Pen Mini E-PM1 board opens!

[Ian]

It's coming soon and it's the smallest and lightest Micro Four Thirds camera from Olympus yet, the Pen Mini - and this is where you can discuss it!

Ian

[Nova Invicta]

Re: Pen Mini E-PM1 board opens!

Just bought this camera on a recent visit to the US (it was an impluse purchase hands up!) and I cannot believe how much smaller it is compared to my E-PL1. Overall the picture quality is superb & I like the larger screen & feel of the camera in the hand. Still not sure about the control of functions using the menu button and the wheel on the back but maybe over time I will get used to it but for now I prefer the arrangement on the E-PL1 (similar still on the E-PL3).
I do like the 14-42mm IIR lens over the 14-42mm on the E-PL1 feels much nicer to use and the added bonus is when I use the Lee RF75 filter holder it doesnt rotate when you focus like the older lens which used to hunt under the weight of the holder.
These points matter if the Pen cameras are to be viewed as real alternatives to the DSLRs that Olympus no longer make for the amateur market.
The small flash that come bundled with it is perfectly fine to quick indoor photographs and has a case similar to the VF-2 finder that can attach to the camera strap.
Will post further when I have used the camera outside in a local wood where I can compare shots from previous Olympus cameras.

[Mithrandir]

Re: Pen Mini E-PM1 board opens!

It seems that the E-PM1 doesn't get any respect, to quote Rodney Dangerfield. Actually, I have only used mine for a short while and I am quite pleased with this camera as a travel camera. I generally shoot HDR (realistic) and the 7 requisite exposures this camera produces are nice. The finished shots have very low noise and great realistic colors.

[Sprocketdog23]

Re: Pen Mini E-PM1 board opens!

I have found it no less useable than my previous E-P1 which I traded it in for. It's smaller size was a real benefit to me as I use it mostly with the 14mm Panasonic lens, and it fits in my coat pocket. All respect to this lovely camera

[Mithrandir]

Re: Pen Mini E-PM1 board opens!

I just spent a weekend at the beach for a religious retreat. I brought the E-PM1 along. It worked fantastically and was very easy to use. I shot in Aperture mode and any adjustments I needed to make were easy and quick. Hats off to Olympus' menu system. I found it as fast or faster than my larger and more traditional DSLRs.

[shug]

Re: Pen Mini E-PM1 board opens!

hi guys .
I am looking for some info on the EPM1 .
and whether it can be set to do stop motion at say a frame every 5 seconds or whatever and you leave it to get on with it kind of thing ?
i found the word 'stop motion '' in the iauto settings ....[blur + stop motion ]
but it requires a manual press of the shutter ..

sorry for the vague terminology
thanks in advance

[Ian]

Re: Pen Mini E-PM1 board opens!

Not that I am aware of. However, I have successfully used Triggertrap, which is a hardware and software combination that lets you shoot wirelessly via a smartphone or tablet, to produce time-lapse sequences (stop motion is really where animators take frames manually while adjusting their artwork).

See: http://dpnow.com/forum2/showthread.php?t=13323

You need to trawl through the thread to see the videos.

Ian

[Mithrandir]

[JohnF]

Re: Pen Mini E-PM1 board opens!

...and shoot in 16:9 format, 1280 long side, to avoid resizing problems when compiling the movie. You don't need the higher resolutions if the final goal is a time-lapse, and it really increases the number of pictures that fit on a card. Be prepared to spend plenty of time: I've spent 45 minutes to get 15 seconds of actual video, and if you are aiming for that dawn-to-dusk time lapse, that's also how long it will take. :-)

Oh, and battery life might be a consideration as well. I started using a hacked Canon P&S because it had a vastly better battery life running off two AA batteries than my EP1, and you can't really change batteries in mid-shoot without causing a problem.

[shug]

Re: Pen Mini E-PM1 board opens!

Not that I am aware of. However, I have successfully used Triggertrap, which is a hardware and software combination that lets you shoot wirelessly via a smartphone or tablet, to produce time-lapse sequences (stop motion is really where animators take frames manually while adjusting their artwork).

See: http://dpnow.com/forum2/showthread.php?t=13323

You need to trawl through the thread to see the videos.

Ian

yea Ian . ''time lapse ''
thats the one

thanks ..i'll check out the link

[shug]

Re: Pen Mini E-PM1 board opens!


thanks bud ...
your a star ....Iwould never have sussed that out in a million years ..

[Chris Pattison]

Re: Pen Mini E-PM1 board opens!

Thanks Mithrandir,

I too would never have sussed an intervalometer by using 2 existing features.
This is something I will have great fun experimenting with.

[Ian]

Re: Pen Mini E-PM1 board opens!

Mithrandir's idea probably works with lost of Olympus camera models.

Ian

[Chris Pattison]

Re: Pen Mini E-PM1 board opens!

Mithrandir's idea probably works with lost of Olympus camera models.

Ian

I am pretty sure it will work with all the MFT cameras, and probably most, if not all, of four thirds.