This is intended to be a brief compendium of basic facts about Olympus Pen E cameras. First, a table, in chronological order, showing the three Pen E lines together:

Table abbreviations: T/S = Tilt/Swivel, F = Internal Flash.

As much a precision instrument as a piece of art, with a retro design remindful of the original Pens of 1970's: a well-crafted metal body, just 121 mm across, and weighing about a pound (452 g) with battery and 17 mm lens.

On the other hand, most of the internals were taken from Olympus SLRs (E-620): in-body image stabilization, great engine, focal-plane shutter, anti-dust system, you name it. All this on a compact.

There was a glaring omission, however: no eye-level viewfinder. For many, a deal-breaker: using the monitor outdoors is often impossible. Not difficult, not frustrating — just impossible. While Olympus was offering a clip-on optical finder, it was only for a single focal length (17 mm); no etched frames or zooming.

Personally, I decided to wait this one out.

See also my more detailed E-P1 write-up.

In spite of the mixed reception, Olympus succeeded in changing the market: the camera was selling quite well (in spite of the $800 kit price), and in Japan it became a hit. Still, within five months Olympus followed with an update: the E-P2.

For many, myself included, the E-P2 was "E-P1 done right". The only major change was a new accessory port underneath the hot shoe. It was used for an eye-level electronic viewfinder.

The finder, VF-2, had the same 600×800 pixel resolution (1.44M dots) as finders used by Panasonic. but it was based on a display unit developed by Epson and released only after the E-P1.

With the 0.58× (effective) magnification the view matched that in the E-3, being larger than in most Four Thirds or APS-C SLRs.

This way the Pen became a fully useful camera, capable of taking on the SLR competition. Now the problem was with μFT lenses — Olympus had only two: the 14-42/3.5-5.6 zoom and the 17/2.8 "Pancake", so partnership with Panasonic was vital. But that's another story.

It took Olympus a year and a half to come up with the next E-P camera. In the meantime they were working on the lower segment of the market (the E-PL models, see below).

The E-P3 shows a number of changes. While the size and weight remain almost the same, the styling differs (I preferred the old one). A pop-up flash has been added, also an AF-assist lamp and a removable hand grip. Most importantly, the monitor resolution has increased by 63% (linear).

The controls have been re-worked. More buttons in the back, some re-assignable. Oh, and a touch screen option.

The biggest internal change was the (claimed) improved AF.

The E-P3 doubles the high ISO setting of E-P2, but keeps the pixel count of 12 MP. This was the main reason of complaints on the Web. Those were largely unjustified: unless we use a really good lens, more does not really matter.

Generally, I remember liking this camera (except for the buttons in the back), but somehow there was nothing special about it.

In 2013, the E-P5 became the top dog of the Pen family, replacing the E-P3 (there was no E-P4, as the number four is considered unlucky in Japan).

It is 2017 now, four years since the E-P5 release. The camera did not really age: the specs and performance remain relevant; as good as they were then. Still, In those four years Olympus did not update this model.

Disagree with me if you wish, but I believe this is because of the Pen F of the last year. That camera, being just 4 mm wider and 3 mm taller than the E-P5, and weighing just 7 grams (1.7%) more, offers everything the E-P5 does (except for the flash), and adds a built-in viewfinder. It does not cost that much more, either.

To make the next E-P a tempting choice, it would have to shrink quite a bit and become less expensive. But then it would become the next E-PL8 of the Pen Light line!

That's a tough one. We'll see what Olympus does next.

E-PL — the "Light" Pen for the rest of us

Following the successful release of the E-P1, Olympus decided to capitalize on that, offering an "economy" version. That's how the "Pen Light" or E-PL, line was conceived.

The E-PL10, 2019 — just a new model name?

Internally, the only new feature seems to be an option to adjust the magnitude of (most) Art Filter effects.

I'd prefer to add these, if any, in postprocessing, so this is not of any real advantage. Sorry.

Olympus also says the new model uses Version VIII of their TruPic engine, but tnis does not really mean anything. For a number of obvious reasons, this cannot be TruePic VIII used in E-M1 Mk.II.

E-PM — the Pen Mini

"Now we are goin' to show you how to make'em real small!", said Olympus and went to design the Pen Mini. When they came back, they announced the release of three Pen cameras; the E-P3 (premium), E-PL3 (economy) and E-PM1 (mini, entry-level). The first two we've already discussed, but I'm mentioning them to put the Mini into time context: they were all released about the same time.

Pen F — the one and only

While this camera is not a part of the Pen E family, it is important in that context, as it competes (directly or almost so) with the family members.

And what a worthy competitor it is: for me, the most enjoyable of all Olympus μFT cameras. Not the most capable, mind it (this title goes to the E-M1 II), but most enjoyable in day-to-day use — at the same time capable enough to meet 99% of most users' needs.