It’s been about a week since I switched from my Nikon D7000 and 18-55mm lens to my super compact Olympus Pen Lite e-pl7 and I’m pretty happy with the results. Obviously, the trade offs between a DSLR and a point and shoot digital camera really do depend on what type of shooting you’re trying to do, but for daily use I’m really enjoying the Olympus.
The Good
First of all, the Olympus is great for capturing moments with little to no fuss. There have been so many times where I’ve used my D7000 and come away annoyed because I should have used a different setting or set the ISO higher, etc. When you’re trying to snap a quick picture, those annoyances can cost you the shot or just be a bit of a time sink. The large touch screen of the Olympus makes it super easy to see what you’re shooting and make sure it’s in focus.
Another great quality of a point and shoot digital camera is the portability of them. The Olympus isn’t the smallest digital camera out there, but it does fit in the pocket of my Lucy & Yak jacket easily. Plus, it’s incredibly lightweight compared to my DSLR! Chucking the camera in my bag when I head out doesn’t take much thought at all, meaning I’m more likely to shoot on the go.
The quality of the pictures really are nice. The 14-42mm lens with the Olympus offer a nice range, and the 3.5-5.6 aperature allows for lovely depth of field. Editing the photos didn’t take much time at all, either.
The Bad
Okay, my main gripe with the Olympus is the fact that the flip touch screen flips down rather than up. When I bought this camera years ago I had intended to use it for vlogging, however the flip down screen means you can’t mount the camera to a tripod and use the touch screen as a monitor. It’s pretty annoying, I’ll be honest. It’s not the worst for taking selfies, but it isn’t ideal.
Another downside to the Olympus versus the D7000 is the quality of the photos. Don’t get me wrong, the Olympus does take pretty good photos! They just aren’t quite the same quality as I’m used to getting with a DSLR. I think it ultimately comes down to the richness, but a little bit of editing can bring some of that back to the photos.
The Conclusion
So, after a week using my Olympus digital camera, will I continue using it? Yeah, absolutely. It’s very handy and is super easy to use. Will I take it with me when I travel to Vegas next month? Yep! Since the Olympus is so compact, it’s a good option to take to concerts and sporting events because it likely falls within the permitted camera policies of most venues. Plus, as someone who has traveled with a heavy D7000, I think my neck will thank me for it in the long run!
