Olympus PEN-F

The Olympus PEN-F is a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera in the Micro Four Thirds system, released in 2016. It is the part of the digital PEN series. The PEN-F pays tribute to the similarly named PEN F half-frame 35mm film SLR camera from 1963.

This article is about the Pen-F digital camera. For the 1960s Pen F film camera, see Olympus Pen F.
Olympus Pen-F
Overview
MakerOlympus Corporation
ReleasedJanuary 2016
Intro price1,199$
Lens
Lens mountMicro Four Thirds
LensInterchangeable
Sensor/medium
Sensor typeLive MOS
Sensor size17.3 x 13mm (Four Thirds type)
Sensor makerSony
Maximum resolution5184 x 3888 (20 megapixels)
Film speed80-25600
Recording mediumSD, SDHC or SDXC memory card (UHS I & UHS II), up to 512 GB
Focusing
Focus areas81 contrast-detection focus points
Exposure/metering
Exposure meteringTTL
Flash
FlashNo built-in flash, supports external flashes through the hot-shoe
Shutter
Shutter speeds1/8000s to 60s (1/16,000 with e-shutter)
Continuous shooting10.4 frames per second (20 with e-shutter)
Viewfinder
Viewfinder magnification0.62x (35mm equvivalent)
Frame coverage100%
Image processing
Image processorTruePic VII Engine
White balanceYes
General
LCD screen3 inches with 1,040,000 dots
Dimensions125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9 x 2.8 x 1.5 inches)
Weight434g including battery
Made in Vietnam
PEN-F in black colour

The PEN-F was the first Olympus camera to feature the new, 20 megapixel Four Thirds sensor, which made Micro Four Thirds more competitive on the market. This sensor later found its way into the OM-D series as well, featured in professional cameras like the E-M1 Mark III.

The PEN-F had an electronic viewfinder, which was a new feature in the digital PEN range, and it is still the only PEN camera to have it.[1]

It has 10 frames per second continuous shooting and its fastest shutter speed is 1/8000 sec, it has focus peaking to assist manual focus, and built in Wi-Fi for connection to smartphone or tablet. Its rear LCD is a fully articulated "swivel" rear touch screen with a 1.04 million pixel resolution. The PEN-F comes in two colour schemes: black, or silver.[2]

Design
The 2016 Olympus PEN-F was inspired by the old Olympus PEN F half-frame SLR, released in 1963

The PEN-F's name and design pays tribute to Olympus's legendary half-frame analog SLR, the PEN F from 1963. It has the same font for the model name on the front of the camera and has a chunky dial on the grip. On the old PEN F, that controls the shutter speed, on the new PEN-F, it is dedicated for changing the art filters. On the new PEN-F there are two customizable dials on the top for changing the shutter speed, or basically anything it has been set to. The overall shape of the cameras are quite similar, they both are rectangle boxes with an asymmetrical "stair" on the top. The completely flat grip is also a similar property of the two cameras. However, the new PEN-F can be extended with an optional, external grip, the ECG-4.

Specifications
  • 20MP Live MOS Four Thirds format sensor
  • 1/8000 sec top mechanical shutter speed (1/16,000 with e-shutter)
  • 5-axis image stabilisation with panning detection
  • ISO 80 – 25,600
  • Burst rate: Up to 10 fps continuous shooting (20 fps with electronic shutter)
  • Focus-peaking to assist manual focus
  • Intervalometer and Time Lapse movie creation (up to 99 frames)
  • Fully articulating 1.04 million dot, 3" LCD touchscreen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi for remote shooting (full control of all settings), image transfer and adding geolocation through smartphone
  • 2.36 million dot OLED electronic viewfinder
  • Highly customizable interface, twin controls
  • 50MP High-res Shot mode
  • 1080/60p video recording

Compared to the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II

The PEN-F was sold side-by-side with the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and shared a lot of its features. The PEN-F started on 1,199$, the E-M5 Mark II cost 100$ less.

  • The most obvious difference is the design: The E-M5 is designed after the Olympus OM SLR with the bump on the top, the PEN-F has an almost flat top, which makes it 1.3 centimeter shorter. The E-M5 Mark II has a more ergonomic grip compared to the PEN-F's flat one.
  • However, that bump comes with an advantage: The E-M5 Mark II has a bigger viewfinder magnification, than the PEN-F (0.72x vs 0.62x). The resolution of the EVF is the same though.
  • The PEN-F has the new 20 MP sensor, which has a 25% higher resolution than the 16 MP sensor of the E-M5 Mark II, and despite its higher pixel density, it maintains the ISO performance and the dynamic range of the old sensor.[3] The higher native resolution means that the sensor-shift high resolution mode produces 50 MP pictures instead of 40 MP.
  • The E-M5 Mark II is weather sealed, the PEN-F is not.
  • The E-M5 has a microphone 3.5mm jack connector, the PEN-F does not.

The features that are shared between the two cameras:

  • 5-axis sensor stabilization system
  • Four Thirds sensor size
  • Fully articulated rear LCD screen
  • 10 fps burst rate
  • 81 contrast-detection autofocus points
  • 10 fps burst rate
  • 1080p 60 fps max. video recording resolution and frame rate
  • support for UHS-II SD cards

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Olympus PEN-F and Taken with Olympus PEN-F.
  1. As of January 2021
  2. Bracaglia, Dan; Samuel Spencer; Carey Rose; Jordan Stead (24 February 2016). "History Repeating: Olympus PEN-F Review". DPReview. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  3. "Olympus PEN-F Sensor Review: Style and substance". DXOMARK. 2016-09-29. Retrieved 2021-01-02.
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