Olympus unveils PEN E-PL1 camera
If you’re in the market for a digital Single Lens Reflex (dSLR)-quality camera but don’t want to weigh down your wallet or neck, Olympus today has launched its third-generation PEN camera and it might be exactly what you’re looking for.
For $649.99 (including a 14-42mm zoom lens), the Olympus PEN E-PL1 is a relatively compact “micro four-thirds” camera that does away with a dSLR’s mirror and prism yet still delivers quality photos and support for interchangeable lenses.
The retro-looking 12.3-megapixel camera also features a number of staples found in pricier dSLRs, including 19 scene modes (or iAuto mode for the camera to figure it out), face detection, in-camera panoramic stitching, fun art filters, a pop-up flash and a Live View-enabled LCD to see what you’re shooting (there is no viewfinder).
In fact, the 2.7-inch LCD can also help novice camera users with on-screen options to enhance photos — such as tooling with colour, brightness, softness, and so on — and you see the effect before you even snap the photo. So now you can learn about things like white balance, f-stops and shutter speed in plain English. In fact, you can also add effects (like sepiatone) using the display before the photo is taken.
The PEN E-PL1 also lets you shoot in HD video (720p) via a dedicated red “Record” button and offers the option to snap stills while recording, too.
The E-PL1′s large-size sensor is the same one used in Olympus’ E-30 and E-620 dSLR models, which is roughly eight times larger than the average point-and-shoot camera sensor.
We look forward to getting our hands on this camera, so stay tuned to Sync for a hands-on review.
wow, is this camera available in Canada yet?It sounds like a lot of good pictures and a lot of fun to use.