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Olympus Pen E-PM1 hands-on (video)
Joining the family of Olympus Pen products is the lovingly nicknamed "PEN Mini," or E-PM1. Compared to its big brothers the PEN E-PL2 and E-PL3, this little guy packs some serious punch in a tiny body, with a similarly small price tag of $500. But can this ILC that Olympus claims offers "DSLR quality in a compact camera design" stack up against the big boys in the pit at the US Open? The 12.3 megapixel camera comes with a 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens and includes a Micro Four Thirds mount, enabling it to accept compatible lenses from both Olympus and Panasonic -- something that was really easy to get the hang of for speedy switching between sets. Check out our impressions as we go hands-on with the camera at one of the biggest tennis matches of the year. %Gallery-132239% %Gallery-132243%
Olympus PEN E-P3 Micro Four Thirds camera review
Being the gadget hounds that we are, we're still struggling to fully digest the Micro Four Thirds / interchangeable lens camera market. The performance freak in us suggests that one simply buy a smaller DSLR given the parallel annoyance of carrying around a bag full of lenses, but the mobility junkie in us does appreciate the downsizing -- however minor. Olympus' PEN line has been a beautiful one from the start, but one that found itself out of consideration for many due to the poor value proposition. Even the newest PEN E-P3 isn't a bargain; at $900 with a somewhat versatile 14-42mm lens, it's well north of most entry-level DSLRs, and on-par with many mid-rangers. So, is it really worth splurging on a slightly more compact frame, devilishly good looks and "the world's fastest autofocus system?" Read on for our take. %Gallery-130071%
Olympus PEN E-PM1 Mini gets a $500 price tag, September release date
Remember that cute little Micro Four Thirds camera that Olympus unveiled in June? Well, we just got word that the PEN E-PM1 Mini will ship next month, with an equally petite $500 price tag -- including a 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens. The company is positioning the 12.3 megapixel camera as an upgrade for point-and-shoot users, as "the easiest PEN to use," thanks to a new, simpler user interface and 23 Scene-Select modes. Still, the E-PM1 is a very capable interchangeable lens camera (ILC), and includes a 3-inch 460k-dot LCD, 1080i HD video capture, RAW shooting and a maximum sensitivity of ISO 12,800, along with Manual, Aperture Priority, and Shutter Priority shooting modes. The Mini will be available in purple, pink, brown, white, silver, and black -- our color of choice. Jump past the break for the full scoop from Olympus.
Olympus PEN E-PL3 gets a price tag, release date
Last month, Olympus lifted the veil on a trio of 12.3-megapixel Micro Four Thirds cameras, replacing both models in its PEN line and adding the small and light E-PM1. We already knew to expect an August ship date for the $900 E-P3, but now the company filled us in on its tilt-enabled E-PL3, which will be available in black, white, red, and silver when it ships in September. Priced at $700, the kit will include either a 14-42mm zoom or 17mm fixed lens, and will retail for a full c-note higher than its predecessor, the E-PL2. Olympus also announced the VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder (EVF), which will feature a 100-percent field-of-view, 90-degree rotation, and brightness and color temperature adjustments -- though it sounds like that last feature could potentially leave you with off-color images if you mistake the EVF's white balance for what the camera will capture. We're still waiting on availability for the runt of the litter, but we imagine the E-PM1 will make its stateside debut soon -- perhaps even with a price tag lower than its rather pricey, beefier siblings.
Olympus PEN E-P3, PEN E-PL3, and PEN E-PM1 hands-on
Earlier today, Olympus announced its loosely veiled PEN E-PM1 (in the image above), along with the PEN E-P3 and PEN E-PL3. Our Chinese bureau had a chance to go hands-on with the trio of Micro Four Thirds cams at an event in Hong Kong, and walked away with some fairly positive impressions. The $900 E-P3 feels solidly built, and did appear to offer excellent autofocus performance, though we weren't able to verify Olympus's rather lofty claims that the new flagship model features "the world's fastest autofocus." We were able to capture an image within a second of tapping the shutter button, including the time required to refocus on a subject. The 3-inch OLED display was sufficiently bright for outdoor use, with noticeable improvements over its predecessor, and the touchscreen was a pleasure to use, offering three straightforward shooting functions -- focus, focus and shoot, and enlarge. We'll have additional details to share after spending more time with all three models, but our hands-on photos in the gallery below should help whet your appetite in the meantime.%Gallery-127483%
Mirrorless camera shootout: DSLR alternatives get sized up and ISO-examined
It all started with Micro Four Thirds, but now just about everyone is jonesing to play along in the mirrorless camera game. The crew over at Serious Compacts managed to get ahold of quite a few contenders (Samsung's NX10, Sony's NEX5, Olympus' E-P2 and E-PL1, and Panasonic's GF1, GF2 and GH1), and rather than taking 'em apart one by one, they've decided to size 'em up in a fantastic size comparison piece. From lenses to bodies, all six cameras are shown from various angles, and even if you've convinced yourself to not be in the market for one of these bad boys, the eye candy alone is worth a peek. Furthermore, the group has been entered into a telling ISO comparison test, but if you came here looking for a spoiler, you'll be sorely disappointed. Tap those links below to get your study on, won'tcha?
Sony NEX-5 is small, really really small (video)
What started back in 2008 has become a glorious trend: stuffing DSLR-sized sensors into compact camera bodies. First it was Olympus and Panasonic with its Micro Four Thirds standard followed recently by Samsung's NX10. Now Sony is flexing its digital imaging muscle with the introduction of its own compacts sporting APS-C-sized sensors and interchangeable glass. Both CNET and LetGoDigital already have previews of the NEX-5 -- the "world's smallest and lightest interchangeable lens digital camera" according to Sony. And by the looks of that comparison shot above with Olympus' diminutive PEN E-PL1, we're guessing that's a pretty accurate assessment. CNET was particularly stoked by the "aggressively priced" pre-production NEX-5 it took for a spin. Although the camera's not without faults -- quirky UI and controls (hey, it's Sony!), inconsistent autofocus, lack of electronic viewfinder, and a general lack of manual controls -- CNET found the NEX-5 to be "fairly fast" with "really quiet" lenses for both zooming and focusing. Most importantly, it judged the photo quality and noise profile to be "really good" while producing "sharp" 1080/60i AVCHD video. Mosey on through the break for CNET's video preview of the NEX-5 and then hit up the source link for some sample photos and a good spec-by-spec comparison of the NEX-5 with its micro format competition.%Gallery-92732%
Olympus serves up autofocus update for PEN E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras
Got yourself a new PEN? If you're nodding your head furiously up and down, you owe it to yourself to take ten minutes late next week and install a minty fresh update. Olympus has today let loose a new firmware build that improves auto focus performance for still images and high-definition video recording for the PEN E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras. Better still, it enables the menu and recorded image to be displayed on the E-P2 and E-PL1 LCD while the VF-2 electronic viewfinder is in use. Unfortunately, the bits and bytes you're after won't be available to download until next Thursday (the 22nd), but till then, you can keep on using your Micro Four Thirds shooter while imagining how much better your images will be in just a few short days. Update: Hey, it's live! Go get it!
How would you change Olympus' E-PL1?
It's half retro, half compact, and chock full of adventure. It's Olympus' PEN E-PL1, and it's the first Micro Four Thirds camera from the company to boast an MSRP that you aren't terrified to tell your friends about. We've spent some quality time with one here over the past month or so, and aside from a few minor quirks, we were fairly pleased with the overall package. But let's be frank -- that's absolutely not why you're here. You're here to tell us how you'd change things if given the chance, and how you'd differentiate the E-PL1 from all those wannabes that seem to crop up every other month. Bump the megapixels? Improve the ISO performance? Offer it in neon green? The sky's the limit, and comments are the place to dream.
Olympus E-PL1 review
It seems like such a simple thing now, but it took Olympus three revisions to finally get its "Pen" Micro Four Thirds series down below (or even close to) the magical $600 mark. Lucky for us, the E-PL1 doesn't skimp on functionality, and in fact expands on the capabilities of the E-P1 and E-P2 with an integrated pop-up flash. We already rounded up some reviews from the big boys, so check out those in-depth walkthroughs if you're looking to get nerdy, but if you'd still like to hear our thoughts on this new shooter, follow along in our mini-review after the break. %Gallery-89541%
Olympus Pen E-PL1 spins up a review cycle
Olympus' E-PL1 is a camera on a mission -- it not only shrinks the entry-level price tag for Micro Four Thirds cameras to $600, it retains the same 12.3 megapixel sensor, image processor, autofocus and metering systems of its elder, the E-P1, while introducing its own advantages that even the pricier E-P2 doesn't offer (hello, integrated flash!). With a 720p movie mode, a 14-42mm kit lens, and access to the growing catalog of Micro Four Thirds glass, it really looks like a guaranteed win for the company, but it's always good to run it through a few tests to make sure. While it sports a body rather richer in plastic than its senior siblings, we're told the E-PL1 still feels robust in the hand, and its control scheme is commended for being accessible to novices and including a dedicated video recording button. Image quality is ranked, as was to be expected, right on par with the costlier models with only the more professionally inclined ISO 3200 and 1/2000th shutter speed proving limiting. Get reading for fuller impressions as well as some sample video shot with the E-PL1. Read - Photography Blog Read - Pocket-lint Read - dpreview Read - CNET Read - Imaging Resource
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Micro Four Thirds camera now shipping for $600
Next month? Psshh. For those hankering for a slice of that oh-so-tempting Micro Four Thirds pie, Olympus' new and improved PEN E-PL1 is now shipping (in blue and gold, anyway) from Amazon. If you'll recall, the company told us that it wouldn't be available until March when it launched three weeks ago, but hey, you won't find us kvetching about early availability. For those who've forgotten, this compact camera touts the same 12.3 megapixel image sensor as the E-30 and E-620, and the $599.99 asking price also nets you a 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko zoom lens. Good luck resisting. [Thanks, Ron]
Olympus intros $600 12.3 megapixel PEN E-PL1 Micro Four Thirds camera
It certainly took them long enough, but Olympus has finally (finally!) introduced a Micro Four Thirds camera with a price tag that's a little closer to earth. If you'll recall, both of the previous PENs cost upwards of $750, but the E-PL1 touts a much more reasonable MSRP of $599.99. And that doesn't mean Olympus has been stingy on features. Nope, quite the contrary as the the minuscule body is packed with the same 12.3 megapixel image sensor as the E-30 and E-620 (check the images in the gallery to see a size comparison of the actual sensors), in-body image stabilization, continuous autofocus, a 2.7-inch rear LCD, HD movie mode, in-camera "art filters" and a bundled ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 zoom lens (28-84mm equivalent in 35mm cameras). Oh and don't forget the addition of the pop-up flash which just reminds us of E.T. You won't be able to nab a E-PL1 until next month, but hit the break for some of our hands-on impressions. %Gallery-84512% %Gallery-84408%