ISO sensitivity and Noise

Olympus's colour processing gives lovely pictures straight from the camera. This is ISO 1000
Olympus’s colour processing gives lovely pictures straight from the camera. This is ISO 1000
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At its ISO 200 base, the Pen-F gives finely detailed images with little visible noise and very attractive colour rendition. Switch to the extended ‘Low’ (ISO 80) setting and the images are even cleaner, although highlights clip to white visibly sooner, so this is best used only in low contrast situations. Increase the sensitivity and while ISO 400 is still eminently usable, fine detail starts to smear at ISO 800, although colour is retained well. I’d happily shoot up to ISO 3200 for less critical work but beyond this things get marginal, and the top two settings are best avoided unless there’s no other choice.

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The 100% crops below are of our standard studio scene at each sensitivity setting, in JPEG mode, ‘Natural’ setting.

Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 80
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 80
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 200
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 200
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 400
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 400
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 800
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 800
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 1600
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 1600
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 3200
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 3200
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 6400
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 6400
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 12800
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 12800
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 25600
Olympus PEN-F, JPEG ISO 25600

Score

Score in detail

  • Features 90
  • Build/Handling 90
  • Metering 90
  • Autofocus 80
  • AWB colour 90
  • Dynamic Range 90
  • Image Quality 80
  • LCD Viewfinder 80
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