Olympus E-P2 Compact System Camera (14-42mm lens & VF-2 electronic viewfinder) Black

Product Information

The E-P2 was replaced in Olympus' PEN line by the Olympus PEN E-P3 which was announced in June 2011.

The dual core processor also means image processing and live view can be run in parallel, decreasing the blackout time after each shot. But like the two new Art Filters, this option disappears when you open an E-P1 RAW file in the same software. Like the original Mark I version, this lens features a clever collapsible mechanism which allows it to shrink considerably when not in use. Admittedly, as we've found using the E-P1 over the months since its release, if you prefer to utilise natural/ambient light for your photography (or simply shell out extra for accessory flash) there's a work around in that performance at higher ISOs (here up to ISO6400) is acceptable.Good exposure and white balance on this interior hand-held panning shot, but the overall quality of E-PL2 video fails to match the high standard of its stills. In our testing, the E-P2 is a great improvement over the E-P1 when originally launched and is now able to focus lenses as quickly as the best mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. And, despite modern cameras making high image quality more accessible than ever, there is an undeniable reverence for the look and feel of 1960s cameras. However good it is though, remember like all electronic viewfinders, the clean, smooth image under bright conditions will become noisy and less fluid in low light.

You can also assign custom functions to several of the E-PL2 buttons including the Fn button, the dedicated record button and the control dial. From the front, this camera continues to reveal its closeness to its E-P1 sibling with retro-look leather effect pad to the left hand side of the lens mount, springy and plenty large lens release button over to the right, and pin pricks either side of the Olympus logo (directly above the lens) housing the built-in stereo microphone. That may not seem like a hugely powerful flash, and it isn’t, but it is comparable with many recent compacts (manufacturers of which are fond of quoting maximum flash distances at higher ISO settings). Indeed, the first impression of the E-P2 is that Olympus has finally issued an E-P1, formerly only available in brushed silver or white, in black. The touch screen can be used to set the focus point and optionally fire the shutter, and can operate some of the camera's other functions too.The E-PL2 forgoes the scalar readouts favoured by Panasonic on the GF2 and Sony on the NEX-3/5 in favour of an unadorned numeric display with the currently active setting highlighted in yellow. The manual and manual assisted focussing modes are really easy to use with the screen presenting a very clear 14x magnified view which makes it easy to precisely focus with very little fuss.