Pixelarea difference: 0 µm² (0%) Olympus PEN E-PL6 and Olympus OM-D E-M5 have the same pixel area. Pixel density. 7.15 MP/cm². 7.15 MP/cm². Pixel density tells you how many million pixels fit or would fit in one square cm of the sensor. Higher pixel density means smaller pixels and lower pixel density means larger pixels. Difference: 0 µm
Make no mistake Aside from a screen that can now face forward for selfies, the Olympus PEN E-PL6 $ with 14-42mm lens is the same camera as the E-PL5 at AmazonOpens in a new window we reviewed in 2012. Originally released in other markets in mid-2013, the E-PL6 is an incremental update, and lacks some of the features—notably in-camera Wi-Fi—introduced in the 2014 model, the E-PL7 at AmazonOpens in a new window . But Olympus has opted to keep the E-PL6 in production, and bring it to the market at a rock bottom price. It's a very capable mirrorless camera, and an excellent buy for casual photographers who want to capture photos that well exceed smartphone quality. You simply won't find a better interchangeable lens camera at this price, making it an easy pick for our Editors' Choice in the budget category. Design and FeaturesOlympus helped to define the form factor of many mirrorless cameras with its PEN series. With that DNA in mind, it's no surprise that the black E-PL6 $ at AmazonOpens in a new window is a slim by by inches HWD, light ounces body with a large LCD, support for an optional add-on viewfinder at AmazonOpens in a new window , and an image sensor that's almost as large as you'll find in consumer SLRs. It can accept any Micro Four Thirds lens, as well as vintage manual focus lenses via an adapter, and it ships with a compact 14-42mm zoom 28-84mm full-frame equivalent. There's no built-in flash, but Olympus includes a small external flash. Similar Products The PEN has a standard hot shoe with an accessory port, a mode dial, shutter release, and power button on its top plate. Running along the rear, at a slight angle at the top of the body, are playback and delete buttons, the Fn button, a magnification button, and the Record button for movies. There's a thumb rest underneath Record, and below that is a flat control dial with four directional presses EV compensation, flash output, drive mode, and focus area and a center OK button. Info and Menu buttons round out the rear controls. For the most part all of the controls act like you'd expect them to. But there is one exception, and it's a bit of a doozy. The rear control dial doesn't directly adjust the aperture or shutter speed if you're shooting in A or S mode as you'd expect. Instead you need to press the up direction on the dial, which allows you to use the up and down directional controls to adjust aperture or shutter speed, and left and right to dial in EV compensation. It's a control scheme that is common in PEN cameras, and one that I've never quite gotten used to. On-screen controls are a bit better. Pressing the Fn button launches a menu that allows you to change settings. The available functions are described in layman's terms—color saturation, temperature, and brightness are there, as are settings that let you change the amount of background blur setting the aperture and motion capture setting the shutter speed. And, if you need a bit more guidance, there's a screen of shooting tips. Advanced photographers may scoff at adjusting settings in this manner, but it's a boon for novices. Also appealing to more casual shooters are in-camera art filters, which are accessible via the top dial. If you know a bit more about photography you can adjust on-screen settings via the OK button. It brings up a side menu that allows you to control the stabilization mode, color output, white balance, drive mode, aspect ratio, still and video quality, flash settings and compensation, the metering pattern, autofocus mode, and ISO. You can also toggle face and eye detection and the internal microphone. The 3-inch rear LCD isn't the sharpest we've seen, but at 614k dots it's adequate for image framing and review. More expensive models, like the svelte Panasonic GM5 at AmazonOpens in a new window , typically have displays with 921k dots or more. The 169 LCD is wider than the 43 images that the PEN captures, so shooting information is able to be placed at the left and right of the Live View feed. The LCD is sensitive to touch, which can be disabled if you prefer. When enabled it has two modes—one focuses and fires the shutter, and the other simply selects the focus point by touch. I prefer the latter, as it's a very intuitive way to choose the point of focus when framing a shot. The screen is also hinged, so you can view it from above or below. And, because selfies are all the rage, it faces forward so you can snap a shot of yourself. But don't expect to upload your selfie to Facebook right after you've taken it. The E-PL6 doesn't have built-in Wi-Fi. That's a shame, but it can be forgiven at this price point. If the ability to transfer content to your phone and from there, the Internet is a necessity, consider adding an Eyefi Mobi $ at AmazonOpens in a new window memory card. It's not that expensive, and it automatically copies photos to your iOS or Android device via Wi-Fi. There are only connectors on the camera body—a proprietary USB connector and micro HDMI. The SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slots sits in the battery compartment, and Olympus includes a dedicated charger—there's no way to charge the battery in-camera. Performance and ConclusionsThe E-PL6 starts and shoots in just focuses in and captures images at up to in burst mode. The shooting buffer is pretty decent too—it can grab 18 JPG, 16 Raw, or 15 Raw+JPG images before slowing down. The PEN is a much speedier performer than the pokey Sony Alpha 3000 $ at AmazonOpens in a new window , which requires seconds to start up and has a sluggish burst rate that only lasts for a handful of shots. The PEN ships with the 14-42mm II R $ at AmazonOpens in a new window lens. I've spent a lot of time with this lens—it's been the standard kit zoom for Olympus cameras for some time. It is collapsible, with a locking mechanism, and despite its plastic build the zoom action is very smooth. We reviewed the lens along with another 16-megapixel Olympus body, the OM-D E-M10 at AmazonOpens in a new window , and ImatestOpens in a new window results with the E-PL6 are consistent with what's published in our full review of the 14-42mm. You can refer to that if you want details, but the short version is that it's quite sharp, but limited by the narrow f/ aperture. See How We Test Digital Cameras I used Imatest to see how well the E-PL6 handles shooting at high ISO sensitivities, which are required when working in dim lighting. When shooting JPGs at default settings, the camera keeps noise under percent through ISO 6400, which is what you expect from a Micro Four Thirds camera. I took a close look at images from our ISO test sequence on a calibrated NEC MultiSync PA271W$ at AmazonOpens in a new window display and was disappointed to see that, when shooting at default settings, the JPG output at ISO 6400 suffers from some excessive sharpening that gives it a rather harsh look. I'd recommend keeping the ISO at 3200 or below when shooting JPGs, or reducing the level of sharpening via the camera menu. The JPG output from the Panasonic GM5 looks a lot better at ISO 6400 to my eye; we've included crops from our ISO test scene in both reviews so you can compare for yourself. If you're more serious about images you can shoot in Raw format. I converted photos from our test scene using Lightroom CC $ at AdobeOpens in a new window at default develop settings. There's certainly some noticeable noise at ISO 6400 when shooting Raw, but detail is strong. You can get away with shooting at ISO 12800 when working in Raw format, but I wouldn't recommend doing so if you're shooting JPGs. ISO 25600 is somewhat useable in Raw, although it's very noisy. Video is recorded at up to 1080p30 quality in QuickTime format. Quality is just OK; details aren't as sharp as I've seen with more recent mirrorless cameras, and the sound of the in-camera stabilization system is audible on the soundtrack. On the plus side, the PEN is quick to adjust focus as the scene changes, and Olympus does sell an add-on microphoneOpens in a new window that works with the camera. The closest thing we've seen to a true budget mirrorless camera to this point had been the Sony Alpha 3000, which offers fine image quality but a low-rent shooting experience. The E-PL6 has a much nicer rear LCD and is a speedier performer. If you've got more of a budget, however, don't count out Sony's fastest mirrorless camera, the Alpha 6000 $ at Dell TechnologiesOpens in a new window , or the Olympus OM-D E-M10 if you prefer to stay with the Micro Four Thirds mount—both are excellent choices that earned Editors' Choice honors when we reviewed them. The Olympus PEN E-PL6 omits some of the features we've come to expect in modern cameras, notably Wi-Fi and 1080p60 video capture, but it's an interchangeable lens camera that's priced lower than many compacts with comparatively tiny image sensors. If you're looking for a camera that far exceeds your smartphone in terms of image quality, or even a backup body for a fancier Micro Four Thirds camera, the E-PL6 is an excellent value, and earns Editors' Choice honors. Pros Extremely affordable. Articulating touch-screen LCD. Support for add-on EVF. burst shooting. In-camera art filters. In-body image stabilization. View More Cons Omits Wi-Fi. Default JPG output is a little over-sharpened. No built-in flash. The Bottom Line The Olympus PEN E-PL6 is a solid camera at an amazing price, earning Editors' Choice honors in the budget mirrorless category. Like What You're Reading? Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
TheOLYMPUS PEN Lite E-PL6 and OLYMPUS PEN Lite E-PL5 feature an Underwater White Balance
Search for PEN E-PL6 Support Topics Ask a Question of Community and Experts Download the PEN E-PL6 Manual Download the PEN E-PL6 Firmware Updates Contact Olympus Support Register My PEN E-PL6 Send My PEN E-PL6 in for Service Extend My Warranty
Olympus an established brand to micro four thirds system cameras, recently came out with the PEN Lite E-PL6 which they say is the low-cost alternative to their OM-D E-M5 or their equally new E-P5. The PEN Lite E-PL6 seems to be headed to the Asian market only and we were able to briefly play with it. Design-wise the E-PL6 looks a bit less
What do you bring with you when packing light for a casual 5-day trip to sunny San Diego? Let me suggest the combination of the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL6 and 14-42mm f/ EZ lens as a great travel companion. Your general options are large and heavy DSLR, point-and-shoot, smartphone, or mirrorless camera. You know you are bringing your smartphone already, but you know you don’t want to be limited to the smartphone camera. You know that some mirrorless cameras rival DSLRs for size and complexity and you want to stay light and flexible. This is where the PEN Lite E-PL6 shines, as it almost fits in the palm of your hand. The E-PL6 allows you to travel light, but still have a more-than-capable tool for image making. This tiny but powerful Olympus Micro Four Thirds format camera is just what the travel agent ordered. Design From across a room, or even across a dining table, the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL6 looks like an unassuming point-and-shoot camera. The 14-42mm f/ EZ lens is small and gives the uneducated eye no indication that it is removable and changeable. Because of this, the E-PL6 is as unassuming as you can get on a camera that has literally dozens of lens options. Flying west The chassis is elegant and simple. From the front, the only button on the face is that which gets depressed when you want to change lenses. The top of the camera gives you an ON/OFF button with a bright LED indicating that the camera is ready for action, a shutter release, and a standard Olympus PASM wheel. The back is home to the tilting screen, and the rest of the Olympus interface. A rubberized rest provides a surprising amount of grip and feels good under the thumb. Disguised as a point-and-shoot, there is no hump for a viewfinder digital or optical, nor are there any optical windows on the front of the camera. The camera will accept the Olympus VF-4 electronic viewfinder for those wanting to bring the E-PL6 to their eye. Also, Olympus has a sharp-looking hot-shoe-mounted optical VF-1 viewfinder with coverage for the 17mm lenses—the 17mm f/ or the pancake-style 17mm f/ lens. Vought F-8 Crusader on the USS Midway in San Diego, California The camera feels dense to the hand, and the polycarbonate body has enough texture to give the package a feeling of quality and solidity. Slippery plastic wouldn’t work on this camera—it really doesn’t work on any camera, for that matter. The tiny zoom lens retracts into itself and has a lock switch to prevent accidental retraction while zooming toward the wide end of the 28-84mm 35mm equivalent lens. Inside The PEN Lite E-PL6 replaced the popular E-PL5, but, features-wise, is a stripped-down version of the PEN flagship, the E-P5. A few years ago, Wi-Fi connectivity was a notable feature for a camera. Today, it is a notable omission. Honestly, I haven’t really taken advantage of the Wi-Fi capabilities of the cameras I have tested or own, so not having a Wi-Fi system to set up and connect is almost a benefit for me. Besides, if you need to share your PEN Lite E-PL6 images on-the-go, there are several options, including the new Eyefi 16GB mobiPRO SDHC memory card. Café Topes, Carlsbad, California. Yum. One more stripped-down feature is image stabilization. Instead of the more sophisticated 5-axis system, the E-PL6 relies on a very effective 3-axis system. Instead of dwelling on features it does not have, let’s talk about what it does have. Inside the E-PL6 is a Micro Four Thirds 16MP Live MOS sensor coupled to the Olympus TruePic VI image processor. The E-PL6 can capture RAW images, fire off eight frames per second, and shoot Full HD 1080i video. ISO goes as low as 100 and as high as 25600. The shutter goes as fast as 1/4000 of a second. An optional flash is included and can be attached to the PEN Lite. Light fixture at Balboa Park Autofocus is one of more than a few categories in which the PEN Lite E-PL6 shines. The company specifies a AF lag time with its FAST Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology AF system. Coupled with the standard Olympus kit lens, the E-PL6 focused blazingly fast. The 3" LCD screen rotates 170⁰ up for self-portraits and 65⁰ down. For the creative types, there are 12 in-camera filter options to choose from, including Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale and Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Gentle Sepia, Cross Process, Key Line, Dramatic Tone, and Watercolor. Interface The Olympus interface and menu system is quirky to all but Olympus users. Olympus cameras speak a slightly different dialect of the digital photography language. If you are new to Olympus, expect a learning curve. I wouldn’t recommend buying this camera 30 seconds before you need to take the most important pictures of your life. The camera can take fantastic photos, so that isn’t the shortcoming. You’ll just need a few extra minutes to set up the camera. If you are an Olympus veteran, there is no need to sweat the interface. And, once you learn your way around, things are much happier with the Olympus menus, but I kept a PDF copy of the manual handy on my smartphone and ended up referencing it a few times. EvrBottle, Carlsbad, California The rear of the camera has a four-position thumb pad with a center “OK” button. Surrounding the thumb pad is a scrolling wheel. I am still getting used to touch-screen LCDs on cameras, but life gets easier when you use the combination of the buttons, wheel, and touch-screen LCD. Speaking of the touchscreen, the Olympus Touch AF system is a great feature. Compose your shot, figure out your focus point, touch the screen where that point is and the camera focuses incredibly fast and takes a photo. Compose. Touch. Click. Done. Handling Making photos with the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL6 is fun. The code on start-up times has been cracked, at least by Olympus. I can’t operate a stopwatch and the camera simultaneously, but it feels like you can hit the power button and take an image almost as fast as your fingers can move from the ON/OFF button to the shutter release or LCD screen. It is really fast. Spreckels Organ, Balboa Park, San Diego, California I mentioned it before, and it is worth repeating, this camera focuses very fast. Scary fast. Combine the focus speed with the Touch AF shutter LCD functionality and you have a camera more than happy to capture action sequences or grab a moment on the street. I was impressed with the overall speed of the entire E-PL6 package. The downside of the Touch AF system is that, when putting the camera away, or taking it out, with the lens unlocked, you might fire off a few frames when you accidently touch the screen. The upside of this is that I got at least one really cool abstract of the inside of my cargo shorts pockets as I pulled the camera out. Very avant-garde. I’ll be submitting that image to several modern art museums once I finish this review. Future award-winning modern art abstract If you missed it in the last paragraph, the E-PL6 fit nicely and easily into the cargo pocket of my shorts. It is light and unobtrusive. Combine the camera with a Micro Four Thirds pancake lens like the ED 14-42mm f/ EZ, 17mm f/ 25mm f/ ED and you will have a serious camera that can easily slip into a lot of pockets. The non-pancake lens used for this test gave the camera just enough depth that it was a very tight fit in and out of standard front pockets. Even though some folks may stick their chin up at the fact that the E-PL6 does not have a 5-axis stabilization system, the 3-axis system seemed to work extremely well, as I was able to get some nice low-light shots handheld, even with a lens that only opened to f/ La Jolla Independent BMW Service, La Jolla, California My biggest complaint about the shooting experience was the cumbersome way that one changes exposure settings when in the A, S, or M modes. You can tell this camera was meant to shoot mostly on P mode, as changing aperture and shutter speed manually requires a bit of patience and will not happen as quickly as it will on cameras with thumb and forefinger command dials at the ready. Optics This is the third Olympus camera I have reviewed and, again, I have been impressed by the optics. The price of the ED 14-42mm f/ II R lens shows it to be an entry-level kit lens, but its performance does not leave you thinking “kit lens.” One clear advantage of the Micro Four Thirds format is that the smaller sensor fits nicely into the image circle produced by the lens. This allows many Micro Four Thirds lenses to show impressive corner-to-corner sharpness. Carlsbad, California Its 35mm focal-range equivalent of 28-84mm places it solidly in the mid-range zoom category; ideal for general photography from landscapes to portraits. It is tiny and silent. The zoom ring feels great and the lock/unlock switch is easy to use. The manual focus ring feels well damped, also. View from the Electra Building, San Diego, California Overall To sum up the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL6 its point-and-shoot form factor with interchangeable-lens versatility and image quality is vastly superior to a smartphone. If I had my druthers, I would equip the E-PL6 with the pancake version of the 14-42mm lens, or go with the 17mm pancake prime and maybe the VF-1 viewfinder for a completely compact companion. Flying east I think this camera will appeal to a variety of customers. If you are getting into digital photography and want an interchangeable-lens camera, the E-PL6 is a great entry point, as it offers great image quality while allowing the acquisition of some sparkling Micro Four Thirds lenses for your collection as you grow as a photographer. If you already have a battery of Micro Four Thirds lenses and a body or two, you can easily add the E-PL6 to your lineup as a great option for traveling light when you know you want a machine adept at getting better-quality images than your smartphone, but want something that can be tucked into a pocket or purse. The Olympus PEN Lite E-PL6 simply gives the photographer point-and-shoot portability with interchangeable lens flexibility and capability.OLYMPUSPEN Lite E-PL6 Interchangeable Lens Camera: Box contents: BLS-5 lithium ion battery, BCS-5 lithium ion battery charger, FL-LM1 flash, MCG-4 camera grip, USB cable, AV cable, shoulder strap, software CD-ROM Olympus Viewer 3, warranty card and instruction manual Other contents differ depending on the kit.
Findgreat deals on eBay for olympus pen e-pl6. Shop with confidence. Skip to main content. Shop by category. Shop by category Olympus PEN LITE E-PL6 16MP 14-42mm Lens Set Black [Exc+++] w/8GB SD Card [774] Pre-Owned. C $421.55. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller. Buy It Now. Free shipping.
olympus pen lite e pl6
