When the offer came to look over the PEN mini E-PM1, it was an easy decision considering we’d previously reviewed the E-PL1 and E-PL3 and awarded them both Platinum medals. But when the newest entry to the PEN line up is announced as the smallest and most affordable PEN, the task of maintaining a Platinum level, you would think, might become a harder task. Read on to see our thoughts and our overall conclusion.
Appearance & Functionality
Let’s start with the cosmetics; the paint job. There are six options now (2 more than the E-PL3) with purple, silver, black pink, chocolate and white. Comparing the front view point the PEN Mini E-PM1 is virtually the same. But the same can’t be said for the top and rear views with Olympus opting for a minimalist approach, whether it be by necessity due to its reduced size, simply a styling approach, or cost cutting exercise to achieve the lower pricing. My guess… a little of all three.
The old-school top dial which worked so well on the E-PL3 is simple gone, but not the functionality. This camera is all about locating function through the camera’s menu system. There are also four less buttons on the back so finding the most commonly used features that were now missing took a few moments while I searched for them. For a newbie upgrading from a compact the transformation would be a little more seamless, as we were treated to something special with the E-PL3 and kind of hoped to see most of that model (unrealistically) in the E-PM1… all sized down. Not the case, the E-PL3 has been given a rethink for feature option locations.
On the functionality side, Olympus have retained the same 6 ART filters; Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Dramatic Tone. With the previously easy use of the top function dial now gone, likely due to the slimmer body camera, the mode options of P A S M are now found with a single push of the menu button. There is still 23 Scene options too - with No.23 being a 3D option buried way down the list, although without a 3D TV to test the function were unable to give it a proper critiquing.
One major oversight is the easy access to the ISO (film speed) control. It’s not one button away, it’s not even on the first page menu option list (after pressing the ‘OK’ button) but scroll down through 11 options before reaching ISO. For those who know how to use this function effectively, the move… or relegation won’t be appreciated. However, if it’s used regularly a double click of the ‘OK’ simply button skips straight to ISO if it was the last used option, in that part of the menu. It’s a tricky one as it gave us mixed feelings on it.
Image Quality / Lens Quality
We had the luxury of testing this unit with both the standard kit 14-42mm lens and Olympus’ new 45mm f1.8 lens... And let me tell you, once you’ve tested the 45mm lens you’ll instantly fall in love with the quality it produces time and again. The PEN Mini E-PM1, using a 12.3 megapixel capture TruePic VI Image processing engine is capable of 5fps burst shooting, and coupled with the 45mm lens, together dance beautifully.
Inside with dim lighting in just ‘Program’ mode the camera works wonders with an f1.8 aperture, and with the ability to skip up to 1600 ISO without any real grain hassles, it created images brighter than what the human eye sees. With a steel mount on the lens and what seemed a better quality outer finish than the kit lens, I liked the 45mm f1.8 a lot.
The 14-42mm kit lens also produced great images, but not in the league that the 45mm is at. Hence the price difference for those lenses with the 45mm f1.8 costing almost as much as the E-PM1 body with an RRP of $499.
Grain quality from 200 ISO setting to 1250 and even 1600 ISO produced excellent images for its category, keeping in the tradition of quality PEN images. It’s exciting to see that in this day and age we can use faster ISO speeds without the compromise we once had in earlier model digital cameras, and even in the days of film using 1600 ISO as an alternative.
LCD / Viewfinder
Olympus have passed on from previous models the success of the 16:9 3.0-inch HyperCrystal 460,000 pixel LCD screen, but this time left off the LCD tilt option that had the E-PL3 LCD folding out 80°. The LCD colours are bright and punchy which is standard requirement for the PEN series. But, like so many LCD screens in bright daylight it’s hard to view, so until a camera company, any camera company, comes up with an alternative screen solution this LCD rates very highly in most shooting scenarios.
Again, like the E-PL3 there is an optional Electronic Viewfinder with a 1,440,000 dot resolution, remembering that it’s around 3½ times the resolution of the LCD back, maintaining its place in the leading group of add-on EV’s available on the market.
Video
Let’s start with the best part, 1920x1080, 60i Recording, 20Mbps, Aspect 16:9, at 30fps AVCHD or AVI with Dolby Digital Sound Recording. The second best part, Olympus retained the simple red Record button next to the Image capture button so life for the user is simply made easy.
The quality of capture is very good and is only restricted by the European standard clip length of 29 minutes, 59 seconds. For those who don’t know, in Europe there is a tax difference between camera and video sales hence the time limit.
Conclusion
Starting with the cons, the same petty gripe as the E-PL3 was expected… there’s still no HDMI cable to easily plug and play FullHD and 3D capabilities directly to a HD screen. And second the non-easy option to access the ISO function... Even if it does eventually get easier to source the more you use it.
After that, it’s all rosy. The E-PM1 passed with flying colours. Olympus continues with the PEN series to add worth at both ends of its spectrum maintaining its target for high quality bodied cameras and fast, quality lenses.
There’s yet again no shortage of add-ons in the interchangeable PEN series with extra lenses, electronic viewfinders and external flash options etc which can only be seen as a plus. From styling to handling, from shooting to image capture, once more Olympus score another Platinum medal for its ‘pool room’ with the E-PM1.