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Review Summary
2014-07-07T21:00:00
I got this camera to compliment my Pentax K5. There are time when I do not want to carry around the weight and size of a DSLR and assorted lenses. This camera fits the bill perfectly. I like the fact that it has a full size 4/3rds sensor. I have had Olympus DSLRs in the past and always liked the photo quality. My only real complaint is I have fairly large hands and find myself inavertantly pressing the video record button when holding the camera. Over all I am extremely pleased with the purchase.
David V.
2013-02-04T19:00:00
I love this camera because it is quite compact so you can take it with you easily and it takes pictures of high quality thanks to its micro four thirds sensor! It is not the latest version (Pen E-PL5 must be even better) but it's more than enough for casual photographers who expect high quality.
Mgv
2013-02-01T19:00:00
We like it. It's compact, and it works well for our limited uses, and given our very limited photography skills. Hands down better than the point and shoots we used when in "auto" mode - and some of those point and shoots were nearly the price of this.
Scott P.
2013-01-16T19:00:00
I take this camera with me everywhere. Has great features and flexibility. Love the portable size and it just feels great in my hands! Would recommend this for anybody who wants a nice quality camera to carry around daily instead of their professional camera.
LAURA L.
2012-12-30T19:00:00
Great camera
Fulto2102
2012-12-16T19:00:00
Excellent little camera at unheard of price. Wonderful for backup camera & travel in pocket or purse. Really makes me want EM-5 now.
t
2012-12-12T19:00:00
I recently upgraded to the E-PL2 from an older point-and-shoot, and it has not disappointed. The quality of results, especially when shooting RAW and processing with Lightroom, are spectacular, even with the kit lens. I also purchased an adapter for an old Nikkor 50 mm from the 1970's, which while manual focus gives even better quality pictures. My only regret is that the menu system is not especially intuitive, and I have to hunt for settings from time to time.
Tar C.
2012-05-06T21:00:00
Functionally the same size as a large compact; fits in a big pocket or glove compartment and can go with you everywhere. Much better IQ than just about any compact, plus DoF control. AF will NOT lock/track moving things well.
PHILIP L.
2012-01-22T19:00:00
I grew a special bond with this camera. One that might bring me back to purchasing it in the future when the price drops down to a point by which retailers are trying to get rid of them because the "next big new thing is coming out (again)". This is a camera I purchased as soon as it came out and in a year ended up selling it for the next big thing - then repurchasing it because I missed it soo much! It was my go-to travel and street photography camera for a long time. I have loads of great photos from it that print large with great resolution. Something I loved about this camera? It's soo incognito. Throw some black gaffers tape over the Olympus logo and you'll be invisible to whomever you are photographing at night or during the day. Did I say at night? The black and white grainy art photo mode is lots of fun. The tilt shift art photo mode is also lots of fun. This camera = my favorite customizable camera I've owned thus far. I used many c-mount lenses on this camera with a c-mount to micro four thirds adapter that Adorama sells. Voigtlander and Leica M mount lenses also work very well on this camera when adapted. Throwing on optical viewfinders is fun and cool looking. However, Olympus also offers a pretty great electronic viewfinder. I have not used the EVF myself because i felt the LCD screen and my style of photography did not permit it. This camera really has an AMAZING LCD screen with the most perfect resolution ever. When/if I ever do head out and feel I want to make a spontaneous Olympus purchase, I'll be buying the E-PL2 again, without a doubt....even before I buy the E-PL3...
Navi
2012-01-14T19:00:00
There is a lot of noise in the shadow area, even with the lowest ISO 200 and standard noise reduction. I hesitate to use high noise reduction because it will compromise the sharpness. Sharpness is the second issue. Even with vivd mode and +2 sharpness, the camera just could not render the sharp image to my taste (also fiddling with the contrast level). The old Olympus C-2040 2.1 Mp I owned even produces sharper image at 100% zoom. I do like the Oly color though, but, if the sharpness could not live up to the standard, I am returning the camera.
Chang-Jen L.
2011-09-24T21:00:00
I just got back from Europe, and this was the only camera I took with me. First time I've ever left my SLR at home for a big trip, and I didn't miss it. The kit lens is OK, but I recommend adding the Panasonic f/1.7 pancake for sharper images and an even smaller, more portable setup.
JonPhiWil
2011-09-03T21:00:00
Love this camera and it's many features. I am a pro photographer that was looking for an everyday walk around camera. My DSLR got tiresome to haul around, and I was looking for a camera with the features I used on my DSLR on a small camera. I found that with the EPL2. I found that some of the features I use allot were buried in a sub menu. This was the case with switching between manual focus and the various AF modes.
Alaska J.
2011-09-03T21:00:00
I was looking for a camera: Smaller than an SLR Best image quality in it's class With External and customizable controls That would take great pictures without a flash That would allow me to blur picture backgrounds That had excellent build quality and reputation That would allow creative photography like my old SLR. That cost less than $1000.
DANIEL C.
2011-09-03T21:00:00
I replaced my compact camera with the E-PL2 for a walk-around camera. I now sometimes use it in the wilderness when I don't want to haul gear around. Nice for vacations for the same reason. 600mm equivelent reach with the 100-300 panny or 18mm with the super compact 9-18mm oly. m43 is nearly a complete system and getting better all the time.
PHILIP L.
2011-08-25T21:00:00
There's a bit of learning curve to using the menus on this camera- there are a lot of options and I've spent more than a few hours looking through the manual to sort them all out. It's a great camera in a nice, portable package though and once you sort out the menus, you'll love it. Only complaint is that it takes a while to write to the card but if you shoot in continuous shooting mode, this can alleviate the issue. This camera is great for TtV and I love using Canon FD lenses with it.
ANDREA D.
Great Little Camera
By LAURA L.
I take this camera with me everywhere. Has great features and flexibility. Love the portable size and it just feels great in my hands! Would recommend this for anybody who wants a nice quality camera to carry around daily instead of their professional camera.
Great
By Fulto2102
Great camera
The Olympus PEN E-PL2 Digital Camera (Black) W/14-42mm II Lens (Black) is a dream come true for many photographers--with 12.3 megapixels, plus technology normally found in much larger cameras. It features a PEN large-size image sensor that is 8 times larger than the ones in average point & shoot cameras. This sensor, combined with the TruePic V Image Processor, delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate color and reduced noise, all the way up to ISO 6400. With state-of-the art noise reduction technology and 3 in-body image stabilization modes, users will realize clear images with all compatible lenses under most lighting conditions.
The E-PL2's iAuto mode automatically identifies the scene you're shooting (portrait, landscape, night portrait, macro, or sport) and adjusts the settings to optimize results. While in iAuto you can engage Live Guide control which lets you compose your picture, manipulate the image with various in-camera effects like softening backgrounds, adjusting colors and brightness before taking the photo.
Adding to the dream, recording HD movies (720p) with the E-PL2 is simple thanks to an easy-to-reach record button on the back of the camera body. You can toggle back and forth between capturing stills and video which opens endless shooting possibilities. For example, you can shoot a portrait of a child and switch to video to capture the moment when he or she is playing with the dog that interrupted your shooting session.
This camera has 19 automatic scene-select modes which adjust camera settings according to the subject you are photographing plus 6 in-camera Art Filters (Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama and the new Gentle Sepia filter). These tools make image capture easy and can expand your creativity.
This E-PL2 comes with an M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 II lens (equivalent to 28-84mm) which is extremely compact and lightweight. It has ED lens elements which deliver very high imaging performance and despite its small size, it delivers amazing image brightness and contrast. It covers wide angle to short telephoto distances and is suitable for just about any kind of photography: portraits, everyday shooting, sports and traveling.
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