Olympus PEN E-P1

663 reviews

Apr, 2024

Positive
portability (322)
performance (313)
usability (248)
design (200)
image quality (187)

Negative
flash (83)
viewfinder (77)
shutter (5)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 663 reviews of Olympus PEN E-P1. The average rating for this product is 4.3/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras for all reviews. Comments about the image quality and design are generally positive. The usability and portability are also mentioned favorably. Comments are divided on the storage. There are some less positive comments about the shutter and viewfinder.

performance, portability, usability, design, image quality

flash, viewfinder, shutter

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Olympus PEN E-P1 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 90/100 = Excellent quality.

See all Olympus Digital Cameras

Review analysis

(Based on 663 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(43% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews (40% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews (15% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews (1% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews (1% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

performance
Show positive (67%)Show negative (33%)(Show all)

portability
Show positive (78%)Show negative (22%)(Show all)

usability
Show positive (65%)Show negative (35%)(Show all)

design
Show positive (93%)Show negative (7%)(Show all)

image quality
Show positive (88%)Show negative (12%)(Show all)

More features

Showing 392 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

Disclaimer:

Below is a list of reviews for this or similar products. If you think this grouping is wrong please click here to flag.
Read more on our FAQ’s page.

Showing 1 - 227 of 392 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (268)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Olympus PEN E-P1

alaTest has collected and analyzed 60 user reviews of Olympus PEN E-P1 from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.5/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.co.uk. People really like the size and image quality. The usability and portability are also mentioned favorably, whereas many are critical about the flash and screen.

performance, portability, usability, image quality, size

screen, flash

100% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Olympus PEN E-P1

alaTest has collected and analyzed 156 user reviews of Olympus PEN E-P1 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.2/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.com. Reviewers really like the price and design. The portability and usability are also appreciated. Many are critical about the viewfinder and screen. Views about the storage and shutter are different.

performance, usability, portability, design, price

screen, viewfinder

97% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.ca)

Amazon.ca review summary for Olympus PEN E-P1

alaTest has collected and analyzed 1 user review of Olympus PEN E-P1 from Amazon.ca. The average user rating for this product is 5.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.ca.

100% of the reviews on Amazon.ca give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Expert review by : DP Review (dpreview.com)

Expert Review

It's hard not to fall for the E-P1's charms. The unashamedly nostalgic design combines with true SLR quality in a remarkably pocketable package. The lack of flash and viewfinder will put some off, as will the relatively slow focus, but overall this...

Excellent resolution, tons of detail in the shots, Appealing, bright and punchy out of camera results and well optimized JPEGs, Very clever collapsible kit lens that's small, but offers decent quality, Unique retro design puts SLR quality into a...

Slow focus requires a more considered approach to shooting, Some highlight clipping (and poor dynamic range at ISO 100), Low resolution screen that's hard to see in bright light, No viewfinder, No built-in flash (and the optional flash is expensive and...

Mar, 2010

Read the full review

Expert review by : Ben Long (pcworld.com)

Olympus E-P1

Dec, 2009

Read the full review

Expert review by : Jackson Lynch (wired.com)

A Retro Design and Thoughtful Shots for the Artsy Photographer

Packaged in a brushed and polished metal casing, the Olympus E-P1 camera screams both brawn and retro chic. Overlook the lo-res LCD and instead appreciate this cam's top-notch stabilization abilities and tidy images.

Nov, 2009

Read the full review

Expert review by : Dylan Tweney (wired.com)

Review: Olympus Pen E-P1

With a focus on design, the Olympus E-P1 revitalizes compact-camera aesthetics.

Mighty Four Thirds sensor dwarfs the imagers used in all other compact cameras. Interchangeable lenses give flexibility, arty possibilities. Shoots fast. Image stabilization + wide ISO range = ability to shoot in low light. Solid, comfortable feel in...

Manual focusing is confusing and difficult without an optical viewfinder. Autofocus not entirely reliable. No included flash. Maximum aperture of f3.5 in the kit lens is disappointing. Kit lens requires a manual “press and twist” maneuver to extend it...

Aug, 2009

Read the full review

Expert review by : PJ Jacobowitz (pcmag.com)

Olympus E-P1

The game changing Olympus E-P1 Micro Four Thirds camera is compact, affordable, and offers great image quality to boot.

Sharp images from ISO 100 through ISO 800. Low noise from ISO 100-1600. Beautiful aesthetics and design. HD video capture (720p30). HDMI port. 3-inch LCD.

Noticeable shutter lag. Slow autofocus. Lens is noisy when focusing, which is recorded when capturing video. Few Micro-Four-Thirds lenses available. No optical viewfinder or built-in flash.

Jul, 2009

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.com)

Olympus E-P1 review: Olympus E-P1

Olympus E-P1

Striking design; excellent build quality; impressive photo quality; interchangeable lens support.

Sluggish autofocus; short battery life; low-resolution LCD; lacks on-camera flash and viewfinder.

The Olympus E-P1 is an otherwise excellent enthusiast compact camera hampered by some performance problems and the lack of a viewfinder and built-in flash.

Jun, 2009

Read the full review

Expert review by : William Chambers (steves-digicams.com)

Olympus E-P1 Review

OLYMPUS UNVEILS A NEW ERA WITH THE E-P1:NOT A POINT & SHOOT. NOT AN SLR. IT'S A PEN.WHAT WILL YOU CREATE?

Jul, 2009

Read the full review

Expert review by (letsgodigital.org)

Olympus E-P1 review

It's not an SLR camera, not a compact, but a PEN. This is the name Olympus gave their latest camera model, the E-P1. And it might just be the most discussed camera lately. During the Photokina 2008, the Micro Four Thirds camera from Olympus was already...

The Olympus E-P1 has made a daring move. The E-P1 is in many ways a very special camera. First of all, its appearance; retro and modern at the same time. For me, its design is as successful as the retro-design of the Volkswagen Beetle or the Fiat 500....

Read the full review

Expert review by : Mark Goldstein (photographyblog.com)

Olympus E-P1 Review

The Olympus E-P1 is a new kind of digital camera that promises to offer DSLR image quality in an ultra-compact format. The first Micro Four Thirds model from Olympus, the EP1 has a retro design based on the Olympus Pen series of compact film cameras...

The Olympus EP-1 is a brave and largely successful attempt at fusing the small size and handling of a compact camera with the image quality and features of a DSLR. Most potential buyers won't remember the camera or decade that inspired the distinctive...

Jul, 2009

Read the full review

Expert review by : Backpacking Light (backpackinglight.com)

Olympus E-P1 Camera Review

Citation "Olympus E-P1 Camera Review," by Ryan Jordan. BackpackingLight.com (ISSN 1537-0364). http://backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/olympus_ep1_camera_review.html, 2009-11-24 00:05:00-07.

Dec, 2013

Read the full review