Olympus E-PL1

Review Index – (updated 31 August’10)

Digitalcamera-hq has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘The type of buyer that will be most satisfied with the E-PL1 is the casual or hobbyist photographer, somebody who has gotten a lot of mileage from his or her compact camera and wants to step up to something that will feel familiar, but with more power.’

TrustedReviews has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – The general impression of the Olympus Pen E-PL1 is not that this is a cut-down version of the E-P2, but that it is well-made high-spec compact camera that has been equipped with interchangeable lenses. This is a true bridge camera offering a good compromise between convenience and creativity, with good performance and superior image quality and at a reasonably affordable price. ‘

AmateurPhotographer has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘While the E-PL1 has excellent image quality and a full complement of manual settings and different metering features, there are a few areas in which the handling and operation could be improved to make it easier for entry-level photographers.’

DPS has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘Quality: as good as many DSLRs that I have tested. I consider that this camera is lunching well above its weight in image quality. Why you’d buy the PEN E-PL1: a highly likeable camera with an easy to follow interface; you want to shot HD movies with zoom and auto focus. Why you wouldn’t: can’t think of a thing!’’

Insidehw has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – A few unnecessary features have been removed, while others, much more useful ones, have been added, resulting in a more appropriate camera for the target market. Improved focus speed compared to PEN E-P1 and E-P2 models (although still slower than classic SLR cameras) and an excellent image quality is what makes this camera a logical choice for all buyers who don’t have serious intentions of delving deep into the SLR world’

Buy-n-Shoot has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘It delivers on all of the promises made by Olympus and is undeniably worth the sub $1,000 investment. The E-PL1 is very impressive overall and thoroughly recommended.’
Buy-n-Shoot Rating:

PhotographyReview has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘The Olympus E-PL1 is one of the best camera values right now. You get almost all the performance of a digital SLR for less money and in a smaller package. Unless you really need superior low light image quality or you’re a serious action shooter, the E-PL1 (or another Micro Four Thirds camera) should be on your camera wish list.’
PhotographyReview Rating:

NeutralDay has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘For the E-PL1 we’re happy to say it’s “Highly Recommended” for both photographers moving up to a bigger sensor camera from a compact and enthusiasts as well, specifically those on a budget. For the serious enthusiast, our preference remains with the Panasonic GF1‘

TigerDirect has posted their video review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘The Olympus PEN E-PL1 is truly greater than the sum of its parts. The Olympus PEN E-PL1′s surprisingly small camera body is packed with technology normally found in bigger, bulkier cameras and High Definition (HD) camcorders.’

TigerDirect Rating:

SlashGear has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘ Excellent image stabilization and strong picture quality, coupled with a chassis that’s easy to pocket and long battery life, add up to a compelling option for the photographer who wants DSLR-style flexibility in a highly mobile package.’
SlashGear Rating:

Macnn has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘The camera is very capable despite its lack of buttons; that Olympus saw fit to shoot a TV ad that used the camera itself is high praise. Still, think carefully about the choice. The E-PL1 is great for merging SLR features with a compact body, but we could see situations where a Nikon D3000, Pentax K-x or even the aging Canon Rebel XS may do the trick.’
Macnn Rating:

PDN has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘Image quality is decent and because the E-PL1, like its predecessors, uses a Micro Four Thirds sensor that’s significantly larger in size than what’s in a regular point-and-shoot model, the camera does a decent job keeping noise down when shooting in low light at high ISOs.’
PDN Rating:

Electronista has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘We almost find the E-PL1 too simplified for our comfort level. Don’t get us wrong: it’s great for what it does, but we like buttons and other such things hanging off the sides of our cameras. It’s still more sophisticated than a point-and-shoot.’
Electronista Rating:

PCAuthority has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘As a luxury second or holiday camera for an enthusiast, the E-PL1 has a lot going for it. If you were thinking about buying a high-end compact you should consider paying the extra for one of these instead.’
PCAuthority Rating:

Helium has posted a video review of the Olympus E-PL1.
Helium Rating:

PopPhoto has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘Overall, we were very pleased with the Pen E-PL1. It matches a lot of what you get with the Panasonic GF1, but knocks off a quarter of that camera’s price. That will almost cover the cost of the optional VF-2 electronic viewfinder. If you want a camera that can deliver DSLR-quality imaging and still fit in a jacket pocket or medium-sized purse, the E-PL1 makes a lot of sense.’
PopPhoto Rating:

InfoSync has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘The Olympus E-PL1 rocks the retro style, has better Art modes, and is more suited for beginners looking to bridge the fixed lens to interchangeable lens gap. Despite its highly competitive price, we’d recommend the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 to more advanced beginners while the Olympus E-PL1 solidifies its place as one of the best bridge cameras we’ve ever tested.’
InfoSync Rating:

DPInterface has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘The Olympus PEN E-PL1 isn’t the perfect camera, but it’s a good choice for anyone wanting the image quality of a large sensor camera and flexibility of interchangeable lenses, without going the whole nine yards to get a big, bulky and pricy digital SLR. The PEN E-PL1 also makes for a nice and affordable secondary camera for existing digital SLR owners.’
DPInterface Rating:

SoftPedia has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘All in all, we’d dare to say that the E-PL1 is a controversial camera, which will probably prove to be quite appealing for the mainstream photographers eager to delve deeper into this art, but not so much so for advanced, semi-pro and pro photographers.’
SoftPedia Rating:

ImagingResource has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘All things considered, the Olympus E-PL1 is not only a great photographic tool (especially for the money), but a fun camera to shoot with as well. It doesn’t feel like a budget camera — in many ways it feels like an improvement on previous models, sacrificing the retro styling and some relatively minor features for a more cohesive interface with better handling.’
ImagingResource Rating:

TechTree has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘We liked the performance of the Olympus PEN E-PL1. It tries to emulate the features and performance of dSLRs, but at the same time tries to have the user friendliness of point-and-shoots cameras. However, as it stands now neither is the quality levels on par with the dSLR nor is it as compact as a point-and-shoot camera.’
TechTree Rating:

Adorama has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘If you are looking to enter this exciting new world of compact camera interchangeable lens photography but balked at the high price and missing flash, Olympus has just knocked down your excuses. ‘
Adorama Rating:

DigitalCameraInfo has posted a comparison between the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘All in all, we see the E-PL1 as an attractive step-up for point-and-shooters, though the relatively slow autofocus, lack of affordable eye-level shooting and limited lens compatibility makes it less appealing for SLR shooters looking to lighten their load.’
DigitalCameraInfo Rating:

DPReview has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 where they write – ‘Olympus has simply slipped an easy-to-use interface on top of its PEN DSLR-in-a-smaller-box concept. That power is there if you want it, even if the pared back design means the operation isn’t as quick as it can be with the other PENs. Point-and-shoot users won’t get the very most out of the camera but, thanks to an excellent JPEG engine, it’s likely they’ll spend much of their time too delighted by their pictures to worry about it.’
DPReview Rating:

SteveHuffPhoto has posted their review of the Olympus E-PL1 and the Samsung NX10 where they write – ‘For all intents and purposes, this review could end here: the Olympus E-PL1 is a far superior camera. If you have to choose between these two, I cannot think of any solid reason to recommend the Samsung – which begs the question, what exactly makes the E-PL1 better than the NX10?’
SteveHuffPhoto Rating:

PhotographyBlog
“For those of you who use a point and shoot camera now, I would caution you to consider what sort of images you want to capture before jumping in head first with the E-PL1. As noted earlier, if chasing wild and wooly kids is your camera’s goal, consider moving to an entry-level DSLR that will offer faster autofocus tracking. If, however, your subjects are stationary or otherwise tend to pose for you, then the E-PL1 could be a lot of fun for beginners and more advanced shooters alike.”
PhotographyBlog Rating:

CNET.uk
“So what if the Olympus Pen E-PL1 looks rather plasticky compared to its predecessors? In terms of design, features and everyday functionality, it makes the E-P1 and E-P2 look over-engineered, over-designed and overpriced. If only Olympus had built the E-PL1 right at the start.”
CNET.uk Rating:

DPExpert
“The Olympus micro four thirds camera is brilliant. We use our old Olympus OM manual focus lenses on our E-P1 with excellent results. If you want SLR quality in a small body do consider the Micro Four Thirds, but also look at the Samsung NX10.”
DPExpert Rating:

DigitalTrends
“We really enjoyed shooting the PEN and especially the results it cranked out. Although compact and loaded with features, the E-PL1—even though it takes very high-quality stills–is just a bit too expensive for our taste.”
Rating:  

TechRadar
“If you want minimal effort, high quality, creative photographs from a portable camera with the option of interchangeable lenses, then you’ll love the Olympus PEN. If you’re a serious shooter who wants a PEN, don’t buy it, you’ll be frustrated with its clear beginner bias.”
Rating:  

PCMag
“The Olympus PEN E-PL1 is a decent interchangeable lens camera that’s capable of taking clear and vibrant pictures; its art modes are also a lot of fun. However, it really does need a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF), or at least a bundle that includes one at the same price.”
Rating:  

Olympus PEN wins TIPA Award 2010
“Hamburg, 22 April 2010 – Olympus’ Micro Four Thirds revolution continued apace with a second prestigious award in two months – the Technical Image Press Association acclaiming the PEN E-PL1 the ‘Best Entry-Level Compact System Camera’ of 2010. The TIPA jury praised the E-PL1 for its user-friendly Live Guide interface, image quality and compact design. For the groundbreaking PEN, the TIPA accolade followed last month’s red dot award for product design.”

LetsGoDigital
“The Olympus PEN E-PL1 system camera has an excellent price/quality ratio and represents an example of what a Micro Four Thirds System means, as far as I am concerned: the ease of a compact and the quality of a DSLR. Add to that the remarkable good price… what else could we wish for?”
Rating:  

DigitalCameraReview (Editor’s Choice)
“Although it lacks a viewfinder and has a slower AF, you can’t beat the camera’s price for what it delivers – great images and versatility. Look at the E-PL1 closely, regardless of shooting skills. Many photographers are going to find something they like about it.”
Rating:  

Geek
“There are some rough edges, but it takes very nice shots while being portable and simple to operate. You get interchangeable lenses and what’s proving to be a very versatile lens format, without the size or hassles of a DSLR. The E-PL1 is not an alternative to, say, a Canon 7D, but it is certainly worth looking into if you want to get into photography but you don’t want to deal with the learning curve.”

CNET
“If, however, you’re among those who want the better image quality that comes from a larger sensor or the flexibility of interchangeable lenses in a relatively compact design, the Olympus E-PL1 is certainly priced right compared with its siblings; mostly, it’s a great alternative for people who want the E-P2 but don’t want to spend the money.”
Rating:  

Video Review @ DigitalRev

PhotoReview
“Buy this camera if:
- You want a compact digital camera with interchangeable lenses, raw file capture plus in-camera image stabilisation and effective dust reduction technology.
- You require a built-in flash that can be used to trigger wireless flash units remotely.”
Rating:  

CrunchGear
“This camera is perfect for those who don’t want to lug around a heavier DSLR but still want to get some great shots. I worry a bit about durability, especially given the lighter composite materials used for the body, but that’s nothing a good, small camera bag can’t fix. While it won’t replace the shutter bug’s favorite piece of big glass, the E-PL1 is definitely worth some consideration.”

ePhotozine
“For a budget model, it’s a good camera. Sure, I wasn’t happy with the colour reproduction and I think that has let the camera down the most but the features, ease of use and compact size are all positive notes.”
Rating:  

DCResource
“It offers a lot of features for both beginners and enthusiasts alike, and it does so without putting a hole in your wallet. Whether you’re upgrading from a point-and-shoot or want a go-anywhere interchangeable lens camera, the E-PL1 is a camera I can easily recommend.”

PCMag
“If you’re on a budget and looking to buy a Micro Four Thirds camera that offers D-SLR-quality images without the bulky build, the newbie-friendly Olympus E-PL1 is a good choice—especially if you’re a beginner.”
Rating:  

Pocket-lint
“Small-ish and easy-ish to use, Olympus is claiming “big camera” results from its latest Pen. Pictures from it are invariably a match for its acclaimed predecessors if they’re not quite, to our eyes, as sharp as a similarly priced mid-range DSLR with a physically larger lens can achieve.”
Rating:  

TheDigitalStory (Working in iAuto)
“You have access to lots of other controls in iAuto too: drive mode, self timer, flash on/off, autofocus point selection, and live histogram. Plus, you have one-touch video recording using the red button on the back of the E-PL1.”

PhotographyBlog
“The Olympus E-PL1 is an attractive, well-built and very capable camera with a more aggressive price-tag than competing models. Beginners in particularly should seriously consider the E-PL1 if they’ve out-grown their compact, while it also represents something of a bargain for prosumers if you can live with the simpler interface. The E-PL1 is certainly another bold step towards establishing both PEN and Micro Four Thirds cameras in general – with Samsung’s NX10 and even Sony joining in, 2010 could be the year when small cameras with big sensors go mainstream…”
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