It’s a point-and-shoot! It’s a DSLR! No, actually, it’s a Micro Four Thirds camera. What’s that, you say? It’s a class of camera that attempts to match digital SLRs’ speed and image quality, but uses the same technology as a point-and-shoot, which, in part, keeps them much smaller than DSLRs. The idea of the Olympus PEN E-P1 ($799) is to give consumers and advanced photographers the best of both worlds: an excellent portable camera that that also takes strong photos. While the image quality is up to snuff and it’s faster than a point-and-shoot, the speeds don’t quite match lower-priced, full-size DSLRs, and you don’t get an integrated flash. Nevertheless, the E-P1 is one of the most innovative cameras of the year.
What is Micro Four Thirds?
First things first: although it’s not fair to classify the E-P1 as a point-and-shoot, it works more like one than a DSLR (which, for the record, it is not). The name Four Thirds refers to the size of the camera’s sensor, which is the same as a DSLR’s. However, a DSLR, which stands for “digital single lens reflex,” has an internal mirror system that contributes to its unbeatable speeds. Although the E-P1 and other Micro Four Thirds cameras also have removable lenses (à la DSLRs), they lack this mirror system. By removing this mirror, and instead making the camera run the way a simple pocket camera does, manufacturers have been able to build devices that deliver comparable image quality and manual control, but in a much smaller package.
Retro Design
As befits a camera that’s not a point-and-shoot and most certainly not a DSLR, the E-P1 has a singular design that’s sure to get double-takes from friends and passersby. As advanced as it is on the inside, the E-P1’s exterior has a retro feel. The shape helps: at 4.7 x 2.8 x 1.5 inches and 1.2 pounds, it has a thick, rectangular build that’s reminiscent of an older camera. And we mean that in the best way: thanks to details such as a leather-like hand grip and a stainless steel chassis (available in silver or white), the E-P1 is sure to make the wearer look hip.
Unlike other Olympus cameras, which accept the company’s proprietary (and relatively expensive) xD format, the E-P1 only accepts the more common SD/SDHC format, which was a pleasant surprise. One thing you won’t get on the E-P1 is a viewfinder, whether optical or electronic. The fact that Olympus chose to omit it is one reason the E-P1 is smaller than other Micro Four Thirds cameras, including Panasonic’s two models, the DMC-G1 and GH1, both of which look more like shrunken DSLRs. Still, the shot-to-shot speed of all three will remain about the same, since the viewfinders on the Panasonic cameras are electronic, not optical. However, we found ourselves squinting at the E-P1’s LCD as if it were a viewfinder; for some people, not having one will be an ergonomic adjustment.
User Interface
Although it offers full manual control, the E-P1 doesn’t have many more buttons than a point-and-shoot. That’s good news for one of Olympus’ target demographics: those looking to step up to a more advanced camera for the first time.
On the top of the camera (left to right) is a mode dial, a hot shoe for an external flash (not included in the kit), a power button, the shutter, and a small button for adjusting exposure. The lack of an integrated flash may be a dealbreaker for some; Olympus sells one (the FL-14) for $199, but since the shoe is a standard mount, nearly any external flash can be used.
The large 3-inch LCD takes up most of the camera’s backside. A smattering of controls flank it, including playback, menu, info, and delete buttons; a function button to turn off the LCD; an AEL/AFL (autoexposure lock/autofocus lock) button; a zoom dial; and a five-way click wheel whose sides double as ISO, autofocus, white balance, and self-timer/continuous shooting controls.
Navigating the menus was mostly self-explanatory; we were especially fond of a built-in leveler that shows you if the photo you’re about to take is level with the horizon. The only thing that felt confusing at first was how and when we could take advantage of the click wheel. In a menu, you can spin the wheel to move down a menu, but not to move left or right; to do that, you still need to press the right or left side of the navigational pad. In playback mode, you can’t use the click wheel to quickly move through photos and videos; it simply controls movie playback volume.
Finally, the zoom dial, located on the back side in the upper right hand corner, is only there for you to zoom in and out of photos in playback; it’s tempting to adjust it while framing a shot, but for that you’ll have to rotate the zoom ring on the lens.
Manual Controls
When it comes to manual control, the E-P1 has something for everyone. Fairly inexperienced shooters will appreciate Intelligent Auto Mode, which automatically adjusts the settings and selects the scene mode depending on the shooting conditions. More advanced users can play with Manual mode (full manual control), shutter priority, aperture priority, and program mode; each offer plenty of control, but will save your current settings even if you briefly turn the dial to, say, movie mode. There is also a dedicated SCN option on the dial, with 19 scene modes in total. One, ePortrait, smooths out wrinkles and other skin blemishes; indeed, when we shot a man with a weathered face, his skin looked softer and more evenly balanced once we applied this shooting mode.
Dell Laptops Starting at $449
