Last year, Olympus released an object of beauty, inspired by the classic 1959 design of the Pen series. Much anticipated, the Olympus E-P1 is still a camera worthy of a little salivation.
The Pen F was a half frame camera popular in the 1960′s for its streamlined appearance. The intention was to create a system as simple to use as the humble writing implement.
Relatively cheap at the time, it is now regarded as a classic and highly collectable for camera junkies.
This model boasts the features of a mid-range digital SLR squeezed into a compact body, comparable in spec to the E-30. Its smaller size is made possible by the Four Thirds system first introduced by Olympus and Panasonic in August 2008, which saw the removal of the mirror box. The E-P1 weighs in at just 335g making it extremely portable.
The camera has a contracting 14-42mm standard kit lens in the same retro style. Unusually for a semi-pro SLR there is no built-in flash, but it’s compatible with the FL-14, FL-36 or FL-50.
The 3” LCD screen is the only image framing method available if you opt for the standard lens, but with the 17mm f/2.8 pancake as kit lens, there’s a VF-1 optical viewfinder included.
However, the resolution is a little low, and if I’m being pernickety, the various display screens are a little frustrating. Some information such as the shutter speed and aperture are unavailable in combination with certain features.
On the up side, the E-P1 supports HD video at 30 frames per second and can shoot seven minutes in this mode; very unusual for such a small camera. You can also purchase an MF-2 OM adaptor to allow the use of other lenses.
The nostalgia induced by this camera is undeniable. In both the colour options for the main body are lovely: black and silver or white and tan with chrome accents. Innovative, stylish and compact, this is still a camera that deserves its place.
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