Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Ambarin Afsar spends a couple of weeks with the smallest PEN on the block, the Olympus PEN E-PM1 and comes away surprised by its capabilities.

What do you do when you are a PEN enthusiast and you get one to test? You jump for joy—which is what I did when I received the Olympus PEN E-PM1 or the PEN Mini as it is also called. This little bundle, which was released along with the flagship E-P3 and the E-PL3, is supposed to be smallest PEN camera and is aimed at the absolute novice.
The real question was how would the camera fare in comparison to its rival, the Panasonic GF3, and whether it would be a watered down version of its big brothers, the E-P3 and E-PL3.

Features
I expected the company to cut corners with the entry-level E-PM1. However, in a commendable move, the company has ensured that all the recent PEN cameras share the same sensor. The E-PM1, which comes bundled with a 14–42mm standard zoom lens, has the same 12.3MP high speed Live MOS sensor as the E-P3 and the E-PL3.
Besides the sensor, the E-PM1 has the same FAST (Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology) AF system as the other two PENS, with 35 focus points spread over the entire sensor. Quick and intuitive, the autofocus is quick to latch on to the area where I was focusing. While it did backfocus in a couple of instances, it performed very well in tricky situations such as the times when I was shooting a creeper backlit by the harsh midday sun.
The EPM-1 also has the same TruePic IV processor as its brethren, which is quite a nifty feature. Since it is a dual core processor, it stores an image whilst simultaneously gearing for the next shot. So, if you are shooting on the Burst mode, you do not have to wait for the camera to finish writing images to the card for it to be ready to focus again. So, since the internal technologies are more or less the same, the only difference between the cameras is their size and features.
Surprisingly enough, the E-PM has the capability to shoot at 4.1 fps (5.5 fps with IS switched off), while the more expensive E-P3 shoots at a lesser 3fps.
The E-PM1 has received six Art Filters, and contrary to the E-PL3 and E-P3, the functionality in this mode is compromised. One cannot customise these filters the way one can while using the other two cameras, but the default look is quite good too, in most cases.

Handling
 Weighing 100g lesser than the E-P3, the E-PM1 is certainly very light, to the extent that I feel like I am not carrying a camera at all. It has a 3-inch LCD that offers a 16:9 aspect ratio—ideal for video, but different from the default aspect ratio of the sensor. The LCD has a resolution of 460k dots, which is decent, but not class leading.
With size being one of the major differentiating factors between the EPM-1 and the other PENs, it is understood that Olympus must have sacrificed certain external designs and shooting features. For instance, the camera does not have an onboard flash, but to compensate for the lack of a flash, there is an external clip-on flash included in the kit.
When I found out that the camera did not have a mode dial, I thought it would be quite cumbersome for me to switch between modes. However, the E-PM1 is so customisable that each mode can be customised to access a particular Picture Mode or Art Filter. For example, I can assign the Vivid Picture Mode to the Program mode, Grainy Film Art Filter to the Aperture Priority mode and the regular default look to the Manual mode. Accordingly, if I switch modes through the menu, I will be able to change a lot of other settings simultaneously. The camera remembers every selection, so, toggling between different looks is quite easy. While the camera does not have a dedicated ISO button or a Delete button, you can customize three buttons to access the options that you use frequently. Changing fps, histogram, EV stop settings involves going through the camera’s menu system at least once. But when all your customisations are in place, operating the camera is really smooth.
The menu system itself is quite slick. Besides, you can view a one-line description of what each setting does with the press of a button.

Performance
 Despite the ergonomical whittling down, the E-PM1 still allows you to shoot 60sec exposures, manually adjust Kelvin WB and use ISO values up to 12,800. You can even bracket the exposure or the WB, features that are often missing in entry-level DSLRs.
I shot with the E-PM1 in a nature park, on the street in low light as well as in a fast-moving bus. In most of these situations, the autofocus did not disappoint.
Olympus definitely has a winner in the imaging department. Detail and colour looked great in optimal lighting, and were even rendered quite decently in low lighting situations. The metering was also pretty accurate, however, I found myself having to overexpose by about a third of a stop when shooting indoors.
The RAW files of the camera offer you an advantage of about one stop when shooting in low light. Generally, shadow and highlight detail is also better resolved in RAW files. However, since the camera is targetted at an audience that will demand instant results, the JPEG files should more than suffice.
The quality of the 1080i AVCHD video provided by the E-PM1 is great. The only issue you might find with the camera during video recording is that its Continuous Autofocus tends to wander a bit.

Conclusions
People interested in a no-frills camera that delivers quality in a beginner-friendly body will be pleased with the E-PM1. It offers the company’s latest sensor found on their most expensive model, a great kit lens, a hot shoeand images with good detail. The only rivalry that the E-PM1 faces is from the 16MP Sony NEX-5, which is very competitively priced at approximately Rs. 24,000. The NEX produces far better quality, but has its own share of quirks and handling problems. The more expensive (in India) Panasonic GF3 has similar features, but its performance is nowhere as good. The E-PM1 is an effective in-between option. Priced at Rs. 29,999, it is suitable for the absolute novice as well as the seasoned photographer on a budget.

Final Ratings
Features
4.1 fps shooting, Full HD video recording,same 12.3MP sensor as the E-P3
25/30

Performance
Quick AF, stellar image quality, decent lowlight performance
25/30

Build Quality
Lightweight, yet feels really sturdy
15/20

Ergonomics
Easy to use, high degree of customisability,good button and menu layout

13/15

Warranty & Support
Two-year warranty (out of which one isinternational), six Indian service centres
3/5

OVERALL: 81%
Value For Money: 3/5 stars