channelnewsasia.com - Olympus PEN E-P1 PEN mightier than the SLR
   
 
  blogs  
 
yournews
   
   
Video Finance Lifestyle Travel Weather Discussion TV Shows
CNA Live    | About Us 
 
  Home ›
 
Technology Features
Smaller Text Size Larger Text Size

 
 

Olympus PEN E-P1: PEN mightier than the SLR
By Trevor Tan, TODAY | Posted: 19 June 2009 1123 hrs

 
 
Photos  of

   
 

My personal search for that elusive digital rangefinder might finally end with the Olympus PEN E-P1. The bad news is: I just bought a digital compact camera.

Adopting the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) System means the E-P1 is an interchangeable lens digital camera that’s compact in size, as it does not need a quick-return mirror like those in SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras.

Its metallic nostalgically-designed lightweight body (335g without battery and lens) stores a 12.3-megapixel Live MOS image sensor and a new TruePic V image processor that’s able to shoot pictures and 720p high-definition videos using the three-inch LCD.

While it might not have an optical viewfinder, it has something I have been looking for - a hot shoe viewfinder in VF-1, which can be used to complement its 17mm (34mm of 35mm equivalent due to sensor’s 2x crop factor) pancake lens.

The E-P1 supports MFT mount lens, and Four Thirds lens via the MMF-1 adapter. It even supports old OM system SLR lens with the MF-2 adapter.

At the local launch, I played with the camera and found that the buttons and dials were all at the right places, with the design reminiscent of the classic Olympus PEN half-frame film camera. The built is sturdy and offers a firm grip.

The Olympus PEN E-P1 will be available in white and silver by next month at S$1,298 (body with 14-42mm lens) and $1,488 (body with 17mm pancake lens).

Does anyone want to buy my digital compact camera?
-
TODAY/yb

 

 
Bookmark and Share



Other technology News
Google gives Gmail social-networking "Buzz"
Gamer to pay Nintendo fine for illegal upload
Intel, IBM roll out new chips for computer networks
Google warns Chinese copycat website
US publishers smile again as Kindle's rivals emerge
Facebook marks sixth birthday with new home page
Hackers rigging blogs, email, websites: Websense
US justice department opposes Google book deal
S'pore firm brings on the JooJoo
Nexus One gets touch and 3G capabilities
SKorea, Japan have world's fastest Internet links: survey
iPad is a Chinese clone, or maybe Japanese
A Dext-erous way to blur the boundaries
Twitter to hold 'Chirp,' first conference for developers
Google courts smartphone game makers

 

 
Affiliate Sites:
 
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  Advertise with Us  |  Terms & Conditions