The Olympus E-P1, would I buy this again?

[@jonglass]

Part of the beauty of this camera not having a viewfinder is that it is very stealth. Because you hold it out in front, like people with compact cameras and phones, nobody takes it seriously. This makes it ideal in street photography or, as I discovered once, when shooting in places where security tends to be over-zealous. I was in a mall once, shooting with friends. We had all split up, but when we got back together, I discovered that security had made them all put away their "professional" cameras, while I actually got a photo of mall security looking at me, and he said absolutely nothing. The real irony is that my camera was brand new, and took larger and better images than the other guys' digital SLRs. :-D So its biggest weakness (I've many times wished for a viewfinder--even an optical one) is also its biggest strength. BTW, I also shoot it with a Panasonic 45-200 zoom. And yes, I still have mine that I bought brand new in the first month or two after they came out in 2009.

[@raymeedc]

Shooting off the LCD instead of an EVF takes the joy out of shooting for me, EyE just don’t get the attraction at all, no more than a glaring chore and loss of pointed focus in more weighs than one. Consequently, as a collector & regular user of the first 12 megapixel generation of Pens & Pen Les, I have 2 P3 bodies & a P2, but not a P1, as I wouldn’t use a camera without an EVF. & if I ever feel the need to appear as stealth as you describe for certain circumstances, the viewfinder is removed with a quick slight of hand. I can have it both ways with the later 2 models, but with the P1, it’s the camera’s way or the highway..... I choose the latter😊

[@gregfeeler6910]

I just got a mint condition white E-P1 with 1,400 clicks a few days ago so wanted to view this video again, having seen it when first posted a year ago. An E-P2 was my first MFT camera, then and E-P3 and then an E-M5 Mk I and so on, but I always wanted and E-P1 both for it's beauty and it's significance. Thanks for an excellent review of a truly interesting and fun camera.

[@bartjanverhoef]

Nice, enjoy it Greg! I keep coming back to this camera every now and then. Just brought it along for a shoot earlier this week. Hope it serves you well!

[@gregfeeler6910]

@@bartjanverhoefI realized a couple of weeks ago that I already had an E-P2, E-P3, E-P5 (love it!), and a recently purchased PEN-F. Also an E-PL9. So, without intending to, I'd amassed something of a PEN collection, and when I found this beautiful white E-P1 I just had to have it. US $117 including shipping to the US from Japan. A lot of camera for cheap.

[@eurogael]

I have two of the early Olys - the E-P1 and E-PL1- I like both but the E-P1 drove me nuts not having a viewfinder. The screen was not bright enough in bright light to use to easily and quickly shoot a subject. The E-PL1 had an EVF which was ok it at least made it easier to compose a shot but it was an early type EVF and it wasnt nearly as good as a regular old fashioned optical viewfinder. I still have both cameras and both get a run out every once in a while in part cos Oly lenses have always been good to great and you will get a lot of keepers with a decent lens on these cameras

[@roger767]

I also had this camera back in the day. I sold it because the auto focus was really bad. And used the money to buy a Panasonic GF2.

[@bartjanverhoef]

@@roger767 yeah definetely not one for action:). Still lots of fun flas a walkaround camera where fast response isn’t required.

[@ulfjonsson2122]

Great video. I started in mft 2009 with the Panasonic GF1 and the 20/1,7. Loved it and bought several Panasonics , in RF style, over the years. 2022 I found a Nos E-P1 and absolutely love it. Image quality, lenses and last but not least the shutter sound. Slow to focus as it is I use manual lenses.

[@bartjanverhoef]

Thanks! Which manual lenses do you use with your E-P1? I remember when that GF1 just came out and not long after there was this amazing user review from Craig Mod, ‘the GF1 field test’, in the Himalayas, I think that was what got me into the m43 system. I opted (for the looks) of the E-P1 at the time. Did own a GF1 for a while years later but still mostly into the Olympus cameras (although I have an GX80 that I really love, paired with the Leica 15mm that such a nice kit).

[@bartjanverhoef]

It still amazes me that that 20mm 1.7 was there right from the start at 2009. Slow as it is, it’s such a wonderful compact lens, unlike any else out there.

[@ulfjonsson2122]

@@bartjanverhoef I use the Jupiter 3 50/1,5 from 1951, Jupiter 3 50/3,5 from 1954, also I use an old Sony Tv-lens 25/1,8 from the sixties, I think, Olympus BCL 15/8 and the Olympus 17/1,8 in manual mode. awaiting 7Artisan 18/6,3 any day now. My original GF1 is glued to the BCL 15 lens, the 20/1,7 is on My Nos GF1 from 2018. Regards

[@patrickmcfadden1689]

About 3 years ago I picked up and olympus EPL1 for around 25US, works perfectly and is nearly the same camera as this one.

[@bartjanverhoef]

Haven’t yet had the opportunity to try it but I’ve seen several positive reviews of it. Seems like a great price for which you picked it up!

[@ulfjonsson2122]

By the way: I have had Craigs article downloaded on my computer since 2009. Great article!

[@kiwipics]

The official optical viewfinder is matched to the 17mm pancake lens and is quite expensive for what it is. Buyers of secondhand bodies should beware that the cheaper ones tend to have failed image stabilisation units, and learnt the hard way when buying off of ebay.

[@bartjanverhoef]

Wasn’t aware of 2nd hand bodies with failed IS units, is that much of a thing with the E-P1? As for the opticial view finder; I remember having the official one along with the 17mm f/2.8 and found it too expensive for what it was too. Sold it off again quickly. When I found a good deal on a 2nd hand E-P2 a while ago, I went looking for a VF-2 as that body does take an EVF. The VF-2 still is expensive to this day, but I have to say that is one really is worth it.

[@kiwipics]

@@bartjanverhoef .. Yes, as I've found out to my cost.

[@alangamble3236]

This was my first MFT camera purchase back in 2014 which I have kept. I did find that viewing the screen in bright sunlight was difficult and I did end up buying a second hand optical viewfinder ….overpriced as you say. I paired it with the 17 mm 2.8 Olympus lens and also the lumix 12-35 pancake zoom. I was quite happy with it but ‘upgraded’ a year later to the Lumix GF1. I now have a selection of Olympus MFT cameras and lenses. I let my granddaughter use the EP-1 with the viewfinder as it’s easy for her to handle.

[@ridealongwithrandy]

Awesome video! I got this camera in almost new condition. Also I found the matching flash and the viewfinder that mounts on the hot shoe to just show framing. It kinda feels very old school, and I got it for a good point and shoot. Also, I have a ton of MFT lenses so what's not to like. Cheers!

[@MM-zm9lh]

Stop hoarding the E-P1 ! 😜 Btw, as a fellow Olympus fan, I finally found and bought one at a decent price! The IS is defective but it's alright I guess.

[@chrisbrown6432]

hi is the amount of detail acceptable from this camera photographs. How does it compare with a PEN camera with 16megapixels for detail ? For example strands of hair in a portrait photograph.

[@deanrobertnoble138]

Yes, i have a used one a just recently the flashing red IS symbol of death has appeared. Signifies the stabilisation has died. Not financially viable to get it repaired, even if they could do it. No real issue i suppose for how i use it in good light.

[@photomaker4502]

I initially liked the camera when I first got it. But the more I used it I ended up hating it. Not because of the image quality but the screen. In bright daylight I couldn’t see very well on the back screen which annoyed me. I eventually sold it and bought the e-p2 where I could then get an ev for it. Much better shooting experience.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Love your videos, keep up the good work!

[@raymeedc]

Why don’t you sell a couple of your P1 extras for a P2 with an electric viewfinder? That’s the very reason I purchased the P2 instead, as an EVF is a deal breaker for me.

[@bartjanverhoef]

Kept the E-P1’s, but I did indeed buy an E-P2 with the Vf-2 for that reason. Very nice to be able to have the EVF option.

[@ranjitgrover2694]

some 10 years or so back a few of my friends and I bought this olympus Ep-1. we all loved it. unfortunately the cameras gave us trouble. all of us had trouble with the kit lens. they just stopped working. something inside broke and that was it. some of us got other lenses, but we again had trouble. all the switches on the cameras except the shutter button stopped working. that happened to all our cameras. so, I think I will not buy that model any more. it was a great camera while it lasted. here in India, we do not have any service points for olympus camera. so we are all stuck with great looking paper weights. ranjit grover Kerala India

[@DogMediaLife]

Greetings, great little camera indeed. I purchased one of these back in 2010, but eventually sold it later on to finance a X100 (The viewfinder I missed on the Olympus) But all these years later, I'm toying with the idea of getting another, due to the price being so good, also the size (Nikon DSLR user normally now) as I love the benefits of a small, carry everywhere camera. I remember the 17mm lens it came with, was awfully slow at autofocusing, so I may get one of these, and a Panasonic 20mm. I'll let you know what happens. Keep up the great work :)

[@josephweaving6458]

been there done that m10 mk2 bought and sold 4 times

[@marconoto580]

Hi, do you know ep5 model ? I found One for 250 euro. Do you think Is It good ?

[@bartjanverhoef]

Hi Marco, the E-P5 is on my wishlist! It was considered the most serious update to the E-P range when it came out; better sensor, improved dial layout, faster shutter speeds etc. I’d love to own one some day too. If its worth 250 euro dpends on its condition I’d say: is the body in good condition? What’s the shutter count?

[@thanhalaipple6684]

Hi. How do you look up the shutter count ?

[@bartjanverhoef]

Hi Thanha, there’s a multistep proces to access the shutter count. See for example this tutorial: www.apotelyt.com/camera-find/olympus-e-p1-actuation-count