Olympus PEN E-P2 12.3 MP Digital Camera - Black (Kit w/ 14-42mm Lens)

For someone looking for a compact camera setup that has better quality than a P&S, and much smaller than a DSLR, the m4/3 is a great format. Whether its the Olympus E-P1 or E-P2, or the Panasonic GF1, they are compact, great quality, excellent low light performance, while still being small and compact, easy to carry, and doesn't attract attention in public. The ability to use lenses from various makers (Zeiss, Leica, Canon, Nikon, C mount, M42, M39, etc) just make this a great all around picture taking machine. Throw in HD video, and whats not to like. The EVF is a great addition for this camera, especially when using manual focus legacy lenses, or in very low light conditions.

I shoot professionally and for years have been looking at something that will give me great quality in a very compact package for when I don't want to carry around my big slrs. I was never happy with the P&S offerings, even at the high end. With the micro 4/3rds format, I am finally a happy camper. I have an E-P2, 20mm 1.7, 14-42mm zoon, a 50mm 1.5 and 75mm 2.5 Leica M mount lenses, and the kit is small, compact, and takes awesome images.

I bought this camera to get better shots while traveling outdoors but without hauling around a Nikon SLR. I am not disappointed...it takes pictures that are as good as or even better than my N90S/D200. I especially love the metering -- it's very good, and you have a lot of options for using their smart metering (95% of the time) and some of the other spot metering functions and center weighting options. Controls are great and easy to read, and there is NO TOUCH SCREEN!! (YAY!!!!!).

The art filters are fun for the kids to goof off too. I'd rather do post production in PS.

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.

Excellent build with In body stabilization a Top camera from Olympus
LCD Very good
Quirky menu needs learning but fine

Great camera with DSLR sized sensor makes for a small package when you don't want to haul around a full size camera.