Olympus may be trying to catch the eye of young fashionistas with its latest CSC, but what does it have to offer a wider audience?
With its leather finish and metal detailing, the Olympus PEN E-PL7 is designed to be the perfect companion for the style-conscious shooter. In fact, it seems to be marketed mainly at female fashion enthusiasts as a practical accessory that will compliment any outfit. However, the silver M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm 13.5-5.6 II R lens that the camera was tested with does not. in our opinion, co-ordinate particularly well with the off-white and beige camera body and actually seems to add quite a bit of bulk to the petite design. Having said this though, the camera does also come in black, or black with silver, for those who prefer a camera with a more simple and classic look. Another option would be the pancake lens kit, which is also available and should fit more comfortably into a handbag or coat pocket.
Although women may be the intended market for the E-PL7's good looks, photographers of either gender can appreciate the camera's premium design and superb build quality. It is lightweight yet solid and sturdy, as well as being comfortable to hold thanks to the textured grips on the front and back. However, the tiny buttons on the back plate are better suited to those with more dainty fingers.
Before switching the camera on, you have to manually extend the lens, a task that slows you down and could result in a missed photo opportunity. Unfortunately twisting the lens doesn't cause the camera to automatically spring into life as it does on other models, yet once you have pressed the ON/OFF button the camera is instantly ready for action.
There's a lot on offer for creative types, with an extensive range of In-camera filter effects, such as vintage, sepia and pop art. that can instantly transform your shots. Indecisive shooters can even take several versions of the same shot, each with a different effect, with just one press of the shutter release. It does, however, take a while for them all to record onto the memory card. Even more creative options can be found in the scene modes menu, with low-key, high-key and fish-eye effects strangely tucked away among the standard scenes. Further in-camera enhancements are available with Photo Story mode, which enables you to compose and customise photo collages with a selection of preset templates, but this option is sadly not available for pre-existing images, which would arguably be more useful.
When your creations are complete, you can transfer them straight to your smartphone or tablet via Wi-Fi ready to share online or store as a backup. The free Olympus app also lets you control the camera remotely, acting as an independent viewfinder.This is particularly useful when you consider the unusual operation of the E-PL7's standout feature, the adjustable LCD. Instead of flipping outwards or upwards as on most other cameras, the screen flips down 180 degrees, sitting below the body. Although this is useful for framing from creative angles, it means that if you want to position yourself in the frame, you have to hold the camera at arm's length, as the screen prevents you from steadying it on a tripod or stable surface. Therefore, for natural portraits, you're better off stowing the screen in its original position, shooting hands-free and using your phone to frame the shot instead
The reason that the screen cannot flip up above the camera, is that the hotshoe port is in the way. Frustratingly, the E-PL7 does not have a built-in flash, so you must remember to keep the external flash unit attached to the hotshoe or in your bag or pocket whenever you go out shooting. Not only does the flash add a lot of bulk to the camera, but the plastic silver unit supplied with our kit looks as out of place on the stylish white body as the lens. Nevertheless, it is powerful and can be adjusted manually for full control.
Exposure can also be manually controlled with a full set of modes available on the dial and Live Guide mode, which lets you adjust brightness, depth of field, motion blur and more with simple sliders in Auto mode. Adjusting settings is straightforward thanks to the control dial around the shutter release and well-laid-out buttons on the back panel. Alternatively, you can use the responsive touchscreen to access most functions with a few simple taps, which is particularly useful for precise focusing. Although focusing is impressively quick and reliable, toe beep and faint whirring sound that can be heard after every half-press of the shutter release or tap of the screen, along with the noisy shutter, prevents discreet shooting and could hinder wildlife or candid photography. Burst mode does fire off a speedy 8fps though and continues for several frames before buffering.
The images produced by the E-PL7 are beautifully detailed, with rich colours and very little distortion. The camera does have a slight tendency to underexpose shots, particularly in dull lighting, but it's nothing that exposure compensation or post-processing can't sort out, particularly if you utilise the RAW file format. If you don't attach the flash in low light, images remain crisp and clear up until ISO 6400 and only become unusable towards the very end of the range.
Available for just £350/$600 for body only, or £400/$700 with the 14-42mm kit lens, this is a competitively pr iced camera considering its superb build quality and range of features. Despite the fashionable retro style, it is still packed with all the latest technologies.