The Olympus E-P1
The Next generation of Pen Cameras ...
A Brief history of the Olympus Pen cameras
2009 is the 50th anniversary of Olympus Pen series. Over the last 50 years olympus has produced 17 different models of cameras, and sold over 17 million cameras. The Pen series were built as half-frame cameras. The original half frame format took 35mm film but the format size for image capture equaled ½ of a 35mm film frame. With the "half-frame" camera you got twice the number of pictures per roll. Second lenses were smaller, and lighter. The "Pen" series of cameras was designed to be small enough to carry with you at all times to record your daily life. The E-P1 fulfills those requirements of its film counterpart.
Once again with the 4/3 system, and now even more so Olympus has revitalized the Pen Series. All in all the new E-P1 is the first digital changeable lens camera which is the same size as previous film cameras. Big SLR's do have a important place in the market, and I really like the top pro lenses which are part of the 4/3 system. They are really portable and convenient, like online casino to a gaming fan, or eBooks for bookworms! But for any photographer, weather shooting a high end SLR or a point and shoot camera, I believe that we all have the need to shoot portable high end cameras, and it is in this respect that the E-P1 fits the bill better than any other camera that I have seen produced to date.
By the way the lenses are called M. Zuiko.
Basic info
The E-p1 seeks to provide SLR quality images (they claim that, and from the samples I have seen better than the E-30, which is the best image quality of any 4/3 SLR to date). In body IS (which the E-420 didn't have) 3-inch LCD, SSWF (Dust filter) 12 MP sensor, HD video, with stereo audio. It will shoot 3 FPS (With no shutter lag unlike point and shoot cameras) has art filters, scene modes, and nearly every other unique technologies that Olympus has released to the market over the last few years. Really this camera promises to be a very unique product, unlike anything else on the market
Pricing in the USA
E-P1 Body +14-42m lens - $799.99
E-P1 Body + 17mm lens w/ OVF (Optical view finder) - $899.99
E-P1 Body only - $749.99
ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 M.Zuiko Zoom - $299.99
17mm f2.8 M.Zuiko Lens - $299.99
VF-1 Optical Viewfinder (17m) - $99.99
FL-14 flash - $199.99 (99.99 with instant rebate)
There will be a $100.00 instant in-store rebate offered on the FL-14 through September 09 which instantly drops the price to $99.99 at the time of purchase.
MMF-1 Four thirds Adapter - $179.99
MF-2 OM Lens Adapter - $169.99
