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Questions & Answers

CHING Z : How long will the battery last if I'm shooting video? Thanks!KURT W : It really depends on how much you keep your camera on. I generally keep my camera off and turn it on as needed. I will, however, keep it on if I am shooting at least every few minutes. Of course, the camera will turn off automatically if it's unused after about 8 minutes anyway. My battery will last a full day and usually 2-3 the way I use my camera. It seems that the screen being on eats up a lot of the battery. I have purchased several of the generic Adorama batteries as back-ups. They work great and I always carry one with me. With the extra battery, it's not an issue at all.ANDREW R : Unfortunately the manufacturer does not specify battery life while shooting video, though they do offer an estimate when shooting still images: Number of recordable pictures: Approx. 360 shots [IS ON, CIPA test standard] (with BLS-5 and TOSHIBA super high-speed Class 6 SDHC 4GB card)
Shopper : What is the weight of the camera with the kit lens (14-42), battery, SD card, and strap, all together? The specs only show the weight for a stripped body with no lens.ANDREW R : Weight for the body - 5.29oz (150 g) Weight for the lens - 4.0 ounces (113 g) Unfortunately Olympus does not specify the weight of any of the included accessories or the battery.
Shopper : I am trying to decide between a PM-2 and a Epl-5. Any suggestions? I am a casual userGEORGE L : Pl5 is a quieter shutter $100 more has PASM wheel and two programmable buttons and tilt screen and it weighs only 2 ounces morePETER R : While Adorama's info indicates the E-PM2 has a tilt screen, it actually doesn't. So if the tilt screen is important order the EPL-5 and avoid sending back the camera like I had to do.

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2014-06-10T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Olympus E-PM2 -- Nice walkaround camera

While I mainly use my DSLR, I needed a compact camera to carry around when the DSLR with lenses is too bulky and heavy to carry. This fits the bill, and the 4/3 system is more functional than point and shoot cameras in the same price point

RICHARD E.

2014-04-28T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Olympus E-PM2

I mainly use the camera to take pictures of my 2 years old son. The focusing is quick. It got good resolution with good noise control up to ISO 3200. Controls are not much user friendly. Most of them are menu driven and you have to go through menus to change even the simplest settings. Finally if you got big hands you may have difficulty using this camera.

Alireza T.

2014-04-20T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Olympus P-EM2 is a must have camera

Compact, versatile and powerful.

tonyt

2014-04-15T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great substitute for DSLR when traveling

Camera used as a substitute for DSLR when wanting to travel light. Very quick shutter no shutter lag and 8 fps when shooting. You can get action shots with this just like your DSLR but in a smaller package. Would love it if it had built in viewfinder but you can add an attaqchment. I have not purchased the attachable view finder.

JOSE A.

2014-04-14T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Great Update to the first PM1

If you are looking for a camera in this format, this is a GREAT improvement from the first version. I had a PM1 in the past for travel and loved it. Now I wanted a smaller SLR for casual use, and got the PM2. With the touch screen to navigate the menus and updated 16 MP sensor, it way more functional in its use.

Mikiehead

2014-04-14T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Very Nice Companion Camera

Very good to as a second camera or as the family camera. Nice handling with small form factor. It's not a replacement for a professional grade camera, but it should fulfill most people's needs.

citizenlouie

2013-05-13T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Olympus E-PM2

It is an amazing little camera! Can easily put it in the side pocket of my coat. Until I got the camera, I did not even realize how small it is. The sensor can rival some chips found in semi pro bodies. High iso (I routinely use it at 3200) image quality is great, and the dynamic range is improved probably by 2 stops over the DR of sensors found in older 12mp pen cameras. In my opinion, it is the best 4/3 sensor. The kit lens is also nice. It is not fast, but sharp at all focal lengths. Autofocus is at least as fast as FD systems found in entry level dSLR cameras. Love the face detection feature! It works well even on cats :-) Small size of the camera makes it easy to carry, but it also makes it too easy to push buttons accidently. The interface is not the most intuitive or efficient. Look up on youtube how to enable "Super Control Panel". It will make your experience with the camera much more enjoyable.

Max

2013-01-15T19:00:00

Rated 3 out of 5

Disappointment

My wife and I purchased the E-PM2 as a Christmas present to each other in early December. We had seen the commercial on TV, and we investigated further. Everything we read was good. We decided to purchase strongly based on our history with both Olympus film and digital SLRs. We didn't open the package until Christmas morning. After reading the very limited instruction book, which allowed me to set the basic system up. It then advised to just shoot iAuto until I was familiar with the camera operations. All I have to do is push several buttons and the camera takes over, but I digress. There were several references to a Super Control Panel, but absolutely, no instructions as to where it could be accessed. I also learned the the "Semi-Complete" Instruction Book was located on the accompanying CD. For me that meant sitting at my computer reading a manual, so I can learn to use the more interesting camera operations. I chose to go to an office supply store to have the book printed and bound, so I could sit anywhere reading the manual with the camera actually in my hands while learning. After three days of reading the manual, I finally had to call Olympus Technical Support to get an answer as to how to access the previously mentioned Super Control Panel. It's an area sadly lacking in the basic setup manual. The camera is really very full featured. There are far too many "howevers" for me to give it anywhere near a passing grade. First is the lack of an included optical eye level viewfinder. I have grandchildren and, I find it difficult to follow any action while holding the camera in front of my face effectively blinding me to what's happening except through a small image. The touch screen is very, very responsive, however, my finger tips are not small enough to easily touch the correct icon on the screen to use it. When I use the swipe function to review images, 3 to 4 frames slide by instead of a single. Fortunately, the function on the manual control wheel functions as expected. Same goes for the zoom function. More often the not the image slides forward or backwards instead of zooming, so I rotate the wheel once again. Shooting in the manual mode is my last and greatest issue. It's the way I use any camera. Once I set all the parameters on the Super Control Panel, it is very difficult to change either the shutter speed or f/stop easily. Even after a great deal of practice using the Control Dial, which is "mini," I can't change either on the first try. I can't say much about the HD capability because I've only tried it once. Still waiting to decide, whether, we want to spend the money to buy yet another connecting cable. The only video I shot was some fireworks at New Years. An optical eye level viewfinder would have helped enormously. I got about 7 seconds of good image out of a total of 47. For the techno geek this might be a fine camera, but to anyone with an extensive photographic background it's little more than a novelty. This is the first Olympus camera we have owned that is a disappointment.

GLENN R.

About Olympus E-PM2

FEATURED REVIEWS

Olympus P-EM2 is a must have camera

By tonyt

Compact, versatile and powerful.

Great substitute for DSLR when traveling

By JOSE A.

Camera used as a substitute for DSLR when wanting to travel light. Very quick shutter no shutter lag and 8 fps when shooting. You can get action shots with this just like your DSLR but in a smaller package. Would love it if it had built in viewfinder but you can add an attaqchment. I have not purchased the attachable view finder.

The Olympus E-PM2 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5 II Lens (Black) is a compact mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that comes with the Micro Four Thirds M. Zuiko ED 14-42mm f/3.5 II zoom lens and the FL-LM1 flash unit.

A 16MP Live MOS sensor and TruePic VI Image Processor provide high resolution photo and video and fast performance. The TruePic VI Image Processor features Real Color Technology for accurate color reproduction and improved gradation. The F.A.S.T. Autofocus technology with 35 separate focus points brings with it accurate and swift focus across the entire sensor and 8 frames per second of continuous shooting is there to capture the one perfect image amidst a flurry of activity.

ISO sensitivity that ranges up to 25600 offers flexibility when shooting in low light and In-body Image Stabilization reduces the effects of camera movement when shooting in low light or with long telephoto lenses. The In-body Image Stabilization also works on video and the E-PM2 captures video in Full 1080i HD and the Direct HD Movie Button switches you from still to movie mode with just one touch of the button.

The 3.0" LCD offers touch control of autofocus points and shutter release and the responsive Vertical Bar Touch Navigation system for intuitive settings control. The Live Guide system allows you to preview the camera's effects as you adjust them. Just push the Direct Live Guide Button to see how your photo will look before you take it.

iAuto and 23 Scene Select Modes are available for easy auto shooting. iAuto identifies the type of scene you are shooting and adjusts the settings to optimize image results and Scene Select mode allows you to set the camera to the type of shot you will be taking whether it is Fireworks, Sunset, Children or even 3D. Face Detection with Eye Detect adjusts focus automatically onto the subject's eyes for beautiful portraits. Also available are 12 in-camera Art Filters which allow you to adjust your images with effects like Pop Art, Soft Focus and Grainy Film. These can be applied to HD videos as well.

For ease of handling and ergonomic control, the E-PM2 has a built-in rubberized grip. And the Olympus Dust Reduction System shakes off dust from the sensor every time the camera is turned on.

For complete flexibility and creative options, this Olympus mirrorless camera is compatible with a full line of M. Zuiko lenses including the Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 which is bundled with this camera. With a retractable mechanism design, this 3X zoom lens is compact with an overall length of just 1.71" (43.5mm). It is designed specifically for Micro Four Thirds mounts and with multi-coating on all lens surfaces it offers even light transmission and reduced aberrations. This is a versatile lens, covering wide-angle to moderate telephoto focal lengths.

What's in the box:

  • Olympus E-PM2 Mirrorless Digital Camera
  • 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko ED Zoom Lens for Olympus Digital Cameras (Four Thirds System)
  • BLS-5 Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery
  • BCS-5 Lithium-Ion Battery Charger
  • FL-LM1 Flash for E-PM1/E-PL3 Cameras
  • Shoulder Strap
  • Front Lens Cap
  • Rear Lens Cap
  • Olympus Viewer 2/ib Software CD-ROM
  • Instruction Manual
  • Olympus Warranty