pniev
Student for life
I am using the Olympus PEN-F for approximately 2 weeks now and thought to share some impressions from a usage perspective. Let me start with a moonshot:
Insane! I used the Nikon 300mm PF lens with 1.4X teleconverter, giving me a reach of 840mm. The PEN-F has a Digital 2x TC function. So you can shoot at 1600mm. Well, it’s a bit of cheating since the Digital TC basically is a crop. But I think it is a cool feature, assuming you shoot jpeg. This is a cropped raw-version.
My primary intention is to use the camera for watch photography during events and visits where I can’t use my usual setup. I could test it recently and the results are acceptable for web publication. Herewith some examples:
So what do I think of the camera?
Ergonomics
Useability/settings
The menu seems to be designed by someone without any User Interface skills and is not a photographer. It is just a dump of potential settings. You really have to dive - indulge ?- into the menu to find all settings. The C1 thru 4 banks are a great help but require careful thinking about your needs. But it is rewarding to do so. I will share my settings in a follow-up post.
What about IQ?
Here is where you pay a price for a smaller sensor. Not as much compared to APS-C as well compared to full-frame. ISO1600 probably is the max although ISO3200 is possible in emergency situations. However, the image stabilizer is a great way to deal with the ISO limits. I have shot at 1/10 second without any problem.
Otherwise the images are crisp, colorful and clear. They don’t have the 3D-pop that can be seen in fullframe/medium-format but
Things I love
Things that could be improved:
color mode knop:
...To be continued (also feel free to add your own views)
Mods: if there is another thread that this post belongs to, feel free to move it.
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Insane! I used the Nikon 300mm PF lens with 1.4X teleconverter, giving me a reach of 840mm. The PEN-F has a Digital 2x TC function. So you can shoot at 1600mm. Well, it’s a bit of cheating since the Digital TC basically is a crop. But I think it is a cool feature, assuming you shoot jpeg. This is a cropped raw-version.
My primary intention is to use the camera for watch photography during events and visits where I can’t use my usual setup. I could test it recently and the results are acceptable for web publication. Herewith some examples:
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
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So what do I think of the camera?
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Ergonomics
- The PEN-F is tiny yet surprisingly heavy. You feel the build quality.
- I like its size. Not too small. Not too big. It is possible to bring the camera in a golf bag, coat pocket, or small bag.
- The PEN-F / 17mm feels better in the hand than Fuji X100(S/T/F) with 23mm lens.
- The grip is made of metal and definitely adds some weight. Adding the grip has two advantages. First, it is easier to hold the camera for a longer period of time and second, the tripod can be attached in the middle of the body rather than the front.
- Generally speaking, I do not have problems in finding the right button, even when I am looking through the EVF.
- Although it is always possible to nitpick, there were actually only two things I do not like. The first one is the location of the SD-card. Although it is no a problem to raise the card by pushing it, it is a challenge to get the card out. My second problem relates to the LCD-screen. It requires some practice to flip it. I am wondering who the industrial designer was who came up with these solutions.
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Useability/settings
The menu seems to be designed by someone without any User Interface skills and is not a photographer. It is just a dump of potential settings. You really have to dive - indulge ?- into the menu to find all settings. The C1 thru 4 banks are a great help but require careful thinking about your needs. But it is rewarding to do so. I will share my settings in a follow-up post.
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
What about IQ?
Here is where you pay a price for a smaller sensor. Not as much compared to APS-C as well compared to full-frame. ISO1600 probably is the max although ISO3200 is possible in emergency situations. However, the image stabilizer is a great way to deal with the ISO limits. I have shot at 1/10 second without any problem.
Otherwise the images are crisp, colorful and clear. They don’t have the 3D-pop that can be seen in fullframe/medium-format but
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Things I love
- Focus bracketing! It works well.
- DoF
- Color Mode dial
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Things that could be improved:
- SD-card slot
- Swivel
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color mode knop:
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...To be continued (also feel free to add your own views)
Mods: if there is another thread that this post belongs to, feel free to move it.