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Olympus E-P2   

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By Leonard Goh, CNET Asia
Nov 5, 2009

Five months have passed since Olympus announced its first Micro Four Thirds camera, the E-P1. Today, the firm unveiled the second shooter to employ the new imaging standard, the E-P2. For those wondering whether the E-P1 will be discontinued, the answer is no. Come December, it will be sold alongside its sibling. However, competition from Panasonic's GF1 may pose a threat to the E-P2.

Same Design, Almost Similar Features

The instant we set eyes on the 12-megapixel E-P2, we were immediately reminded of the E-P1. This is because the new snapper looks exactly like the previous version, although it will be in only a classic black body (E-P1 is in silver or white). The button layout and menu interface remain identical, too.

We were also surprised that Olympus didn't include an onboard flash in the E-P2. The firm said it wanted to retain the look of the Pen cameras, hence built the snapper within the chassis of the E-P1.

Nonetheless, the new shooter feels solid in our hands, and having reviewed the E-P1, we were comfortable handling the E-P2. We also had the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 with us for some comparison shots (see below). Size-wise, the E-P1, E-P2 and GF1 aren't very much different.

Click for larger image:

High-Resolution Electronic Viewfinder (EVF)

As with the GF1, the new Pen digicam has a port below the hotshoe for users to attach the VF-2 EVF. This accessory has a super-high resolution of 1.44 megapixels, almost seven times that of the Panasonic's. We tried the VF-2 and found the view to be extremely sharp and clear. There is also a diopter corrector to accommodate short/long-sighted users. We also noticed the screen from the Olympus EVF to be much bigger than the GF1's, and this was really helpful as we didn't have to squint when framing shots.

The ports for the EVF on the GF1 and E-P2 are different, so they are not interchangeable.

Although Olympus didn't confirm this, we believe that this to be the same EVF which Epson announced production of a few weeks back.

Sound Check

Like the E-P1, the E-P2 can record 720p-quality videos as well. However, the accessory port allows lensmen to fit the new SEMA-1 microphone set onto the digicam, unlike its older sibling. The SEMA-1 has a 3.5mm stereo jack so users can employ their own external microphones for better audio quality. On its own, the E-P2 is able to record stereo sound, though often it captures ambient noise as well.


New Art Filters, AF Tracking and i-Enhance

In the E-P2, Olympus is introducing two more Art Filters to the library. Cross Process emulates the look of 35mm slide film processed with negative's chemicals, producing quirky colors with high contrast. Diorama imitates the effect of tilt-shift lenses, creating shots where the subjects in the picture look like miniatures. As with the E-P1, shutterbugs can apply the two new Art Filters while recording videos on the E-P2.

Click for larger image (Credit: Olympus)



Another new feature is autofocus tracking absent in the E-P1. Users can lock onto the subject and the camera will automatically focus the lens as the subject moves around within the frame.

i-Enhance is built into the iAuto mode, and the new algorithm analyzes the scene and sets the best shooting parameter for it before the shutter is pressed.

Outlook

Photographers who bought the E-P1 may be upset that Olympus unveiled the E-P2 so soon after. In some ways, the E-P2 should have been what the company's first Micro Four Thirds camera is.

However, we were told by Olympus that the E-P2 will be priced higher than the E-P1 for its additional features, so those who bought the E-P1 can breathe easy knowing that they were not shortchanged. Still, the E-P2 will face stiff competition from the GF1, though the former does have the advantage of sensor-shift image stabilizer, higher-resolution EVF and options for an external microphone. The unit we tried was a prototype, so we weren't not able to find out whether Olympus has fixed the slow focusing problem which plagued the E-P1. We'll know when a commercial unit arrives in our Labs.

The E-P2 is slated for retail in December, though pricing for Asia is not yet fixed. The VF-2 EVF will be sold as a bundle with the new camera. As for the SEMA-1, users can expect this only in February 2010, with pricing to be advised.