Video capability is also on board, with 4K video available, and OM-Cinema 1 & 2 colour profile included to give straight-out-of-camera video a distinct look without heavy grading. There is also a mic input, which is useful, plus a Micro HDMI port for external video output and monitoring, but no headphone socket. Overall it’s relatively basic fare compared to what other mirrorless models might be offering, but it’s potentially enough to satisfy those who might simply want to compile a video notebook or short motion clips.
For those that have become accustomed to shooting with their smartphones one of the biggest plus points of a camera such as the PEN will be the ability to work with a selection of different lenses, and there’s a brand new M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III standard zoom lens that’s available as part of the PEN launch. Once again this features a dust and splash proof design for great weatherproofing and, while its standalone price is £349, it’s available for just an extra £100 if purchased as part of the PEN kit.
The camera in use
The entire ethos of the OM SYSTEM PEN is that you can carry it around everywhere, and indeed I found it comfortable to have it hanging round my neck for extended periods, and it was an enjoyable experience to go out looking for pictures. This, of course, is exactly what OM System is looking to encourage, and there are no pretensions that this is a full-on professional camera.
Weight is managed by the fact that the camera body is made from engineering plastic rather than metal, but it still felt solid and well put together. The grip and the thumb rest are well designed and ensured that the PEN was comfortable to handle, while the two customisable command dials were nicely placed and easy to reach. There’s also a four-way controller provided to enable access to key features, being particularly useful as a quick and reliable way to position the AF point.
There’s just the one SD card slot provided, so no in-camera back-up, but it’s probably not a huge issue for this camera’s target audience. Meanwhile the PEN’s battery, the newly-developed BLS-7 that’s said to be good for over 400 shots on a full charge, is topped up in-camera via a USB Type-C socket, which also serves to facilitate data transfer and webcam functionality.
Estudio EA