Olympus PEN E-P2 Digital Camera Review

The Olympus PEN E-P2 digital camera utilizes a comparable 12.3MP sensor as compared to the earlier E-P1, useful for both still and HD video recording.

The body design of the E-P2 is largely identical, with the major distinction being an alter in body shade and finish.

The body on the Olympus E-P2 digital camera solely remains stainless steel, but this time, over the E-P1, includes a thin covering of darkish paint beneath a clear coat, delivering a clear, dark exterior, together with black trim panels.

The E-P2's add-on slot allows the use of the VF-2 electronic viewfinder as well as to enable the use for an external microphone via a recommended adapter.. Olympus’s external EVF features relatively higher standards as compared to other brands.

The Olympus E-P2 digital camera of course boasts modifications in several other areas, as well. The camera’s auto-focus system presently has subject tracking ability in both still and HD video modes, plus the focus assist has improved to promptly center its 7x and 10x zoom around the chosen AF point, ideal for fine-tuning focus of an off-center subject, personally.

Also introducing the new i-Enhance shooting function which changes photo color to fully stand-out the primary subject, and a pair of exclusive Art filters in addition to the 6 featured on the E-P1.

This camera is really giving you everything you need to take astonishing photos.

Video fans are going to be thrilled to discover manual control of shutter speed, aperture and ISO sensitivity while recording a video clip. Video is also recorded at HD 720p quality.

Olympus E-P2 Features:

12.3-Megapixel Live MOS imager yielding 4032x3024 pixel images (4:3 aspect ratio)

Choose from 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9 aspect ratios

Micro Four-Thirds lens mount system

Compatible with Four Thirds mount and Olympus OM lenses using optional adapters (MMF-1 and MF-2 OM)

In-body (sensor-shift) Image Stabilization system

TruePic V Image Processor

Olympus System Supersonic Wave Filter Dust Reduction System

iAuto (intelligent), Program AE, Aperture/Shutter Priority, Full Manual, and Custom exposure control

19 pre-programmed Scene modes as well as 8 "Art Filter" modes

Compressed RAW and JPEG (Fine/Standard) formats, including RAW+JPEG (Fine or Normal)

1 custom and 6 preset "Picture" modes, including new iEnhance option

In-camera image editing options, including RAW processing

TTL Auto White Balance system with several presets, one-touch custom set, white balance compensation, and bracketing options

sRGB or Adobe RGB Color Space options

TTL 324-area ESP metering system with 18x18 grid, Center-weighted average and Spot options

Shutter speeds from 2 - 1/4000 sec. seconds and Bulb

Burst shooting at 3fps (max. 10 RAW images, or approx. 12 JPEG)

11-area Contrast Detect AF system with Single AF (S-AF), Continuous AF (C-AF), Continuous AF Tracking (C-AF+TR), Manual (MF / S-AF + MF) and Face Detection focusing modes

Focus assist magnifies the live image by 7 or 10x to help userss during manual focusing

3.0-inch color LCD with 230,000 pixels, 100% frame coverage, and 15 levels of brightness adjustment

New VF-2 electronic viewfinder that attaches via the flash hot shoe, and articulates up to 90°

EVF monitor adjustments for brightness and hue (±7 levels each)

Super Control Panel information display

Record Motion JPEG (.AVI) movies at 720p HD (1280x720) or SD (640x480) resolutions (30fps) with stereo sound

Manual exposure control in movie mode; adjust both shutter speed and aperture values

Built-in digital level sensor and gauge helps you capture level shots

Optional Optical Viewfinder (VF-1) for use with 17mm "Pancake" F2.8 Micro Four Thirds Lens

Auto ISO sensitivity from 200 - 6400, Manual from 100-6400, 1/3 or 1EV steps (Movie mode 160 - 1600)

Built-in hot shoe for external units

Noise Reduction for long exposures

SD/SDHC/MMC memory card storage

Selectable video output with NTSC or PAL format

HD output via MiniHDMI Type C I/O port

Built-in stereo microphones

Optional EMA-1 microphone input jack for optional external mics

Accessory port accepts new VF-2 and EMA-1 adapter as well as future optional accessories

CEC compliant

USB 2.0 (High-speed) data and control interface

Included BLS-1 Li-ion battery and compact BCS-1 AC charger