by Jeff Keller, DCRP Founder/Editor
Originally Posted: November 4, 2009
Last Updated: November 4, 2009

This is a preview of the Olympus E-P2 interchangeable lens camera. The camera described here is preproduction, and the features described in this article may be different in the final product. Olympus has requested that photos from this preproduction camera not be posted. Since this camera is nearly identical to the E-P1, a full review of the E-P2 is unlikely.

The Olympus E-P2 ($1099) is the second "Digital Pen" interchangeable lens camera from the Japanese photo giant. The E-P2 is essentially an enhanced version of the E-P1, which was introduced just five months ago. The vast majority of the features on these two Micro Four Thirds cameras are identical: same sensor, same image processor, same LCD, same features (mostly). So what has changed on the E-P2? Here's a list:

New accessory port supports an electronic viewfinder or an external microphone adapter
Articulating electronic viewfinder (included with the camera) has 1.44 million pixels, 1.15X magnification, and better brightness and contrast that competitive models
AF tracking for both stills and movies
Shutter speed and aperture now adjustable in movie mode
iEnhance picture mode finds the dominant color in the frame and enhances the brightness and saturation of just that color
Two new art filters: diorama (miniature effect) and cross process
Can be controlled from the remote control of an HDTV supporting the CEC protocol (when camera is connected with HDMI cable)
New translucent black body
For those of you who were hoping for a built-in flash... well, maybe on the E-P3.

I should add that the E-P1 isn't going anywhere. The two cameras will be sold side-by-side, at least for the time being.

Ready to learn more about the E-P2? Keep reading -- our preview starts right now!

What's in the Box?

The E-P2 will be available in two kits, both of which will be priced at $1099. You can get it with the 17mm pancake lens, or the 14 - 42 collapsible zoom lens. Unlike the E-P1, this camera comes in just one color: black. Here's what you'll find in the box for each of the kits:

The 12.3 effective Megapixel Olympus E-P2 camera body
F2.8, 17 mm M. Zuiko lens [17 mm kit only]
F3.5-5.6, 14 - 42 mm M. Zuiko lens [14-42 kit only]
BLS-1 lithium-ion battery
Battery charger
Electronic viewfinder
Body cap
Shoulder strap
USB cable
A/V cable
CD-ROM featuring Olympus Master software
Camera manual
If you're familiar with the E-P2, then you already know about the two kit lenses that you can get with the E-P2. The 17mm pancake lens is a perfect match for the E-P2's compact body. Photo quality is also quite good. The collapsible 14 - 42 mm lens has some issues with corner softness, but it's a decent lens for everyday shots. There are several other Micro Four Thirds lenses that you can use with the camera, which include:

Olympus F4.0-5.6, 9 - 18 mm M. Zuiko (coming in 2010)
Olympus F4.0-5.6, 14 - 150 mm M. Zuiko (coming in 2010)
Panasonic F1.7, 20mm Lumix G
Panasonic/Leica F2.8, 45 mm DG Vario-Elmarit IS macro
Panasonic F4.0, 7 - 14 mm Lumix G Vario
Panasonic F3.5-5.6, 14 - 45 mm Lumix G Vario IS
Panasonic F4.0-5.8, 14 - 140 mm Lumix G Vario HD IS
Panasonic F4.0-5.6, 45 - 200 mm Lumix G Vario IS
The E-P2 also works with "legacy" Four Thirds lenses, via the optional MMF-1 adapter. Some older Four Thirds lenses may not support autofocus, though. But wait -- there's more. You can also use classic Olympus OM lenses via another optional adapter (MF-2), and all of these lenses will be manual focus only. If that's still not enough, I don't see any reason why you can't use Panasonic's Leica R and M-mount adapters, as well.

Regardless of what lens you have attached to the E-P2, there will be a 2X focal length conversion ratio. So, the 17 mm pancake lens has a field-of-view of about 34 mm.

Interchangeable lens cameras (which includes digital SLRs) never include memory cards, and that's the case with the E-P2. Thus, you'll need to purchase one, unless you have one laying around already. Just like with its predecessor, the E-P2 uses SD and SDHC memory cards, and I'd recommend a 4GB card to start with. It's definitely worth getting a high speed card, especially if you'll be taking a lot of HD videos.

Not surprisingly, the E-P2 uses the same BLS-1 lithium-ion battery as the E-P1. This battery packs 8.3 Wh of energy into its plastic shell, which is pretty good for a camera this size. Here's how that translates into battery life -- live view only, of course:

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