The mirrorless Olympus E-PM1: quite a functional model at a nice price

The Pen Mini, or Olympus E-PM1, is the smallest member of the Pen family of cameras. Its target audience are amateurs who want to change their compact cameras for a device that is just as portable but takes much better quality photos. The latter is pretty much implied: although the 4/3 standard sensors are not the largest in class, they are much larger than the tiny sensors in compact cameras.

What sets the Pen Mini apart from the older models is the minimal set of controls. Not even a mode dial on the box: hobbyists are supposed to be satisfied with point-and-shoot without getting immersed in the intricacies of control and without manual intervention in the electronics.

The concept is, however, quite viable, since such photographers, it must be admitted, are in the majority, and the class of compact systems is, all the same, oriented more at amateurs than at technically savvy enthusiasts.

In return a compact and light body is offered – 110×64×34 mm at the weight of about 250 grams, a decent set of “smart” technologies. Technical and functional specifications of the camera is largely at the level of the older models PL3 and even E-P3.

The camera is equipped with a 12-megapixel Live MOS sensor and an “ultrasonic” stabilization system, a powerful proprietary dual-core processor TruePic VI, an improved and accelerated focusing system, has an attractive set of “smart” technology and digital filters and writes 1080/60i video in AVCHD format.

The camera has a 3-inch display with 460K resolution. There is no built-in flash, but a small attached flash is included, and there is also a hot shoe and a proprietary accessory slot which is rather odd in this case: why would owners of point-and-shoot cameras need external accessories ?? .

In general, this is almost the only competitor to the Sony NEX-C3 – an attractive portable “notebook” with a nice price. If you don’t mind the unprofessional look of the camera, the Olympus E-PM1 might be a very good choice in the mirrorless class.

And if you don’t mind the unprofessional look of the camera, the Olympus E-PM1 could be a very worthy choice in the mirrorless class. Compact, good-looking and fully functional “system” camera, clearly aimed at hobbyists and priced nicely for them.