I’ve been in the market for a new professional camera for some time now. With all the many options on the market, and my basic knowledge of photography, I’ve been so confused about what to commit to. Pretty much all of the images you see on this blog were taken with an iPhone. Until now.
I think it was on social media that I first became aware of the latest Olympus PEN camera. With a flip-down screen for ‘selfies’, inbuilt wi-fi for photo sharing and a selection of art filters, the E-PL7 is a camera designed for the social media generation. I reached out to Olympus to see if I could loan one for my trip to the South Pacific and instantly fell in love with it. (Nb: Olympus didn’t ask for or pay for this review, I simply loved the camera so much I just wanted to share details of it.)
Below are the main reasons I think it’s perfect for travellers.
It’s Compact
The E-PL7 is a high performance camera without the weight of a traditionally bulky DSLR. It fits into even the smallest of my handbags or can be worn across the body without causing a strained shoulder. I’m used to shooting mainly on iPhone because it’s always on me, but carrying the PEN Mini around was just as easy.
Smartphone Integration
Another reason I love the iPhone is because I can share images straight to social media but the E-PL7 also makes that easy. The camera has its own built in wi-fi, which means you can connect your phone to the camera and transfer photos instantly.
Unlike what I mistakenly believed, you don’t have to be on the internet to connect the two devices. The camera has its own network that the phone connects to (using a QR code) and an app that you lets you view and import select photos. The Olympus Image Share (OI.Share) app also has editing and filter options but I preferred to do that on the camera directly. (See below.)
Art Filters
The camera has a range of 14 art filters which you can shoot in. I’m particularly fond of the vintage filter (see examples below) and like that you can preview how the filters look before taking the picture. You can also shoot in auto mode and add these filters on the app later.
and for those that like a little drama..
Let Me Take A Selfie
The fact that the LCD screen articulates was one of the things that most attracted me to this camera. It takes a little getting used to (I found I had to hold the camera with 2 hands initially) but it’s great for setting up shots where you want yourself and key landmarks in the frame. Although I don’t do much vlogging, I can see how the flip-down screen would be great for filming spoken pieces to camera. You can also tilt the screen so you can see what you are shooting from very high or low levels, and it’s handily touch-sensitive too.
The Specifications
If you want to know more about the specific functions of the E-PL7 click here. I thought it would be best to show you the camera in action.
Direct Comparison
I took some photos on the both the camera and the iPhone. I think you can notice the difference.
I’ve got lots more shots of our sunset sail out of Sydney Harbour taken with the Olympus PEN here. I loved them so much I created a post just to share them!
More Info
The Olympus PEN E-PL7 Interchangeable Lens Camera
- Single lens kit (14-42mm lens) $849
- Double Zoom kit (14-42mm & 40-150mm) $1049
- Body only $649
Some accessories I recommend:
I got to try out some Olympus cameras a year or so ago and fell in love with the Pen range then. Your photos look awesome and you have reminded me how much I want one now!
I REALLY want one too! This little trial was very tempting haha
Frustratingly i always take better photos on my phone than on my ‘real’ camera- it means im not learning how to get amy better with my photography! I know its not the cameras fault (duh) but this post has just made me want a new one… xx
That’s how I felt, it was fun to play around on something different for a change though.
Lovely! I have to learn how to use the wifi on my DSLR, it will make instagram so much easier!! What’s your insta handle? Mine is @eatprayworkout xx
I’m @jayneytravels, am following you now 🙂
I use a fabric tote bag from Yazzii to carry my Olympus. Was a bit reluctant in carrying it like that but its so much easier take it out and shoot. Your article photos are amazing by the way.