Digital SLR: Compare features & prices Olympus PEN Mini E-PM1 review Back to Results

The Olympus PEN Mini, or E-PM1, is the smallest micro-four-thirds camera yet released by Olympus. The PEN Mini's stripped-down camera body makes it a genuinely compact alternative to a DSLR, yet it still houses a respectably large image sensor. So how did it fare in our test lab?
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Test criteria Rating
In use
Flash Subscribe
Viewfinder Subscribe
Monitor quality Subscribe
Focusing (Auto) We rate the speed and accuracy of the camera's autofocus system - this is dependent on the tested kit lens as well as the body of the camera. Subscribe
Operating speed A total score for the camera's speed in being ready to take a shot, its speed between shots, and how quickly it can autofocus and take a shot. Subscribe
Image Stabilisation How well the camera's mechanical image stabiliser can compensate for trembling motions, reducing image blur. Subscribe
Ease of use Subscribe
Taking videos
Video sound quality We judge the quality of sound captured on the camera's internal microphone. Subscribe
Low light video quality Subscribe
Overall video quality A total assessment of the camera's video quality in various lighting conditions, taking into account sharpness, focusing, colour accuracy and smoothness. Subscribe
Picture quality
Face Detection effectiveness We judge the camera's ability to intelligently focus and expose multiple faces at different distances. Not all DSLRs have face detection. Subscribe
Picture Resolution We judge the sharpness of photos taken over a variety of ISO settings and in different light conditions. Subscribe
Low light picture quality Some cameras perform much better than others in low light conditions. Poorer-performing cameras tend to display more graininess, and colours can be murky. Subscribe
Overall picture quality A total rating for the camera's picture quality based on our extensive testing. Subscribe

Olympus PEN Mini E-PM1

  • Launch date: Sep 2011
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