Many photographers aspire to own a full-frame camera, but how many actually question if they really need one? While the boost in image fidelity and low-light performance is attractive, it comes at a cost. Full-frame cameras and optics can be large, weighty and expensive.
That’s why many photographers in the mirrorless age are turning to smaller and lighter interchangeable-lens cameras like the OM System PEN. In stark contrast to the beefy full-frame body that regularly gets left at home, this highly compact Micro Four Thirds camera is an ideal everyday carry.
Not only is it small enough to slip into a jacket pocket or hang around your neck, but its attractive retro design screams to be picked up. And at just £849 (body-only) and £949 for the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 kit, it’s unrivalled in terms of value and specs within its class.
A camera you want to take with you
Whether you’re exploring a new city, capturing family moments or simply heading to university or work, the OM System PEN’s form factor and good looks make it an effortless companion. Lenses are affordable and compact so you can expand your creative toolset, and an IPX1 weather-resistant body gives you peace of mind whether you’re out walking the dog or backpacking around rainy Europe.
It’s not uncommon for full-frame photographers to live with a single kit lens, either because they don’t want to lug around heavy glass or simply cannot justify the expenditure. MFT lenses are not only inherently small and light, but the system is an open mount. This means you can take advantage of OM System’s high-quality M.Zuiko lens ecosystem or shop around for the optics that suit your needs. And with the format’s 2x crop factor, it’s easier than ever to fill the frame with far-away subjects.
Crucially, the OM System PEN is an awful lot of fun. The camera’s classic rangefinder style, electronic viewfinder (EVF) – which reacts to your exposure settings in real time – and direct-access controls set it far apart from the monotony of phone photography, and things only get better when you peek under the hood.
I could wax lyrical about the in-body image stabilization (hard to find in this price range) or the camera’s blistering 30-fps burst speeds, but it’s OM System’s computational photography that really sets the PEN apart from the competition.
Less time editing, more time shooting
The OM System PEN isn’t just compact; its computational photography button mitigates the need to carry around a big bag of physical accessories. In-camera features such as Live ND and Handheld High Res Shot provide digital solutions to physical problems. Want to capture a long exposure? Live ND supplies you with a set of digital neutral-density filters. Looking to merge a sequence of images into an ultra-high-resolution photograph? Handheld High Res Shot lets you produce 50-MP composites without a tripod.
Not everybody wants to spend hours at a computer editing their images, either. OM System’s computational features such as HDR and Focus Stacking also boast in-camera processing. So, once you’ve captured your sequence, the camera will merge it into a detail-rich high-dynamic-range or focus-stacked image. Not only does this allow you to spend more time out and about with your camera, but you’re less likely to end up with thousands of unedited images that never see the light of day.
But perhaps the most useful feature for those wanting the quickest route from photograph to online gallery or social media is the OM System PEN’s Art Filters and Colour and Monochrome Profiles. These options allow you to select your preferred ‘look’ and see it replicated through the EVF. Colour and Monochrome Profiles go one step further by allowing you to tweak them to create your own ‘recipes’ or download those created by others.
Built to capture the moment
OM System is a fully independent company that’s dedicated to getting photographers out in the field, and once you’re there, the OM System PEN has a few tricks up its sleeve to increase your chances of capturing the moment. Advanced AI algorithms allow the autofocus to detect humans and pets, and for those who still rely on automatic settings, a selection of Scene Modes allows you to tailor how the camera operates based on a series of specific shooting situations.
Portability, power and value
The OM System PEN is a bit of an oxymoron in that it essentially packs an entire camera bag worth of kit into a highly compact interchangeable-lens body, all while simultaneously broadening your photography horizons via its accessible form factor, class-leading specs and a plethora of computational features.
It’s become something of a cliché, but Chase Jarvis’ book entitled: The Best Camera Is the One That’s with You embodies the OM System PEN’s ethos perfectly. It might not be a full-frame camera, but the best full-frame camera in the world is no good if it’s still sitting at home.
The PEN, then, is designed to be the camera that’s with you at the coffee shop, on holiday or at a family gathering. A proper interchangeable-lens camera for well under £1,000, and a dedicated and inspiring alternative to the tedium of your phone. Oh, and if you suddenly need an ND filter or an instant edit, it can do that, too.
