My E-P2 has developed a critical error with its internal body image stabilization system, or IBIS. The screen on the back of my E-P2 displays a red IS1, indicating that image stabilization won’t work. The rest of the camera still works; it still takes properly exposed photographs. But the ability to take photographs hand-held in low light are severly compromized.

I have kept my E-P2 because it represented the second interation of a game-changing camera from Olympus. The first micro four thirds camera Olympus released was the E-P1. The E-P2 added an electronic port to the hotshoe so that external devices could be added to the camera, such as a top-level viewfinder. None of the electronic Pens came with a built-in viewfinder until the release of the Pen F, at which the port was dropped.

I purchased this camera Christmas of 2009 (I did a lot of camera purchases around Christmas to take advantage of the sales). It’s worked solidly ever since, and would still come out to work after having been left on the shelf over the past four years. I still enjoy the charm of the camera as much as I did when I first saw it, and later purchased it. It came with a 12MP sensor, which when I compared it to my E-3’s 10MP sensor via DXO, was every bit as good as the E-3’s sensor. Even today when held up against the Pen F’s 20MP sensor, the E-P2 still holds its own.

I won’t send it in for repair as I don’t even know if the repair centers are still in business and the cost of repair would be prohibitive. I mean, it’s a thirteen year old camera now; would they even have the parts to fix it?

This is one of many photos I took with the camera, back in 2010. I’d found this injured pigeon while out of my office for a walk. I’m certain it injured itself when it flew into the glass on the office building complex in which I worked at the time. This photo was taken with the E-P2 and the m.Zuiko 17mm/2.8. I remember holding the camera down to the pigeon’s level on the ground and glancing down at the non-tilting screen to compose the image as best I could. The E-P2’s autofocus did the rest. I didn’t realize it at the time but that 17mm was probably my favorite of all the pancake lenses. That’s why I bought, and hang onto, the Panasonic Lumix 14mm/2.5 pancake.

I will return the E-P2 to its place of honor in my cabinet, and I still intend to take it down and use it until it won’t even produce photographs. When that day comes I’ll still keep it.