With a good number of new features, including a 16.1-million-pixel sensor and a touch-sensitive screen, Olympus’s Pen Mini range may have grown up. Richard Sibley finds out just how good the diminutive E-PM2 really is. Read the Olympus Pen E-PM2 review...
Our verdict
Don’t be put off or fooled by the rather simplistic menu layout and the art filters, which may not be to everyone’s taste. The Olympus Pen E-PM2 is a very capable little camera, and would be ideal for someone looking for a CSC for occasional use alongside a more advanced DSLR. It will be interesting to see how the new Pen E-PL5 (Pen Lite) fares in our test in a few weeks’ time, and to see exactly what features it adds to the Olympus Pen range.
Those wanting an experience and image quality more on a par with using a DSLR may be better served by the Sony NEX or Samsung NX ranges, but as far as a small, light CSC is capable of producing good images, you can’t go far wrong with the E-PM2.
- External mic: Optional via accessory port
- Video: Full HD 1920 x 1080 (16:9) 30p, 20Mbps
- White Balance: Auto, 7 presets, manual plus custom setting
- Built-in Flash: Yes – GN 10m @ ISO 200
- Memory Card: SD, SDHC, SDXC
- Shutter Type: Computerised focal-plane shutter
- Viewfinder Type: Yes, via accessory port – Olympus EVF2
- Output Size: 4608 x 3456 pixels
- Field of View: Approx 100%
- LCD: Fixed 3in touch screen LCD with 460,000 dots
- Focal Length Mag: 2x
- Max Flash Sync: 1/250sec (1/4000sec with Super FP mode)
- Sensor: 16-million-effective-pixel, Live MOS four thirds sensor
- White Balance Bracket: Yes, 3 exposures, 2,4,6 mired steps
- AF Points: 35-point on auto, or 800 manual magnified selection
- Exposure Modes: i-Auto, PASM plus 25 scene modes
- Colour Space: Adobe RGB, sRGB
- Drive Mode: 8fps in High Speed mode for 19 raw images, or 27 JPEG images. 3fps in Low Speed with IS on. Single-shot and self-timer
- Shutter Speeds: 30-1/4000sec in 1⁄3EV steps plus 30mins in bulb
- File Format: Raw, JPEG, raw + JPEG simultaneously
- Power: Rechargeable BLS-5 Li-Ion battery
- Weight: 269g (with battery and card)
- DoF Preview: No
- Dimensions: 109.8 x 64.2 x 33.8mm
- Connectivity / Interface: USB 2.0, HDMI
- Metering System: 324-zone multi-pattern evaluative metering, spot, centreweighted, highlight and shadow spot
- Compression: 2-stage JPEG
- Exposure Comp: ±5EV in 1⁄3EV steps
- RRP: £499 (with 14-42mm kit lens)
- ISO: 100-25,600
- Lens Mount: Micro four thirds mount
- Focusing Modes: Manual, single AF, continuous AF, single AF + MF, AF tracking, touch target and face detection
- Tested as: Very good