The first Olympus PEN-F camera, introduced in 1963, was the first of its kind. It soon gained popularity because of its gorgeous, yet basic appearance, as well as its compact size, which was based on the half-frame film format. It’s likely that getting 70 shots on a single roll of the film helped as well.
Olympus PEN-F (Body-Only) (Black)
- New 20 Megapixel Live MOS sensor with 50 Megapixel High Resolution Shot mode
- Operating temperature: 0 to +40℃ (operation) / 20 to +60℃ (storage). In body 5 Axis Image Stabilization
- 2.36 Million Dot OLED electronic viewfinder. Battery Life for Movie Shooting - Approx. 80 minutes (under standard JEITA testing). Approx. 140 minutes (when zoom and other operational functions are not used)
Now, 53 years later, the PEN-F has made a triumphant return.
However, the digital reincarnation of the 35mm film Olympus PEN-F does not take the place of the existing digital PEN flagship E-P5, but rather sits next to it as the PEN family’s “premium” choice, replacing the E-P5.
The reason for this is that, unlike previous digital PENs, the F includes something much more OM-D-like: a built-in 2.36 million dot OLED electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 2,36 million dots. The F also has the greatest output resolution of any Olympus camera to date, thanks to a Four Thirds sensor with a resolution of 20MP (which is most likely the same sensor used in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8).
The PEN-F has a lot going for it, especially considering that it was released primarily to cater to street photographers and the design-conscious who are searching for a competent camera with retro-style and rangefinder-like features.
Machined aluminum and magnesium body house all of the components listed above, with no visible screws anywhere on the device.
The PEN-F is encircled with a faux-leather wrap, and the body itself is well-weighted and has a very sturdy feel to it.
The Panasonic GX8 is the most direct Micro Four Thirds opponent to the PEN-F since it has much of the same internals as the OM-D EM-5 II and has a sleek rangefinder-style design (reminiscent of Fujifilm’s X100 series cameras).
It also has a 20MP sensor, making it a good match for the PEN-F. There are a number of other cameras that compete with the Sony a6000, such as the Sony a6300 and the Fujifilm X-E2S, which are also APS-C formats.
Of course, the PEN-F will be up against competition from other models in the OM-D series as well as other manufacturers.
We spoke with Eric Gensel, a technical specialist with Olympus, in order to have a better understanding of how the PEN-F fits into the market as a whole. He goes into detail on how the PEN-F fits into Olympus’ lineup, who the camera is aimed at, and what went into the design of the camera:
Olympus PEN-F in Comparision
Many of the standout characteristics of the PEN-F are not novel. In reality, many of the most important specifications are shared with other recent Olympus offerings.
Some functions, on the other hand, have been enhanced. For example, because of its 20MP sensor, the PEN-F is capable of better resolution in multi-shot mode when compared to the OM-D E-M5 II, and up to 80MP in Raw mode when compared to the E-M5 Mark II (50MP in JPEG).
A dedicated creative control knob is located on the front of the camera, and it also has four customizable shooting modes that may be accessed through the locking exposure mode dial.
Given how many of its basic functions are carried over from previous models, it’s difficult to perceive the PEN-F as a significant advancement, but it does provide a handling experience that is unparalleled in Olympus’s portfolio. Is the PEN-F more than simply a lovely face, or is it anything more? Let’s get started.
Olympus PEN-F Specs
| Price | |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $1199 (body only) |
| Body type | |
| Body type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
| Body material | Magnesium alloy + aluminum |
| Sensor | |
| Image ratio w:h | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 20 megapixels |
| Sensor photodetectors | 22 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) |
| Sensor size notes | High-resolution mode produces Raw images at 10368 x 7776 or JPEGs at 8160 x 6120. |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | TruePic VII |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 80 |
| White balance presets | 7 |
| Custom white balance | Yes (4 slots) |
| Image stabilization | Sensor-shift |
| Image stabilization notes | 5-axis |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Superfine, fine, normal, basic |
| File format | JPEG (Exif v2.3)Raw (Olympus ORF) |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Multi-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View |
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 81 |
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Focal length multiplier | 2× |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fully articulated |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,037,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 1.23× (0.62× 35mm Equiv.) |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,360,000 |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 60 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed (electronic) | 1/16000 sec |
| Exposure modes | auto program AutoShutter PriorityAperture PriorityManual |
| Scene modes | Portraite-PortraitLandscapeLandscape + PortraitSportHand-held StarlightNight sceneNight + PortraitChildrenHigh KeyLow KeyDIS modeMacroNature MacroCandleSunsetDocumentsPanoramaFireworksBeach & SnowFisheye Conv.Wide Conv.Macro Conv.Panning3D |
| Built-in flash | No (external flash included) |
| External flash | Yes |
| Flash modes | Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/250 sec |
| Continuous drive | 10.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedSpot |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±5 (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes |
| Videography features | |
| Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG |
| Videography notes | Choice of ALL-I, APB codecs |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (micro-HDMI) |
| Microphone port | No |
| Headphone port | No |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n |
| Remote control | Yes (wired or via smartphone) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | No |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | BLN-1 lithium-ion battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 330 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 427 g (0.94 lb / 15.06 oz) |
| Dimensions | 125 x 72 x 37 mm (4.92 x 2.83 x 1.46″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes (video) |
| GPS | None |
