Verdict
With the competition for mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras hotting up, it is important for a manufacturer to have a full complement of cameras in its range. The Olympus Pen E-PL1 is designed squarely for the entry-level market, and as such it should be simple to operate but with enough features to allow a beginner’s photographic skills to develop.
While the E-PL1 has excellent image quality and a full complement of manual settings and different metering features, there are a few areas in which the handling and operation could be improved to make it easier for entry-level photographers. The first of these is the rather confusingly named features of the Live Guide, such as Express Motions, which appear to be literal translations from Japanese. Similarly, a control dial would have speeded up the time taken to change the exposure settings.
Photographers looking for an affordable Micro Four Thirds camera should be impressed with the E-PL1, but there are still a few finishing touches that need to be made to make it perfect for those starting out in photography.
