Olympus PEN E-P7 Assessment | Images Weblog

Introduction

Ease of Use

The Olympus PEN E-P7 boasts a fantastically realised retro design that actually seems to be the half, with our overview pattern having a black fake leatherette end that runs across the width of the digicam, contrasting with the silver entrance and prime panels.

Importantly it additionally feels very strong and reassuringly strong in-hand because of its magnesium-alloy physique. With dimensions of 118 x 69 x 38 mm (4.65 x 2.72 x 1.5″), it is barely smaller in dimension than the PEN-F digicam, and weighs rather less too at 337 g (0.74 lb / 11.89 oz) body-only.

In contrast to the costlier OM-D digicam vary, the brand new EP7 is not weather-sealed in any method, a transparent concession to its extra modest price-point.

Most picture stabilization methods compensate for digicam shake by correcting yaw and pitch. Olympus’s picture stabilization mechanism moreover corrects for horizontal shift, vertical shift and rotary movement (rolling) for each nonetheless photos and flicks. The PEN E-P7 presents 4.5-stops of compensation full with auto panning detection.

Though moderately small, there’s an precise hand-grip on the entrance of the digicam, plus the aforementioned textured leatherette end which togetheer are greater than adequate sufficient to have the ability to nonetheless maintain the digicam good and regular when capturing handheld, ably assisted by the far more pronounced thumb-grip on the rear.

Low mild sensitivity stretches from ISO 200 all the best way as much as a pro-like ISO 25600, partly right down to the implementation of the 20.3 megapixel sensor and newest noise decreasing TruePic VIII processor, with an prolonged LOW setting equal to ISO 100 additionally obtainable.

Unsurprisingly the PEN E-P7 retains the Olympus distinctive promoting level of on-board Artwork Filters, which might be utilized to 4K video in addition to stills. These filters are simply accessed through the devoted ART choice on the Capturing mode dial on prime of the digicam.

There are at least 31 totally different Artwork Filters in whole. The Artwork Filter digital results are utilized on the time of seize which suggests write speeds are inevitably a few seconds longer than for normal photos. When capturing utilizing sure filters, resembling Diorama or Dramatic Tone, the display screen’s refresh charge slows, offering an actual time preview of how the eventual picture might look.

As well as there is a Profile Management dial on the entrance of the E-P7 which permits for fast switching from normal photograph modes to the fully customisable Color, Monochrome or filter impact profiles.

We notably loved utilizing the Mono choice, which works identical to having a bag stuffed with filters at your disposal, however is significantly extra handy to make use of and far lighter to hold.

From the entrance the Olympus E-P7 has a pleasingly streamlined look, with only a spherical lens launch button to the suitable of the lens mount, an AF help lamp to the highest left, and the Profile Management dial on the underside left. The OLYMPUS PEN branding is proudly positioned within the prime left nook.

On prime is a vacant flash hotshoe that sits immediately above the lens, with the pop-up flash unit on the left hand-side when seen from the rear, which is activated through a small button that sits simply behind it on the rear of the digicam. The built-in pop-up flash usefully helps wi-fi flash management.

The On / Off change On the suitable of the flash hotshoe is a prominently raised capturing mode dial with a surrounding ridged edge for simpler buy, with the choices being Program, Aperture Precedence, Shutter Precedence, Handbook, Bulb, Film, Artwork, Superior Photograph Mode, Scene and the iAuto mode. There’s an accompanying button simply to the suitable of the shutter launch that is used for making modifications within the totally different artistic modes.

The Superior Photograph mode is not fairly as thrilling because it sounds, merely offering a shortcut to already current modes resembling HDR, Silent, Panorama, Keystone Compensation, AE Bracketing, Focus Bracketing, Dwell Composite, Dwell Time, and A number of Publicity. Nonetheless, it does not less than make these capturing modes much more accessible than being buried away inside the principle menu system.

We notably appreciated the Dwell Time function cleverly updates the picture on the rear display screen at pre-set intervals throughout bulb capturing, providing you with a reside preview of the publicity, and the Dwell Composite mode which lets you see a preview of long-exposure photographs as they’re being captured.

Additional to the suitable is the tactile shutter launch button, with the Olympus PEN E-P7 readying itself for motion in a second or so.

Squeeze down midway on the shutter launch and the PEN E-P7 very almost instantaneously responds because of the FAST (Frequency Acceleration Sensor Expertise) system, the display screen nearly imperceptibly blurring earlier than snapping again into focus, with the AF level flashing up in inexperienced with an (non-obligatory) accompanying bleep of affirmation.

The Olympus E-P7 actually delivers when it comes to focusing velocity and maybe extra importantly accuracy too, with only a few false positives.

There is a absolutely digital shutter, which along with increasing the highest shutter velocity to 1/16,000 sec additionally permits for fully silent capturing and a intelligent anti-shock mode. This latter mode, which makes use of an digital first-curtain shutter, helps to fight shutter shock, which may happen on the PEN E-P7 when utilizing the mechanical shutter at speeds between 1/60-1/2 hundredth second. Utilizing both the anti-shock mode or the absolutely digital shutter will keep away from this undesirable impact.

Take the shot and when capturing RAW and SuperFine (high-quality) JPEG in tandem there is a wait of a suitable two seconds earlier than the shot is absolutely dedicated to the reminiscence card. Buffer reminiscence is such nevertheless that you do not have to attend too lengthy to squeeze off one other shot if the chance presents itself (as much as 16 Uncooked information).

Motion photographers will admire the quick burst charge of 8.7fps when utilizing the mechanical shutter, full with steady auto-focusing and for a vast variety of JPEGs and RAWs. Change to the digital shutter and the velocity will increase to 15fps, however the buffer decreases to 42 RAW and 49 JPG information.

The variety of selectable contrast-detection AF factors is 121 specified by a 11×11 grid. Low-light auto focus is great – the system managed to focus right down to -5EV (so long as there was one thing to concentrate on) even with out using the main target help lamp.

The digicam’s steady auto-focusing has been improved through the use of algorithms borrowed straight from the flagship E-M1X sports activities and wildlife digicam.

These modifications have made the E-P7’s contrast-detection AF system extra dependable for locking onto and monitoring transferring topics, with the digicam proving extra dependable and fewer more likely to incorrectly concentrate on the background.

They do not overcome the inherent limitations of contrast-detection AF, although, with some searching nonetheless current while the digicam tries to fine-tune the main target.

The shutter launch button is encircled by the primary of two command dials. This one by default means that you can change the shutter velocity or publicity compensation (+-5EV) when utilizing one of many extra artistic capturing modes, whereas the smaller second one which’s positioned below your proper thumb principally adjusts the aperture. It is a neat system that makes utilizing the handbook mode specifically loads easier than on most rival cameras on this worth class.

Finishing the EP7’s top-plate is a small crimson video report button. Press this to report, or cease recording, video footage regardless of which capturing mode is in any other case chosen on the highest dial.

The Olympus E-P7 can report 4K motion pictures at 30p, 25p, 24p and Full HD motion pictures at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p. There’s additionally the power to seize high-speed VGA footage at 120fps.

The PEN E-P7 can use its glorious 5-axis sensor-shift picture stabiliser when capturing motion pictures, which interprets into easy hand-held footage, even when utilizing longer telephoto lens.

Handbook publicity might be enabled for movies, though you do need to rotate the mode dial to the Film place to benefit from this. (You can begin filming in virtually some other capturing mode too, however in that case, movies will at all times be recorded with auto publicity.)

Audio is recorded in stereo PCM and uncompressed HDMI output can also be attainable, as is assist for timecode, however sadly the digicam doesn’t have both a MIC or headphone socket.

Capturing modes embody Aperture precedence, Artwork Filter, Handbook, Program and Shutter precedence, whereas one-shot echo and multiecho results might be added to motion pictures.

Transferring to the backplate of the PEN E-P7, the obvious admission from this digicam is tha lack of an digital viewfinder – picture composition is strictly at arm’s size through the rear LCD display screen.

The PEN E-P7 is the newest Olympus mirrorless digicam to function capacitive touchscreen operation, though if you happen to’re not a fan you’ll be able to for essentially the most half get away with out utilizing it that a lot, as there are a selection of bodily buttons that are both devoted to particular capabilities or might be custom-made to go well with.

The three-inch 4:3 facet ratio LCD display screen has a decision of 1.037million dots. Pictures look notably vivid with loads of distinction when seen on the PEN E-P7’s display screen and fortunately this carries over when images are downloaded to your desktop. The tilting design permits the display screen to be tilted by means of 80° up and 180° down for capturing at varied angles and simpler selfies with the flip down display screen.

Dragging a finger, and so the AF level, across the display screen is a fast and simple method of following the topic, although inadvertently subsequently tapping it can trigger the shutter to fireplace.

This facility might be deactivated by prodding the related shutter button icon on the contact display screen, but it surely’s simply as simple to by chance flip it on once more; even through an motion as incongruous because the button of your shirt connecting with the display screen as you are sporting the PEN E-P7 on a neck strap, or the thumb of your left hand straying as you deal with the digicam.

Olympus’ Dwell Information has as soon as once more been applied on the PEN E-P7. This lets customers check out image changes with assistance from an onscreen slider bar to regulate the likes of depth of subject and see the leads to actual time earlier than urgent the shutter launch button with accessibility prolonged past iAuto mode. The Dwell Information choices are introduced as a vibrant toolbar on the suitable hand facet of the display screen.

From the highest we now have the power to vary color saturation, from ‘clear & vivid’ to ‘flat & muted’, subsequent down is the power to change ‘color picture’, which interprets as shifting the tone between heat and funky through slider bar, with the third choice shifting brightness/publicity between a easy vivid and darkish.

The fourth choice down might be essentially the most fascinating/efficient in that it gives the power to incrementally blur the background of your shot by once more dragging an indicator on a slider – thus offering an analogous shallow depth of subject impact to that achievable with a DSLR and appropriate aperture.

For its newest Dwell Information choice Olympus has retained the curiously named ‘Categorical Motions’. There’s the choice to each blur any motion or cease it in its tracks, once more achievable by dragging a slider indicator.

The final choice on this device bar is an on-board capturing hints and ideas handbook, with the same old ‘suspects’ of photographing kids and pets given essentially the most prominence (‘take an image at their peak stage’ being a summation of the extent of recommendation imparted). We even get ideas, as a little bit of closet promoting, for attaching Olympus equipment, resembling lens converters.

Slightly below the rear thumb-grip are the AEL/AFL, Menu and Data buttons, the latter toggling by means of varied LCD views. Beneath once more is a 4-way navigation controller with a central OK button – urgent this accesses the PEN E-P7’s fast menu system, a helpful onscreen vertical record of icons that present fast entry to many of the digicam’s essential settings.

Along with the digicam’s plethora of exterior controls and its customisable buttons, this makes the PEN E-P7 a pleasure to make use of. The ultimate controls on the rear are the Delete and Playback buttons.

The Wi-fi implementation on the PEN E-P7 is definitely fairly good. You first must obtain a free Olympus Picture Share app on your smartphone (Android and iOS variations are each obtainable), however after that, every part is fairly easy.

You merely contact the Wi-Fi icon in your digicam’s show to arrange a connection. The Olympus PEN E-P7 will give you an SSID and password, however you do not want to sort in both of them – simply launch the app in your cellphone and scan the QR code displayed by your digicam together with your cellphone.

As soon as the connection is established, you’ll be able to obtain photos from the digicam to your smartphone, or use the latter to remotely management the PEN E-P7. You’ll be able to select from quite a lot of capturing modes, set aperture, sensitivity, shutter velocity and white stability, select a drive mode, and concentrate on virtually any a part of the body, all remotely.

The Olympus PEN E-P7 has a time-lapse pictures mode, which lets you seize as much as 999 frames at user-specified intervals. You may also inform the digicam when to begin the sequence, which turns out to be useful if you wish to arrange the digicam properly upfront.

The PEN E-P7 will save every shot within the format of your alternative – ORF or JPEG – and might optionally create a time-lapse video in-camera, which you’ll be able to play again on the rear display screen, or add to an internet site like Vimeo or YouTube.

Whereas capturing uncooked and making a video afterwards in your PC offers you extra management over grading, sharpening and many others., the in-camera choice is sweet to have when capturing JPEG or uncooked+JPEG, as it’s clearly a lot sooner.

Focus bracketing is a superb function on the PEN E-P7.This allows you to set the main target level after which routinely take as much as 99 photographs with focus changes round it, thereby significantly extending what’s in focus.

Sadly the PEN E-P7 would not mix the photographs both in-camera or within the provided Olympus software program, so you may want to make use of Photoshop or a specialised software program program like Helicon Focus to mix all the photographs into one picture.

The menu system is just like that of the skilled OM-D E-M1. It is a complicated, multi-level menu system that may not appear intuitive at first sight, particularly to inexperienced persons, so studying the handbook is a good suggestion earlier than beginning to discover it.

The excellent news is that these menus are primarily there to permit you to arrange the digicam precisely the best way you need it to be arrange – when you’re executed with that, you may seldom must delve into the menus once more, courtesy of the big variety of exterior controls in addition to the wonderful Tremendous Management Panel, which is rapidly accessed through the OK button.

Chunky lugs for attaching the provided shoulder strap grasp at both facet of the digicam, fortunately out of the best way of fingers and controls. On the suitable hand flank, if viewing the digicam from the again, we discover a pair of lined ports for joint USB/AV output and mini HDMI output respectively.

On the underside of the PEN E-P7 is a screw thread for attaching a tripod in-line with the lens mount, with the lockable shared battery/reminiscence card compartment alongside. The BLS-50 rechargeable lithium-ion battery provided with the PEN E-P7 is nice for round 360 photographs or 80 minutes of video footage.

New to the E-P7 mannequin is the very welcome capacity to cost the digicam through micro-USB, the primary time on the E-P sequence. It is a nice function for journey photographers or for utilizing a powerbank out within the subject.

Notice that this digicam shouldn’t be suitable with the high-power USB PD normal, nevertheless, so just remember to use an acceptable powerbank.

Much more annoyingly, Olympus not embody an exterior charger within the field, as a substitute promoting it as an expensive non-obligatory accent.

There may be the choice to make use of all types of SD media card, as much as and together with SDXC playing cards, through the only card slot that is positioned inside the battery compartment on the underside of the digicam.

Picture High quality

All the pattern photos on this overview have been taken utilizing the 20M Superfine JPEG picture dimension choice, which supplies a median picture dimension of round 10Mb.

The Olympus E-P7 produced photos of wonderful high quality throughout the overview interval. It produces noise-free photos at ISO 100 to 800, with restricted noise beginning to seem at ISO 1600. ISO 3200 and 6400 exhibit fairly seen noise and lack of positive element, whereas the quickest settings of 12800 and 25600 look significantly better on paper than in actuality.

The varied Photograph Types, Profiles and Artwork Filters permit you to rapidly and simply customise the look of the digicam’s JPEG photos earlier than you are taking them. The night time {photograph} was glorious, with the utmost shutter velocity of 60 seconds permitting you to seize loads of mild.

Noise

There are 9 ISO settings obtainable on the Olympus E-P7 which you’ll be able to choose at any time if the digicam is in one of many artistic capturing modes. Listed here are some 100% crops which present the noise ranges for every ISO setting for each JPEG and RAW codecs.

JPEG	RAW
ISO 100 (100% Crop)	ISO 100 (100% Crop)
ISO 200 (100% Crop)	ISO 200 (100% Crop)
ISO 400 (100% Crop)	ISO 400 (100% Crop)
ISO 800 (100% Crop)	ISO 800 (100% Crop)
ISO 1600 (100% Crop)	ISO 1600 (100% Crop)
ISO 3200 (100% Crop)	ISO 3200 (100% Crop)
ISO 6400 (100% Crop)	ISO 6400 (100% Crop)
ISO 12800 (100% Crop)	ISO 12800 (100% Crop)
ISO 25600 (100% Crop)	ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

File High quality

The Olympus E-P7 has 3 totally different JPEG picture high quality settings obtainable, with Superfine being the very best high quality choice. Listed here are some 100% crops which present the standard of the assorted choices, with the file dimension proven in brackets.

Superfine (8.85Mb) (100% Crop)	Fantastic (8.25Mb) (100% Crop)
Regular (4.20Mb) (100% Crop)	RAW (17.5Mb) (100% Crop)

Night time

The Olympus E-P7’s most shutter velocity is 60 seconds and there is additionally a Bulb choice for exposures as much as half-hour lengthy, which is good news if you happen to’re significantly inquisitive about night time pictures. The shot under was taken utilizing a shutter velocity of 30 seconds at ISO 100. The digicam takes the identical period of time once more to use noise discount, so for instance on the 15 second setting the precise publicity takes 30 seconds.

Flash

Off

On

Redeye-reduction

Image Modes

Olympus’s Image Modes, just like Nikon’s Image Types, Canon’s Image Controls and Panasonic’s Photograph Types, are preset mixtures of various sharpness, distinction, saturation and noise discount settings. The 6 obtainable Image Modes are proven under within the following sequence, which demonstrates the variations. There are additionally 4 Customized choices in an effort to create your personal seems to be.

i-Improve

Vivid

Pure

Muted

Portrait

Monochrome

Artwork Filters

The Olympus E-P7 has an intensive vary of digital filter results, denoted by an artist’s palette within the capturing mode menu, with 22 totally different choices on provide.

Pop Artwork I

Pop Artwork II

Gentle Focus

Pale&Mild Colour I

Pale&Mild Colour II

Mild Tone

Grainy Movie I

Grainy Movie II

Pin Gap I

Pin Gap II

Pin Gap III

Diorama I

Diorama II

Cross Course of I

Cross Course of II

Mild Sepia

Dramatic Tone I

Dramatic Tone II

Key Line I

Key Line II

Watercolor I

Watercolor II

Classic I

Classic II

Classic III

Partial Colour I

Partial Colour II

Partial Colour III

Bleach Bypass I

Bleach Bypass II

On the spot Movie

Profiles

Mono 1

Mono 2

Mono 3

Mono 4

Colour 1

Colour 2

Colour 3

Colour 4

Pattern Pictures

It is a collection of pattern photos from the Olympus PEN E-P7 digicam, which have been all taken utilizing the 20 megapixel Superfine JPEG setting. The thumbnails under hyperlink to the full-sized variations, which haven’t been altered in any method.

Pattern RAW Pictures

The Olympus E-P7 allows customers to seize RAW and JPEG format information. We have offered some Olympus RAW (ORF) samples so that you can obtain (thumbnail photos proven under usually are not 100% consultant).

Pattern Films & Video

Product Pictures

Conclusion

The EP-7 is the primary ever digicam launched by Olympus’ new house owners, OM Digital Options, and fortunately it is an excellent one. Combining the gorgeous retro seems to be of the basic PEN sequence with the up-to-date know-how of the E-PL vary, this mid-tier digicam actually punches above its worth weight.

Some photographers might bemoan the dearth of an digital viewfinder, which will definitely be a deal-breaker out of the beginning gate for some, however the E-P7 has sufficient options, nuanced dealing with and lovely design to please the bulk.

Sitting alongside the E-M10 Mark IV within the Olympus digicam lineup, the EP7 inherits the identical flip-down LCD display screen that is good for taking selfies, extra dependable steady specializing in transferring topics, and USB charging, however dispenses with the EVF to make itself simply that little bit smaller and lighter.

The identical range-topping 20 megapixel sensor additionally makes its method right into a second entry-level Olympus mirrorless digicam, principally including higher noise efficiency and barely extra decision, and the customisable Colour/Monochrome Profiles from the PEN-F have fortunately made their method into the brand new EP7.

With a sleeker, much more retro look, Olympus are clearly betting that would-be-buyers will probably be wowed by the E-P7’s exterior look in addition to the accompanying specification record in comparison both with the E-M10 Mark IV or its essential rivals from the likes of Fujifilm, Panasonic, Sony and Canon.

A price-tag of £849 as a package with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ lens is a reasonably whole lot, making for an ideal journey combo, though the digicam would undoubtedly profit from being paired with a extra succesful lens.

General, the E-P7 might not have been the digicam that everybody was anticipating or hoping OM Digital Options would launch first, but it surely’s actually a superb addition to the present vary. We won’t wait to see what they launch subsequent…

Essential Rivals

Listed under are a number of the rivals of the Olympus PEN E-P7.

Assessment Roundup

Critiques of the Olympus PEN E-P7 from across the internet.

Specs

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