Olympus E-P2

Photo answers review

Photo answers rating

To be honest, the E-P2 is not a significantly different camera to the E-P1, as the Electronic ViewFinder (EVF) has been added by way of an external accessory. It still utilises a Micro FourThirds 12.3MP chip, and from the front it looks no different. The rear of the camera has, however, been slightly altered to add a connection port below the hotshoe. This is where the included EVF and optional external microphones can be plugged in. Other than the viewfinder, the changes over the E-P1 are internal systems. Arguably the most significant is an upgrade to the autofocus that now offers tracking AF for moving subjects. You also have an i-Enhance picture mode added that is principally designed to boost colour saturation. Other than an additional two Art Filters, the E-P2 is really about the viewfinder, and of course the extra £200 on the price.

Micro FourThirds
For those that are not familiar with the PEN series from Olympus, the concept is a relatively new arrangement. You get a small and easy to use digital camera that has the size, weight and ergonomics of a digital compact but it offers interchangeable lenses and delivers DSLR quality images. The quality element lies in the lenses and sensor combination. Unlike compacts, the Micro FourThirds E-P2 has a large 17.3x13mm 12.3MP sensor chip. This is the same as those used in the Olympus DSLR models, which is why it delivers comparable quality. The lenses are, however, different from the DSLR offerings, as they are part of the Micro FourThirds line-up and are smaller and lighter. They still deliver a performance not found on a traditional compact though. What differentiates the camera from a true DSLR is the lack of a prism and mirror viewfinder arrangement. The 3in LCD can be used to give a Live View option, but for those that prefer the traditional viewfinder approach, then the clip-on EVF provides this.

Features
Clearly the EVF is a major feature on the E-P2, as it gives the camera the more traditional feel. This is, however, not just a clip-on viewer, as it’s a complicated piece of kit. The EVF is a high-resolution viewfinder that provides 100% coverage. It can also be flipped up 90 degrees, which gives you a waist-level viewfinder and therefore more flexible composition options. Olympus has employed a number of other great features in the E-P2, from the practical to the artistic. On the practical side, you have a built-in image stabiliser that shifts the sensor to compensate against camera movement. There’s also a dust reduction Supersonic Wave filter that vibrates the sensor chip to budge any debris that may take up residence on the sensor while you are changing lenses. When it comes to shooting and enhancement tools, the E-P2 is packed with useful options. No less than eight art filters are available, which includes pop art, soft focus, pale & light colour, light tone, grainy film, pin hole, diorama and cross-processing – not a bad mix! You can also select a number of capture aspect ratios with this camera, so if you prefer a widescreen 16:9 image that you can playback on your TV, or the standard 4:3 format, the choice is yours. We mentioned the newly added i-Enhance mode at the top of this review, but it’s not the only i-feature on the E-P2. You also have i-Auto that automatically recognises scenes and sets the camera accordingly to deliver more accurate results when shooting in auto. That’s not all, as there’s also an e-Portrait setting. This is used to smooth skin textures to give them a more flattering look. Face detection, multi-exposure and shadow adjustment technology are also offered in-camera. All these technology tools can help improve your creative photography, but for the traditionalist, the PASM shooting modes, 11-area multi AF and 49-zone pattern metering will be more interesting features.
I guess while we are talking features, we shouldn’t forget that the E-P2 caters for the moving image fans, with HD video capture. The camera sports a built-in microphone, but the connector for the EVF can also be used to take an external microphone adapter, which will be available as an optional accessory.

Ease of use
The E-P2 is designed to be simple, and it achieves what it has set out to do. The controls are minimal, which saves any confusion and makes the camera easy to set up. The main control dial for selecting the shooting modes sits on the left-hand shoulder and the knurled wheel is a good size to operate with your left thumb when holding the camera with both hands. The left-hand side has the shutter release and there’s a dedicated control for exposure compensation. The back of the camera has a range of buttons to the side of the 3in LCD screen. These allow access to the basic functions like ISO, WB and AF, along with controls to navigate the quite excellent menus. It is here that you access and set the creative modes, and they are all very easily located and engaged.

Performance
If you are looking for a fast camera, then the E-P2 is not the model for you. Its frame rate is a comfortable yet not impressive 3fps, and the focus is not the most rapid you will experience either. This means that the most welcome addition of continuous AF hunts to find and lock-on to the subject, especially in low light. The clarity and refresh rate in the EVF is, however, fast and clear and is possibly the best I have seen to date. In each of the art modes, the camera displays a real time image with the effect applied, so you know what you are getting before you press the shutter button. In the diorama mode, the AF becomes tediously slow, as the camera applies the art filter effects – this is a disadvantage of real time viewing.

Image quality
You certainly get good quality images from the E-P2, with the camera demonstrating some fine detail and well-exposed shots. The 12.3MP resolution and FourThirds sensor is not going to deliver the same quality as an APS-C DSLR, but it’s still very good compared to any compact you may consider. Tonal range is also not bad, and you can get some broad shadow and highlight detail. Noise levels on the other hand are not superb, but despite that, they are still practical for allowing some low light shooting. The metering is balanced and intelligent enough to cope with extremes in lighting.

Filters
The eight art filters allow you to capture some interesting images, with the advantage of seeing the effect at the point of capture. Some effects work better than others on certain subjects, so you need to have a play to see which works for you. These images give you an idea of how fun they can be.

Final verdict
As fans of the original E-P1 from Olympus, inspired by the brand’s approach to a new style of camera, it is natural for us to like the E-P2 as well. The arrival of the very similar Panasonic GF-1 did steal some of the thunder from the Olympus E-P1, as the brand’s Micro FourThirds competitor raised the bar, and offered an EVF option, albeit as an optional accessory. The E-P2 addresses a lot of the shortfalls but the biggest frustration, especially if you are a compact user moving up to the E-P2, is the lack of built-in flash. This is a minor issue, but frustrating all the same. The E-P2 gives Olympus a chance to get back into the Micro FourThirds race, especially as the EVF is included in the asking price. It’s a very capable product that is so impressively easy to use and has a great look in its trendy black finish too. The price point is a touch higher than we’d like, but you do get a good product for the money.


Specification
Street price: £899
Effective resolution: 12.3MP
Sensor type: 17.3x13mm Live MOS
Crop factor: 2x
Lens mount: Micro FourThirds
Exposure modes: P/A/S/M, HD Movie, scene and art filters
Metering modes: 324-zone multi-pattern
ISO range: 200-6400
Shooting speed (JPEG/RAW): 3fps
Card type: SD
LCD monitor size: 3in 230k dot
Live View: Yes
Autofocus: 49-zone
Integrated cleaning: Yes
Built-in stabilisation: No
Weight/size (wxhxd): 335g/121x70x36mm