CAMERAS
92 MARCH2020|COMPUTER SHOPPER|ISSUE385
ABASICMODELat the bottomofOlympus’s
mirrorless line-up,the PEN E-PL9 is designed
to tempt those looking to upgrade from their
smartphone’s integrated camera. As such, it
includes afull complement of automatic and
creative modes, as well as more advanced
modes forthose keen to learn.
As always with the PEN range,Olympus
has gone big on styling, with the E-PL9’s
gorgeous retro look making it as much a
fashion statement as aphotographic tool.
However, it doesn’t represent ahuge
upgrade from the older E-PL8: many of its
specifications and features are identical,
including a16.1-megapixel Micro Four Thirds
sensor,3-axis in-body image stabilisation
and the 3in tilting touchscreen.
BACK INAFLASH
4K video is abig addition, however,and
it’s facilitated by an upgrade to Olympus’s
TruePic VIII image processor: the same
used by some of Olympus’s higher-end
cameras such as the OM-D E-M10 Mark III
and the OM-D E-M1 II.
Although the E-PL9 has roughly the same
dimensions as the E-PL8, the grip is deeper,
which makes it alittle more comfortable.
The mode dial has also been slightly enlarged,
and the flash is integrated now (a small,
inconvenient external flash was supplied
with the E-PL8). This comes at aprice,
however: there is still ahot shoe fora
beefierexternal flash, but the accessory
port is gone,sounlike the E-PL8, you can’t
add the optional electronic viewfinder.
The camera’s size –just 117mm wide and
68mm tall –means it pairs well with Olympus’s
compact 14-42mm retractable zoom lens, as
well as some of the smaller primes in the
Olympus line-up.Agood example is the 17mm
f/1.8 lens. Being aMicro Four Thirds mount,
you can attachPanasonic leeennnssseeesss,,,tttoooooo...
Since there’s no option to attach a
viewfinder,the tilting touchhhscreen
is the only waytocomposeee,soit’s
agood thing the 3in, 1.04-
million-dot displayisdecennnt.
It can be pushed to face all the
wayforward, making it hannndy for
accurateselfie compositionnn,
although because the screeeeeennnn
faces forwards underneathhhthe
camera, you can’t simultaneously
mount it on atripod.
Arange of different exppposure
modes can be accessed viaaathe
mode dial on the topoftheee
camera, including fully autooomatic,
OLYMPUS PENE-PL9
★★★★★
£369•From http://www.amazon.co.uk
VERDICT
Thisentry-levelmodelfromOlympusisafun
cameraforvloggingandholidaysnaps
semi-automatic and manual.Anew modefffor
the E-PL9 is the advanced photomode, which
gathers together anumber of creative
options, such as multiple exposure,HDR,
focus bracketing and so on. Frustratingly,
silent mode can only be foundwithin
advanced photomode; there’s no wayto
shoot silently in the normal modes.
Unlike some cameras aimed at travel
photographers, the E-PL9 doesn’t feature
USB charging, which seems abit remiss.
Instead, you need to use the dedicated
charger,which comes in the box.
GETTHE POINT
More happily,the E-PL9 has more autofocus
points than the E-PL8, which is good news for
catching off-centresubjects. The E-PL9 uses
contrast detection –rather than the faster
phase detection –AF, but it’s pretty snappyin
most instances, perhaps taking just alittle
longer in darker conditions. Beginners may
prefertoleave the camera to choose an
appropriateAFpoint and, in our tests, the
E-PL9 generally got it right.
The E-PL9 can produce some very nice
shots, especially in good conditions. Image
quality is slightly improved over the E-PL8,
perhaps thanks to the newer image processor,
but it’s not something you’re likely to notice
unless pixel peeping to the extreme.
In good light, images are bright and
pppuuunnnccchhhyyy,,,wwwiiittthhhaaapppllleeeaaasssiiinnngggllleeevvveeelllooofffsssaaatttuuurrraaatttiiiooonnn
resulllting in attractive colllours. In lower light,
the smaller sensor reveals itself compared to
cameras with bigger sensors.
The 14-42mm kit lens is adequateasa
walk-around lens, and if your main concern is
grabbing holidaysnaps, it’s fine.Get abit
more intoyour photography and you’ll crave
additional lenses –apart from anything else,
better lenses will get more from the sensor,as
well as allowing you to fit lenses with bigger
apertures forbetter low light performance.
There are also some nice creative options.
The multiple exposure mode is easy to use
and quick to get to grips with, while the digital
filters are pretty fun. Being able to quickly use
things such as focusbracketing and create
long exposures is great forthose new to
photography who want to try what might
otherwise be difficult-to-crack techniques.
As forthat newly added 4K video,the
camera can produce good footage, but the
best results come if you swap the kit lens
forsomething better.There’s also no
microphone input, which will limit the E-PL9’s
appeal to more serious videographers.
BEGINNERSWELCOME
There’s alot to criticise about the E-PL9.No
viewfinder,noUSB charging and arelatively
modest set of specs mayhavesome sneering.
Remember,though, that this –likethe Canon
EOS M200 and Nikon D3500 –isspecifically
tttaaarrrgggeeetttiiinnngggsssmmmaaarrrtttppphhhooone users who might never
have owned aseriooous camera. Aviewfinder,
after all, is haaard to miss if you’ve never
used one before.Its small size and
weightalsomake it great for
thoseeetravelling light, while
still aaallowing users to expand
with adddditional lenses.
Overrrall, this is agreat little
camera forthose who are new
to photooography,orfor those
who havvvealittle more experience
but wantsomething ultra-light
and portttable fortheir travels.
The NikooonD3500 is better overall,
but Olymmmpus’s camera has its
charms, too.
