Fantastic review, as usual! Unlike many other camera-centric channels out there, it actually feels like the cameras are being reviewed by actual photographers. There's more soul to a review that way. Keep it up guys!
I agree with the previous comment totally .....brilliant real world reviews, great NYC locations and some really good videography too. Have enjoyed every video released so far on this channel so thanks for hardwork and efforts you have put in.
+Jamie MacDonald Thanks Jamie! Our goal with the channel was to do part travel/part lifestyle/ part camera. Not just dry technical stuff! And as you know, the Olympus stuff is always fun to play with. -Josh
Like the review. Alison was saying that using the touch screen to focus was no good for her as she uses her left eye to view through the evf, would it not be possible to swing the screen out to the left and use the left hand to touch to focus, not tried but just a thought.
+Peter Syrett I don't think that would be possible if your eye is at the viewfinder. I believe that once the screen is flipped out, it shuts off the viewfinder. I believe, but could be wrong, that the touch focus with the eye at the viewfinder is meant for when the screen is not folded out. If you were using the LCD to focus and not looking at the viewfinder, it would work either in our out. -Josh
Do you still use the em5 mark ii personally? Would u prefer pen F or em5 mark ii! I watched your in camera bag both of you guys bought the em5 mark ii . Still using it?
We both still use the em5ii. I think I'd still go em5ii over the PEN-F. One, it's cheaper. Two, its weather sealed. Three, it has more advanced video settings, if I'm not mistaken. The Pen-F advantage is that its slightly smaller and that you can use the rear screen to set focus while eye is at viewfinder, which I do wish the em5ii had. That said, not sure how much of a rush you are in, but maybe some time next year there will be an em5iii. Though, that is probably a long way away.
Good review. "Anyone who isn't comparing to an OM-D is really going to love it" That's the most compelling, honest part of the review, seeing as there is literally no reason NOT to check out OM-D's when deciding upon an Oly M43 body. This camera is a hugely overpriced and lacking some serious features compared to the OM-D's in similar price bracket.
+Belfast Biker That is true, but there are a few features it offers that the OM-D's don't. I'm not saying that it is better than an OM-D, I use an OM-D EM5ii as my camera, as does Alison. That said, it has 20MP, which no OM-Ds have. It has touch focus when your eye is at the viewfinder, which is only on the EM10ii. It has a higher res mode than even on the EM5ii, if you do that type of photography and a right viewfinder if you prefer that to the center, and it has the unique color modes. All of that said, it is high priced, though that may drop after a few months. All in all, if I had to choose, I'd still go with the EM5ii, but if I only shot street with one or two primes I might go with the Pen-F after it's price came down a bit. -Josh
Great video review. My only suggestion is to bring a monopod or a lens with VR/IS because the camera shake became rather distracting by the end of the review
The filter dial ergonomics does it affect shooting experience. Should be uncomfortable. Should I get the pen f or Fuji xt20? Picture quality which is better? Olympus lens system is it as good as fujis ?
i replied to this the other day, bug i guess youtube being youtube, didn't actually send it. For me the filter, did rub my hand after a while and I didn't love it, but Alison never complained of that, so it depends on hand size. In terms of image quality, both will be great, but it may depend on what you shoot. Do you shoot a lot of low-light? How important is size and weight to you? Do you prefer zooms or primes? What is your budget for a system and your ideal lens setup?
great review as always. i think that i like your Reviews the most! ! i would love to see some Episodes on street shooting and or lens Reviews. looking forward to see me. All the best
Thanks Daniel. Have you seen our follow-up to this episode, street shooting in Grand Central with the Pen-F? Working on a lens based review / tutorial now.
+TheCameraProject Hope to see some new Videos soon. The Beer competition is one of the Best video Serie on any TH-cam channel. keep on the great work. All the best from Vienna
+Daniel Haschar i would really appreciate your experience when you are using your 12-40 zoom and when you are using your primes. why both of you are using the 17 instead of the 25mm
+Daniel Haschar i would really appreciate your experience when you are using your 12-40 zoom and when you are using your primes. why both of you are using the 17 instead of the 25mm
+Daniel Haschar i would really appreciate your experience when you are using your 12-40 zoom and when you are using your primes. why both of you are using the 17 instead of the 25mm
A beautiful (and expensive) camera but not enough features to switch from my EM5 MKII. A great camera for someone just starting to get into micro 4/3. And Allison is a babe.
+Shaka Yeah, I agree about the camera though price will probably come down a bit after a few months. Both of us shoot with em5 mkii as well and it wouldn't be a camera to switch to, but if you were just getting into olympus it would be a harder choice. Check out our latest video on the camera -Josh p.s. I'm sure alison appreciates that!
+TheCameraProject Thanks for replying to my comment. Since I am getting more into video, I am inclined to get the GH4 and a Speedbooster and then get the Pen for street photography for its looks and stealthy retro design. I tried a Fuji X100T and was not impressed with its difficulty in locking focus and lack of IS. Beautiful images, tho. Keep up the good work - love the reviews.
Yeah, if budget allows that would definitely be a good combo. That way, if you want to use any large zooms for photography, you could always pair the with the GH4 if the handling on the Pen is a little tricky without a grip. Or, of course you could get a grip. Then Pen-F is definitely a great little street camera when paired with some nice primes. I tested with the 12, 17, and 45, but the 25 would be great too. -Josh
TheCameraProject Yes! I love the Oly primes. I already have the 17, 25, and 45. I would get the Sigma 18-35 + Metabones for the GH4. Horses for courses!
Hi! From your experience, have you noticed any a significant difference (improvements?) in video in the Pen-F over the E-M5 II? Although video is not a strong point for Olympus, the one thing that really keeps me glued to it is their class-leading IBIS. I'm torn between these two though I'm far more partial with the E-M5 II 'cause it's cheaper (more budget for lenses!). I'd be willing to spend more on the Pen-F though if does video better. Can't seem to find a lot of information about it from actual users so I hope to hear your thoughts :) Thank you!!
First time seeing you guys, but like this format. A good hands on type of review. I would say the price tag of the PEN-F is a big con for me (though, I'm an E-M5 user). It's a hard cross shop to fight. One nitpick I have is the OM-D references.. which OM-D, heh (couldn't remember if you mentioned it in the beginning or not)
+Linh Nguyen Thanks for the feedback Linh! Glad you liked it. We did mention it in the beginning, OM-D EM-5ii, but yes, we also realized it was a bit ambiguous after a while. We had a few titles in there saying "referring to OM-D EM-5ii, but not with every mention. I agree it is a bit pricey, but chances are that will go down after a few months. - Josh
Great review, I have been shooting with PenF for few weeks now and I love it. I decided to get one after the photo social shoot meetup with Mike and Jamie.
I'm glad to see your channel growing - you guys do really good reviews! Very usability-centric without all the crazy obsession with image quality, which is almost never bad these days on any camera. Looking forward to seeing more!
+Jay Choi Yeah, I'd have to say from a looks perspective the Pen-F definitely wins it for me. But it's all a matter of preference. I tend to like the retro design aesthetic found in Olympus and Fuji cameras, but it's not for everyone. - Josh
Fantastic review, as usual! Unlike many other camera-centric channels out there, it actually feels like the cameras are being reviewed by actual photographers. There's more soul to a review that way. Keep it up guys!
+Rafael Villanueva Thanks Rafael! We really appreciate it!
I agree with Tom too! Love the easy and honest style guys.
I agree with the previous comment totally .....brilliant real world reviews, great NYC locations and some really good videography too. Have enjoyed every video released so far on this channel so thanks for hardwork and efforts you have put in.
+Richard Beston Thanks so much for the nice feedback! :)
Diggin your work you guys!!
And yeah...The out and about review format is cool...Don't stop doing that....EVAARRRRRR ;)
+Jamie MacDonald Thanks Jamie! Our goal with the channel was to do part travel/part lifestyle/ part camera. Not just dry technical stuff! And as you know, the Olympus stuff is always fun to play with. -Josh
This is quickly becoming my go to channel for camera reviews. Superb work by both of you. Easy style. A pleasure to watch. Thank you.
+Tom Kaszuba Hey thanks!! :)
+Tom Kaszuba Thanks so much Tom!
... Great review, as always. Hope that more viewers will explore your channel...
+Benjamin Jehne Pass the word on Benjamin, and tell your friends to subscribe!
Like the review. Alison was saying that using the touch screen to focus was no good for her as she uses her left eye to view through the evf, would it not be possible to swing the screen out to the left and use the left hand to touch to focus, not tried but just a thought.
+Peter Syrett I don't think that would be possible if your eye is at the viewfinder. I believe that once the screen is flipped out, it shuts off the viewfinder. I believe, but could be wrong, that the touch focus with the eye at the viewfinder is meant for when the screen is not folded out. If you were using the LCD to focus and not looking at the viewfinder, it would work either in our out.
-Josh
Do you still use the em5 mark ii personally? Would u prefer pen F or em5 mark ii! I watched your in camera bag both of you guys bought the em5 mark ii . Still using it?
We both still use the em5ii. I think I'd still go em5ii over the PEN-F. One, it's cheaper. Two, its weather sealed. Three, it has more advanced video settings, if I'm not mistaken. The Pen-F advantage is that its slightly smaller and that you can use the rear screen to set focus while eye is at viewfinder, which I do wish the em5ii had. That said, not sure how much of a rush you are in, but maybe some time next year there will be an em5iii. Though, that is probably a long way away.
TheCameraProject should I get black or silver if I do Intend to get one? But I think I might wait till mark3 comes out
Shin Chan I love the black silver. Alison has black and wishes she got black silver!
Good review. "Anyone who isn't comparing to an OM-D is really going to love it"
That's the most compelling, honest part of the review, seeing as there is literally no reason NOT to check out OM-D's when deciding upon an Oly M43 body.
This camera is a hugely overpriced and lacking some serious features compared to the OM-D's in similar price bracket.
+Belfast Biker That is true, but there are a few features it offers that the OM-D's don't. I'm not saying that it is better than an OM-D, I use an OM-D EM5ii as my camera, as does Alison. That said, it has 20MP, which no OM-Ds have. It has touch focus when your eye is at the viewfinder, which is only on the EM10ii. It has a higher res mode than even on the EM5ii, if you do that type of photography and a right viewfinder if you prefer that to the center, and it has the unique color modes. All of that said, it is high priced, though that may drop after a few months. All in all, if I had to choose, I'd still go with the EM5ii, but if I only shot street with one or two primes I might go with the Pen-F after it's price came down a bit. -Josh
Great video review. My only suggestion is to bring a monopod or a lens with VR/IS because the camera shake became rather distracting by the end of the review
+David Yan That's something we are definitely working on David! Thanks for watching :)
The filter dial ergonomics does it affect shooting experience. Should be uncomfortable. Should I get the pen f or Fuji xt20? Picture quality which is better? Olympus lens system is it as good as fujis ?
i replied to this the other day, bug i guess youtube being youtube, didn't actually send it.
For me the filter, did rub my hand after a while and I didn't love it, but Alison never complained of that, so it depends on hand size. In terms of image quality, both will be great, but it may depend on what you shoot. Do you shoot a lot of low-light? How important is size and weight to you? Do you prefer zooms or primes? What is your budget for a system and your ideal lens setup?
grate review, go on with your work
great review as always. i think that i like your Reviews the most! ! i would love to see some Episodes on street shooting and or lens Reviews. looking forward to see me. All the best
Thanks Daniel. Have you seen our follow-up to this episode, street shooting in Grand Central with the Pen-F? Working on a lens based review / tutorial now.
+TheCameraProject
Hope to see some new Videos soon. The Beer competition is one of the Best video Serie on any TH-cam channel. keep on the great work. All the best from Vienna
+Daniel Haschar
i would really appreciate your experience when you are using your 12-40 zoom and when you are using your primes. why both of you are using the 17 instead of the 25mm
+Daniel Haschar
i would really appreciate your experience when you are using your 12-40 zoom and when you are using your primes. why both of you are using the 17 instead of the 25mm
+Daniel Haschar
i would really appreciate your experience when you are using your 12-40 zoom and when you are using your primes. why both of you are using the 17 instead of the 25mm
Any plans for a Fuji X-Pro 2 review?
+Jimmer John We'd love to, have to see if we can get our hands on one. - Josh
0:55 $2.75 for a Hot Cross Bun! With icing (frosting)! No No No.
But I did enjoy the review.
+Ian Frazer Haha, welcome to New York! And thank you!
integrating the city and its unique locations... check
honest reviews based on user experience... check
subscribed.
A beautiful (and expensive) camera but not enough features to switch from my EM5 MKII. A great camera for someone just starting to get into micro 4/3. And Allison is a babe.
+Shaka Yeah, I agree about the camera though price will probably come down a bit after a few months. Both of us shoot with em5 mkii as well and it wouldn't be a camera to switch to, but if you were just getting into olympus it would be a harder choice. Check out our latest video on the camera -Josh p.s. I'm sure alison appreciates that!
+TheCameraProject Thanks for replying to my comment. Since I am getting more into video, I am inclined to get the GH4 and a Speedbooster and then get the Pen for street photography for its looks and stealthy retro design. I tried a Fuji X100T and was not impressed with its difficulty in locking focus and lack of IS. Beautiful images, tho. Keep up the good work - love the reviews.
Yeah, if budget allows that would definitely be a good combo. That way, if you want to use any large zooms for photography, you could always pair the with the GH4 if the handling on the Pen is a little tricky without a grip. Or, of course you could get a grip. Then Pen-F is definitely a great little street camera when paired with some nice primes. I tested with the 12, 17, and 45, but the 25 would be great too. -Josh
TheCameraProject Yes! I love the Oly primes. I already have the 17, 25, and 45. I would get the Sigma 18-35 + Metabones for the GH4. Horses for courses!
+Shaka I do appreciate it!
Hate the weird framing on cutaways - like your reviews. You need some small LED fill lights for these location shoots...
Really love this channel. Super great delivery and you show off the local scenery well. Are you planning on doing any lens reviews as well?
Hi! From your experience, have you noticed any a significant difference (improvements?) in video in the Pen-F over the E-M5 II? Although video is not a strong point for Olympus, the one thing that really keeps me glued to it is their class-leading IBIS. I'm torn between these two though I'm far more partial with the E-M5 II 'cause it's cheaper (more budget for lenses!). I'd be willing to spend more on the Pen-F though if does video better. Can't seem to find a lot of information about it from actual users so I hope to hear your thoughts :) Thank you!!
Lesley Lara I don't have one on hand but no I don't think the video is any better than the em5-ii so save the money!
Nice overview and a great place to stretch that cameras legs. I loved using it there too.
Good video but the background music is distracting..
Really nice Review
+mArtin kintrup Thank you!! :)
Terribly uninformed
I’d love it if you could be more specific about what you think we could have done better. please keep in mind this review is several years old.
Alison draws me in on this video. Amazing presence.
First time seeing you guys, but like this format. A good hands on type of review. I would say the price tag of the PEN-F is a big con for me (though, I'm an E-M5 user). It's a hard cross shop to fight. One nitpick I have is the OM-D references.. which OM-D, heh (couldn't remember if you mentioned it in the beginning or not)
+Linh Nguyen Thanks for the feedback Linh! Glad you liked it. We did mention it in the beginning, OM-D EM-5ii, but yes, we also realized it was a bit ambiguous after a while. We had a few titles in there saying "referring to OM-D EM-5ii, but not with every mention. I agree it is a bit pricey, but chances are that will go down after a few months. - Josh
Cool! Thanks!
Great review, I have been shooting with PenF for few weeks now and I love it. I decided to get one after the photo social shoot meetup with Mike and Jamie.
+Jedrek B. Yeah, it is a very nice little camera. Check out our part 2 of our review where we shoot street photography in Grand Central. -Josh
I'm glad to see your channel growing - you guys do really good reviews! Very usability-centric without all the crazy obsession with image quality, which is almost never bad these days on any camera. Looking forward to seeing more!
+Scotty Turner thanks scotty!
Scotty Turner I
Am I the only one who thinks GX7 looks better ?
+Jay Choi Yeah, I'd have to say from a looks perspective the Pen-F definitely wins it for me. But it's all a matter of preference. I tend to like the retro design aesthetic found in Olympus and Fuji cameras, but it's not for everyone. - Josh
Yes