Underwater test of the Olympus PEN E-PL1 with dedicated housing PT-EP01
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Announced in February 2010, the Olympus PEN E-PL1 is the newborn, and smallest,
of the Japanese maker’s hybrids, although in terms of features it isn’t much less endowed compared to its elder siblings. Actually, it has something
more, like a pop-up on-camera flash. It was upgraded last November as PEN
E-PL1s (although the official website bears no trace of this) with an increased
maximum sensitivity from 3200 to 6400 ISO and a new lithium battery. Around the
camera, Olympus has built a real
underwater photography system with the dedicated flat-port housing PT-EP01, inside which you can mount two optics: the standard M.Zuiko 14 45
f3.5-5,6 ED and the M.Zuiko 9-18 f4-5.6 ED, each provided with a dedicated dial
for zoom adjustment. In addition, an adapter PMLA-EP01 is available, outside
the port, on which a Macro lens PTMC-01, and any other accessory with M67
thread, can be mounted. The system is
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completed by arms, brackets, optical cables for external flashes and a couple of Olympus-branded flashes, only useful, though, for close-ups and macro. The system’s main limitation is the flat port, which, because of refraction, reduces the field angle of the lenses, so that the 9-18, that could span 100°, really views 70°, someting in between a 35 and a 28 equivalent. It should be remembered that the equivalence factor of 4/3 optics is 2. This limitation can be overcome using the adapter and the wideangle port produced by Athena, specifically for the Olympus housing. But is the little one of the PENs actually one step above the prosumer compacts? and does it approach the reflexes? Is operability good enough? Is image quality comparable to that of reflexes? Browse our test to evaluate features and results. |
Technical specs
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Olympus
PEN E-PL1
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Price
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940 € with Olympus dedicated housing
if you buy camera and housing separately on line
you can get it for as low as 850 €
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Sensor
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4/3” Live MOS 17.3x13.0 mm
12.3 real megapixels stabilized
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Image size
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4032x3042 pixels
2560 x 1920 pixels
1024 x 768 pixels
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Movies
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AVI Motion JPEG®
HD 1280 x 720 (16:9) / SD 640 x 480 (4:3) 30 fps
14 min (SD) / 7 min (HD) max 2 GB
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File format
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RAW 12 bits
Jpg
Aspect ratioi: 4:3 / 3:2 / 16:9 / 6:6
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Optics
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Standard lens:
M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42 mm 1:3.5-5.6
Other lenses usable in housing:
M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9-18 mm 1:4.0-5.6
Other lenses:
M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150 mm 1:4.0-5.6
M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300 mm 1:4.8-6.7
M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-150 mm 1:4.0-5.6
M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17 mm 1:2.8 Pancake
Adapters for 4:3 lenses
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Focusing
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Manual focusing, Single AF, Continuous AF, Single AF + MF, AF Tracking
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AF modes
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11 points / Automatic and manual selection
225 points / Manual selection in Magnified View Mode
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AF lock
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YES
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AF assist lamp
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YES
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Min focusing distance
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25 cm on Tele with standard lens
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Exposure measurement
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TTL open aperture light metering: ESP light metering, Spot metering, Centre
weighted metering, Highlight, Shadow
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ISO
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Automatic ISO 200 - 3200
(customisable, default 200 - 1600 ISO)
Manual ISO 100 - 3200 1/3 steps and 1 EV ISO
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AE lock
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Exposure compensation
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+/- 3.0 EV
with increments 1, 1/2, 1/3 stop
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Shutter speed
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Photo: 60 - 1/2.000 sec
B mode up to 30’ menu selectable
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Programs
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iAuto
P
A
S
M
ART
SCENE
Video
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Scene programs
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Portrait, Landscape, Landscape with Portrait, Macro, Sports, Night Scene, Night
Scene with portrait, Children, High key, Low key, Digital Image Stabilisation,
Nature Macro, Candle, Documents, Panorama, Beach and Snow, Fireworks,
e-Portrait, Sunset
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White balance
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Manual / Auto: Tungsten, Flourescent 1, Flourescent 2, Flourescent 3, Sunlight,
Flash, Overcast, Shade
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Self timer
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2 sec / 10 sec
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Burst
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about 3 frames/sec
RAW max. 10 images
Jpg: depends on compression ratio or number of pixels
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Image parameters
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i-Enhance, Vivid, Natural, Portrait, Muted, Monotone
ART FILTER: Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Gentle Sepia
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On-camera flash
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Guide number 7 (ISO 100)
sync 1/160, 1/2000 (super FP mode)
FP TTL Auto, FP Manual, TTL-Auto, AUTO, Manual (Full 1/4, 1/16, 1/64), Riduzione
effetto occhi rossi, ynchronisation 2nd curtain, Slow synchronisation with
red-eye reduction, Fill-in, Off
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External flash
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Olympus and third parties
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Viewfinder
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Optional electronic
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LCD display
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Monitor LCD HyperCrystal 6,9 cm / 2,7 ''
Resolution 230000 points
White balance A-B: +/-7 levels, G-M: +/-7 levels
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Connectivity
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Mini HDMI
USB2.0 High speed
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Memory
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Recommended SD memory card (SDHC compatible) Class 6 (4 GB)
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Battery
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BLS-1 Li-Ion battery (included)
Lithium-Ion Battery
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Weight
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About 296 g body only
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Dimensions
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114.6 x 72.2 x 41.5 mm
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Notes
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© duwphoto.com
2011
