Olympus streamlines its pretty PEN E-P5

Normally a two-year product cycle isn't that much for a camera targeted at advanced photographers. But in a field where technology mutates as quickly as it does for advanced interchangeable-lens cameras, that's a long time. So at 1.5 years since the E-P3, it feels like it's taken just a little too long for the PEN E-P5's debut, especially given the relatively catch-up feature set of the new model.

Not that there's anything wrong with the updates in the E-P5; there's plenty here that probably makes it a better camera. The most noticeable is the new design, still retro but based off the PEN F film camera this time. It's quite attractive, especially in the black and silver, though it comes in the same off-white and camel and all-black of the previous model.

Olympus E-P5 delivers some welcome design tweaks (pictures)

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Much of the control layout has been changed and seems both more traditional, with front and a back dials, as well as more streamlined with increased customizability. I like most of the changes; the one notable exception is probably the shallow fixed grip. On the E-P3 you had the ability to easily replace the shallow grip with a more pronounced one.

Olympus' also takes an interesting approach to wireless connectivity, incorporating QR codes for quick Wi-Fi setup rather than NFC. When you bring up the connection on the camera it presents a QR code that you capture with the OI.Share app on your phone, and the app automatically configures the connection. It's a clever, inexpensive solution to the setup problem, as long as you only want to connect your camera to the phone.

Other important enhancements include the same AF system as the OM-D E-M5, with some more performance optimization with Four Thirds lenses (the E-P3's overall performance is pretty good, though); the same image-stabilization system and sensor as the E-M5, though hopefully with tweaked image processing; a tiltable touch screen; broader scene analysis in auto mode; and 1080/30p video. The camera also gains focus peaking and a smaller spot AF and the Photo Story feature introduced in the XZ-10 (it lets you select different aspect ratios of photos to shoot, which the camera automatically loads into a multiphoto template). Plus it offers time-lapse and intervalometer options.

Olympus also rolled out black versions of its high-quality f1.8 primes (17mm, 45mm and 75mm) and a new electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is included in a kit with the 17mm lens; it's bigger, higher-resolution, and adds an eye sensor.

Here are some of the E-P5's current competitors:

While the Sony Alpha NEX-6 isn't as eye-catching, it's cheaper and a pretty strong competitor, with a bigger sensor. Furthermore, if you're going to add the optional EVF, you might as well get the E-M5, which has the extra weather sealing and has better continuous-shooting for roughly the same body-only price.

The E-P5 looks nice and will probably be a fine camera, but unless you're buying primarily on looks it doesn't have any competitive edge that I can think of. Then again, a good-looking camera, especially one bundled with one of Olympus' better lenses, might pull it off.