Hans Weilenmann I agree with you. Anything else not in SCP can be assigned to one of the function buttons. I don't find the menu systems to be a hinderance at all. I do wish it would be better.
I bought a GX9 to try the vaunted "Panasonic menus" coming from a em5mk2 and it makes me want to throw the camera on the wall! Menus are easy because there are no option inside: as still cameras Olympus products are so much more sophisticated that a complex menu is the result. Obviously for 90% of the cases there is a super menu avaliable on a single click... The same bad copy present on Panasonic, with half the function, which takes 5 different clicks, scrolling across the whole pletora of useless backscreen settings to get there... If you need videos get a gh5 and have fun with the horrid autofocus (or rather get any Sony and maintain your sanity)
Considering it shoots 1080p at 77mbps, the video capabilities are fantastic. Well, for us real filmmakers, a mic input on the camera is useless, since we always record sound separately.
Hi. Enjoy your reviews, articles and style. I shoot mountain biking and hiking pics (with me also riding and hiking) and I too made the move away from Sony A7 for the reasons you state. Bulk and weight of lenses offer little benefit over DSLR, using an adapter was pointless for me as I need fast lenses and like autofocus, the lens choice isn't great but by far the most important factor for me was cost of native lenses or accessories. I moved to OMD M5 MkII with 12-40mm pro lens. A liberating experience, no need to worry about dust or rain, small enough that I carried it everywhere, beautifully tactile and all round fabulous. I had it 13 months and it resulted in some great shots. However, as my enthusiasm and skill developed I delved into customising the camera for my use. After 4 months of pawing over the menus, studying online videos and cross referencing to the manual I got virtually nowhere apart from a very bad taste in my mouth. The eventual frustration led to me selling it and getting an Sony a6000 in the Argos sales. I like the a6000 but I'm restricted to the kit pancake 16-50mm lens to keep the size down, otherwise its back to Sony lens expense and size which I'm not willing to go back to. The a6000 while small, excellent images etc just doesn't have the same 'tactile magic' as the M5 mkII. In my experience Micro4/3 is the best compromise of quality/system/size/features so in a bid to recreate the Olympus magic I had a look at the PEN F. Two minutes with the menu in the shop and I knew I would be wasting my money. My advice for Olympus. Outsource the development of a user interface to a company that specialises in this, dare I say your menus are a classic case of engineers doing the job, they haven't a clue. Take a year to do this and get it right, look at Panasonic, they are so close to 'it', Trying FUJI in my local shop (the excellent Park Cameras in Sussex), I love their external controls but their lenses are just that bit too big and heavy for my specific use (I'm spoilt after the micro 4/3 size). I am convinced that if Olympus did this they would get added sales as their products would be instantly intuitive. Apologies for the ramble....please keep your videos coming I'm really enjoying them.
Mike Gill totally agree! The Olympus menus really annoy me! Especially when you need to change things quickly. Thanks for sharing and thank so much for watching! :-)
Oh you menu people... Panasonic and Olympus menus are more similar than different. There are a lot of the same options in both camera menus, and the main categories are very similar. The most notable difference is that Panasonic uses only the main categories with many pages (up to 9) within them. Olympus uses subcategories within the main ones. That’s it. I’ve absolutely wanted to throw both cameras through the window at times trying to find something in the menu. The idea that Panasonic menus are better and so intuitive is BS; it’s user bias.
I can't fault the menus as I rarely use them since buying the camera and initially setting up all the features I require on function buttons or - the feature you totally missed - the 4 custom settings that store everything you could possibly want. If you are a pro and not using those settings then you should start. The other superb feature is the 80mpix shot feature. Limited to tripod use and fairly still conditions / scenes but boy does it work well for landscapes
Olympus menu systems are extensive, not complicated! Just use the Super Control Panel (SCP). One press of the OK button brings it up and all the key items are there. Alternatively, use the Custom settings to access your favourite shooting parameters. You’re quite right that the Pen isn’t a video camera. It is, though, just the most beautiful, lightweight, customisable STILLS camera around, with IBIS unmatched by any other manufacturer.
Emily - being new to the Pen-F (a month or so) - arrived via its half-frame film camera (much fun) - I just discovered your video. Loved it. Great job! You just gained a new subscriber. I look forward to more of your productions. Thanks.
I think I want the Pen-F, but keep coming back to no 4K. Still, it is so sexy. GX9 looks good and technically performs better, but still wondering about the Pen.
Great review! Thanks! Just bought it in Silver. Can’t wait!... question: is it possible to upload a hi-res raw file to an iPhone via in-body WiFi? Have you tried it?
Nice video and beautiful images. I switched from Canon to Olympus and use the OMD EM5 MkII with 12-40 f2.8 Pro lens. Great combination and love the micro four thirds system. As for menus, I agree they take a bit of getting used to, I use the super control panel which gives me most things with the push of a single button. The EM5 MkII has a beautiful quiet shutter. Great work. Thank you for sharing.
Panasonic, canon and black magic have stunning menus. Olympus aren’t actually that bad. When you jump on Sony for the first time it’s like trying to learn a new language! Haha
The manual tells you what you CAN do but it doesn't tell you HOW to do it. The SCP works well and that makes things easy. I use a Pen E -PL5 and it does everything I want it to as I only use it for stills so I see no real need to change/upgrade at present but I'm sure I could, no doubt, find a reason. In fact I quite fancy a brown one.......
Does the PENF use the same menus as Olympus? I've read many thing about it's bad menus. It's not something I usually hear about Olympus. Intake it the gx85 or gx9 would be better for street photography
Hi, great review. About the noise - I've had an E-M5 and it had a similar noise - its coming from the IBIS. you can do a simple test and turn the IBIS off and check if the noise disappears or not.
stastrav I'll give that a go, thanks for commenting! I mean it's a bit of a pain if that's the case as you'd hope to have to stabilisation, as the Olympus lenses don't have it. But I think I'd prefer unstable video than that damn background noise! Lol
Love the reviewing style. Fabulous night shot of the fair ground - Chapeau to you lass! PS. have you compared performance of the Pen with the E-P5 to see what you get for the extra dosh?
I've just opted for the em5 mk II over the pen f as it has a mic input. Don't get me wrong, the Pen F is best looking camera I've seen but I opted for practicality over looks.
I’ve since sold it, I think lumix fits me more as I’m more a hybrid shooter now between photo and video. But if you can get a good price for the pen F go for it! It’s a lovely camera with lots of charm
Hi Emily, really liked your review. I've had a PEN-F since they first shipped, and I completely agree with your assessment- that its a great Stills Camera that also looks superb, but has an impossibly complex menu. I also don't use it for videos - only for those times when don't have enough time to find my iPhone in my pockets, to record spontaneously. I've ordered a Lumix GX8, hoping that I can use it for 4K video recording and as a 2nd stills camera. Thanks for your review - you affirmed everything that I was thinking about my PEN-F.
Appreciate your summary at the end. Thanks! I don't own this camera, but from my research so far I noticed most would say this model is for methodical street shooters. I'm going to consider it, as I already have a 4k video camera and a DSLR. I do have a need for a smaller form factor for travel and street.
I am a sad case. I bought the Pen F, returned it all pissed off. Missed it. bought it again. It is one frustrating beast. I do love the Mono 2 setting and have decided this is my out of camera jpeg beast. So, I am not as pleased about the micro four thirds dynamic range in comparison to my Fuji X system. But...the Pen F seems to get better details when zoomed in appears sharper but in detail, not overly sharp. Hard to eplxain. the Fuji seems less so, and I do notice it. But then, the Sigma DP Merrill series (not the crap Quattros) were the best for distant details. I could zoom in all the way and see a fly in FULL DETAIL. Since Foveon Sensors are shit above ISO 100 unless in monochrome, I needed something that was reliable, quick, and the Ricoh GR was the best choice. Again, it is APS-C and it has a sharp 28mm fixed lens which is as fabulously sharp as a Leica Summicron equivalent. Still, the Ricoh GR has no EVF/OVF and I need one. Hence the Pen F. The Pen F is good enough to be better than my iPhone by a mile, which is what's more important to me than if it is better than APS-C or FF. Your shots came out great. And yes, the menus are bloated like a dead whale.
There is a new TT350 O flash from Godox with TTL flash with HSS function for M4/3 that is very light and much more powerful then the pop-up flash. It has GN36. This will be a nice companion for your PEN-F!
Is olympus pen f goof for video vlogging inside home using ringlight for lighting ? Ps i dont mind if no jack..i just looking for sharpness and fast focusing..
To make the Pen F usable you have to configure it to your needs - and this is a very tiresome process. And yes, the menu system is very convoluted. But image quality is what sets this model apart in the Olympus line-up (the lowest priced 20.4MP sensor for Olympus, only the E-M1 MkII does better at the moment, but with a hefty price tag), and the hires mode is very nice too. I especially like that it has a cable release mount - only Fuji provides these nowadays in mirrorless cameras (as far as I'm aware of). Try the additional grip (a bit pricey) - it gives this camera a much better handling (even with a bigger flash gun on top), and this grip has an Arca Swiss mount compatible bottom (that Olympus does not mention at all - I have no idea what their marketing department is smoking all day to do such a bad job with this specific model and its accessories).
Hiya! New The the channel and had a suggestion for a less bulk flash. I use a Nissin i40 my EM5mkii. I was really worried about it being too heavy but it's actually very compact. Plus, you can use that dinky little Oly as a trigger for the Nissin. Thanks for bringing the issue with the 17mm and focusing to my attention too, mine isn't affected but I often suggest that lens to people it's good to be able to give them a warning about it.
+Tully Samson oooo thanks for this I'll deffo look into it! And, so far at least, after the swap my 17mm has been ok but I still worry it'll develop the same fault again!
Like Hans Weilenmann says the Super Control Panel is great for quick access to most of what you need. Why Olympus chose to bury this very useful feature I don't understand. You have to find it and activate it.
Thanks for your excellent review. I was considering purchasing a second hand pen F but will stick with Panasonic. Maybe a GX10 if they release such a camera.
I haven't tried one of those, but own an original EM-5 with similar 5 axis stabilisation. I thought it was good for video, almost like a steady cam! Do you think lens IS is better then? The G7 doesn't have in-body at all? I think there is an Oly adapter that goes in the hot-shoe that would give you a 3.5mm mic socket (at a cost and more crap to carry as well of course). Regarding flash guns being big on the body it's like that on all of the smaller micro 4/3 bodies. The bigger flashes are the same size as full frame ones, but you need them for re-cycle time and power. My top tip for any serious function (like wedding work) is to get yourself an old Vivitar flash bracket/handle jobby. You use this in conjunction with a short curly dedicated flash cord from the hot shoe to the mount and it serves the double purpose of making the camera easier to hold steady and supporting the flash. These date from the 1970's and originally went with the venerable 283. They have a lovely sculpted bakelite type handle and are really solid and stiff. Buy on Ebay for £20-25ish. I took mine apart and epoxied the rotating hot shoe part in the straight ahead position so it couldn't move by accident (modern flashes have a rotating head anyway). I have two (second hand) Olympus fl-50 flashes and have done a wedding (amateur only) where I used my EM-5 with one of those on the Vivitar bracket with the Pana 12-35mm (5 axis body stabilised). I had the other flsh on my G5 body direct, but with the Pana 35-100 (lens stabilised). I found this either well enough balanced with the bigger lens or easier to hold and not an irritation. I have a double strap that goes on my left shoulder (Can't remember the make off hand) and had the E-M5/bracket flash/12-35/fl50 on my left side and G5/35-100/fl-50 on the right. The weight was still light and well distributed. I could grab either within a second and It was all the kit I needed to get great results indoors and out for a whole wedding. The Vivitar bracket also helps by moving the flash away from the lens to cast a little shadow and eliminate red-eye up close.
The included flash is meant to be a command flash for using off-camera flash, or a fill flash in an emergency. It's not meant to light up a room or as a main light for portraits! Used in the hot hoe, it's no worse than any popup flash. I don't think the flash on my Nikon D610 works any better. I agree, it's not a camera to use with a heavy speedlight, but that's true for any camera this size. That's like criticizing a full-frame SLR because it won't fit in your pocket. I agree Olympus menus are terrible (almost as bad as their camera manuals). Fortunately, the super control panel is wonderful and includes all those settings she expects to be easily accessible in the menu tree. The menu tree on Olympus cameras is mainly for setting the camera up. The super control panel is meant for controlling camera settings during use.
EM 5 mk2 is cool, menu takes a bit of getting used to but not a problem for me, a few dedictated posts on how to set the camera up, ie Kevin Wong, and then shooting options available directly using SCP, I use off camera flash, Cactus V2 radio trigger and RS 60 flash, never liked on camera flash anyway. PS if you are using on camera flash for weddings you have got the wrong camera!
I'd agree, that camera is probably the prettiest camera on the market at the moment. Having experienced the Olympus menu system, even that wouldn't put me off tho the price did... :( Have you seen David Thorpe's review and comparison with the Pany GX8?
+Yummy Tech higher ISO on m4/3 are a bit more noisy than a full frame but I've found most things I've tried very usable. Tho anything above 3200 wouldn't look too good! Thanks for watching!
carl2k the 17mm 1.8 prime is good for street photography, it's the equivalent of a 34mm full frame so it's basically the same viewing distance as what the eye can see, so very easy to shoot "from the hip" without worrying too much about framing. Also the Panasonic 25mm prime might be good too, which is the equivalent of 50mm full frame. Those two focal lengths are probably the most popular for street photography and they both very light and small lenses :)
Hey, great video. I have a lumix camera and am really want a pancake lense. since most panasonic pancakes don't have built in image stabilization I was thinking in getting an olympus lens. what do you think about the olympus 17 mm f2.8 as a first lense ? It's super cheap, likes 200 Canadian or around 80 pounds in your money.
Hey, Kyle - you might want to have a look at the Panasonic 12-32mm 3.5-5.6. I've been using it on my Lumix GX1 and now my Lumix GM1 for a super compact rig. It is TINY, and has full image stabilisation on these Lumix bodies
Anthony Skellern thanks for the tip. I just picked up a used lumix 20mm f1.7 and I'm loving it. I really wanted a high apature for bokeh backgrounds. so far im pretty happy with it. I can get some nice closeups of my work and also have some fun outside with it.
Thank god i found a review which highlights how complicated this camera is. I owned it for 2 years and never enjoyed the camera, could never get sharp pictures and found most of my shots were underexposed. A few times the live view would freeze on the menu page and i would have to turn the camera off. I tried multiple settings to try and find the sweet spot for my still photography but had no luck. I have now purchased a Fujifilm X-Pro2 and it is far superior to the Pen-f in every way.
Once i discovered the super control panel on my pen ep-5 the menu system was suddenly very easy. I use the external vf-4 evf with my pen ep-5 which has higher magnification than the pen f evf and as i only use the evf and never take pics with the screen its put me off buying the pen f.
hi there - thanks again for this video :) Just wondered if you'd had any experience with the Panny gx80 compared to the Olympus? - thanks again - hope all is well :)
+Darron Saunders hi! I haven't had chance to play with the gx80, unfortunately, so I'm not too sure how they would compare. My instinct says for video the Panasonic would be better and for photos, due to the Pen f's very nice 20mp sensor, the pen would be better. Thanks for watching! :)
Did you sell it then? I agree with just about everything you said. It is not a video camera, and the IBIS in video is unusable, so much so that I was convinced there was some setting that I got wrong, that I was using the wrong IBIS setting. Fortunately, I don't shoot video much, and I have other cameras if I do. The only useful function on the jpeg wheel is the monochrome one, but it is such a joy to use that I can't knock it. I wish though that you could program it to choose different monochrome profiles directly instead of the gimicky colour filters. Olympus menus are generally bad (almost as bad as their user manuals). They did improve that in the EM1 mkii though (the menus, not the user manual; it's still terrible). To me it's a street camera. I visited NYC last year and had a great time with my Pen-F. It's great for travel in general if you don't shoot video. As with all Olympus cameras, most of the day-to-day user adjustments can be found in the Super Control Panel. I rarely go into the menu tree when I'm out and about. As for that little flash, I think it is meant to provide a little fill and as a commander flash for off-camera speed lights, not as a main flash unit. I'm reminded a bit of when Fuji came out with the X100. Many people hated it, but I loved it. But I do think that, with each of these cameras, people expected something the camera wasn't meant for. Maybe Olympus should have just left out the video all together. Great video. Please keep them coming.
I did sell it unfortunately and you're so right about it being a street camera. I still get pangs of regret 😂 walking around with the 17mm prime and the monochrome preset, shooting jpeg and raw... Such a great photography experience I do miss it
@@MicroFourNerds This turned out to be a seller for a lot of people who bought it. It's a niche camera for sure. I wonder if Olympus would do it again? (I'm keeping mine.)
499th thumbs up! Woohoo! (I'm easily amused..) Ok, a bit of a pricy 'walk about & snap' camera, circa mid 2017? Soooo, me thinks a good choice, if one finds a sweet deal on a used "F" these many years later.. Thank you for your thoughtful & honest review.. As you can probably tell, I'm thinking about picking one of these up.. PS: I have to ask, did you sell yours? Ya did, didn't ya.. LOL
Why is it that people buy a camera that is specifically designed for PHOTOGRAPHY, in particular STREET PHOTOGRAPHY, then go and make videos on it, and then bag it because the video is poor. It is a PHOTOGRAPHERS camera NOT a video shooters camera.
You are not the first photographer to mention the complexity and awkwardness of the Olympus menu system. I am currently a Nikon Full-Frame user. I am mulling over the idea of moving to Micro-Four-Thirds eventually. I do like the large numbers of modes and features which the better Olympus OM and Panasonic G & GH cameras have. I am going to "Keep my powder dry" for the moment.
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I know this is an old video, but I think that whoosh you hear in the video is the gyroscope at work. It's gotten much better in more recent models.
I have no problem with Olympus menus, I prefer having the Super Control Panel in fact, a pretty convenient way to get to everything with 1 button
Enable Olympus’s super menu instead of going through all those menus, it is quick and functional
Yes, it does help. Not as good as Fuji X Q menu, but better than nothing.
The menu structure is vast, yes. The most used/changed settings are one button accessible via the SCP (Super Control Panel). Works for me 😎
Hans Weilenmann true everything you need in the scm or the dials
Hans Weilenmann I agree with you. Anything else not in SCP can be assigned to one of the function buttons. I don't find the menu systems to be a hinderance at all. I do wish it would be better.
I bought a GX9 to try the vaunted "Panasonic menus" coming from a em5mk2 and it makes me want to throw the camera on the wall! Menus are easy because there are no option inside: as still cameras Olympus products are so much more sophisticated that a complex menu is the result. Obviously for 90% of the cases there is a super menu avaliable on a single click... The same bad copy present on Panasonic, with half the function, which takes 5 different clicks, scrolling across the whole pletora of useless backscreen settings to get there... If you need videos get a gh5 and have fun with the horrid autofocus (or rather get any Sony and maintain your sanity)
Considering it shoots 1080p at 77mbps, the video capabilities are fantastic. Well, for us real filmmakers, a mic input on the camera is useless, since we always record sound separately.
Most helpful review for this camera I've seen. Thank you.
Hi. Enjoy your reviews, articles and style.
I shoot mountain biking and hiking pics (with me also riding and hiking) and I too made the move away from Sony A7 for the reasons you state. Bulk and weight of lenses offer little benefit over DSLR, using an adapter was pointless for me as I need fast lenses and like autofocus, the lens choice isn't great but by far the most important factor for me was cost of native lenses or accessories. I moved to OMD M5 MkII with 12-40mm pro lens. A liberating experience, no need to worry about dust or rain, small enough that I carried it everywhere, beautifully tactile and all round fabulous. I had it 13 months and it resulted in some great shots. However, as my enthusiasm and skill developed I delved into customising the camera for my use. After 4 months of pawing over the menus, studying online videos and cross referencing to the manual I got virtually nowhere apart from a very bad taste in my mouth. The eventual frustration led to me selling it and getting an Sony a6000 in the Argos sales.
I like the a6000 but I'm restricted to the kit pancake 16-50mm lens to keep the size down, otherwise its back to Sony lens expense and size which I'm not willing to go back to. The a6000 while small, excellent images etc just doesn't have the same 'tactile magic' as the M5 mkII. In my experience Micro4/3 is the best compromise of quality/system/size/features so in a bid to recreate the Olympus magic I had a look at the PEN F. Two minutes with the menu in the shop and I knew I would be wasting my money.
My advice for Olympus. Outsource the development of a user interface to a company that specialises in this, dare I say your menus are a classic case of engineers doing the job, they haven't a clue. Take a year to do this and get it right, look at Panasonic, they are so close to 'it', Trying FUJI in my local shop (the excellent Park Cameras in Sussex), I love their external controls but their lenses are just that bit too big and heavy for my specific use (I'm spoilt after the micro 4/3 size). I am convinced that if Olympus did this they would get added sales as their products would be instantly intuitive.
Apologies for the ramble....please keep your videos coming I'm really enjoying them.
Mike Gill totally agree! The Olympus menus really annoy me! Especially when you need to change things quickly. Thanks for sharing and thank so much for watching! :-)
Oh you menu people... Panasonic and Olympus menus are more similar than different. There are a lot of the same options in both camera menus, and the main categories are very similar. The most notable difference is that Panasonic uses only the main categories with many pages (up to 9) within them. Olympus uses subcategories within the main ones. That’s it. I’ve absolutely wanted to throw both cameras through the window at times trying to find something in the menu. The idea that Panasonic menus are better and so intuitive is BS; it’s user bias.
Hey, here´s the channel I was looking for! Subscribed! Great videos!
I can't fault the menus as I rarely use them since buying the camera and initially setting up all the features I require on function buttons or - the feature you totally missed - the 4 custom settings that store everything you could possibly want. If you are a pro and not using those settings then you should start. The other superb feature is the 80mpix shot feature. Limited to tripod use and fairly still conditions / scenes but boy does it work well for landscapes
Thanks for the video info. Was wondering. Definitely going to get the em5 mk iii for sure now
Olympus menu systems are extensive, not complicated! Just use the Super Control Panel (SCP). One press of the OK button brings it up and all the key items are there. Alternatively, use the Custom settings to access your favourite shooting parameters. You’re quite right that the Pen isn’t a video camera. It is, though, just the most beautiful, lightweight, customisable STILLS camera around, with IBIS unmatched by any other manufacturer.
Emily - being new to the Pen-F (a month or so) - arrived via its half-frame film camera (much fun) - I just discovered your video. Loved it. Great job! You just gained a new subscriber. I look forward to more of your productions. Thanks.
I think I want the Pen-F, but keep coming back to no 4K. Still, it is so sexy. GX9 looks good and technically performs better, but still wondering about the Pen.
Great review! Thanks! Just bought it in Silver. Can’t wait!... question: is it possible to upload a hi-res raw file to an iPhone via in-body WiFi? Have you tried it?
Nice video and beautiful images. I switched from Canon to Olympus and use the OMD EM5 MkII with 12-40 f2.8 Pro lens. Great combination and love the micro four thirds system. As for menus, I agree they take a bit of getting used to, I use the super control panel which gives me most things with the push of a single button. The EM5 MkII has a beautiful quiet shutter. Great work. Thank you for sharing.
+John Bentley the super control panel definitely helps, thank you so much for watching and glad you're loving micro four thirds systems :)
Panasonic, canon and black magic have stunning menus. Olympus aren’t actually that bad. When you jump on Sony for the first time it’s like trying to learn a new language! Haha
The manual tells you what you CAN do but it doesn't tell you HOW to do it. The SCP works well and that makes things easy. I use a Pen E -PL5 and it does everything I want it to as I only use it for stills so I see no real need to change/upgrade at present but I'm sure I could, no doubt, find a reason. In fact I quite fancy a brown one.......
Does the PENF use the same menus as Olympus? I've read many thing about it's bad menus. It's not something I usually hear about Olympus. Intake it the gx85 or gx9 would be better for street photography
have had my pen-f over a year now....i regret leaving panasonic...never knew how good i had it with the G7 XD
Not everyone has interest in video. I would love to be able to buy a digital camera without video..don't want it, don't need it.
Hi, great review.
About the noise - I've had an E-M5 and it had a similar noise - its coming from the IBIS. you can do a simple test and turn the IBIS off and check if the noise disappears or not.
stastrav I'll give that a go, thanks for commenting! I mean it's a bit of a pain if that's the case as you'd hope to have to stabilisation, as the Olympus lenses don't have it. But I think I'd prefer unstable video than that damn background noise! Lol
i guess ist would be easier to leave Ibis on due to the fact that you need to record audio separatly anyway
Love the reviewing style. Fabulous night shot of the fair ground - Chapeau to you lass! PS. have you compared performance of the Pen with the E-P5 to see what you get for the extra dosh?
I've just opted for the em5 mk II over the pen f as it has a mic input. Don't get me wrong, the Pen F is best looking camera I've seen but I opted for practicality over looks.
Are you still happy with and using your Pen F? Thinking of buying one before end of the year. 👍 Mark
I’ve since sold it, I think lumix fits me more as I’m more a hybrid shooter now between photo and video. But if you can get a good price for the pen F go for it! It’s a lovely camera with lots of charm
Hi Emily, really liked your review. I've had a PEN-F since they first shipped, and I completely agree with your assessment- that its a great Stills Camera that also looks superb, but has an impossibly complex menu. I also don't use it for videos - only for those times when don't have enough time to find my iPhone in my pockets, to record spontaneously. I've ordered a Lumix GX8, hoping that I can use it for 4K video recording and as a 2nd stills camera. Thanks for your review - you affirmed everything that I was thinking about my PEN-F.
+DrFlippin thanks for watching! That seems like a great camera combo :-)
Appreciate your summary at the end. Thanks! I don't own this camera, but from my research so far I noticed most would say this model is for methodical street shooters. I'm going to consider it, as I already have a 4k video camera and a DSLR. I do have a need for a smaller form factor for travel and street.
Thanks for the great video. I am an EM5 Mk II user. The menu is similar to the Pen F. Yes, it rather complicated, but manageable.
I am a sad case. I bought the Pen F, returned it all pissed off. Missed it. bought it again. It is one frustrating beast. I do love the Mono 2 setting and have decided this is my out of camera jpeg beast. So, I am not as pleased about the micro four thirds dynamic range in comparison to my Fuji X system. But...the Pen F seems to get better details when zoomed in appears sharper but in detail, not overly sharp. Hard to eplxain. the Fuji seems less so, and I do notice it. But then, the Sigma DP Merrill series (not the crap Quattros) were the best for distant details. I could zoom in all the way and see a fly in FULL DETAIL. Since Foveon Sensors are shit above ISO 100 unless in monochrome, I needed something that was reliable, quick, and the Ricoh GR was the best choice. Again, it is APS-C and it has a sharp 28mm fixed lens which is as fabulously sharp as a Leica Summicron equivalent. Still, the Ricoh GR has no EVF/OVF and I need one. Hence the Pen F. The Pen F is good enough to be better than my iPhone by a mile, which is what's more important to me than if it is better than APS-C or FF. Your shots came out great. And yes, the menus are bloated like a dead whale.
Thank you! Learned some new tips on how to used my Pen F from you.
There is a new TT350 O flash from Godox with TTL flash with HSS function for M4/3 that is very light and much more powerful then the pop-up flash. It has GN36. This will be a nice companion for your PEN-F!
Glad to hear about the monochrome mode. Thanks.
Is olympus pen f goof for video vlogging inside home using ringlight for lighting ? Ps i dont mind if no jack..i just looking for sharpness and fast focusing..
Do you have the GX9? Which one would you recommend for photo?
I really might buy one after this review.
How do you feel about PEN-F AF speed and accuracy comparing to other Olympus cameras ? (especially EP5 and all of the OM-D series) ???
A thorough and honest review. Thanks.
Canon also makes an excellent menu system. But I’m seriously considering the Pen F for its design alone.
To make the Pen F usable you have to configure it to your needs - and this is a very tiresome process. And yes, the menu system is very convoluted. But image quality is what sets this model apart in the Olympus line-up (the lowest priced 20.4MP sensor for Olympus, only the E-M1 MkII does better at the moment, but with a hefty price tag), and the hires mode is very nice too. I especially like that it has a cable release mount - only Fuji provides these nowadays in mirrorless cameras (as far as I'm aware of). Try the additional grip (a bit pricey) - it gives this camera a much better handling (even with a bigger flash gun on top), and this grip has an Arca Swiss mount compatible bottom (that Olympus does not mention at all - I have no idea what their marketing department is smoking all day to do such a bad job with this specific model and its accessories).
Hiya! New The the channel and had a suggestion for a less bulk flash. I use a Nissin i40 my EM5mkii. I was really worried about it being too heavy but it's actually very compact. Plus, you can use that dinky little Oly as a trigger for the Nissin. Thanks for bringing the issue with the 17mm and focusing to my attention too, mine isn't affected but I often suggest that lens to people it's good to be able to give them a warning about it.
+Tully Samson oooo thanks for this I'll deffo look into it! And, so far at least, after the swap my 17mm has been ok but I still worry it'll develop the same fault again!
Like Hans Weilenmann says the Super Control Panel is great for quick access to most of what you need. Why Olympus chose to bury this very useful feature I don't understand. You have to find it and activate it.
Thanks for your excellent review. I was considering purchasing a second hand pen F but will stick with Panasonic. Maybe a GX10 if they release such a camera.
I haven't tried one of those, but own an original EM-5 with similar 5 axis stabilisation. I thought it was good for video, almost like a steady cam! Do you think lens IS is better then? The G7 doesn't have in-body at all? I think there is an Oly adapter that goes in the hot-shoe that would give you a 3.5mm mic socket (at a cost and more crap to carry as well of course).
Regarding flash guns being big on the body it's like that on all of the smaller micro 4/3 bodies. The bigger flashes are the same size as full frame ones, but you need them for re-cycle time and power. My top tip for any serious function (like wedding work) is to get yourself an old Vivitar flash bracket/handle jobby. You use this in conjunction with a short curly dedicated flash cord from the hot shoe to the mount and it serves the double purpose of making the camera easier to hold steady and supporting the flash. These date from the 1970's and originally went with the venerable 283. They have a lovely sculpted bakelite type handle and are really solid and stiff. Buy on Ebay for £20-25ish. I took mine apart and epoxied the rotating hot shoe part in the straight ahead position so it couldn't move by accident (modern flashes have a rotating head anyway).
I have two (second hand) Olympus fl-50 flashes and have done a wedding (amateur only) where I used my EM-5 with one of those on the Vivitar bracket with the Pana 12-35mm (5 axis body stabilised). I had the other flsh on my G5 body direct, but with the Pana 35-100 (lens stabilised). I found this either well enough balanced with the bigger lens or easier to hold and not an irritation. I have a double strap that goes on my left shoulder (Can't remember the make off hand) and had the E-M5/bracket flash/12-35/fl50 on my left side and G5/35-100/fl-50 on the right. The weight was still light and well distributed. I could grab either within a second and It was all the kit I needed to get great results indoors and out for a whole wedding. The Vivitar bracket also helps by moving the flash away from the lens to cast a little shadow and eliminate red-eye up close.
My strap is a Blackrapid Yeti btw.
Nissin i40 is a small and very capable flash. Also check out Oly FL-14.
practical and reality based review
Maybe you should get that samall wireless flash FlashQ q20. Its very small though i am guessing it won't cut it for work.
The included flash is meant to be a command flash for using off-camera flash, or a fill flash in an emergency. It's not meant to light up a room or as a main light for portraits! Used in the hot hoe, it's no worse than any popup flash. I don't think the flash on my Nikon D610 works any better. I agree, it's not a camera to use with a heavy speedlight, but that's true for any camera this size. That's like criticizing a full-frame SLR because it won't fit in your pocket. I agree Olympus menus are terrible (almost as bad as their camera manuals). Fortunately, the super control panel is wonderful and includes all those settings she expects to be easily accessible in the menu tree. The menu tree on Olympus cameras is mainly for setting the camera up. The super control panel is meant for controlling camera settings during use.
do you still use this camera?
EM 5 mk2 is cool, menu takes a bit of getting used to but not a problem for me, a few dedictated posts on how to set the camera up, ie Kevin Wong, and then shooting options available directly using SCP, I use off camera flash, Cactus V2 radio trigger and RS 60 flash, never liked on camera flash anyway. PS if you are using on camera flash for weddings you have got the wrong camera!
I'd agree, that camera is probably the prettiest camera on the market at the moment. Having experienced the Olympus menu system, even that wouldn't put me off tho the price did... :(
Have you seen David Thorpe's review and comparison with the Pany GX8?
psionicdreams I haven't but I will I love his reviews 😊
imo the x-pro2 is *way* prettier
is the m4/3 sensor holds you back form shooting above ISO 3200?? thanks! love ur videos :)
+Yummy Tech higher ISO on m4/3 are a bit more noisy than a full frame but I've found most things I've tried very usable. Tho anything above 3200 wouldn't look too good! Thanks for watching!
what lens would you recommend to buy with the body if you want portraits and street photography??
carl2k the 17mm 1.8 prime is good for street photography, it's the equivalent of a 34mm full frame so it's basically the same viewing distance as what the eye can see, so very easy to shoot "from the hip" without worrying too much about framing. Also the Panasonic 25mm prime might be good too, which is the equivalent of 50mm full frame. Those two focal lengths are probably the most popular for street photography and they both very light and small lenses :)
I just ordered one today to complement my G7
Hey, great video. I have a lumix camera and am really want a pancake lense. since most panasonic pancakes don't have built in image stabilization I was thinking in getting an olympus lens. what do you think about the olympus 17 mm f2.8 as a first lense ? It's super cheap, likes 200 Canadian or around 80 pounds in your money.
Hey, Kyle - you might want to have a look at the Panasonic 12-32mm 3.5-5.6. I've been using it on my Lumix GX1 and now my Lumix GM1 for a super compact rig. It is TINY, and has full image stabilisation on these Lumix bodies
Anthony Skellern thanks for the tip. I just picked up a used lumix 20mm f1.7 and I'm loving it. I really wanted a high apature for bokeh backgrounds. so far im pretty happy with it. I can get some nice closeups of my work and also have some fun outside with it.
Good choice - I know a few people with the 20mm and they are very pleased with it
halo em... you prefer this pen f or lumix gx85? for photo and video quality?
Gx85 for something that’s good at both, Pen F for photo quality. In terms of value for money tho the gx85 is amazing!
Is it bad to get micro four third I really want this since you just get way more lenses for less, or should I save for a a7
Thank god i found a review which highlights how complicated this camera is. I owned it for 2 years and never enjoyed the camera, could never get sharp pictures and found most of my shots were underexposed. A few times the live view would freeze on the menu page and i would have to turn the camera off. I tried multiple settings to try and find the sweet spot for my still photography but had no luck. I have now purchased a Fujifilm X-Pro2 and it is far superior to the Pen-f in every way.
Once i discovered the super control panel on my pen ep-5 the menu system was suddenly very easy.
I use the external vf-4 evf with my pen ep-5 which has higher magnification than the pen f evf and as i only use the evf and never take pics with the screen its put me off buying the pen f.
hi there - thanks again for this video :) Just wondered if you'd had any experience with the Panny gx80 compared to the Olympus? - thanks again - hope all is well :)
+Darron Saunders hi! I haven't had chance to play with the gx80, unfortunately, so I'm not too sure how they would compare. My instinct says for video the Panasonic would be better and for photos, due to the Pen f's very nice 20mp sensor, the pen would be better. Thanks for watching! :)
No problem at all - thanks for getting back to me :)
Did you sell it then? I agree with just about everything you said. It is not a video camera, and the IBIS in video is unusable, so much so that I was convinced there was some setting that I got wrong, that I was using the wrong IBIS setting. Fortunately, I don't shoot video much, and I have other cameras if I do. The only useful function on the jpeg wheel is the monochrome one, but it is such a joy to use that I can't knock it. I wish though that you could program it to choose different monochrome profiles directly instead of the gimicky colour filters. Olympus menus are generally bad (almost as bad as their user manuals). They did improve that in the EM1 mkii though (the menus, not the user manual; it's still terrible). To me it's a street camera. I visited NYC last year and had a great time with my Pen-F. It's great for travel in general if you don't shoot video. As with all Olympus cameras, most of the day-to-day user adjustments can be found in the Super Control Panel. I rarely go into the menu tree when I'm out and about. As for that little flash, I think it is meant to provide a little fill and as a commander flash for off-camera speed lights, not as a main flash unit. I'm reminded a bit of when Fuji came out with the X100. Many people hated it, but I loved it. But I do think that, with each of these cameras, people expected something the camera wasn't meant for. Maybe Olympus should have just left out the video all together. Great video. Please keep them coming.
I did sell it unfortunately and you're so right about it being a street camera. I still get pangs of regret 😂 walking around with the 17mm prime and the monochrome preset, shooting jpeg and raw... Such a great photography experience I do miss it
@@MicroFourNerds This turned out to be a seller for a lot of people who bought it. It's a niche camera for sure. I wonder if Olympus would do it again? (I'm keeping mine.)
499th thumbs up! Woohoo! (I'm easily amused..) Ok, a bit of a pricy 'walk about & snap' camera, circa mid 2017? Soooo, me thinks a good choice, if one finds a sweet deal on a used "F" these many years later.. Thank you for your thoughtful & honest review.. As you can probably tell, I'm thinking about picking one of these up.. PS: I have to ask, did you sell yours? Ya did, didn't ya.. LOL
"all i do is bash cameras" we need you to off-set all the sycophantic sites that say everything is wonderful!
I had similar issues with the OMD em5mkii, awful menus, OK video, unusable continuous af. Hence the switch to Panasonic.
I hear ya. Those menus. I think the cameras from Olympus are amazing in so many ways, but those menus will end up getting the camera sent to ebay.
I love your honesty I love Olympus but the are natrotious
Er... the what are what?
;)
I love your channel!!!
Why is it that people buy a camera that is specifically designed for PHOTOGRAPHY, in particular STREET PHOTOGRAPHY, then go and make videos on it, and then bag it because the video is poor.
It is a PHOTOGRAPHERS camera NOT a video shooters camera.
Good video
Good review.
Awesome review!! Thank u :)
This camera would be a killer with an APS-C sensor and better menu.
Do you still own the Pen F?
+mhs vz I don't I sold it. I do miss it from time to time!
I don't find the Olympus menus that bad. SCP is fine.
If you want to sell it you just let me know haha. Defo my next purchase.
Overpriced camera
You are not the first photographer to mention the complexity and awkwardness of the Olympus menu system.
I am currently a Nikon Full-Frame user. I am mulling over the idea of moving to Micro-Four-Thirds eventually. I do like the large numbers of modes and features which the better Olympus OM and Panasonic G & GH cameras have.
I am going to "Keep my powder dry" for the moment.
I look forward to a review of the OM-D EM-1 Mark ii from your good self.
Thank you! Very good timing - I'm trialling one next week I can't wait 🎉📸
The "Ghosting" and other video options on the Pen F all look interesting. I hope that these features are on the OM-D EM-1 Mark ii ?