Olympus E-PM1 Review

4.5

October 5, 2011 | Mark Goldstein |

Buy a E-PM1 White Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens

Specifications

Type
Body material	Metal
Lens mount	Micro Four Thirds
Image Sensor
Type	4/3 '' Live MOS sensor
Effective pixels	12.3 Megapixels
Filter array	Primary colour filter (RGB)
Aspect ratio & area	4:3 / 17.3 x 13.0 mm
Full resolution	13.1 Megapixels
Engine
Type	TruePic VI
Filter
Dust reduction filter	Supersonic Wave Filter
IR cut filter	Hybrid type
LPF filter	Fixed type
Live View
Displayed information	Aperture, Shutter speed, Auto bracket, AE lock, Focus mode, Shooting mode, Battery check, My Mode, IS activating mode, Internal temperature warning, Face / Eye detection mode, Record mode, ISO, Sequential shooting mode , White Balance, Metering mode, Exposure compensation value, AF frame display, AF confirmation mark, Shooting information, Spot metering area, Super FP, Flash status, Touch Panel Condition, Focal length, Eye-Fi condition, Flash mode
AF type	Contrast detection system
100% field of view	Approx. 100 %
Magnification levels	5 / 7 / 10 / 14 x
Image Stabiliser
Type	Sensor shift
Modes	Two-dimensional, vertical or horizontal activation
Shutter speed range	2 - 1/4000 s (not available when Bulb is selected)
Focusing System
Method	Contrast Detection AF system (when non high-speed contrast AF compatible lens is used, it works as MF assist)
Focus areas	35 points / Automatic and manual selection
AF lock	Yes , Locked by first position of shutter release button in single AF mode, AE/AF lock button (customised)
Modes	Manual focus, Single AF, Continuous AF, Single AF + MF, AF Tracking
AF illuminator	Yes
Face Detection extension	Eye Detect AF: Off, Left side priority, Near side priority, Right side priority
Full time AF	Yes
Manual focus	Yes , With enlarged focusing area
Exposure System
Modes	Programme automatic, i-Auto, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual, Scene Modes, Art Filter
Exposure compensation	+/- 3 EV ( 1, 1/2, 1/3 steps )
Exposure bracketing	2 / 3 / 5 frames ( +/- 1/3, 2/3, 1 EV steps ) 7 frames ( +/- 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 EV steps )
ISO bracketing	5 frames ( 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps )
AE lock	Yes (Fn1/Rec button)
My Mode	4 settings storable
Enhancement function	Shadow Adjustment Technology
Scene Modes
Number of scene modes	24
Modes	Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape, Landscape with Portrait, Macro, Sports, Night Scene, Night Scene with portrait, Children, High key, Low key, Digital Image Stabilisation, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Documents, Panorama, Fireworks, Beach and Snow, Fisheye converter, Macro converter, 3D
Multi-Exposure
Max. number of frames	2 frames (shooting) 3 frames (editing)
Auto gain control	Yes
Frame assistance	Live View
Light Metering
Method	TTL open aperture light metering
Zones	324 zones Multi-pattern Sensing System
Detection range	0 - 20 EV (17mm f2.8, ISO 100)
Modes	ESP light metering, Spot metering, Centre weighted metering, Highlight, Shadow
Art Filter
Modes	Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Dramatic Tone
Sensitivity
Auto	ISO 200 - 12800 (customisable, default ISO 200 - 1600)
Manual	ISO 200 - 12800
Shutter
Shutter type	Computerised focal-plane shutter
Self timer	2 s / 12 s
Shutter Speeds
Shutter speed range	1/4000 - 60 s (in 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps)
Bulb mode	Up to 30 minutes (selectable longest time in the menu, default: 8 minutes)
White Balance
AUTO WB system	Advanced detection system with Live MOS sensor
Manual White balance (One-Touch)	Yes
White balance bracketing	3 frames / +/- 2, 4, 6 mired steps
One-touch white balance	2 custom settings can be registered
Custom WB	1 setting can be registered at Kelvin temperature (2000K - 14000K)
Preset values	Tungsten, Flourescent 1, Sunlight, Flash, Overcast, Shade
Auto Flash adjustment	Off / Auto WB / Flash
Keep warm colour	On / Off
Sequence Shooting
Speed (H)	Approx. 4.1 fps Approx. fps 5.5 fps (when I.S. is switched off)
Image Processing
Colour space	sRGB / AdobeRGB
Sharpness + Contrast	5 levels
Contrast	5 levels
Saturation	5 levels
Black & White filter	Yellow, Orange, Red, Green
Black & White toning	Sepia, Blue, Purple or Green in Black & White mode
Picture mode	i-Enhance, Vivid, Natural, Portrait, Muted, Monotone, Art Filter
Gradation	4 levels (auto, high key, normal, low key)
Engine	TruePic VI
Art Filter bracketing	Available
Tele converter effect	2 x
Internal Flash
Modes	AUTO, Manual, Manual (Full, 1/4, 1/16, 1/64), Red-eye reduction, Slow synchronisation with red-eye reduction, Slow synchronisation, Slow synchronisation 2nd curtain, Fill-in, Off
Type	Detachable flash (bundled)
Flash compensation	+/- 3 EV ( 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps )
Guide number	10 (ISO 200)
Manual settings	Full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64
X-sync speed	1/160 s
External Flash Control
X-sync speed	1/160 s / 1/4000 s (Super FP Mode)
Type	TTL AUTO, AUTO, MANUAL, FP TTL AUTO, FP MANUAL
Modes	Auto, Red-eye reduction, Slow synchronisation, 2nd curtain and slow synchronisation, Fill-in for exclusive flash, Manual
Intensity	+/- 3 EV ( 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps ) Note: Some functions are only available if they are supported by the external flash.
Wireless Flash Control
Number of channels	4 channels
Compatible external flash	FL-50R, FL-36R, FL-300R
Control method	Triggered and controlled by built-in flash light
Group setting	3 groups Available when used together with cameras compatible with the Olympus wireless RC flash system.
Monitor
Monitor type	LCD
Monitor size	7.6 cm / 3.0 '' (16:9)
Resolution	460000 dots
Brightness adjustment	+/- 7 levels
Colour balance	A-B: +/-7 levels, G-M: +/-7 levels
Super Control Panel
Displayed information	Battery indicator, Record mode, Shutter speed, Aperture value, Exposure compensation indicatior, ISO, AE bracketing, AF frame, Focus mode, AEL notification, Face detection, Number of storable frames, Metering mode, Exposure mode, Exposure level view, Flash compensation value, Colour space, Gradation, Colour saturation compensation value, Sharpness compensation value, Contrast compensation value, White balance, White balance compensation value, Noise reduction, Flash mode, Drive mode, Internal temperature warning, Histogram
Recording Formats
RAW	12 bit
RAW & JPEG	Yes parallel recording
JPEG	Yes
Aspect ratio	4:3 / 3:2 / 16:9 / 6:6 / 3:4
MPO (3D)	Yes
Image Size
RAW	4032 x 3024 compressed / 13.8 MB / frame 4032 x 3024 Fine (compression: 1/4) / 5.9 MB / frame 4032 x 3024 Normal (compression: 1/8) / 2.7 MB / frame 2560 x 1920 Normal (compression: 1/8) 1.1 MB / frame 1024 x 768 Normal (compression: 1/8) / 0.3 MB / frame
Still Image Recording
EXIF	2.2
PIM	III
DPOF	Yes
DCF	Yes
Movie Recording System
Recording format	AVCHD / AVI Motion JPEG®
Image Stabilisation Mode	Yes Digital Image Stabilisation
HD Movie quality	Full HD 1920 x 1080 (16:9) 60i, 17Mbps (AVCHD) Full HD 1920 x 1080 (16:9) 60i, 13Mbps HD 1280 x 720 (16:9) 60p, 17Mbps HD 1280 x 720 (16:9) 60p, 13Mbps HD 1280 x 720 (16:9) / 30fps (AVI Motion JPEG®)
Movie quality	640 x 480 / 30fps (AVI Motion JPEG®) 14min.
Max. recording time	14 min (SD) / 7 min (HD) (AVI Motion JPEG®)* 29 min (HD) (AVCHD)
Max. file size	2 GB (Motion-JPEG) 4 GB (AVCHD)
Exposure Modes	Aperture priority, Art Filter, Manual, Programme automatic, Shutter priority
Sound Recording System
Internal microphone	Stereo
External microphone	Optional
Recording format	Dolby Digital (AVCHD) Stereo PCM/16bit, 48kHz, Wave Format Base (Motion-JPEG)
Image footage	30 s
Speaker	Yes
View Images
Modes	Index, Calendar, Zoom, Slide show, Movie, Single
Light box	Yes
Histogram in playback mode	Yes
Shooting information	Off / On
Erase / Protect / Copy Function
Erase modes	Single, All, Selected
Image protect mode	Single frame, Selected frames, All Frames, Release protect (Single/All selected)
Image Editing
RAW data edit	Yes
Red-eye reduction	Yes
Sepia	Yes
Black & White	Yes
Resize	Yes
Correction of saturation	Yes
Shadow Adjustment	Yes
Trimming	Yes
e-Portrait	Yes
Menu
Menu languages in camera	English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Czech, Dutch, Danish, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian, Greek, Slovak, Turkish, Latvian, Estonian, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Serbian
Customisation Options
My Mode	4 settings storable
Interface
Media	SD Memory Card (SDHC, SDXC, UHS-I compatible) Class 6 is recommended for Movie shooting
HDMI™	Yes Mini connector (type C) *
USB 2.0 High Speed	Yes
Combined V & USB output	Yes NTSC or PAL selectable * "HDMI", the HDMI logo and "High-Definition Multimedia Interface" are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.
Eye-Fi Card compatible	Yes
Bluetooth®	Yes (with optional adapter PENPAL)
Power Supply
Battery	Lithium-Ion Battery
Sleep mode	1, 3, 5, 10 min. and off selectable.
Live View shooting	Approx. 330 images (50% with Live View) /
Environment
Temperature	0 - 40 °C operating temperature / -20 - 60 °C storage temperature
Humidity	30 - 90 % operation humidity / 10 - 90 % storage humidity
Size
Dimensions (W x H x D)	109.5 x 63.7 x 34.0 mm (without protrusions)
Weight	265 g (including battery and memory card) 217 g (body only)
Exterior
Available Colours	Black, Silver, White, Brown, Purple, Silver-Rose