Update: DPreview, probably the best site for “traditional” reviews, just published theirs on the Olympus E-P1. They gave it a Highly Recommended rating. In their words (and they say this much better than I could): “The E-P1 is one of those rare products in this mass-produced age that can provoke an emotional response in even the most jaded shooter, which is a tribute to the Olympus design team as much as a reflection of any pent-up desire for a new category to bridge the yawning gap between compact cameras and entry-level DSLRs [...] In fact the biggest question I’m left with looking at that list is why don’t I want to give this one back? Because in spite of – perhaps in a small way because of – the E-P1’s limitations (some of which could be solved with a much-needed firmware upgrade), it’s a camera that ticks an awful lot of boxes and fills an awfully big hole in the digital camera market. And it’s also a camera that is, literally, in a class of its own – at least for now.”
Let’s get this straight from the get-go: There is no ideal travel camera. Many people are happy with just their iPhone. Some would never travel without their medium format camera, tripod and dozens of pounds of gear. Me, I’m still looking for my ideal travel camera. But I might be getting closer.
Often, I simply take my DSLR and lenses with me. But that does not always work, esp. when traveling on business, where you have to be light-weight on your feet. For my photography interests (street scenes, panoramas, landscape, some wildlife), the iPhone is not an option except for taking snapshots in the streets. And a point & shoot is simply not good enough. Even the Canon G series, which I used to carry, is not it.
I don’t really need that much. A P&S form factor, but with an APS-C sensor (which you typically find in the entry-level DSLRs), interchangeable lenses, manual mode, optical viewfinder, good low-light performance and RAW mode. That’s it. I know I’m not alone in that regard – I have spoken to numerous other photographers who would also buy a system like this if it only existed.
The good news is: We are getting there. The one that probably comes closest right now is the new Olympus E-P1 (also known as the Olympus PEN). It is based on the micro 4/3 format, so the sensor is better than a typical p&s sensor. It has interchangeable lenses, although the lens offerings are thin at this time (but you can attach regular 4/3 lenses through an adaptor). RAW? Check. Manual mode? You bet. Good low-light performance? Yes. Optical viewfinder? Sadly, no. But I could live without it, esp. since I could use the HoodLoupe trick to generate an “optical viewfinder”.
Olympus E-P1 with (from the left) 17mm lens, 4/3 adaptor, viewfinder hot shoe attachment, flash and 14-42 kit lens
Ever since its announcement I have been pretty excited about it. And have been reading test results on the Net. No, not the pixel-peepers tests, but the every-day field tests. And it seems to do very well in these.
Some resources on field tests of the PE-1
Next step: Get my hands on one of them. If it only lives up to half of my expectations, I might have found my travel camera.
Price: $799 from Amazon
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