If you're left wanting more from your compact camera, then maybe it's time to step up. The new E-PL1 from Olympus isn't a compact, or a DSLR. It's a combination of the two. And, as part of Olympus's PEN range of cameras, it looks absolutely stunning and sports like-no-other build quality. Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the world of Micro Four Thirds - your next photographic step.
Introducing....the Olympus E-PL1
The latest in Olympus's PEN range, the E-PL1 cuts the same fine dash of its older siblings, but comes in an even more compact size. Sporting a 12.1-megapixel sensor for super-sharp snaps, this new baby PEN isn't short on features. Like its siblings you'll find all the controls you need to take superior shots, but unlike its siblings the E-PL1 also sports a built-in flash.
It isn't just still images which get the quality treatment either. Record up to seven minutes (at a time) of HD video and thanks to an HDMI output, you don't need to transfer it via your computer, just plug the PEN straight into your HDTV when you want to play back your footage.
What's in the package?
The E-PL1 packs a lot into its diminutive package. Although bigger than a compact, the camera is still substantially smaller than a DSLR, yet offers much of the same functionality.
The range of settings and scene modes is vast and you can happily shoot away in auto mode, to get great quality pictures, or let your creative juices flow and tweak pretty much every setting you'd like. White balance, ISO and auto focus can all be tweaked and, like a good DSLR you can give the aperture, or the shutter, priority when shooting.
Live Guide lets you preview effects such as filters, colour intensity and blur on the PEN's 2.7-inch screen. It’s also an effective way for those new to advanced camera settings to see how aperture and shutter changes affect the end result.
The E-PL1 includes six in-camera art filters, including a new filter called Gentle Sepia, which infuses a soft warm sepia cast similar to historical images. These can be applied to both movie and still images.
Dig further into the menu and you'll find an even broader range of settings which you can tweak to create the perfect image. The E-P1, the first of the digital PEN cameras, was so versatile, it didn't even come with a flash. The E-PL1 does though, offering a neat pop-up unit to help low-light shooting - great for grabbing quick snaps at parties, when you want the convenience of a compact.
Adding accessories is a cinch too, thanks to the hot-shoe up top which can take an additional flash if you need to get the light just right or an electronic viewfinder for extra steady shots. The hot-shoe will also take an accessory microphone, so you can get better sound when shooting hi-def video.
Normally found in it's high-end DSLRs, Olympus has also packed in its smart Supersonic Wave Filter which vibrates to remove dust and dirt that can typically build up on the camera's sensor. This makes sure your shots stay clean, crisp and noise-free.
What's in a name?
The original Olympus PEN, launched in 1959, got its name because of its size - it was the smallest 35mm camera of the time and was said to be as portable as a pen. Hence the moniker. Today, Olympus's growing range of digital PEN cameras take the same classic styling of their forefathers and combine it with the original ethos - to get great functionality into a tiny package. The build quality in the PEN range is second to none too and picking one up is enough to make you want to own one.
This latest model also sports some new colours including champagne and red alongside the conventional black and white.
Olympus say the camera "isn't a compact, isn't a DSLR, it's a PEN". They've got the size down thanks to using mirrorless technology which helps to reduce the overall bulk typical in a camera with this much functionality.
Micro Four Thirds isn't some odd fraction either but a description of the camera's aspect ratio (4:3). Remember your old, pre-widescreen, 4:3 TV? Well the PEN's sensor is the same shape as an old style telly. It's also about 30 per cent smaller than a sensor in a digital SLR, but about 8-9 times bigger than a typical compact sensor.
Micro Four Thirds might be a new category of camera (introduced by Olympus and Panasonic) but the PEN range is already creating a revolution amongst those looking to get more from their cameras. And it looks simply stunning.
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