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Olympus PEN E-PL9 review: The best phone camera alternative. Olympus PEN-F - review and first impressions Olympus pen f review film camera

Advantages

Stylish case
Lots of settings
Built-in Image Stabilizer
Touch screen and Wi-Fi
Fast autofocus

Flaws

Detailing is far from the level of competitors
No Ultra HD and splash protection
Burst length is relatively short

Olympus Pen-F test results

Price-quality ratio
Good
Place in the overall ranking
31 out of 70

Value for money: 69
Image quality (40%): 82.8
Equipment and management (35%): 84
Speed (10%): 74
Video quality (15%): 76.2

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Olympus PEN-F: Testing the Stylish Micro-Four-Thirds System Camera

Regarding the design of the Olympus PEN-F, opinions are likely to be divided. Some people like cameras with ultra-modern design, while others prefer the classic look of cameras in the style of analog times.

Olympus PEN-F is definitely intended for the second target group. Those who are a little familiar with the history of photography will certainly be familiar with the name of the camera. The first Olympus PEN-F camera was introduced in 1963.

53 years later, the design of the new camera is reminiscent of that first model without looking dated. The golden mean, which, in our opinion, the developers of Olympus succeeded very well.

Olympus PEN-F combines retro and modern

A very simple looking front, classic branding, a distinct surface on each dial, even the shutter has a special thread to connect the remote shutter cable that is often used in analog photography.

As a modern touch, the Olympus PEN-F features a 3-inch swivel and flip-out display, a front-panel wheel that gives access to all sorts of effects and color filters, and finally, an electronic viewfinder, new to the PEN series. Even the coolest model before this PEN E-P5 did without it. Viewfinder screen resolution is quite good - 2.36 million pixels, in practice, this means a very realistic display of the frame.

Dual Image Stabilizer

Olympus PEN-F: Super-Resolution Mode Automatically Creates Eight individual frames and combines them into a 50 megapixel image

The developers of the Olympus PEN-F took the plunge and after seven years of using 16-megapixel Four-Thirds sensors in their cameras, they changed it to a 20-megapixel version.

Most likely, this is the manufacturer's reaction to the current trend of increasing the resolution of matrices. Successful work Four-Thirds sensors with increased resolution have already been proven by Panasonic's Lumix GX8. Therefore, with even greater impatience, we were waiting for the results of testing and practical use of new items from Olympus.

The results left us with mixed feelings. As we expected, the edge sharpness of the PEN-F is superior to any previous Olympus mirrorless camera. The PEN-F has a maximum of 1885 line pairs per image height, about 200 line pairs more than the 16 megapixel OM-D E-M5 Mark II.

As the sensitivity increases, the measured resolution does not deteriorate much, and even at ISO 1600 we got a good result of 1686 line pairs per frame height. But still, the level of resolution does not reach the performance of the GX8.

A different picture emerges in terms of the transfer of small details of the image. Even if the measurement results of Olympus PEN-F and GX8 are approximately on the same level, photographs taken with an Olympus camera, when visually controlled, show a greater level of softening of the optical pattern of the image. Since the PEN-F has a lower level of image noise, we conclude that the built-in filter, which powerfully suppresses "noisy" pixels, is to blame for the slightly reduced level of detail reproduction. Because of this, already starting from ISO 800, we observe a softening of the optical pattern when transferring small details. And from the level of ISO 1600, this effect is even stronger.

In short, the PEN-F generally delivers good image quality, but it's nowhere near the level of the larger APS-C sensors.

Olympus PEN-F: Despite the high-quality magnesium alloy, the body is not splashproof

Camera control is designed more for experienced photographers. In addition to the usual automatic modes, the camera has all the possibilities for manual control and for remote control over the shooting process.

Thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi module, Olympus PEN-F can wirelessly communicate with a smartphone. By downloading the free Olympus Image Share app, the photographer can use their smartphone to change any camera settings.

The 5-axis image stabilizer built into the matrix helps a lot in practice, which very effectively compensates for small movements. The only negative is that the sound of the stabilizer is so loud that in a quiet environment it is perceived as an annoying noise. This can be especially annoying when shooting video.

Generally speaking, video filming plays rather a secondary role. While the direct competitor with Panasonic's Micro-Four-Thirds system has long been able to shoot high-resolution 4K video, the Olympus camera is still only Full-HD. Of course, this is enough for many fans, but Olympus missed the chance to interest professional videographers.

But, despite this, PEN-F has a video mode that is not bad for mirrorless cameras, with several manual settings. You can silently change aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and more while shooting using the side menu on the touch screen.

The camera allows you to shoot video at a frequency of 60 frames with a bit rate of up to 52 Mbps. If you set the maximum to 77 Mbps, then you will have to be content with 30 frames per second. Unfortunately, the Olympus camera does not have microphone and headphone jacks.

Fast and Accurate

Olympus PEN-F: Includes external flash with guide number 12.9 and tilt head

New model from Olympus specializes in snapshots. In daylight, the response lag was only 0.16 seconds. And what results will we get under conditions of insufficient lighting? And in such a situation, the camera does not show any slack, the descent during testing worked in just 0.33 seconds.

The delay is so short that it is almost not perceived. The fact that the PEN-F results in speed measurements are not so good is due to burst shooting, although the camera takes nine frames in RAW format and ten JPEGs per second, but the number of frames in the burst is only 30 to 40.

The battery performance is also rather average. On one charge camera PEN-F will allow you to shoot from 240 to 520 frames (if you use the Live-View mode on the display). When using the electronic viewfinder, which has a higher resolution, the number of shots is reduced to 220 - 480 shots.

Alternative Model

Who is looking best model for the money, we suggest you take a closer look at our winner in the price-performance category among mirrorless digital cameras. We will tell you about the best camera in this category. Information on all tested mirrorless and mirrorless models, sorted by price-performance category, can be found in.

TEST RESULTS
Image quality (40%)
Equipment and management (35%)
Performance (10%)
Video quality (15%)
CONCLUSION Olympus PEN-F left a mixed impression during testing. True, the mirrorless camera of the Micro-Four-Thirds system pleases with good image quality with a resolution of 20 megapixels, fast autofocus and rich equipment, including an electronic viewfinder and a touch screen. But the video mode and burst shooting are a little out of proportion to the high price tag. Competing cameras perform slightly better.	81.4% OVERALL RESULT

Specifications and test results of Olympus Pen-F

Price-quality ratio	69
Camera type	DSLM
Effective number of pixels	20.2 MP
Maximum photo resolution	5184 x 3888 pixels
Sensor type	MOS
Sensor dimensions	17.4x13mm
Cleaning the sensor	Yes
Built-in stabilizer (in camera)	Yes
Video recording	Yes
Lens mount	Micro Four Thirds
Lens when evaluating image quality	Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Makro
Lens when evaluating performance	Olympus M.Zuiko 3.5-6.3/12-50
Minimum shutter release time	1/16.000 c
Maximum shutter release time	60 s
Viewfinder	electronic
Viewfinder coating	100 %
Viewfinder magnification	0.62x
Display: diagonal	3.0 inches
Display: resolution	1.040.000 subpixels
Display: touchscreen	Yes
Display: Trigger video recording from the touchscreen	Yes
Display: Rotatable	turning
Display: selfie mode	Yes
Second display	-
Orientation sensor	Yes
GPS	-
Minimum ISO	ISO 80
Maximum ISO	ISO 25.600
Min. flash sync time	1/250 c
White balance (number of presets)	4 Presets
White balance: Kelvin	Yes
Resolution at ISO min	1.885 line pairs
Resolution at ISO 400	1.794 line pairs
Resolution at ISO 800	1.758 line pairs
Resolution at ISO 1600	1.686 line pairs
Resolution at ISO 3200	1.693 line pairs
Resolution at ISO 6400	1,550 line pairs
Detail at ISO min	83,5 %
Detail at ISO 400	80,9 %
Detail at ISO 800	85,7 %
Detail at ISO 1600	80,9 %
Detail at ISO 3200	75,7 %
Detail at ISO 6400	73,2 %
Visual noise at ISO min	0.78 VN (0.8 VN1, 0.6 VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 400	0.97 VN (1.0 VN1, 0.7 VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 800	1.06 VN (1.1 VN1, 0.7 VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 1600	1.35 VN (1.4 VN1, 0.9 VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 3200	1.63 VN (1.7 VN1, 1.0 VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 6400	2.21VN (2.3VN1, 1.4VN3)
Expert Judgment: Noise and Detail at ISO Min	very good
Expert Review: Noise and Detail at ISO 1600	Good
Expert Review: Noise and Detail at ISO 3200	satisfactorily
Expert Review: Noise and Detail at ISO 6400	acceptable
Ready time to shoot from off state	1.8 s
Shutter release delay time for manual focus	0.10s
Shutter lag time with autofocus in daylight	-
Shutter release time with autofocus in low light	-
Shutter lag time in Live-View with autofocus in daylight	0.33 s
Burst speed in RAW	9.0 photos/sec
Burst length in RAW	30 photos at a time
JPEG Burst Speed	10.0 photos/sec
JPEG burst length	40 photos at a time
Battery	BLN-1
Battery cost	55
Battery: max. photos with flash	220 photos
Battery: max. photos without flash	480 photos
Battery: max. photos in Live-View with flash	520 photos
Battery: max. photos in Live-View without flash	240 photos
Battery: video recording duration	2:24 h:min
Microphone jack	-
Built-in flash	Yes
Flash control	Yes
Remote shutter release	-
Memory card type	SDXC
WLAN	Yes
NFC	-
Housing material	aluminum
Housing: dust and splash proof	-
Dimensions	125 x 72 x 37 mm
Weight without lens	427 g

Olympus PEN-F is a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses Micro-4/3 standard. Formally, the PEN line is the youngest compared to OM-D. Under the PEN brand, models are produced for which style and image, appearance and usability are especially important, while OM-D cameras are designed more for advanced photo enthusiasts, and only among OM-D cameras are there models that Olympus itself considers corresponding to the professional level.

Nevertheless, the new PEN-F camera has technical characteristics that are at least not inferior, and in some places even superior, to the level of top OM-D models. For the first time in the cameras of Olympus Micro 4/3 system a resolution matrix of 20 megapixels is used. Until now, all PEN and OM-D cameras had 12 megapixel matrices (in the first models) or 16 megapixel matrices (in recent years). The manufacturer notes that, despite the higher resolution, the level digital noise did not grow (which allows us to call the new matrix "low-noise"), and the dynamic range did not narrow.

The PEN-F is the second Olympus camera to feature an innovative Hi-Res mode. In this mode, the camera takes eight frames in quick succession, performing a microshift of the matrix from frame to frame and, as it were, collecting information that the lens forms into one resulting frame. So far, the first and only model with Hi-Res mode has been Olympus OM-D E-M5 II, which can take 40-megapixel shots, and now a similar mode is implemented in PEN-F - with the difference that, since the matrix resolution is higher (20 MP vs. 16 MP), PEN-F Hi-Res shots have a resolution of 50 Mp. In principle, this is the highest resolution implemented to date in compact system cameras, however, it should be noted that since the shooting process in Hi-Res lasts about a second, this mode can only be fully used with a tripod, and it is not suitable for shooting moving objects.

The Olympus PEN-F uses the same TruePic VII processor as other recent models, as well as a highly effective 5-axis image stabilization system, the same as the OM-D E-M5 Mark II, providing up to five stops of exposure .

The PEN-F has a built-in 2.36 megadot electronic viewfinder, a freely rotating rotatable touchscreen monitor, and the camera can shoot Full HD video. [email protected]/50/30/25/24p, as well as stitching time-lapses in 4K resolution (like the latest OM-D models, at 5 frames per second).

The manufacturer calls the PEN-F a "standard of style and build quality", combining elements of modern design and retro-style of film times. The quality of the materials used and the high level of finish are noted. Separately, it is emphasized that there is not a single visible screw on the surface of the camera. Indeed, PEN-F looks very impressive, it's hard not to agree with that.

The model will be available in two color options - with silver elements (as in the illustrations above) and completely black:

The PEN-F does not have a built-in flash, but external flashes can be installed in the hot shoe connector. Includes FL-LM3 miniature flash head with 9.1 guide number.

Main specifications Olympus PEN-F:

Compact, rugged and lightweight rangefinder-style design.
New 20 MP LIVE MOS sensor in 4/3 format (17.3x13.0 mm).
Five-axis optical stabilization system on a matrix shift (working both for stills and video shooting), with automatic recognition of the optimal mode, taking into account panning (S-IS Auto).
Dual core TruePic VII processor.
Touchscreen monitor with a diagonal of 3″, resolution 1.04 Mdots 3:2 format, freely rotating in two axes.
The ability to operate the display in the "Touchscreen AF" mode - you look into the viewfinder, and indicate the focus point on the display.
Built-in 2,360,000 dot high-resolution OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) with eye sensor and 100% field of view.
Possibility of transferring the EVI to the “Optical viewfinder simulation” mode (at the same time, the input exposure compensation and other settings are displayed immediately on the main monitor, but not in the EVI).
Sensitivity range from ISO200 (with ISO80 extension) to ISO25600.
Fast shutter speeds from 1/8000 second (and from 1/16000 with electronic shutter).
Continuous shooting up to 10 fps (or up to 5 fps with autofocus working).
Contrast autofocus with 81 zones (9x9), with group selection, with face and near eye detection.
Peaking function during manual focusing (outlining objects that are in focus).
Focus bracketing function (Focus BKT), with setting the number of frames and the amount of focus plane shift.
New control - Creative Dial - provides instant access to four creative image modes - CRT (Color Creator), ART (Art Filter), COLOR (Color Profile Control) and MONO (Monochrome Profile Control) .
On-the-fly perspective distortion correction.
Video recording in Full HD resolution [email protected]/50/30/25/24p, ALL-I format at 77 Mbps (at 30/25p), IPB at 52 Mbps. Fast and slow motion video options.
Recording stereo sound when shooting video.
Interval shooting with the possibility of gluing time-lapse videos.
Connector for external flash and other accessories.
Built-in WiFi for remote control and transferring files to external devices.
Overall dimensions (according to the manufacturer, the case without protruding parts): 125 x 72 x 37 mm.
Weight (with battery and memory card): 427 g.

Now compatible for easy comparison in one table are the most important features of three Olympus cameras released recently - OM-D E-M10 Mark II, E-M5 Mark II and PEN-F. The winning moments highlighting one of the models are marked in green, the relatively weak moments are marked in red.

Olympus Camera	OM-D E-M10 Mark II	OM-D E-M5 Mark II	PEN-F
Matrix	16 MP live MOS	16 MP live MOS	20 MP live MOS
CPU	TruePic VII	TruePic VII	TruePic VII
Image stabilization	5-axis (4EV)	5-axis (5EV)	5-axis (5EV)
electronic shutter	Yes	Yes	Yes
Minimum exposure	1/4000 s	1/8000 s (1/16000 with electronic shutter)	1/8000 s (1/16000 with electronic shutter)
ISO range	200-25600 (with extension 100-25600)	200-25600 (with extension 100-25600)	200-25600 (with extension 80-25600)
Monitor	1.04 Mpoints 3″ LCD Inclined Sensory	1.04 Mpoints 3″ LCD Rotating Sensory	1.04 Mpoints 3″ LCD Rotating Sensory
built-in electronic viewfinder	2.36 Mpoints OLED 0.62x	2.36 Mpoints OLED 0.74x	2.36 Mpoints OLED 0.62x
Touchpad AF mode	There is	Not	There is
Burst shooting	8.5 fps	10 fps	10 fps
Built-in flash	There is	Not	Not
Video filming	Full HD [email protected] 0/50/30/25/24p	Full HD [email protected]/50/30/25/24p	Full HD [email protected]/50/30/25/24p
Time-lapse 4K	Yes (5 fps)	There is (with firmware v 2.0)	Yes (5 fps)
microphone jack	Not	There is	Not
Focus bracketing	There is	There is (with firmware v 2.0)	There is
Protected execution	Not	Yes	Not
dimensions	120 x 83 x 47mm	124 x 85 x 45mm	125 x 72 x 37mm
The weight	390 g	469 g	427 g
Cost benchmark	40000 rub	63000 rub	90000

The Olympus PEN-F will go on sale in February 2016 and will be offered in two color versions - completely black and with silver elements. The main configuration options will be.

The Olympus PEN E-PL7 image sensor inherits from the previous models PL5 and PL6 - 16.05MP Live MOS. But to replace the TruePic VI processor in the new mirrorless camera, the manufacturer uses a next-generation chip - TruePic VII.

The old sensor and the new processor, according to the declared characteristics, in combination give the same continuous shooting speed as previous cameras: eight frames per second at full resolution with autofocus and exposure lock on the first frame. With exposure control between shots, the E-PL7 shoots 3.7 fps, earlier cameras 3.6 fps.

The ISO sensitivity range of the new camera is from 200 to 25600, with an extension to ISO 100 at the lower end, which is the same sensitivity as the PL6. The only thing missing from the Olympus PL5 is lower limit extension.

And, of course, the novelty is familiar to compact system cameras Olympus Micro Four Thirds lens mount.

Taking a selfie with the Olympus PEN E-PL7

The most obvious difference between the Olympus E-PL7 and earlier cameras is the LCD display with the updated tilt mechanism. The PL5 and PL6 have 3-inch 460k-dot touchscreens that tilt up 180 degrees for selfies, while the PL7 flips out the other way.

Olympus makes a number of arguments in favor of this curious change. First, now you do not have to block the lens, and, consequently, the view of the camera, reaching out to the touch screen. Secondly, it became possible to install a flash for shooting selfies through a hot shoe, before placing it would have blocked the screen. Even without connecting additional accessories, the hot shoe itself and the controls on the top panel of the case partially covered the bottom of the display.

The new Olympus PL7 screen tilts 180 degrees down and 80 degrees up. This means that it is not obscured by either the camera body or the flash. The resolution of the capacitive display has increased to 1037 thousand dots.

The new screen design is also associated with an improved graphical user interface. As soon as you flip the display down, it will show touch buttons: shutter release, e-Portrait function and a customizable self-timer, so you can quickly and easily take a selfie.

Unfortunately, the new tilting display mechanism is only really useful for taking selfies with long arms. Mounting the camera on a comfortable surface or on a tripod means cluttering up the LCD screen. Therefore, we would have preferred a more versatile, fully articulated tilt-and-turn LCD that flips out to the side, which also gives you the ability to view the scene from difficult angles, take self-portraits, and fold the LCD screen inward to keep it clean and protected from bumps. and scratches.

Improved hull

The body of the Olympus E-PL7 has been redesigned. It's a bit bigger and heavier than before: 4.4mm wider, 3.3mm taller and therefore 0.2mm deeper. Weight increased by 32g. Battery capacity in the new camera has increased to 1210mAh compared to 1150mAh in the previous camera, resulting in an increase in battery life from 320 to 350 shots (CIPA).

With the increase in size, the location of the controls has improved. The total number of them remained unchanged, but the manufacturer replaced the small, uncomfortable ring with a metal disc that surrounds the shutter button. Now the index and thumb will be able to sit comfortably here. All rear panel controls have migrated to right side away from the LCD monitor, the area above the display is smooth and clean. (Presumably, shooting with one hand will be more convenient.)

And a couple of notable changes to the body: the faux leather trim covers almost the entire surface of the camera, and not just the capture area as before. And the handle in the E-PL7 is not removable, and the name of the line "Olympus PEN" now proudly flaunts on the front panel from the top right.

Improved image stabilization system

The Olympus PL7 has received an upgraded image stabilization system that puts it somewhere between the early PL5, PL6, PM2 and the top-of-the-line P5. The last one mentioned is equipped with a five-axis stabilization system, the rest of the earlier models are equipped with two-axis stabilization.

For the PL7, engineers have saved a three-axis stabilization system that dampens vertical, horizontal and tilting camera vibrations, according to the manufacturer, with an efficiency of 3.5EV, compared to the 3EV correction in the PL5 and PL6.

And one more improvement: the new system camera has an additional image stabilization mode in addition to the other three already familiar to us from the PL-series. The fourth mode just automatically selects one of the other three based on the movements it detects, like when you're busy panning or whatever.

Improved autofocus system in Olympus PEN E-PL7

Autofocus has been improved. It's still Olympus' proprietary FAST ("Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology") autofocus, but now features 81 focus points, up from 35 on earlier models. Also appeared mode Super Spot AF, in which the focus is on a small area of the frame from 0.02 to 0.16% of the image surface.

Exposure compensation

We have already noted the extended sensitivity range - compared to the PL5 - from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. The E-PL7 also features a wide exposure compensation range of +/-5EV, in the previous camera +/-3EV. And finally, the novelty provides four custom white balance settings instead of two.

Wireless connection

The Olympus E-PL7 system camera has a built-in wireless WiFi networks 802.11b/g/n. Combined with the updated OI Share app for Android and iOS smart devices, it allows you to quickly share images. The app gives you the ability to remotely control the shutter release, and also supports Live Bulb mode and allows you to stream or shoot video, although clips are limited to seven minutes.

While the Olympus PL7 lacks NFC technology for one-touch connection to Android devices, you can connect almost as quickly using a QR code displayed on the camera's LCD as with past Olympus models. In addition, unlike NFC, this approach works with Apple gadgets, the manufacturer of which stubbornly refuses to support the NFC standard in their devices.

New creative tools

The E-PL7 System Camera offers an impressive array of new creative tools and features. There are two new shooting modes: Panning Shot (panning or panning) and Hand-held Twilight (hand-held twilight - combines eight frames in one with reduced noise and high speed shutter).

We've already mentioned the new e-Portrait mode and the self-timer, which is handy for self-portraits, as it allows you to set the number of shots and adjust the shooting interval. By taking several consecutive selfies, you can change the pose and transform the images just like in the Photo Booth program.

The Olympus PL7 is the first camera to offer HDR mode, along with a bracketing feature that lets you combine four images into one. All four shots at fixed ISO 200 and a maximum exposure time of one second can be combined in a realistic or artistic style.

There are also two new artistic filters: vintage and partial color. Each of them has three different effects. For partial color, there is an interesting interface that allows you to select 18 different shades with a control dial on the top panel.

Finally, Olympus' Photo Story feature with a hold mode that allows you to pause a story in progress and then return to complete it.

Video recording

The Olympus E-PL7, like previous cameras, records Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels; 1080p) video at 30 frames per second, but the maximum bit rate is now 24 Mbps, compared to 20 Mbps in earlier models.

The new camera also offers an additional Old Film effect for video, and it uses a 3-axis sensor-shift stabilization system in movie mode instead of electronic stabilization.

You can shoot 720p frame-by-frame video if desired, a mode inherited from the E-PL6. The E-PL7 has a new microphone volume limiter feature.

Memory card compatibility

Like its predecessor cameras, the Olympus E-PL7 stores images on SD (Secure Digital Card) memory cards: SDHC, SDXC, UHS-I and Eye-Fi. Although the latter from the list are unlikely to be useful, given the presence WiFi module in the camera. Compatibility with Toshiba FlashAir wireless cards, Eye-Fi competitors, is not mentioned anywhere.

Camera at work

How many beautiful and stylish cameras have passed through our hands! But, unfortunately, often the convenience of management was sacrificed to design. And although the Olympus PEN cannot boast of excellent ergonomics, like those of professional DSLRs, we must admit that it is convenient to control it. A small brick camera fits well in the hand. The thumb of the right hand lies unmistakably on the control drum on the rear panel. But holding the camera with one hand is not very comfortable.

Often there is a desire to bring the camera to the eye. You remember about the lack of an optical viewfinder at the last moment. Probably, for such conservative photographers who cannot imagine shooting without it, the developers have released an interchangeable viewfinder installed in the hot shoe. Naturally, it works with only one lens - the pancake M. ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm 1:2.8. Such a viewfinder can only help with the composition of the frame. It does not display any information.

In addition to the M. ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm 1:2.8, Olympus has released another lens specifically for the micro 4/3 standard - the M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 . It is not so compact and when unfolded it does not look very natural on a small camera. But when transporting, it folds almost in half, and unfolds with a simple turn of the zoom ring.

It takes about a second to turn on the camera. At this time, a barely noticeable vibration is felt inside - the system for cleaning the matrix from dust is working. Focusing of the lens is carried out according to the contrast principle, as in compacts. Despite this, the Olympus PEN focuses quickly and accurately. Autofocus can be performed on the center point, automatically selected, or manually selected. Focusing with face detection is provided (this is the mode we used when shooting a test still life). The manual focus mode is well thought out in the camera. When the focusing ring of the lens is moved, the display shows an enlarged section of the frame, which is very easy to focus manually. The camera has no shutter lag. Continuous shooting is carried out at a speed of 3 frames per second. The series is limited to 10 frames in RAW format.

E-P1 SETTINGS: ISO 200, F11, 1/400s

The Olympus PEN display has a diagonal of 3 inches and a resolution of 230,000 dots, which has already become modest for premium cameras. However, the image on it is bright and contrasting. If you increase the brightness of the backlight in the menu, then there will be no problems when shooting in bright sunlight. In the same menu, you can adjust the color rendering of the display.

The lack of a built-in flash can make shooting in poor lighting conditions somewhat difficult. After all, sometimes the built-in flash helps to make just unique shots. However, many experienced photographers have a very negative attitude towards built-in flashes. Some photographers fundamentally do not use the built-in flash, justifying this by saying that the lighting is flat. Those who still need a flash can purchase the FL-14. This flash is compact and designed specifically for the Olympus PEN. But its main drawback is the inability to turn the “head” up or to the side. That is, the lighting will be as flat as when using the built-in flash of other cameras.

E-P1 SETTINGS: ISO 200, F5.6, 1/60s

If you want to get more opportunities when working with artificial lighting, you will have to think about purchasing older flash models, which can be larger and heavier than the camera itself in terms of weight and dimensions.

Thus, one of the main advantages of this camera - compactness - you will be able to appreciate only when using a pancake lens. With flash and M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 lens size gain compared to amateur DSLRs becomes minimal.

Interface

The developers of the Olympus PEN have implemented almost two different menus in the camera: the main one (called by the Menu button) and the quick one (called by the central button of the navipad). The main menu contains mainly the settings of the camera itself or those settings that are not subject to frequent changes. The quick menu contains basic shooting options. In addition, a number of shooting parameters are controlled using the navigation pad keys. The functions of the thumb control cylinder can be customized for each shooting mode. In the menu, you can also separately program one of the buttons - Fn. So, in terms of control efficiency, Olympus PEN is not inferior to amateur DSLRs.

A number of post-processing functions are available in playback mode, from simple cropping to quick RAW-to-JPEG conversion.

Video filming

The camera can shoot video with a resolution of 1280x720 (30 fps) and 640x480 (30 fps). Sound recording is only possible with the built-in microphone. But when zooming or focusing on the recording, extraneous sounds emitted by the lens are clearly audible. Autofocus is possible in movie recording mode. But when shooting moving subjects, autofocus sometimes loses its focus, and then there is a brief refocusing cycle.

Technology and heritage rarely go hand in hand. When the task is to move forward, looking back is rarely encouraged. However, the photographic industry stands apart. Camera manufacturers are constantly building on their heritage and past experiences that directly connect the present with the past. At Olympus, this legacy is largely shaped by the vision and dedication of years of work by one man, Yoshihis Maitani, the famed designer who brought the PEN and OM film cameras to the world.

Film camera Olympus PEN F

It was this legacy that Olympus relied on to design its first Micro 4/3 (or M43) format digital cameras, which became known as the PEN line. And in the updated series of OM-D cameras, starting from and ending with the current flagship, the manufacturer has taken it to a new level. The OM-D series was so successful that PEN was almost forgotten.

Up to this day. The company's latest retro product (MSRP $1,199 without lens) is the culmination of many years of hard work by the renowned manufacturer. With its sleek, old-school body and plenty of manual adjustments, this stylish compact mirrorless camera not only looks like the company's classic cameras, but also embodies all of Olympus' most advanced imaging technologies.

Design and ergonomics

Really incredibly cute

The funny thing is that, despite the name PEN-F, this digital Olympus resembles the Leica III film rangefinder even more than the original Olympus PEN-F film camera. Its film ancestor, the PEN-F, did not have as many knobs and other controls and was easier to operate. We should also not forget that the original PEN-F was not arranged in the style of a classic rangefinder and miraculously contained a full-fledged reflex viewfinder in its thin metal body.

So why not completely succumb to retrospective motives and create a neat, minimalist PEN-F that is more like its famous progenitor? Although, we must pay tribute, all the numerous knobs, regulators and selectors of the new PEN-F, which modern photo enthusiasts go crazy for, are perfectly inscribed by the developers into its original design. Think it's a cassette rewind knob? But no, it's a notched power switch.

In addition, a large, visible wheel on the front of the camera raises the (threaded) shutter button to a user-friendly position. If you look closely, you can even find some genes of the OM-D line in the appearance of the updated model, such as a locking shooting mode selector. It has become an indicator of the inevitability of evolution, while receiving four custom settings. The new PEN-F is also the first Olympus product to feature a dedicated exposure compensation dial, giving the camera's two main control selectors more control over other settings.

But it's too early to say that everything in the new Olympus camera is perfect. Directly below the shooting mode selector, the developers have placed a new image color settings switch that adjusts the curves colors, filters, vignetting and access to other image adjustment functions. This switch is too close to the critical rear control wheel, so confusion is inevitable. What's more, the color settings switch is extremely sensitive - even a slight movement of the finger off the control wheel was enough to accidentally press it.

Olympus has given its updated PEN-F a 7.5 cm swivel touchscreen LCD that is very reminiscent of camcorder displays and is sure to please many M43 camera fans and fans of the brand. Some hobbyists prefer the flip-out display like the , while others prefer the PEN-F.

The new camera certainly lacks all-weather qualities, although the build quality and solidity of the display and its swivel mechanism are undeniable. What we liked most about the display is the leatherette finish on it. reverse side, completely similar to the finish of the front of the camera body. Turning the display face inward makes the camera look very much like a compact film camera.

Given the small geometric dimensions of the new model, its rear panel contains an impressive set of all kinds of controls. The buttons protrude above the case just enough to be used without looking, and the thumb rests perfectly on the rubber-covered small bulge on the case. This helps distinguish the camera from previous PEN models and while the body of the PEN E-P5 was a bit slippery, the PEN-F sits securely in the hand.

As an accessory, Olympus will offer users additional holder, which allows you to mount the camera on a tripod using the Arca-Swiss connector. But if you only shoot with the small M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 lens, you probably won't need this accessory.

Functionality

PEN has finally got a built-in electronic viewfinder!

What the PEN line of cameras has sorely lacked since the introduction of the first E-P1 model is a built-in viewfinder. All PEN film cameras were equipped with them, but the PEN digital line always lacked an electronic viewfinder. In the PEN-F model, the viewfinder is built right into the body.

And this is not some ordinary EVI! Equipped with a 2.36 million dot OLED panel, the viewfinder delivers a large (1.08 optical zoom), colorful and detailed image. It also features the S-OVF feature, first introduced with the , which does not apply exposure or color adjustments to the image you see.

most best feature The new PEN-F, of course, has become a 5-axis image stabilization system, borrowed from the model. Olympus claims it eliminates camera shake in five directions and remains effective up to 5 stops (measured by CIPA). Together with the stabilization system, the high-resolution shooting mode has also migrated to the new camera, in which the maximum image detail is achieved by shifting the matrix. The PEN-F's 20-megapixel sensor in this mode makes it possible to shoot in RAW format at a whopping 10368×7776 pixels, which is equivalent to 80 megapixels!

Olympus has paid a lot of attention to the functionality of numerous built-in filters and editors, giving the PEN-F features never seen before. A dedicated selector on the front of the camera lets you choose the most suitable art filter, custom color profile, or one of several new monochrome modes (including new tints and color filter simulations). While I still shoot most of my photos in RAW, being able to just select the right filter and shoot to my heart's content without having to worry about tedious post-processing is very impressive and inspiring.

Pen-F monochrome filter example

Unfortunately, there are several unfortunate omissions. The most significant is the lack of resistance to adverse weather conditions, which the new and can boast. The compact body of the PEN-F also means that the SD card is located next to the battery and does not have an independent access slot.

The manufacturer has also kept its customizable 2×2 dual-dial control system intact, apparently to minimize potential confusion as users adapt to the new camera.

Olympus PEN-F Performance

Olympus' first 20-megapixel sensor does a great job

Until recently, 16 megapixels was the ceiling for Micro 4/3 cameras. But after the transition of Canon, Sony and Nikon models to the range of 30+ megapixels, it was only a matter of time before compacting the matrixes of cameras of the above format. And while it was the first to break the 20-megapixel barrier in the M43 class, Olympus is only now venturing beyond the calm waters of the 16-megapixel harbor with its new PEN-F. So far, everything suggests that the navigation of the new ship will be calm, even despite the slightly smaller physical size of the pixels.

Download original / Focal length 17mm, Shutter speed 1/60s, Aperture f/1.8, ISO 500 © Kyle Looney

Original download / Focal length 12mm, Shutter speed 1/6400 s, Aperture f/2.2, ISO 200 © Kyle Looney

Original download / Focal length 12mm, Shutter speed 1/8000 s, Aperture f/2.2, ISO 200 © Kyle Looney

Original download / Focal length 12mm, Shutter speed 1/5000 s, Aperture f/2.5, ISO 200 © Kyle Looney

In addition, the manufacturer managed to cram everything that we liked so much in the model into a smaller case. So the PEN-F gets the same 1/8000 second minimum shutter speed, 5-axis image stabilization, battery, 81-point AF system, and even the TruePix GPU, all of which combine to predictably deliver very similar overall performance.

C laboratory tests The PEN-F performed brilliantly, demonstrating the improved capabilities of the new photosensitive sensor. The image is more detailed (as you'd expect) and background noise is reduced a bit, although you still don't want to go higher than ISO 3200. Video quality new apparatus also outperforms most other Olympus cameras by taking advantage of the advanced video capabilities of the . However, serious videographers will still opt for the Panasonic thanks to 4K support and other important features such as the ability to connect an external microphone and headphones.

Olympus PEN-F: Conclusions

Maitani-san's legacy lives on

Despite the imperfect digital transformation of the original, the new Olympus PEN-F turned out to be stylish and solid, and fans of the brand and just photography lovers will appreciate it. Cynics might say that this is nothing more than a reduced stylized copy of the model, but working with PEN-F is perceived in a completely different way. The aesthetic excellence and creative touches in the design of Olympus' new brainchild are especially noticeable when compared with other recent models of the PEN line.

However, some obvious shortcomings are still present. So, I cameras are very similar in appearance to PEN-F, while they offer advanced functionality at a lower price. , in particular, is more attractive if you're interested in capturing high-quality 4K video.

The reborn version of the original PEN-F and other models show that Olympus has realized and attaches great importance to the compact design of its products.

But in a market where the vast majority of cameras are "good enough," the process of choosing a camera goes far beyond just looking at a spec page. And Olympus has always understood this, as the original PEN-F, designed by Yoshihisa Maitani, was not only compact and functional, but also extraordinarily beautiful. The revived version has remained true to these principles and will undoubtedly find its fans if it does not become the ancestor of a new heritage.

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