RDP eShop
Contact Us
Reply With Quote
Great review... can't wait for the Part 2...
22 January 2011 - Red Dot Photo was pleased to review Olympus's latest Micro Four Thirds camera, the PEN E-PL2, in busy Chinatown. With the E-PL1 also in tow for comparison, various shots of Chinatown (which was deep in preparation for the coming Chinese New Year) were captured for this review.
(Taken with Olympus E-PL2, manual mode, focal length 14mm, f/3.5, shutter speed 1/500, +1.3 EV, ISO 800)
Continuing Olympus's PEN Legacy
Released on 6th January 2011, the PEN E-PL2 is the latest addition to Olympus's PEN family, alongside previous models, the E-P1, EP-2 and E-PL1.
The E-PL2 promises to make shooting and recording "easier and more enjoyable than ever". It is definitely a keeper for photographers who are looking to graduate from their point and shoots, but have qualms about the bulky DSLR.
Here is a quick glance of PEN E-PL2's notable features:
- Image resolution 12.3 megapixels (High Speed Live CMOS Sensor)
- ISO Sensitivity: 200 - 6400
- New and improved M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II MSC lens
- 3.0" 460,000 dot LCD screen
- Add-on Conversion Lenses: Three different compact conversion lenses that mount on the MSC ED m14-42mm f3.5/5.6 zoom lens for wide angle, fisheye and macro images.
- Newly added control dial with updated Live Guide user interface for easy adjustment of settings with preview of pre-captured image
- JPEG Edit feature: users can edit images in camera by changing brightness, contrast, cropping, fixing red eye, etc
- Six art filters in Art mode for easy addition of effects on images
- Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction system for image sensor
- 3 built in image stabilisation modes
- Compatible with VF-2 electronic viewfinder
- 11-area multiple autofocus
- HDMI output for high-quality image and movie playback
- SDHC/SDXC card compatibility
- Available in black, champagne, gold, red and white
A Trip to Chinatown with the E-PL2
(Taken with Olympus E-PL2, manual mode, focal length 20mm, f/4.2, shutter speed 1/100, +1.3EV, ISO 800)
We now turn to a detailed review of the different aspects of the E-PL2 in comparison with the E-PL1.
1. Look and feel
(left: E-PL1, right: E-PL2)
The E-PL2 maintains the appearance of its previous PEN series in the E-PL2. There are only minimal changes, such as a different top plate colour and the inclusion of a wider hand grip which makes holding and handling of the camera more comfortable.
Most noticeable of all is the addition of a control dial (previously in the form of control buttons in the E-PL1) and the upgraded kit lens, which is significantly smaller and lighter. Similar to the E-PL1, the zoom lens is also lockable, allowing users to conveniently store it in a compact case when not in use.
2. Controls
(The E-PL2's back panel)
The newly added control dial in the E-PL2 allows both turning and pressing, allowing users to easily choose options and adjust settings such as aperture, white balance and shutter speed quickly and easily. Preview, trash and enlarge buttons are also conveniently located.
The position of the record button has not changed from the E-PL1, which enables users to directly record quick videos without needing to change the camera's mode first.
(Taken with Olympus E-PL2, manual mode, focal length 26mm, f/5.6, shutter speed 1/30, ISO 200)
3. E-PL1 vs E-PL2
(left: E-PL1, right: E-PL2)
The E-PL2 offers significant upgrades from its predecessor, in terms of modes, functions and overall performance.
New Kit Lens
The E-PL2 is adorned with a new kit lens, the M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II MSC. According to Olympus, the lens is incorporated with a Movie and Still Compatible (MSC) mechanism that increases auto focusing speed and reduces operation noise. The camera's LCD screen is also enlarged, from 2.7" (E-PL1) to 3.0". It is also a HyperCrystal LCD screen with approximately 460,000 dots, previous 230,000 dots.
(Taken with E-PL2, Art mode (dramatic tone filter), focal length 22mm, f/4.5, shutter speed 1/80, ISO 200, -1 EV)
New Art Filter
The E-PL2 also features the addition of a new art filter, Dramatic Tone (example above) which enables users to apply creative filters over their pictures for more expressive and artistic photographs. Other creative filters include Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, and Diorama.
(Images taken with the E-PL2, under Art mode. Top left to right: Diorama, Grainy film. Bottom left to right: Soft Focus, Pin Hole)
The art filters are a fun way for photographers to add a quick dash of creativity and difference in their captured images according to scenes and environment. In comparison to the E-PL1's, there is a noticeablely significant lag time in the E-PL1 when taking photographs with selected art filters, whereas it is almost instantaneous in the E-PL2.
Olympus hence has done a good job in improving the processing speed of its new model.
(Taken with E-PL2, Manual mode, focal length 14mm, f/5.6, shutter speed 1/60, ISO 200)
New Live Guide
The E-PL2 also has a new and improved Live Guide that does away with guesswork during photography. Settings such as colours, saturation and brightness can be adjusted easily with the control dial and users are able to preview the image that they will capture before they even press the shutter button. In addition, Live Guide also offers shooting tips, that guides novice photographers on composing and capturing good images according to subject, such as animal, food, children, and macro photography.
(Taken with E-PL2, Manual mode, focal length 32mm, f/5.0, shutter speed 1/60, ISO 640)
On top of that, the E-PL2 also has Eye Detect Autofocus, which is a step up from E-PL1's face detection autofocus. Eye detect autofocus automatically adjusts itself to focus on the subject's eyes during portrait shooting which guarantees quality portraits every time.
4. Noise comparison
A simple noise comparison test was conducted between the E-PL1 (using the Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens) and the E-PL2 (using the M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II MSC lens).
Both the E-PL1 and E-PL2 performed comparatively well in terms of noise at different ISOs. Even at relatively high ISOs such as ISO3200, only minimal noise crept into the resulting images, an impressive standard for Olympus indeed.
5. Specifications - Comparison with other Pen MFT models
The following table compares the technical specifications of all 4 PEN Micro Four Thirds cameras:
E-PL2
E-PL1
E-P1
E-P2100% field of view, Exposure compensation preview, White balance adjustment preview, Gradation auto preview, Face detection preview (up to 8 faces), Grid line, Histogram, 7x/10x/14x magnification display, Perfect shot preview, Off
100% field of view, Exposure compensation preview, White balance adjustment preview, Gradation auto preview, Face detection preview (up to 8 faces), Grid line, Histogram, 7x/10x/14x magnification display, Perfect shot preview, Off
100% field of view, Exposure compensation preview, White balance adjustment preview, Gradation auto preview, Face detection preview (up to 8 faces), Grid line, Histogram, 7x/10x magnification display, Perfect shot preview, Off
Single AF (S-AF) / Continuous AF (C-AF) / Manual Focus (MF) / S-AF + MF / AF Tracking (C-AF + TR)
(2) P: Programme AE (Programme shift can be performed)
(3) A: Aperture priority AE
(4) S: Shutter priority AE
(5) M: Manual
(6) Scene select AE
(7) Art Filter
(2) P: Programme AE (Programme shift can be performed)
(3) A: Aperture priority AE
(4) S: Shutter priority AE
(5) M: Manual
(6) Scene select AE
(7) Art Filter
(2) P: Programme AE (Programme shift can be performed)
(3) A: Aperture priority AE
(4) S: Shutter priority AE
(5) M: Manual
(6) Scene select AE
(7) Art Filter
(2) P: Programme AE (Programme shift can be performed)
(3) A: Aperture priority AE
(4) S: Shutter priority AE
(5) M: Manual
(6) Scene select AE
(7) Art FilterPortrait, e-Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Sport, Night, Night + Portrait, Children, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Documents, Panorama, Fireworks, Beach & Snow
* Available on the external flash
* Available on the external flashDimensions: 115.4 mm (W) x 72.7 mm (H) x 42 mm (D)
Weight: Approx. 317 g (body only), Approx. 362g (with BLS-1 battery and SDHC memory card)
Weight: Approx. 296 g (body only), Approx. 344g (with BLS-1 battery and SDHC memory card)
Weight: Approx. 335 g (body only)
Weight: Approx. 335 g (body only
Conclusion
The E-PL2 is most suited for individuals who are learning photography techniques whilst transitioning between a compact camera and a DSLR, . It is an impressive camera packed with many modes and functions that would prove to be useful for the photography journey of a novice.
Stay tuned to Red Dot Photo's in depth review of the lenses for the E-PL1's and E-PL2's in Part 2 of this review, where these lenses are tested for sharpness, barrel and pincushion distortion!
Written by MJ
Edited by Poseidon
Great review... can't wait for the Part 2...
excellent noise control. i wonder how the Olympus 14-42 mark II MSC compares with the mark I lens.
Hopefully II should be better than I?
yes after reading part 2 of this review, I think lens II is definitely better than I. Sharper and less distortion... Hmmm to me its not bad for a hybrid camera..
A comparison between the specifications, ergonomics, video modes, scene modes between the best selling mirrorless cameras Olympus pen e-pl1 and Olympus pen e-pl2.
Posting Permissions