Olympus E-P1 review

Typical price: £850

What is it: Compact dSLR-like camera with swappable lenses

What we think: Offers excellent photo quality and an appealing design, but its sluggish performance is disappointing

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What you need to know

Reviewed by: Lori Grunin

Reviewed on: 9 July 2009

Tags: Olympus, Olympus E-P1, control panel, sports, profile

We like:

Striking design; excellent build quality; impressive photo quality; support for interchangeable lenses

We don't like:

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

CNET UK judgement:

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

Full review:

Looking only slightly like the original Micro Four Thirds concept design that Olympus floated last September at Photokina, the company's retro E-P1 with interchangeable lens debuts this year to ride the coat-tails of the 50th anniversary of the company's Pen film camera. From the name, to the design, to the tagline etched on its top -- 'Olympus Pen since 1959' -- it feels like both an homage and a desperate reminder that Olympus was in the camera business long before most digital photographers were born. Continue Reading...

Olympus E-P1 History

24 Nov 2009 in Crave

Olympus Pen E-P1 in Swarovski horror: You'll wish you were blind

Lord knows why, but Olympus has decided to let Swarovski vomit on its Pen E-P1 camera. Bathe in the full horror with our pictures

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29 Jun 2009 in Crave

Video: Hands-on with the Olympus Pen E-P1

Crave UK has journeyed into the heart of swinging London to see the latest gadget to be 'retro-styled' -- whatever that means. It's the Olympus Pen E-P1, by jove!

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17 Jun 2009 in Crave

Photos: Hands-on with the Olympus E-P1

We stepped back in time to get our hands on the retro-styled Olympus E-P1 camera, the latest Micro Four Thirds model that does the dSLR thing only smaller

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16 Jun 2009 in Crave

Olympus E-P1: You youngsters don't know you're born

With the slightly whistly, phlegmatic voice of a grumpy old man, Olympus has announced the Micro Four Thirds E-P1, to remind us all it's been around the block a few times

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8 Jun 2009 in Crave

Olympus Micro Four Thirds debutant picture leaks: It's the E-P1

Olympus's long-awaited Micro Four Thirds model has a name: the E-P1. Click the story to see a first picture, and have your say on what this new market sector should be called...

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