path: root/penf.txt

The original Olympus PEN-F arrived on the scene in 1963 and quickly gained something of a cult following thanks to its solid design and unusual half-frame file format (which let it pack in 70 images in a single roll of film). 

The new digital PEN-F takes that legacy of simple, compact design and wraps it around a best-in-class 20MP Micro Four Thirds sensor with 5-axis image stabilization and a very nice, bright, 2.36 million dot OLED electronic viewfinder.

Other notable specs of the new PEN-F include 10fps continuous shooting (20fps with electronic shutter), 1080/60p video (yet another Olympus camera with no 4K video) and a very cool, if somewhat limited 50MP "High resolution image" mode. More on that in a minute. The PEN-F also checks all the standard boxes you'd expect with a fully articulating 3" touchscreen, wifi, nine different auto focus modes, and a nice, very customizable, set of buttons and controls.

However, thanks to the PEN-F's retro design, which features an aluminum and magnesium body with no visible screws anywhere, and a ton of dials and knobs, I very rarely needed to head into the menu system at all. The PEN-F is the most film-like camera I've used since I sold off my Nikon F3 and went pure digital. It even comes with the nicest faux-leather strap I've seen come with a camera. Even more useful is the included articulated flash attachment, which is much nicer than the fixed pop variety common in this camera class.

If that sounds like something that's going to add up a pricey camera you're absolutely right. At $1200 the PEN-F is a wonderful camera that simply costs too much. 

Outwardly the PEN F actually looks more like a Fujifilm X100 series body than its namesake. There's no optical viewfinder like the X100 offers, but the EVF is in more or less and same position. The EVF is wonderfully bright, though the diopter did not agree with my eyes. I'm honestly not sure what the difference is or if perhaps there was something wrong with my review model, but I could not get the EVF to look sharp for my eyes. If you wear corrective lenses it might be worth getting your hands on a PEN-F to check how it does for you before you commit.

Honestly though I didn't really miss the EVF. With Micro Four Thirds cameras I've long since become accustomed to using the rear LCD screen for composing images. 

Much has been written of Olympus's included image effects, which get a dedicated knob on the front of the PEN-F. As others have noted they are fun for about an hour and then I generally ignored them. I prefer to shoot RAW and add any effects when I'm processing images, but if you want straight out of the camera JPGs, Olympus has an impressive set of customizable options available. They are not on the level of Fujifilm's offerings (the sharpening can be a bit harsh), but they're a close second. 

Part of the reason the filters had little appeal for me is that the images coming out of the PEN-F are so good to begin with, particularly the RAW files which offer perhaps the best dynamic range I've seen in Micro Four Thirds (it's very likely that the PEN-F uses the same sensor as the Panasonic GX8, but to my eye it produces better results). The images are still Micro Four Thirds images to be sure, but they're definitely best in class.

Many of the PEN-F's features are similar to what you'll find in other recent offerings from Olympus, but slightly better. For example the multi-shot high-res mode of the PEN-F is capable of 80MP (RAW, JPG is limited to 50MP) which is up from the OM-D E-M5 II's 64MP files. That said, high-res only works with a tripod and a really still subject. Even landscapes I tried were generally marred by wind-induced blurs in leaves. It would probably do just fine in the treeless deserts of Utah though.

In terms of handling the PEN-F is very comfortable. If you have larger hands you might find the grip a little skimpy, but that's a common complaint with the smaller bodies of Micro Four Thirds in general. If it were any larger people would complain it's oversized (see the Panasonic GX8). I found the PEN-F to be just about perfect in terms of weight and camera balance. I tested it with two lenses Olympus provided, a 17mm (35mm 35mm equivalent) and a 25mm (50mm 35mm equivalent) both of which felt well balanced on the body. Even a larger Panasonic zoom that I own, though front-heavy, was certainly more comfortable to hold than it is on the GF1 it's usually attached to.

The PEN-F's dials and knobs strike that perfect balance Olympus is justifiably noted for and they won't rotate on their own in your bag.

In the end using the PEN-F was a joy, enough so that every time I remembered I was holding $1200 camera I got a little disappointed. Price this thing at $800 and you'd have a best in class camera I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. Still, when the Fujifilm X-E2S can be had for $700, which gets you an APS-C sensor, it's tough to justify the PEN-F's price tag. Still, the PEN-F is an excellent camera and if you want something that looks good while it produces the wonderful images it does, then you might not have a problem with the fashion tax Olympus is imposing on the PEN-F.

Wired: Great sensor that produces some of the best images you'll get from Micro Four Thirds, nice extras like a decent flash and highly customizable creative filters.

Tired: Pricey for Micro Four Thirds, no 4K video.