Olympus streamlinesits pretty PEN E-P5

Normally a two-year product cycle isn't that much for a camera targeted at advanced photographers. But in a field where technology mutates as quickly as it does for advanced interchangeable-lens cameras, that's a long time. So at 1.5 years since the E-P3, it feels like it's taken just a little too long for the PEN E-P5's debut, especially given the relatively catch-up feature set of the new model.

Not that there's anything wrong with the updates in the E-P5; there's plenty here that probably makes it a better camera. The most noticeable is the new design, still retro but based off the PEN F film camera this time. It's quite attractive, especially in the black and silver, though it comes in the same off-white and camel and all-black of the previous model.

Much of the control layout has been changed and seems both more traditional, with front and a back dials, as well as more streamlined with increased customizability. I like most of the changes; the one notable exception is probably the shallow fixed grip. On the E-P3 you had the ability to easily replace the shallow grip with a more pronounced one.

Olympus' also takes an interesting approach to wireless connectivity, incorporating QR codes for quick Wi-Fi setup rather than NFC. When you bring up the connection on the camera it presents a QR code that you capture with the OI.Share app on your phone, and the app automatically configures the connection. It's a clever, inexpensive solution to the setup problem, as long as you only want to connect your camera to the phone.

Olympus' new EVF.

(Credit: Olympus America)

Other important enhancements include the same AF system as the OM-D E-M5, with some more performance optimization with Four Thirds lenses (the E-P3's overall performance is pretty good, though); the same image-stabilization system and sensor as the E-M5, though hopefully with tweaked image processing; a tiltable touch screen; broader scene analysis in auto mode; and 1080/30p video. The camera also gains focus peaking and a smaller spot AF and the Photo Story feature introduced in the XZ-10 (it lets you select different aspect ratios of photos to shoot, which the camera automatically loads into a multiphoto template). Plus it offers time-lapse and intervalometer options.

Olympus also rolled out black versions of its high-quality f1.8 primes (17mm, 45mm and 75mm) and a new electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is included in a kit with the 17mm lens; it's bigger, higher-resolution, and adds an eye sensor.

Here are some of the E-P5's current competitors:

	Fujifilm X-E1	Olympus PEN E-P3	Olympus PEN E-P5	Olympus OM-D E-M5	Samsung NX20	Sony Alpha NEX-6
Sensor (effective resolution)	16.3MP X-Trans CMOS n/a	12.3MP Live MOS 12 bits	16.1MP Live MOS 12 bits	16.1MP Live MOS 12 bits	20.3MP CMOS n/a	16.1MP Exmor HD CMOS n/a
	23.6mm x 15.6mm	17.3mm x 13mm	17.3mm x 13mm	17.3mm x 13mm	23.5mm x 15.7mm	23.5 x 15.6mm
Focal-length multiplier	1.5x	2.0x	2.0x	2.0x	1.5x	1.5x
Sensitivity range	ISO 100 (expanded)/ 200 - ISO 6400/25600 (expanded)	ISO 200 - ISO 12,800	ISO 100 (exp)/200 - ISO 25600	ISO 200 - ISO 25600	ISO 100 - ISO 12800	ISO 100 - ISO 25600
Continuous shooting	6fps n/a	3.0 fps unlimited (LN) JPEG/17 raw	4.5-5fps (lens dependent, IS off) 70 JPEG/20 raw (9fps with fixed AE/AF, no IS)	9fps 17 JPEG/11 raw	8fps 11 JPEG/8 raw	3fps 11 raw/15 JPEG (10fps with fixed exposure)
Viewfinder	EVF 0.5-inch 2.36 million dots 100% coverage n/a	Optional plug-in articulating EVF 1,440,000 dots 0.58x	Optional EVF n/a-inch 2.36 million dots 100% coverage 1.48x/0.74x	EVF n/a-inch 1.44 million dots 100% coverage 1.15x/0.58x	OLED EVF n/a-inch 480,000 dots 100% coverage 1.04x/0.69x	OLED EVF 0.5-inch 2.4 million dots 100% coverage 1.09x/0.73x
Hot shoe	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	49-area Contrast AF	35-area contrast AF	35-area contrast AF	35-area contrast AF	15-point contrast AF	99-point phase detection, 25-area contrast AF
AF sensitivity range	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	0 - 20 EV
Shutter speed	30-1/4,000 sec.; bulb to 60 min; 1/180 x-sync	60-1/4000 sec; bulb to 30 minutes	60 - 1/8000 sec; bulb to 30 minutes; 1/250 sec x-sync (FP to 1/4000 sec)	60-1/4,000 sec.; bulb to 8 minutes; 1/250 sec x-sync (flash-dependent)	30-1/8000 sec.; bulb to 4 minutes; 1/180 x-sync	30-1/4,000 sec.; bulb; 1/160 sec x-sync
Metering	256 zones	324 area	324 area	324 area	221 segment	1,200 zones
Metering range	n/a	0 - 20 EV	0 - 20 EV	0 - 20 EV	0 - 18 EV	0 - 20 EV
Flash	Yes	Yes	Yes	Included add-on	Yes	Yes
Wireless flash	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Image stabilization	Optical	Sensor shift	Sensor shift	Sensor shift	Optical	Optical
Video	1080/24p H.264	1080/60i AVCHD @ 20, 17Mbps; 720/60p @ 13Mbps	1080/30p @ 20Mbps H.264 QuickTime MOV	1080/60i QuickTime MOV @ 20, 17Mbps	1080/30p; 1080 x 810/24p; 720/30p H.264 MPEG-4	AVCHD 1080/60p @ 28, 24Mbps, 1080/ 24p @ 24, 17Mbps, 1080/60i @ 17Mbps; H.264 MPEG-4 1440 x 1080/30p @ 12Mbps
Audio	Stereo; mic input	Stereo; mic input	Stereo; mic input	Stereo; mic input	Stereo	Stereo; mic input
LCD size	2.8-inch fixed 460,000 dots	3-inch fixed OLED 614,000 dots	3-inch tilting touch-screen LCD 1.04 million dots	3-inch tilting touch-screen OLED 614,000 dots	3-inch articulated AMOLED 921,000 dots	3-inch tilting touch screen 921,600 dots
Wireless connection	None	Optional via Bluetooth	Wi-Fi	None	Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi
Battery life (CIPA rating)	350 shots	330 shots	330 shots	n/a	330 shots	270 shots (with viewfinder)
Dimensions (inches, WHD)	5.1 x 2.9 x 1.5	4.8 x 2.7 x 1.4	4.8 x 2.7 x 1.5	4.8 x 3.5 x 1.7	4.6 x 2.5 x 1.4	4.8 x 2.8 x 1.1
Body operating weight (ounces)	12.4 (est.)	13.0	14.8 (est)	15.1	14 (est)	12.3
Mfr. price	$999.95 (body only)	n/a	$999.99 (body only)	$949.99 (body only)	n/a	$749.99 (body only)
	$1,399.95 (with 18-55mm lens)	$899.99 (with 14-42mm lens)	n/a	$1,199.99 (with 12-50mm lens)	$1,099.99 (with 18-55mm i-Function lens)	$899.99 (with 15-60mm PZ lens)
	n/a	$899.99 (with 17mm lens)	$1449.99 (with 17mm lens and VF-4 EVF)	$1,099.99 (with 14-42mm lens)	n/a	n/a
Ship date	November 2012	August 2011	May 2013	April 2012	May 2012	October 2012

While the Sony Alpha NEX-6 isn't as eye-catching, it's cheaper and a pretty strong competitor, with a bigger sensor. Furthermore, if you're going to add the optional EVF, you might as well get the E-M5, which has the extra weather sealing and has better continuous-shooting for roughly the same body-only price.

The E-P5 looks nice and will probably be a fine camera, but unless you're buying primarily on looks it doesn't have any competitive edge that I can think of. Then again, a good-looking camera, especially one bundled with one of Olympus' better lenses, might pull it off.