New Olympus PEN E-P5 z z z z !

One week ago Olympus launched their new PEN E-P5, superceding their two year old E-P3.

Because the number four and any of its multiples are considered a BAD OMEN in Japan ( even knifes, forks and bowls are never ever sold in packages of four). there are no E-P4.

This is the "new" E-P5, you can have it in black, silver or white. This is the white version.

Look familiar? It's basic shape is like the first generation PEN, the E-P1; which is 4 years old.

Mind you, the E-P5 is a good looking camera, front on; it remind you of the classical PEN F, the half-frame 35 mm single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras with interchangeable lenses produced by Olympus of Japan between 1963-1970.

You will notice some adoption of the unashamedly retro-styling of the classic PEN F of yesteryear.  FIVE DECADES on, I find it ironic that the very compact PEN F features an incredible porro prism viewfinder and the PEN wannabe, the new E-P5 have none!

Do you want eye level view? The black E-P5 with the 2.4M dot, VF-4 electronic viewfinder.  Like all external EVF, it increase the camera's height; not to mention it stick out like a sore thumb!

 Side by side with the OM-D E-M5 (and the tiny flash), the E-P5 (with finder) is as tall; defeating the PEN concept of compactness!!

Without the tiny flash, the OM-D E-M5 is actually slightly more compact than the EVF totting E-P5!

E-P5 fan boy point out that the versatile VF-4 EVF can tilt at different position for better viewing!

Why anyone want to increase the camera's bulk with an EVF, when you can get the same view with the movable LCD screen; just like the OM-D.

The E-P5 in many ways is like a slightly different E-P3 body with the innards of an OM-D E-M5, plus a few extra features like Wi-Fi; focus peaking and a 1/8,000 top shutter speed.

Like thousands of OM-D E-M5 owners would I buy an E-P5?

No, but...

Mind you, the E-P5 seems to be a great camera, but I really cannot find a good logical reason why anyone would...

a) Choose E-P5 instead of E-M5 when both basically has the same innards. When  the OM-D is weather sealed, with built in EVF and able to attach a marvellous battery grip for better handling.

b) Owner of E-M5 looking to buy the E-P5 as a compact backup body. For that purpose, the E-PL5 is much cheaper; it makes no sense to invest as much as a new E-M5 just for backing up your OM-D!

No doubt the built in Wi-Fi , 1/8000 shutter speed and the ability to focus peak are great features, but not enough to pick this camera above the other choices, I would rather wait for the replacement of my OM-D!