Olympus E-PM1 PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Olympus PEN E-PM1? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Olympus makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the E-PM1 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Olympus PEN E-PM1 below.
In any case, the E-PM1 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This mirrorless interchangeable lens camera was announced on June 30th, 2011, which means that, as of today, the camera is 4655 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Olympus E-PM2 as a replacement in the same line of cameras.
Olympus's instruction manual for the E-PM1
The camera's instruction manual is 129 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the E-PM1 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Olympus PEN E-PM1 manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Olympus's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Olympus E-PM1 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Olympus PEN E-PM1
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your E-PM1 by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Olympus E-PM1 is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
Olympus E-PM1 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the E-PM1.
What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the Olympus E-PM1?
The camera features a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Olympus E-PM1 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Olympus equipped the E-PM1 with the TruePic VI image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Olympus E-PM1?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800.
Can the Olympus E-PM1 be equipped with an optional viewfinder?
Yes, Olympus provides the VF-2 as an accessory (here on amazon) that can be mounted on the hotshoe.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Olympus PEN E-PM1?
Olympus does not publish a shutter rating for the E-PM1. Yet, shutters in comparable cameras from other manufacturers are said to be good for at least 100 000 actuations. It should be noted, though, that this number represents a Mean Time before Failure. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust an expected shutter life of 100 000 shots over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Olympus E-PM1?
Olympus embeds the number of shutter actuations in hidden menus. You can check the number of shots that your E-PM1 has taken up to now by carefully following the steps described on the Olympus E-PM1 shutter count page.
Does the Olympus E-PM1 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Olympus E-PM1 for flash photography?
The E-PM1's flash sync speed is 1/160 sec.
Which battery does the Olympus E-PM1 use?
The camera gets its power from the Olympus BLS-5 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Further reading
How does the E-PM1 stack up against available alternatives? In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon 5DS R vs Olympus E-PM1
- Canon M3 vs Olympus E-PM1
- Fujifilm X-M1 vs Olympus E-PM1
- Fujifilm X-Pro1 vs Olympus E-PM1
- Fujifilm X-T30 vs Sony A9 II
- Leica M9 vs Olympus E-PM1
- Nikon Z50 vs Olympus E-PM1
- Nikon Z6 vs Sony A9 II
- Panasonic ZS70 vs Sony A9 II
- Sony A7 IV vs Sony A9 II
- Sony A77 vs Sony A9 II
- Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 V
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Olympus PEN E-PM1.
Camera Model | Olympus E-PM1 | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
Camera Lens | Micro Four Thirds lenses | |
Launch Date | June 2011 | |
Launch Price | USD 499 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | Four Thirds Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 17.3 x 13.0 mm | |
Sensor Area | 225 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 21.6 mm | |
Crop Factor | 2.0x | |
Sensor Resolution | 12.2 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 4 032 x 3 024 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 4.29 μm | |
Pixel Density | 5.42 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 1080/60i Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 12 800 ISO | |
Image Processor | TruePic VI | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 52 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 21.0 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 10.3 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 499 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Viewfinder optional | |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 460k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | |
Touch Input | No touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 5.5 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | |
UHS card support | no | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | |
Body Specs | ||
Battery Type | Olympus BLS-5 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 330 shots per charge | |
Body Dimensions |
110 x 64 x 34 mm (4.3 x 2.5 x 1.3 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 265 g (9.3 oz) |
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