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The camera can take about nine raw frames in three seconds before the buffer fills; pretty good performance for this class of camera. After the buffer fills the E-P2 can take about one additional frame every two seconds. These timing tests were done with a 16GB Class 6 SDHC Transcendcard. The AF utilises a high speed contrast detection system provided compatible lenses are used. MF is also available and the screen snaps in and out of focus well enough to make this a usable option.
I found exposure with the E-P2 to be spot-on most of the time. When it isn’t (and there’s a live-view histogram available), the exposure compensation button and the right-rear thumb wheel fall nicely to hand. The E-PL2 has the same 12.3 Megapixel sensor as the E-PL1, but a larger and more detailed 460k / 3 inch LCD screen. And where the E-PL1 was button-only operation, the E-PL2 gets a rear panel control dial. Other hardware changes include a new battery design and compatibility with the USB remote shutter release as well as the expanding range of accessories designed to fit the accessory port behind and below the hotshoe. Possibly in response to criticisms of the E-PL1’s poor dynamic range at 100 ISO, the sensitivity on the E-PL2 starts at 200 ISO and extends to 6400 ISO. The range of ART filters has been updated and they can now also be customised. All of the sample images in this Review were taken using the 12.3 megapixel Super Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 7Mb.
When capturing images in infrared with my EP2 I nearly always use aperture priority. I also always create a new custom white balance from any uniform green area, e.g. grass. I do this as the light changes when I am in the field. This enables the camera to capture the best range of tones in the infrared image. Open aperture performance is excellent at all focal lengths, sharpening up still further as we approach f/8. It is a credit to the lens maker that by the time we reach f/22 the difference in sharpness is quite marked. This is due to diffraction effects and reveals that we have here a high quality optic. A poor lens would tend to get better the more it is stopped down, rather than the classic rise and fall pattern that we have here. Quality is well held across the frame. The LCD screen is bright enough in everything except direct sunlight, but as with that on the E-P1 is quite low res compared to much of the competition. Not to the point of being unpleasant, just not up to the current standard.
A slightly revised version of the E-P1 sees changes in all the right places. A great JPEG engine, in-body stabilization, and the option to add one of the best electronic viewfinders we've seen combine to help it live up to its looks. You can see an example of shooting in Manual mode in the lower of our two video clips to the left – it shows the E-P2 manually focusing from one subject to another with a shallow depth-of-field using the 17mm pancake lens at f2.8. The 3 inch screen has a 3:2 aspect ratio, a good compromise which displays the full resolution 4:3 still image area with narrow vertical strips down either side and 16:9 movies with similar sized horizontal bars top and bottom. One of the advantages of a higher resolution screen is not only does the image look better, but information overlays in both text and icon format are much easier to read. Pressing the info button on the rear of the camera toggles overlays from the default view. In the PASM modes this displays, among other things, the exposure settings at the bottom of the screen flanked by the currently selected shooting mode and the remaining picture capacity. On the left side of the screen is the three-segment battery life icon, metering mode, and ISO sensitivity. Then on the left there’s picture (colour rendering) mode, still image and movie recording size. In terms of noise this is a very clean camera. It makes no attempt to follow the trend of ultra-high ISO values as found in some of the current DSLRs, but offers a relatively modest ISO200 – ISO1600 as its standard range. These values control noise very well indeed and although a rise in levels can be noticed even at ISO400, it is quite unobtrusive all the way through to ISO1600. The extended range of ISO3200 and ISO6400 does display high noise levels, but these are available if required and are better than most. It is I think much better to have a grainy (noisy) image than no image at all, so there is value in providing high ISO capability. Essentially if we take a DSLR, remove the optical viewfinder and mirror system and leave the Live View facility, we have the opportunity to reduce the size of the camera to the modest 317g body we have here, measuring only 115.4 x 72.7 x 42mm.As before though, shooting movies with the more intensive Art Filters (such as the new Diorama or older Grainy B&W and Pinhole options) will greatly reduce the frame rate with jerky results. Like the E-PL1, the Live Control menu allows you to shoot video in Program, Aperture Priority or fully manual modes or with any of the six Art Filters. As on other PEN models, though, shooting movies with the more intensive Art Filters will greatly reduce the frame rate with jerky results.
In addition to the cosmetic issues discussed above, the E-P2 is fairly straightforward. HDMI and USB connectors are under a door on the right side, and battery and SD card are in the usual place under a door on the base. The tripod thread is not located centered to the lens, which may be an issue for those doing critical panos. Some of the Art filters can now be modified – one or two variations on the original filter slightly adapt the effect. Grainy Film provides a second, less contrasty and grainy option, Pin Hole offers a choice of vignette styles and several of the filters now also provide a framing option. The other major change made to the E-P2 also improves the camera significantly. The addition of an accessory port isn't usually the sort of thing that excites us but, when it allows the use of such a good electronic viewfinder, it does make quite a big difference. Most obviously it offers a steadier way of holding the camera and a way to use the camera in really bright light, where the E-P2's rear screen can be hard to see. In addition, though, the clip-on nature of the EVF means that you only have to carry it when you think you'll use it and users who don't think they will are likely to have the option to not have to pay for it. field of view, exposure adjustment preview, white balance adjustment preview, gradation setting preview (SAT), face detection preview, Perfect Shot Preview, gridline displayable, 7x/10x magnification possible, MF/S-AF, AF frame display, AF point display, Shooting information, HistogramThe extending lens barrel is equipped with a bayonet mount that accepts a lens hood or one of three adapter lenses for macro, fish eye and wide angle shooting. The wide angle adapter converts the 14-42mm range to 11-22mm (22-44mm equiv.) and the macro adapter brings the close focussing distance in to 24cm with a 0.28x magnification factor. If you’re a fan of circular polarisers you’ll be pleased to know that the front section of the lens has a 37mm filter thread and doesn’t rotate when focused. Auto, Red-eye reduction, Slow synchronisation, 2nd curtain and slow synchronisation, Fill-in for exclusive flash In more recent history there are the remains of cleared and abandoned villages which stand as testament to turbulent times. The sadness and the atmosphere in these places is tangible and thought-provoking. The weather plays an important part in my inspiration as we can easily have four seasons in one day. Because of this, the light is constantly changing, which presents both challenges and opportunities. The E-PL2 body measures 115 x 73 x 42mm and without a lens attached or battery fitted weighs 317 grams. Pop the battery in and add the 17mm f2.8 pancake prime and the weight comes up to 432g. To put that into context, Canon’s high end PowerShot G12 compact weighs 401g, albeit featuring a built-in 5x zoom. Another comparison worth making is with the Panasonic Lumix GF2 which is not only a little smaller, but lighter, weighing only 265g without the battery or a lens attached. To test the Olympus E-PL2’s image stabilisation with the 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 II kit zoom we took a series of hand-held shots using a range of shutter speeds with the camera set to shutter priority mode. The sensitivity was manually set to 200 ISO and the lens was set to its maximum focal length of 42mm (84mm equivalent). At this focal length the photographer’s rule of thumb would suggest a minimum shutter speed of 1/84 to avoid camera shake.
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