A memory card is required but not included with this item. Please be sure to purchase a memory card that suits your needs.
The Olympus E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Brown) starts you out with everything you need to take great photographs, from day one. As the name states, you'll receive both the E-PM1 camera body and the Micro Four Thirds M.Zuiko MSC Digital ED m14-42mm II zoom lens (silver lens). In addition, a number of essential accessories come included as well, such as a lithium-ion battery and battery charger.
Whether you're simply looking to lighten your load when it comes to photographing or you're an avid fan of the Micro Four Thirds genre, Olympus's PEN series of cameras provide you with a more lightweight option than full-sized DSLR rigs, but with numerous bells and whistles that still provide flexibility and creativity, far beyond that of a point-and-shot. With the Micro Four Thirds lens mount, you can choose from a number of optional lenses for the E-PM1 to suit your particular shooting style.
At the center of the image making is the generous 3.0" LCD. Used for composition and review of your footage, not to mention navigating the menu and for features such as Live View, this big, bright display features 460K pixels and the platform with which to compose your next great shot or epic short film. Of course, the 12.3Mp sensor and the TruePic VI image processor are the heart of the camera, taking what you see on the LCD screen and turning it into memories that will last a lifetime.
In addition to shooting JPEG and RAW stills, along with 3D stills in the MPO format, the E-PM1 also shoots the already mentioned 1080/60i HD video. Up to 29 minutes of continuous footage can be captured with stereo sound. Video clips can be shot in AVCHD or AVI formats, and the Direct HD Movie Button on the camera switches you from still to movie mode with just a touch.
The E-PM1 also boasts stunning low light performance with the Olympus AF Illuminator - an LED beam up to 10 feet for faster focusing in dark settings. The camera also features and ISO up to 12,800 and the ability to attach an external flash. Other noteworthy features include the FAST AF System which provides up to 35-points of focus for unbelievable accuracy, 5 frames per second shooting, multiple filter options, and much more.
The E-PM1's Live Guide system allows you to preview effects as you adjust them - before the image is even captured. Simply select Live Guide and turn the wheel on the back of the camera to slide through numerous photographic effects, such as brightness, color saturation, tone, etc.
| Imaging | |
|---|---|
| Lens Mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Camera Format | Micro Four Thirds (2x Crop Factor) |
| Pixels | 12.3 Megapixel |
| Sensor Type / Size | CMOS, 17.3 x 13.0 mm |
| File Formats |
Still Images: JPEG, RAW Movies: AVI, MJPEG |
| Memory Card Type |
SD SDHC SDXC |
| Image Stabilization | Mechanical |
| AV Recording | |
|---|---|
| Video Recording | Yes |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3, 16:9 |
| Audio Recording | With Video, Stereo |
| Focus Control | |
|---|---|
| Focus Type | Auto |
| Focus Mode | Single-servo AF (S), Continuous-servo AF (C), Manual Focus (M) |
| Autofocus Points | 35 |
| Viewfinder/Display | |
|---|---|
| Display Screen | 3" Rear Screen LCD (460,000) |
| Screen Coverage | 100% |
| Live View | Yes |
| Exposure Control | |
|---|---|
| ISO Sensitivity | 200-12800 |
| Shutter | 60 - 1/4000 sec |
| Metering Method | Center-weighted average metering, Multi-zone metering, Spot metering |
| Exposure Modes |
Modes: Aperture Priority, Auto, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority Compensation: -3 EV to +3 EV (in .33 EV steps) |
| White Balance Modes | Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent, Kelvin, Shade, Tungsten, Underwater |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| External Flash Connection | Hot Shoe |
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 5.5 fps |
| Self Timer | 2 sec, 12 sec |
| Connectivity | HDMI C (Mini), USB 2.0 |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Battery | 1x BLS-1 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack |
| Operating/Storage Temperature |
Operating 32 to 104°F (0 to 40°C) Humidity: 30 - 90% |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 4.3 x 2.5 x 1.5" / 11.0 x 6.4 x 3.8 cm |
| Weight | 7.65 oz / 217 g |
| Kit Lens | |
|---|---|
| Focal Length |
14 - 42 mm Comparable Four Thirds and Micro 4/3 Focal Length: 28 - 84 mm |
| Aperture |
Maximum: f/3.5 - 5.6 Minimum: f/22 - 22 |
| Angle of View | 75° - 29° |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 9.8" (24.89 cm) |
| Magnification | 0.19x |
| Groups/Elements | 7/8 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Filter Thread | Front: 37 mm |
| Dimensions (DxL) | Approx. 2.2 x 1.9" (5.59 x 4.83 cm) |
| Weight | 4.0 oz (113 g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
Cons
Best Uses
Most Liked Positive Review
Small and Light... Dynamite!!!
My foray into the M43 zone started last year when I got the Oly E-PL1, since I was looking for a small camera with image quality better than a standard PS, while also offering ...Read complete review
My foray into the M43 zone started last year when I got the Oly E-PL1, since I was looking for a small camera with image quality better than a standard PS, while also offering manual controls. At that time, I was very disappointed, not with the image quality, but with the performance of the camera. The AF performance was miserably slow, and the camera would just roll over when the photons were scant. Other than that, I liked the image quality, the customizability, and not to mention the fact that I also got myself an adapter mount that allowed me to mount all my Nikon-mount lenses. The camera metered in both A and M modes, and the jpegs had a very warm, appealing look to them, albeit with slightly compromised dynamic range than I was used to with my D90. I tried shooting raw, but had to rely on Olympus' raw conversion software, which I thought was absolutely miserable. Also, one could hear the supplied kit lens grinding as it focused in any video that I shot. I returned the E-PL1, but could not return the mount adapter that I had
purchased with the camera since I had thrown away the packaging. Maybe that was a sign.
While I love my D90, I always went back and admired the very famous "Oly" look that was present in the images from the E-PL1 that I had saved. In time, I got myself Lightroom, which could read in and process the E-PL1 raw files (which I had also saved). I was very impressed with the way that the files processed, and the resultant output was much better than the jpegs from that camera. Olympus then released the current series of cameras - the E-PM1, the E-PL3 and the E-P3 that claimed to address all the gripes that I had with the E-PL1, plus the "processability" of the Oly raw files in a manner that I liked was proven with Lightroom, so I decided to take the plunge - the question was... which one? From the spec sheet, it seemed that the differences in the three models was mostly operational, with the image quality being the same across the board. The basic controls which I was interested in were present in all three cameras, so the Pen Mini became a strong contender on my list. And then Nikon threw in a curve ball with the Nikon 1 series. Impressive spec sheet, greater crop factor than the M43 sensor, and a mount that allowed compatibility with Nikon lenses (including AF). After making one decision, yet another decision stared me in the face. Then I looked in detail at the Nikon offerings. Non-standard hot shoe, a scant selection of native CX-mount lenses (look at the lens support for M43 in contrast), price-gouging for an accessory flash in the case of the Nikon 1 V1, as-yet unproven image quality (versus the Oly image quality that I knew I liked) and the exorbitant asking price made me think again. Also was the equation in my mind that larger sensor = larger dynamic range and lower noise, and one, in general, tends to ride the sensor size vs. noise/DR performance curve till a comfortable compromise point is found. From what I knew, the M43 sensor size was the limit at which I felt comfortable, so after much information crunching, I indulged myself on a promotion at a popular local store which threw in an Oly tele zoom for an irresistible price as a part of a package (actually, my wife indulged me - it was a birthday gift from her). And I do not regret my decision (thank you, wifey).
All the nice things I liked about the E-PL1 are still intact and then some. Focus speed is lightning fast (at least for S-AF). The output files have the signature Olympus look and color
that I can best describe as "delicious" (I believe that several people are of the opinion that Olympus is soldiering with what they describe as an "aging" sensor, but at the end of the day, for me, it is all about the image quality which is more than enough for my needs). The camera is blessed with a light anti-aliasing filter which pulls out very fine details, making for crisply rendered images. The metal body is a treat, as is the overall construction and tactile feel of all the switches and buttons. The supplied flash which slides into the accessory port is nifty, although I must admit that I would have liked a built-in flash a-la the E-P3. To be fair, however, the flash folds down neatly and is non-obtrusive. Also, I am glad that Olympus retained manual flash control, allowing for variable manual power down to 1/64th of full power. The AF illuminator that I sorely missed is a very welcome addition on the Pen Mini.
I have a lot of respect for the M43 system. It has reached a stage where it can be considered a very serious system, with a very broad range of lens offerings and other system accessories. The 2X crop factor provides a telephoto boost which is also useful for macro photography. Which brings me to the question, how do the files compare with APS cropped-sensor cameras (e.g. the D90)? The answer lies in the phrase "shot discipline". If you are careful about how you shoot and also depending on your subject, the images from the Oly come very close to those from the D90. There are some images that, if viewed at non-pixel-peeping distance, I cannot tell the camera used to capture them (except, of course, for the tell-tale difference in the aspect ratio). I must mention that I mostly shoot at the base ISO - bumping up the ISO results in the image quality dropping much quicker than the D90 at higher ISOs - so what else is new? Noise analysis and tests as such do provide valuable information about camera performance I agree, but there is the in-the-field aspect that transcends all tests. At the end of the day, it is all about the image and the skill of the photographer that captures it. In this sense, the Pen Mini does little to come in the way of capturing a great image, although I must say that the entry-level menu interface can be slowing down if one needs to change certain settings, but once configured to one's liking, the process of shooting is smooth and seamless. As such, the camera is feature-rich and very customizable, and Olympus did not skimp on any features on this one (they even have a feature that allows pixel-remapping in the event that one is bothered by dead pixels). Autofocus is fast and accurate with M43 lenses (manual focus with lenses via an adapter, of course). At the end of the day, if you are careful about your shooting conditions and do not push the files too hard in post-process, the Pen Mini is capable of rewarding you with very pleasing images.
The supplied kit lens is decent, and does a fine job of resolving sufficiently to the sensor, although I think that Olympus is price-gouging with the price of the lens if purchased alone, as I do not think that the performance of this lens is worth the asking price (so don't lose or damage the one you got with your camera). I have also used my 85mm f/1.8D, 35mm f/2 Ai, 105mm f/2.5 Ai and 200mm f/4 Ai lenses on this camera via a mount adapter with splendid results, only that I have to focus manually, which is fine by me. The camera is a superb macro device, greatly increasing the maximum magnification of any macro lens, allowing for the study of very finely detailed subjects. I am a big fan of the in-built image stabilization system, and I do believe it helps somewhat (I also believe that image stabilization is an aid to and not a substitute for proper shooting technique). Small, compact and portable, the camera with the basic M43 lens kit makes for a fine travel companion, which, if shot properly, could even give DSLRs a run for their money.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
PM1 has quirks
The image quality is very very good. This was my first foray into an M4/3 camera and I'm a bit torn about it. I really want something more "snapshot" friendl...Read complete review
The image quality is very very good. This was my first foray into an M4/3 camera and I'm a bit torn about it. I really want something more "snapshot" friendly than my dslrs, and while the camera body itself is quite small, once you put the zoom lens on it, it's now less attractive to me as a take along. It's in between camera types, and that's good if you have no interest in dslrs, but a drawback if you're already invested in such a system (as I am for my my pro work). Also, this camera has a very confusing menu system and settings routine. I'm primarily a full manual shooter and I found the PM1 hard to work with in that regard.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 39 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-20
Previous | Next »
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
I have not owned this camera long enough to really get into the many features it provides but what I have done, I am very pleased with the result
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
Not need to be a professional to take great pics. Don't need more pixels than those this camera has, as its lens are amazing! Marvellous and fast shots.
Absolutely recomendable.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
I come from owning a D700, D40. I had bought the PEN thinking it would offer decent enough image quality when I wanted to use something smaller. After a year of using this camera all I have to say is that I am appalled by the horrible image quality. Even at the base ISO's, there is a horrible amount of noise, even with noise reduction at all levels. At higher ISO's the issue becomes much worse. Overall at all ISO values, this camera gives super poor quality images. In fact, the images are so bad, that even most compacts and todays cell phone cameras offer better quality than this. I had expected better from this camera with a sensor of such caliber. Whats even worse is that the images from this camera lack so much contrast that all images look flat and boring. If image quality is priority when choosing a camera, stay away from this. You are better of with an APS-C camera such as the Sony NEX series. The only good thing about this camera is that the metering, exposure, and colours and skin tones that this camera gives are quite nice.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Silver):
I got it mainly to get the kit lens. The camera is okay, but it really shows just how good the OM-D is. Your iso is limited to 1600 and the menus is not as extensive. The lens is great for a kit.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
Great product. Great art filters and takes amazing quality photos with fast shutter speeds.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
A compact camera with near full DSLR functions. This is the perfect camera when I need much more than the point and shoot yet I don't wish to lug my full bag of DSLR equipment.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
We are not photo enthusiasts by any means, but enjoy taking pictures/videos of kids and grandkids. This camera is as easy to use as a SLR but has greater flexibility by allowing use of multiple lenses.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
This product is great. Everything about it except shooting in dark light is wonderful especially for users that are new to the craft.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (White):
-Easy and simple to use
-great for beginners
-good options for alternate lenses
-well build
-great pictures
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
Student Photographers
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
A fantastic little wonder!!!The best companion to my EP-2.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
This is a surprisingly feature-packed camera given the price point and small size. Nearly every aspect of the camera's operation can be customized. I wish my Nikon D3100 had the same array of options. The D3100 does take better pictures, especially in low light, but then it does have a larger sensor. Photo quality on the E-PM1 is still quite good. It does get a bit noisy at higher ISOs, but not nearly as much as even the best small sensor point & shoots. The lack of pretty much any dedicated function buttons means most settings have to be changed in menus, which does make the camera a bit tedious to use at times. Handling can be a bit tricky as well due to the small size and lack of a hand grip. Despite these issues it's still an excellent camera, especially at this price. I bought a refurb unit for even less, and it arrived in what looks like brand new condition.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (White):
I bought this one for my 16 year old daughter, who has owned several P&S.
although the camera gives you lots of control, over all important settings, and the menu system shortcuts speed up operation, This is no SLR.
Photo quality is on par with the best Mirrorless cameras, size weight, wow factor, etc make it a great choice.
I think this camera is great for people who want more than a P&S, but enjoy fully automatic cameras, and for people like my daughter who are learning photo basics, and dont want to haul a SLR.
I have not tested the video yet, all my comments are photo related.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
very good quality photos. as soon as i press the button, a picture is taken which is very impressive. other cameras I've had take a long time to snap a pic which really makes me mad.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
I also have an Olympus E-PL1 as well and it produces excellent images. However I wanted something that could focus a bit faster. I thought at first the E-PM1 would be too small for my large hands. But in fact with a small prime lens I can hold this camera in one hand and take shots. Quite nice for inconspicuous street shooting.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
Best little camera , photos are far supereb and
sharp clear , video is far excellent .
This camera is worth the price for its performance .
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Brown):
I bought this camera for use on vacations and trips. I like to travel but do not like to carry heavy cameras around. This camera fits easily in my bookbag and takes great pictures. The lense that comes with it does not contain much of a zoom. Wish I had bought a zoom lense for the zoo.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
The camera and accessories exceeded every expectation that I had. This was the first camera that I purchased for my business to take photos of our products and clients. Usability is super easy and the quality of pictures is incredible. Will shop here again!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Black):
I use this cam for undercover work pretty much with a 12mm lens. As an undercover cam it is of the highest order. Nothing I've found better.
Outstanding IQ. Quiet, turns on and fires fast as can be. AF is excellent. It has brought home the bacon for 98% of the shots I fed it. It only failed with the most problematic shots that nothing could have captured unless the tog did lots of correction.
I have been a tog for 40+ years and have owned everything from 4 x 5 to Minox, film to digital MF. This cam is amazing at what it does...and that is shooting on the dummy setting.
For a cam that you like to fiddle with, then I only rate it at 3 stars or so. Pain to adjust. Sure you can do it, but such a pain, I try to avoid it. Not very intuitive if you come from dslr-land.
So, let me sum it up here. If I had to pick only one cam from my stable of 11...this would be the keeper...as long as I only needed to shoot on the dummy setting! If I needed to do constant adjusting, then this would be my last choice.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about E-PM1 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 14-42mm II Lens (Brown):
I wanted to buy something light and not extremely expensive to complemente my 5D camera and I think it was a nice deal.