price category, so basically for the price of E620, most of everything in a EP1/2 in a smaller compact body with very few compromises. All in all Olympus have a killer product at a very compelling price!
First review I've written March 18, 2010
E. Snyder (Los Angeles, CA)
16 out of 17 found this review helpful
I've been wanting a new camera for awhile and my wife and I have been looking at DSLRs but have been hesitant as we have no idea how to use all the features/settings of a DSLR. After speaking with friends who have a PEN-1, we went ahead and purchased this camera and are extremely pleased with it. The pictures are amazing. Very easy to use. Feels sturdy in your hands. The video camera is also wonderful, and has replaced our dedicated HD video camera (what's the point anymore of having one?)
Would I purchase this camera again? YES!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 57
|
|
|
| |
