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...
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.
Details
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