Olympus have just launched the Olympus E-PL1, a new, affordable Micro Four Thirds camera with a built-in flash, sensor-shift image stabilisation and one-touch HD video recording. Sporting a stabilised 12.3-megapixel LiveMOS sensor, the Olympus E-PL1 weighs in at only 296 grams without a lens, battery or memory card. Speaking of which, the Olympus E-PL1 is compatible with SD and SDHC cards, just like the existing Micro Four Thirds offerings from Olympus and Panasonic. Other highlights include a Supersonic Wave Filter for automated sensor cleaning, a sensitivity range of ISO 100-3200, 3fps continuous shooting for up to 10 raw images, HDMI and USB 2.0 connectivity, and auto gradation adjustment to prevent blown highlights and blocked-in shadows. The Olympus E-PL1 also features an easy-to-understand, non-technical Live Guide with simple direct control over key image effects. Available from March 2010 at a retail price of £549 for a single lens kit and £699 for a twin zoom kit, the Olympus E-PL1 is the most affordable Micro Four Thirds camera from Olympus to date.

Olympus Press Release

Olympus E-PL1 - Stunning Stills, Magical Movies, Quintessential Quality

London, 3 February 2010 – In today’s world you’ve got to give the people what they want. And they’re going to want the new Olympus E-PL1. Not only does it deliver extraordinary digital images, it’s the perfect tool for anyone who hesitated to buy SLRs because they find them too complicated. The possibilities are virtually endless with this easy to use retro look model. With great features like HD movie shooting and impressive Art Filters, you too can take exceptional pictures. Its 100% stabilised body even lets you shoot blur-free with all lenses. Combining SLR performance and a lightweight design, PEN lets you create exciting, innovative shots, preserving those moments in life you want captured forever. The ultimate democratising force in quality photography, the E-PL1 is available from March 2010 at a retail price of just £549 for the single lens kit and £699 for the twin zoom kit.

The high-tech mirrorless construction of the PEN means it’s small and easy to use, yet it produces ‘big camera’ results. That’s the genius of the E-PL1, now fine-tuned with these new features:

Easy to understand, non-technical Live Guide with simple direct control over key image effects
Direct one touch video button
Convenient integrated flash
4 bold colours to choose from: black, white, champagne, red
6 intriguing Art Filters for stills and movies
E-PL1 plus 14-42 Single Zoom kit £549
E-PL1 plus 14-42 plus MMF-1 E System adapter and 40-150 E-TeleZoom (total range 28-300mm equivalent) £699

Rewriting the rulebook
A hybrid of SLR performance embodying the latest technologies and compact comfort, PEN constitutes a new class of camera. The E-PL1 with integrated flash houses a 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS sensor, producing beautiful, razor-sharp photos and HD movies, and the TruePic V engine guarantees superior image quality at up to ISO 3200. Mechanical in-camera image stabilisation provides shake protection of up to 3 EV, effective regardless which lens you decide to use. The high definition AVI format movie option is available at 30fps and 1280x720p resolution – recording up to 7 minutes of film in a single shot. And all this top drawer technology comes in a neat pocket-sized camera.

Helping you take your best photos the new Live Guide speaks plain language, making it easier than ever to change difficult SLR camera effects like depth of field. These can then be monitored on the 2.7” HyperCrystal LCD. i-Enhance, for example, makes sure all colours in your picture spectrum are vivid and rich. It is automatically applied in conjunction with
i-Auto mode, which recognises what kind of scene or subject you’re taking and adjusts settings accordingly, or can be used alone. And e-Portrait gives your subjects a quick facelift by glossing over impurities. With the abundance of supportive features and excellent technology, feeling like a pro is a given.

Draw your own creative conclusions
Whether in the form of a high quality movie or an image, the Olympus
E-PL1 helps you capture the outside world while setting free the imaginative world within. Select from a range of six Art Filters to compose your own creative images or HD films: for instance Pop Art lets you warp it like Warhol, and the new Gentle Sepia gives images a touch of class. Use AF tracking to focus shots on one moving subject or do something with your movies normal camcorders won’t allow: play with depth of field and angle of view for atmospheric movie shooting and snap in high resolution during shoots for spontaneous stills. Further widening the expressive spectrum of options is the Micro Four Thirds system. It facilitates a range of interchangeable lenses and can be extended through the use of adapters. Brand new are the ultra-wide angle M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 (18-36mm*) and M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-150mm F4.0-5.6 (28-300mm*) zoom lenses. These ultra-light lenses are 50 and 70% smaller (compared to the 18-180mm volume) than their Four Thirds cousins and achieve less noise as well as greater AF speeds. Ideally suited to the PEN body, they capture unique pictures and movies without weighing down your bag. They will be available in late April and late May.

The accessory port offers even more imaging alternatives, such as attaching the VF-2 electronic viewfinder or Microphone Adapter Set, which is ideal to record high quality stereo sound in movies. When the work is done, relax and admire your handiwork from the sofa with a remote by connecting your camera to your TV via HDMI.

Fun camera, serious results
The E-PL1 is a quintessentially inclusive photographic tool: making it easier even for beginners to join the big leagues of quality movie and photo shooting. Available in March 2010, you can pick up your PEN in a choice of four colours for a recommended retail price of €599.

The Olympus PEN E-PL1 – main features:
Small & stylish design
Extremely small and light-weight Micro Four Thirds System
Stylish design with metal finish
Four colours

SLR image quality
12.3 Megapixel Live MOS Sensor
TruePic V image processor
Built-in IS with max. 3 EV steps efficiency
Adapter for all ZUIKO DIGITAL & OM lenses

Easy operation
New developed GUI for easiest operation via Live Control
Live Guide
Automatic recognition of common scenes possible with i-Auto
i-Enhance function to boost colours
Clear skin with e-Portrait
AF Tracking
Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology
25 shooting modes (5 exposure modes, i-Auto mode, 19 scene modes)

Creativity & HD Movie
HD Movie with sound, depth of field and Art Filters
6 Art Filters, Multi-Aspect ratios
Multi Exposure function
Art Filters can be applied to previously taken RAW images in the camera and with Olympus software
Enhanced creativity with special lenses e.g. fisheye is available via Four Thirds lens adapter

Additional features of the Olympus PEN:
Integrated flash
HDMI TV interface
Linear PCM sound recording
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface
3fps with sequential shooting (max. 10 in RAW mode)
ISO 100-3200
Bracketing functions for white balance and exposure
Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction system
Wide dynamic range in highly lit areas
Simultaneous writing of RAW and JPEG
SD memory card (SDHC compatible)
High-speed data writing and lossless RAW compression
Large 6.9cm/2.7” HyperCrystal LCD
AE/AF lock functionality
Auto gradation adjustment to prevent blown highlights and
blocked-in shadows
Remote release possible via the optional remote cable RM-UC1

The Olympus PEN E-PL1 is available in the following configurations:
E-PL1 Kit in: black/black, champagne/silver, white/silver, red/black
(E-PL1 body & M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6)
E-PL1 Double Lens Kit in: black/black/black, white/silver/black, champagne/silver/black
(E-PL1 body & M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 &
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150 mm 1:4.0-5.6 & MMF-2)
E-PL1 Body in: black, white and champagne

New accessories:
PT-EP01 underwater case
M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 ultra-wide angle zoom (late April)
M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-150mm F4.0-5.6 wide-angle to telephoto zoom (late May)

* 35mm equivalent

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