The Ohanaware Weblog

The Olympus EPL-1 is a superb pocket-able camera, that produces best of class photos (and even surpassing some DSLRs). Albeit it suffers from one fatal flaw that prevents it from being adopted in the field of HDR photography.

Let me start by saying that I absolutely and unconditionally love this camera, and have done since the moment I touched it. Not only is it’s image quality superb, it’s usability is great for beginners and people who know how to use a camera (I’m looking at you Sony). I was disappointed when I found this flaw, my feelings compelled me to find a way around around this problem. As I’ve spent some time with the camera, I’ve grown to love it even more and can’t bear the thought of having to give it up. However as I’ve yet to find a satisfactory solution, the bigger DSLR is seeming more like my only option.

You see the one wrinkle in this almost ideal camera, is not the Auto Focus speed (Olympus fixed that with a FREE software update), It’s the Auto Exposure Bracketing.

For HDR, you want to capture multiple images at multiple exposures, you need one image that’s normal, one that’s too dark and one that’s too light. You want to take these images as quickly as possible to minimize movement, otherwise your HDR is ruined. The Oly actually features an Auto Exposure Bracket, so what am I talking about. Two things actually. The first is that it’s maximum range is 1 stop, that might be the best of class, but it’s almost useless in HDR terms. You need at least 2 or 3 stops. The second is it’s execution, by default, it’ll only take 1 photo every time you press the shutter button, you can get around this by enabling continuous mode and holding the button down. What if you want to use a timer, forget it, it resorts back to taking one and only one shot, meaning you have come and press the button again and again. Killer.

I’ve seen and made some nice HDRs using 1 stop, but they’re lacking in the dynamic range that I can get from the older and much cheaper Panasonic LX3. In fairness the IQ of the Oly is way above the Pany, but still.

I’ve resorted to trying several things. First I tried a single RAW image exposed 3 times. It’s a double edged sword, it produces a fairly descent dynamic range with zero movement, but it’s peppered with a bucketload of noise. Noise reduction then removes detail and you’re left wondering why I don’t just stick with the lower resolution Pany LX3. I even tried Auto Bracket with RAW images, and then expanding all 3 raw images, when I showed people, they weren’t impressed and preferred the HDR from a single RAW.

Lastly I tried to find the quickest way to manually take all 3 exposures. I set the camera to Aperture Priority, I enabled manual focus, I set exposure adjustment to 1 stop per button press. And still failed to get a good HDR on a slightly breezy day. Pressing the 3 buttons between each shot was still too slow, not to mention the camera shake from pressing the button. Too bad. On a still day, it’s fine and I can use the 2 second timer to reduce camera shake. However not every day is a still day.

So in order for Olympus for make this camera an ideal walk-around/pocket-able camera that people can use for HDR, two changes need to be made. If these changes aren’t made, then people will continue to buy Nikons, Canons and Panasonic LX series for HDR, instead of choosing the more than competent and beautiful EPL-1.

1. Auto Exposure Bracket Range up to 3 stops
2. Ability to take all 3 shots in continuous mode while on a timer or using a remote.

While we’re at it, can you hurry up the 12mm Pancake lens please

If you’re reading this and would love to have a camera that you can slip into a pocket (albeit slightly larger) and still take DSLR quality photos, with the ability to make HDR photos, then please sign this letter by leaving a comment.

Tags: 12mm, AEB, Auto Exposure Bracket, Canon, DSLR, EPL-1, EVIL, Exposures, HDR, HDRI, High Dynamic Range, ILC, Interchangeable Lens Camera, LX3, m43, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon, Oly, Olympus, Panasonic, Pancake, Pany, PEN

This entry was posted on Monday, August 16th, 2010 at 7:15 pm and is filed under All Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.