Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

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Archive 2010 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

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p.1 #1 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

It's official, Olympus has announced their third Micro four thirds camera, the Pen E-PL1:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1002/10020305olypenepl1.asp

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/olympusepl1/

http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/02/02/the-olympus-pen-e-pl1-finds-a-damaged-internet-tube-leaks-everywhere/

And 9-18mm and 14-150mm lenses:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1002/10020304oly9mm18mm14mm150mm.asp

Feb 03, 2010 at 06:27 AM

sirimiri
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p.1 #2 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

Coming to you, straight out of Center Valley, Pennsylvania!!!!

Olympus of America's website said they moved there 2006.

Feb 03, 2010 at 08:15 AM

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p.1 #3 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

The lack of orientation sensor is probably the most useful feature that's missing. Bizarre that they should leave that out when it's hardly a luxury feature. Who wants to have to turn their images round the right way constantly.

Feb 03, 2010 at 08:33 AM

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p.1 #4 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

This could be of great interest to MF lens users:

"There are nice additions, though [compared to earlier PEN models]. Adding a separate magnification button offers two great benefits: not only does it make it simple to jump into and out of magnified live view when using manual focus lenses, it also resolves an inconsistency in the Olympus user interface. Until now, magnified live view was one of the live view display modes and the only one in which the function of the controls changed. By making it a separate mode that is toggled on and off using its own button, it is much more apparent that you're in a different mode, meaning it's not so much of a surprise when the OK button zooms in, rather than bringing up the function menu or Super control panel."

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/olympusepl1/page4.asp

So even if this camera makes many user settings more complicated to change (and is thus unappealing to advanced photographers), perhaps the separate magnification button will be standard in future PENs.

Edited on Feb 03, 2010 at 09:58 AM · View previous versions

Feb 03, 2010 at 09:55 AM

Navyblue
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p.1 #5 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

No new pancake lens, sigh...

Feb 03, 2010 at 09:57 AM

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p.1 #6 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

The lack of aperture/shutter wheels means I wouldn't buy it which is a shame because it has some great features I would have liked to see on the E-P1/E-P2 like the built in flash with wireless flash commander mode! and the video button.

Feb 03, 2010 at 10:01 AM

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p.1 #7 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

I guess the rumour that the E-P1 is already phased out is probably true. Essentially it is replaced by this model. Interesting to see how the E-P1, E-P2 and the new E-PL1 stack up feature wise. This new one is certainly the least expensive-- and an entry level model (therefore no aperture/shutter wheels). Be interesting if they also re-do the E-P2 is a few months. $599 is probably the price that the E-P1 should have been at -- but with any new product, you milk the customer while you can.

Feb 03, 2010 at 12:09 PM

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p.1 #8 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

Is the lack of wheels a big drawback if I buy the new Pen to use my OM Zuikos on it most of the time?

Feb 03, 2010 at 12:32 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #9 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

I really like the fast growth of MFT but I must admit I am more exited about the collapsible 9-18 than the E-PL1. One fast tele (e.g. 100/2) is all I feel which is necessary.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Feb 03, 2010 at 12:44 PM

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p.1 #10 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

Nahhh I'll wait a couple more generations I think, let them iron out some issues. I still need a better shutter, a focus distance scale and an f2 wide. They're getting there, just need some more competition now to push them ahead.

Feb 03, 2010 at 01:03 PM

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p.1 #11 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

Meanwhile I'll play with my XSi, no brick at all already

Feb 03, 2010 at 01:05 PM

thrice
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p.1 #12 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

I'm surprised at the size of the 9-18mm, the Konica 21-35 is f/3.4-4.0 and doesn't extend while changing focal lengths (Granted it's only 21 or 35 but that's a rangefinder limitation not a lens limitation). Is it the AF mechanism that makes this lens so big? I was under the impression 4/3 was supposed to mean smaller lenses? Or is the necessity of telecentric lenses the limiting factor?

Overall nice to see a cheaper m4/3 camera released, if only to increase interest in the mirrorless interchangeable lens world... with hope of a cheaper full frame mirrorless camera I can use as a backup (to the M9) one day.

EDIT: oh my bad the 9-18 doesn't extend while zooming, it's a fixed fully extended size while shooting.

Feb 03, 2010 at 01:24 PM

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p.1 #13 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

alexandre wrote:
Is the lack of wheels a big drawback if I buy the new Pen to use my OM Zuikos on it most of the time?

Yes in Manual, no in Aperture Priority.

I'm actually kinda interested, although I'll probably just get a GF1 instead for battery compatibility as I don't want to add a third battery type to my collection. The combination of a dedicated zoom button (my most used command on the G1 it seems) and IBIS looks nice, and if I'm stuck with a 230k screen, going down to 2.7" is actually an upgrade due to the smaller, sharper, dot pitch.

Feb 03, 2010 at 02:41 PM

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p.1 #14 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

thrice wrote:
I'm surprised at the size of the 9-18mm, the Konica 21-35 is f/3.4-4.0 and doesn't extend while changing focal lengths (Granted it's only 21 or 35 but that's a rangefinder limitation not a lens limitation). Is it the AF mechanism that makes this lens so big? I was under the impression 4/3 was supposed to mean smaller lenses? Or is the necessity of telecentric lenses the limiting factor?

Overall nice to see a cheaper m4/3 camera released, if only to increase interest in the mirrorless interchangeable lens world... with hope of a cheaper full frame mirrorless camera I can use as a backup (to the M9) one day.

EDIT: oh my bad the 9-18 doesn't extend while zooming, it's a fixed fully extended size while shooting.

I'll admit I'm a little disappointed by the size growth of the 9-18, also by the price and apparent lack of a hood.

Feb 03, 2010 at 02:43 PM

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p.1 #15 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

RalphJ wrote:
"There are nice additions, though [compared to earlier PEN models]. Adding a separate magnification button offers two great benefits: not only does it make it simple to jump into and out of magnified live view when using manual focus lenses, it also resolves an inconsistency in the Olympus user interface. Until now, magnified live view was one of the live view display modes and the only one in which the function of the controls changed. By making it a separate mode that is toggled on and off using its own button, it is much more apparent that you're in a different mode, meaning it's not so much of a surprise when the OK button zooms in, rather than bringing up the function menu or Super control panel."

One step forward, but two steps back - the E-PL1 doesn't have an orientation sensor and a weaker IBIS system. At this point, it looks like the E-P1 is a much better option for those looking to use manual glass on an MFT camera. Even brand new, they're only going for $50 more than the E-PL1, and used they're around $400. On the flip side, the E-P1 doesn't have a viewfinder port.

Feb 03, 2010 at 04:35 PM

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p.1 #16 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

I posted about this yesterday and Sam Bennett kindly pointed out that this isn't so much a replacement for the E-P2 as much as a lower-market version of the PEN. I think he put it as "E-P1 Lite" which seems rather accurate.
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/863090

Feb 03, 2010 at 05:50 PM

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p.1 #17 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

That's right; the E-PL1 is not a step forward it's a step sideways. The features offered cater much better to the PS -upgrade crowd, the intended market.

I think the most important feature for me would be the wireless flash commander as I just started getting my feet wet on location flash shooting.

Does anyone know if the GF1 has this feature? I am expecting mine in the next few days via USPS!

Feb 03, 2010 at 08:26 PM

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p.1 #18 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

None of the Panasonic bodies support the wireless portion of the 4/3rds flash protocol.

Feb 04, 2010 at 03:15 AM

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p.1 #19 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

Weaker anti-aliasing might be nice.

Feb 04, 2010 at 08:29 AM

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p.1 #20 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

mawz wrote:
thrice wrote:
I'm surprised at the size of the 9-18mm, the Konica 21-35 is f/3.4-4.0 and doesn't extend while changing focal lengths (Granted it's only 21 or 35 but that's a rangefinder limitation not a lens limitation). Is it the AF mechanism that makes this lens so big? I was under the impression 4/3 was supposed to mean smaller lenses? Or is the necessity of telecentric lenses the limiting factor?

Overall nice to see a cheaper m4/3 camera released, if only to increase interest in the mirrorless interchangeable lens world... with hope of a cheaper full frame mirrorless camera I can use as a backup (to the M9) one day.

EDIT: oh my bad the 9-18 doesn't extend while zooming, it's a fixed fully extended size while shooting.

I'll admit I'm a little disappointed by the size growth of the 9-18, also by the price and apparent lack of a hood.

the 9-18 comes with a rectangular hood a la leica, just search around

Feb 04, 2010 at 09:06 AM

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p.1 #21 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

Dpreview have posted some sample photos:

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/olympusepl1/page5.asp

Feb 09, 2010 at 04:29 PM

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p.1 #22 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

This was released a bit early, it seems:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/olympus-pen-e-pl1-micro-four-thirds-camera-now-shipping-for-600/

Justin

Feb 24, 2010 at 03:47 PM

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p.1 #23 · Olympus Pen E-PL1 Announced

Dpreview have posted their E-PL1 Review:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusepl1/

May 17, 2010 at 05:19 PM


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