DSLR was once the dream and the camera that grants you a step closer to being a professional photographer, but how times have changed because there’s another pro camera in town—one that uses a slightly different mechanism in taking photos. That’s the mirrorless camera.
Aptly named, this camera doesn’t use mirrors to bounce the captured light and process it into a photo. Instead, it leads the light directly to where it should go, making the camera distinctly lighter without the extra parts that DSLRs have.
Today, we will talk about one of the hottest mirrorless cameras
in the market, and that is the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL7. We’ll discuss what it can offer for you to determine whether or not this model’s for you.
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL7
Named after the sacred mountain where Greek gods reside, Olympus has been manufacturing cameras since the 1930s. Just like their gods, the brand has also successfully established a great name for themselves, and the company has stood the test of time.
Today, we are going to take a look at just how great this manufacturer is as reflected in their OM-D collection, and later on, zoom in to the camera that’s part of this collection and also the unit that we’re going to review today.
Anyway, this collection is special because of two words: image stabilization. It uses a brand exclusive feature that makes sure the photos you take are crisp and clear, and this stands true for all the cameras part of the collection.
Who Is This Product For?
Another thing that sets this collection apart is that it has a camera for every type of photographer. For instance, this unit, according to Olympus has been designed with creative enthusiasts in mind. That’s because this camera has the necessary features to capture dramatic images and footage in different kinds of conditions.
We understand, though, that the camera can be a bit intimidating, especially for a beginner. Nonetheless, we still highly encourage beginners to invest in this unit. That’s because it will give you a lot of space to practice and various features to play with and learn from.
Not only that, by purchasing this unit, you are also making sure you won’t be buying a new camera to upgrade anytime soon. The only downside that we’ve noticed so far is its video capture since it doesn’t support shooting in 4k.
What’s Included?
Don’t worry; we are going to talk more about its features later. For now, let’s open the box and see what’s in the package. Here they are:
- Camera body
- EZ Double Zoom Kit with 12-42mm f/3.5-5.6 + 40-150mm f/4-5.6 lens
- Lithium-ion battery and charger
To provide you further information about the things included, here’s a video that you can refer to.
Overview of Features
Now that we know what to expect once we get one, why don’t we move on to talk about the features that make Olympus PEN Lite E-PL7 apart from others?
- LCD Screen
One of this camera’s premium features is its screen with an uncommon tilt mechanism. The screen flips out under the camera body rather than the usual ones which are above the camera.
This rather unique inverted placement makes the screen usable when the bundled slot-in flash unit is installed.
- OI.Share
Another brand exclusive feature is the OI.Share or Olympus Image Share. It’s a feature that allows you to wirelessly control your camera entirely from your smartphone and even play with its settings.
What’s more is that the images you capture are shared instantly to your phone and you can upload anywhere. This might not be the most impressive feature until you realize that completely removing your interaction with your camera significantly lessens the possibility of blurring.
- Compatibility
This camera still has a lot of features worth exploring, but due to the limited space in this article, we’ll be sharing with you our last two favorites starting with how compatible it is with numerous lenses.
Even though the camera body itself isn’t weather-sealed, it is still compatible with 25 lenses with weather sealing. This will allow you to shoot in various weather conditions, from harsh winters to pouring rain. Never miss a photo-worthy moment because of the weather ever again.
- Image Stabilization
Finally, there’s the 3-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization feature, which is responsible for making most of the images taken blur-free with or without the use of a tripod! It’s also important to note that it’s built-into your camera, so your lens choices won’t have anything to do with it.
- High Resolution & Other Features
Never worry about pixels again with this unit’s 16.10 MP high-resolution shot. It also has a Face Detection feature which automatically detects subjects and locks on the focus easily.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Comes with a lot of brand-exclusive features
- Captures clearer images
- Works well even in low light
- Appealing retro design
Con:
- Underwhelming videos
How to Get the Most Out of Your Olympus Pen E-PL7
We bet you’re more than ready to go out and play with your new Olympus Mark II already. Don’t worry, we’re almost through. We just want to share with you tips on how to get the most out of your new camera.
Here’s a short video we’ve found:
Alternative
There is no doubt that the Olympus Pen E-PL7 is one of the best mirrorless cameras in the market today, but we also understand that this unit can be way beyond most of our budgets. That’s why we recommend you to consider the Canon EOS M100.
It also has a flip screen, equipped with autofocus tracking. It’s not weatherproof, but it has quite a number of features that most beginners would find “complete”.
Conclusion
The bottom line still lies in your personal needs and preferences. For instance, if you enjoy various types of photography, the Olympus Pen E-PL7 will come in handy as it is compatible with a number of lenses. Techie users will also enjoy OI.Share since it’s easy to directly transfer photos to their smartphones.
All in all, the Olympus Pen E-PL7 is a good choice for consumers who want a good, lightweight camera with nice features.