Olympus PEN E-P1
Posted by Matthew Wronka at Tue Jun 16 12:00:00 2009
The PEN E-P1 joins Panasonic's Lumix DMC-G1 as Olympus has released its first Micro-Four-Thirds camera. With the name and bodies both bearing similarity to Olympus Pen series of small film cameras, Olympus' initial venture in to Micro Four Thirds is decidedly different than Panasonic's mini-SLR format. The 12MP Olympus camera has Olympus sensor-shift stabilisation and can shoot at 3fps. Olympus is also releasing two new lenses which look like they belong naturally on this small camera, a 14-42mm (28-84mm equivalent; f3.5-5.6) and a very tiny 17mm f2.8 (34mm equivalent). Lenses for the Micro Four Thirds system are compatible between both Panasonic and Olympus cameras, and perhaps portending more serious, high-end ambitions (not that the PEN E-P1 is a low-end camera), Olympus is also releasing lens adapters for both its Four Thirds E-mount and manual-focus OM-mount. At $750, the camera does not come with an optical viewfinder; although one is available as an add-on, most users will be fine composing through the LCD and keeping size down.