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Olympus Pen EP2 and EP1,EPL1 are much the same inside. Firmware upgrade is solution for owners of old PEN that hasn't done this.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I am a professional photographer and I can tell you that this camera produces excellent files. I use the electronic viewfinder and the Panasonic 14mm and 20mm lenses. The feature that makes this better than the Panasonic camera is the image stabilization built into the camera. This feature allows you to take extremely sharp pictures in much lower light than you could without the stabilization. With the electronic viewfinder and these compact lenses you have a kit which rivals a Leica Digital camera in form and output at a fraction of the price. If you buy this camera you should buy the electronic viewfinder too because it is wonderful and bright and sharp.
When I bought my E-P1 I thought it would be the perfect take anywhere camera for me, and I reviewed it along those lines. In time the bulk of the kit zoom and the lack of an eye-level viewfinder did become issues, although I did not originally expect they would. It was not composing on the LCD that became an issue, but holding the camera out in front of me to shoot. It's a posture that lacks the stability I'm accustomed to, and getting the wonderfully high resolution VF2 viewfinder with the E-P2 resolved the issue for me. With the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 pancake lens I do now, indeed, have the "take with me all the time" camera I have been looking for. The picture quality, as I indicated for the E-P1 also, is superb with the kit lens. Put the diminutive Panasonic on the E-P2, and it only gets better. This is one sharp lens, and the f1.7 allows me to shoot a 400 when previously I might have dialed in an iso of 1250. It's delightful. My first Olympus film camera was a 35mm zone focus with a 40mm fixed lens. I always loved the angle of view it provided, and the 50mm, while I became accustomed to it, was always a little longer than what I thought of as a perfect normal lens. 35mm was too wide. So when Panasonic issued the 20mm (equivalent to a 40mm on 35mm film) I knew I wanted it. With the kit lens and no viewfinder I'd rate the E-P2 4 1/2. Everything about its operation improves for me with the evf eye-level finder. I can change white balance, iso, lock in my exposure, etc. without ever taking my eye away from the viewfiner. It makes shooting ergonomically more economical. Once your thumb gets to know where the various buttons are on the back, it's a cinch just to keep shooting without stopping to look at the camera, keeping one's eye on the prize of the object to be captured. Like the E-P1 before it, the E-P2 is and feels solid. The metal body is worth the premium paid for it, and with the f 1.7 lens and vf2 viewfinder the E-P2 earns its moniker, "poor mans Leica". This is probably as close as I'll ever get to an M9 -- or even an M8, and while the image quality may not match that of those two cameras with real (made in Germany) Leica glass, it has nothing to apologize for. If pixel peeping at 100% (which represents a print about 48 inches across) is your thing, you may object to noise levels at higher iso settings, but at sizes one is likely to print the images, the noise just is not there. No one in their right mind ever made a 48inch print from a 35mm negative. A twenty to 24 inch print will work quite well with the right post-processing. I keep both noise filter and noise reduction off and deal with noise in raw development if it becomes necessary. There is no way to reduce noise without reducing detail, so it's best not to let the camera do it for you but to make those compromises yourself. As usual, Olympus's jpegs are stunning. Those shooting jpeg only will not be disappointed. My advice is to turn down in camera sharpening and contrast and make those adjustment yourself in a photo editing program, beside which any in-camera processing is rather crude.Read full review
This camera is the perfect size for me. The controls are located conveniently and operate smoothly. Image quality is very good, even with the kit lenses. I also have the Panasonic 14mm prime lens and it works perfectly with the P2. This is a very solid camera.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This camera continues to be a nice micro four-thirds body even with the addition of so many new fancy cameras. To be honest any camera these days with 10-12+ megapixels can shoot beautiful shots. For the price this camera is a great bargain and has a very retro look. Its few weak points are an outdated LCD screen and strained performance in low-light/high ISO situations. All in all I love being able to throw a pancake prime on this body and using it as my back-up point and shoot.
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