Olympus E-P1
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
- Revealed July 2009
- New Model is Olympus E-P2
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Lenses
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
86 Imaging
47 Features
42 Overall
45
Olympus E-P1 overview
Olympus E-P1 is Olympus's Entry-Level Mirrorless digital camera first released on July of 2009. It comes with a 12 MegaPixel, CMOS Four Thirds sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 4032 x 3024.
Olympus launched the updated Olympus E-P2 (Read Full Comparison) in an effort to improve this model.
The E-P1 comes in at #113 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras & all around #536 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. Remember to check out our Smart camera search to get camera listings based on your customized factors.
Here is a graph of different criteria used in the scoring system.
Olympus E-P1 history
The Olympus E-P1 is part of a family of cameras. You can read the detailed range underneath.
Olympus E-P1 Gallery
You can check the E-P1 from various angles in the gallery here.
Olympus E-P1 Pros and Cons
Below is a list of benefits and drawbacks of the Olympus E-P1 based on features which are typically viewed as useful in a digital camera.
Olympus E-P1 Sensor specifications
The Olympus E-P1 houses the TruePic V chip. The size of the sensor in the Olympus E-P1 is 17.3mm x 13mm (Four Thirds). The 225 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 4032 x 3024 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera has Image Stabilization (Sensor based). In body stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization as the latter can produce cropping.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesThe CMOS sensor has 12MP and gives a standard ISO range of 100 - 6400. RAW files are saved which means that you have wider margin for error.
The image underneath illustrates the E-P1's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The E-P1 sensor has a crop factor of 2.1 and is displayed in green.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banTo get an idea of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
Olympus E-P1 dimensions
Olympus E-P1 has a weight of 0.78 pounds (355 grams / 12.52 ounces) & has external size of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4"). The weight of normal Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329 grams so the Olympus E-P1 is on par compared to various competitors.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoHere is a image of the Olympus E-P1 with a softdrink to help you get a feel for its scale.
The top view just below will show the button layout on the E-P1.
Olympus E-P1 Lens specifications
The E-P1 fits the Micro Four Thirds mount and has 162 lenses to choose from. Below is some of the lenses we have in our database which will fit the E-P1.
Olympus E-P1 Connectivity
The E-P1 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- HDMI Yes
Cameras which include NFC and Bluetooth support are able to be used wirelessly through smartphones. You can easily transfer files and sometimes alter settings without the hassle of connecting straight to the camera.
Several applications even enable a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't close to the camera. If the camera has a HDMI port, it can easily be hooked up to an external screen. The majority of cameras enable you to charge the battery using the USB port.
Olympus E-P1 Video specifications
The maximum video resolution in the Olympus E-P1 is 1280 x 720 and you can shoot in Motion JPEG file format. 720p is awful for today's standards. You should target at least 1080p resolution for video recording. The camera doesn't feature a microphone and headphone port which means you get little control over the audio. It is probably a better idea to look at a different model in case you require decent audio for your videos.
Olympus E-P1 Weather Sealing
There is no weather proofing for the Olympus E-P1 so you need to be cautious in wet or dusty situations.
Olympus E-P1 Screen and Viewfinder
The Olympus E-P1 comes with a 3 inch fixed display screen supporting a resolution of 230 thousand dots.
Please be aware that the display has no touch support.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsThe View Finder specs for Olympus E-P1 are as follows:
- ViewFinder None
For sunny outdoor situations which make the camera screens washed out and hard to see, viewfinders can be very valuable.
Olympus E-P1 Shutter specifications
Olympus E-P1 has the ability to shoot continuously at 3.0 frames/s. The max shutter speed is 1/4000s.
Olympus E-P1 Flash and Hot shoe specifications
Olympus E-P1 has external flash ability but is lacking built-in flash. The max flash sync is 1/180s.
Olympus E-P1 Autofocus specifications
Olympus E-P1 has just Contrast Detect AF & is missing Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is more quicker & precise when compared to Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera comes with Face detection which can be helpful for portraits.
The Sensor comes with 11 focus points to pick from. Olympus E-P1 includes manual focus when needed during low light scenarios or you want to have more precise control on focus.
Olympus E-P1 Battery life
The battery (BLS-1) for the Olympus E-P1 is fashioned to last for 300 clicks with respect to the CIPA measurements which is lesser when compared to it's rivals. The general Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 has the highest possible (750) battery life within this group of cameras.
Listed below is a listing of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras having the best battery life:
Olympus E-P1 for different categories of photography
The following diagram gives a summation of the Olympus E-P1 for different categories of photography. To learn more, browse to the specific section underneath.
Olympus E-P1 Portrait photography advice
The Olympus E-P1 has a rating of 60 which is reasonable, meaning that it is reasonably acceptable to use for portrait photos. Photographing portraits leans heavily to sensor resolution, support for RAW photos in addition to the flexibility to use off-camera flash.
Olympus E-P1 Street photography factors
Having a above average rating of 74, the Olympus E-P1 is a very decent option for street photography. A very good street photography camera gives a fine balance of picture quality plus portability.
Olympus E-P1 Sports photography factors
A awful sports photography points total of 40 means the Olympus E-P1 is just not appropriate for taking pictures of sports. A camera needs to have great autofocus and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.
Olympus E-P1 Travel photography highlights
Portability is extremely critical in selecting a travel camera. Over-all, the Olympus E-P1 gets a awful 43 for a travel camera which makes it just not appropriate to take with you on your trips.
Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography advice
For anybody planning to choose a digital camera for landscape pictures, the most essential factor is going to be image quality. The Olympus E-P1 with it's modest grade of 60 for a landscape camera is relatively acceptable in the current marketplace.
Olympus E-P1 Vlogging advice
A camera for vlogging should have a moving display, mic port and preferably IBIS. Considering everything, the Olympus E-P1 is just not appropriate for vlogging as it receives a awful rating of 29.
Olympus E-P1 Alternatives
If you are interested in alternatives to the E-P1, here is a selection of the top scored cameras which fall into the class of Entry-Level Mirrorless.
The graph listed below offers you an overview of the E-P1 vs it's highest scored rivals shown earlier.
There are more cameras you might view as alternate options. To go through a detailed comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.