Olympus PEN E-P2 gets reviewed and starts shipping out

We’ve already expressed our opinion on the PEN E-P2‘s price point (hint: it’s not positive), but for those with more cash than problems to throw blank checks at, Olympus’ second-ever Micro Four Thirds camera is now on sale and shipping from a wide variety of respected e-tailers. Just in time for the holidays, don’tcha know? If you’re still wondering if $1,099.99 is worth blowing on this, The Online Photographer has published an hands-on critique, complete with a few luscious sample shots and interesting gripes about the viewfinder. Make no mistake — the image quality looks fabulous, but man, that MSRP. It’s large.

Olympus PEN E-P2 gets reviewed and starts shipping out originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus’ $1,100 PEN E-P2 up for pre-order, played with early

Olympus’ PEN E-P2 is destined to be a fine product, we’re sure. What we aren’t sure of, however, is how exactly the company came up with the nearly laughable MSRP. The second-ever Micro Four Thirds offering from the outfit is up for pre-order right now at Amazon, though the $1,099.99 asking price is just far too lofty for us to recommend snagging a place in line. That said, you’re still probably interested in learning more about the device, so we’ll be pointing you in Gadling‘s direction for that; the crew over at our favorite travel blog managed to snag one of these buggers early, and exterior color aside, we’re told that it looks practically “identical to the E-P1.” Hit up the links below for a closer look — just keep your credit card far, far away until we see a full review.

[Thanks, Misael]

Olympus’ $1,100 PEN E-P2 up for pre-order, played with early originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leica X1 photo gallery proves that big shots do come in little packages

For those who’ve never really understood the mystique and allure surrounding Leica‘s retro-styled cameras (and their stratospheric price tags), here’s a gallery of shots that might just lend a little insight into the fixation. The outfit’s X1 was announced back in September, though initial shipments aren’t expected to begin across the pond until early 2010. That said, the shutterbugs over at dpreview managed to procure one ahead of time, and they’ve hosted up a cornucopia of sample images from the currently unpriced compact. Go on and give that read link a look if your interest in piqued — we’re guessing you’ll come away wishing your SD200 could produce similar results.

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Leica X1 photo gallery proves that big shots do come in little packages originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon EOS 7D firmware update cures ‘residual image’ phenomenon

Say what you will, but Canon‘s customer service / engineering department definitely looks out for consumers willing to spend just under two large on a new body. Merely days after the outfit made public that a “residual image phenomenon” was negatively impacting EOS 7D images under certain conditions, it has now published a firmware update to wipe all of those woes away. Firmware v1.1.0 specifically “corrects a phenomenon that in images captured by continuous shooting, and under certain conditions, barely noticeable traces of the immediately preceding frame may be visible.” Hit the read link if you’re looking to put said phenomenon to bed. Or don’t. We don’t care.

[Via CNET]

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Canon EOS 7D firmware update cures ‘residual image’ phenomenon originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus E-P2 leaks out again, brings along lofty price tag

We heard way back in August that an E-P2 could be on tap for a late 2009 release, and while it doesn’t appear that the actual ship date will happen before next year, we’d be shocked if Olympus didn’t come clean with its second Micro Four Thirds camera here soon. We’ve seen leak after leak after leak, and now we’re staring at what appears to be a few press images of the not-yet-released camera. Reportedly, the 12.1 megapixel shooter will feature AF tracking, an electronic viewfinder, a black color option, 3fps shooting and a 720p movie mode. Nothing earth-shattering, but an appreciated update nonetheless. We’re told that it’ll be available across the pond in January for the mildly stunning price of £849 ($1,406), but at least that sum includes a 14-42mm lens. Or so they say.

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Olympus E-P2 leaks out again, brings along lofty price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 scores mixed reception

By now you should be thoroughly familiar with Sony’s Party-shot-loving and almost unreasonably svelte TX1 compact shooter. Its headline features — 720p movie mode and better low light performance courtesy of the Exmor R sensor — have now been put to the test and we’re here with the scorecard ready to spill the results. Reassuringly, all reviewers found image quality to be excellent for the camera’s size class, and the TX1 even outperformed its peers by keeping noise comfortably in check all the way up to ISO 800. A 1cm (or 0.4-inches for you heretics) Macro mode was another highlight, though criticisms did rain down on issues of lens distortion, a fiddly touchscreen menu that was too prone to accidental activation, and an uncompetitive price point. Of course, your biggest draw here might still be the optional (and spendy) party dock, but the thorough reviews below at least give you the chance to pretend like you’re buying this camera for the image quality alone.

Read – Photography Blog review
Read – Wired review
Read – Imaging Resource review
Read – Electric Pig review

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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 scores mixed reception originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus E-P2 leaked in the most insignificant of ways

Olympus’ E-P1 micro four thirds camera only hit the market a few months ago, but already it seems as if a successor is inching closer to release. A peek at the outfit’s official Chinese website shows a panel and link for a “new” E-P2 camera, though it seems as if the page it’s listed on isn’t quite complete. Still, we’re guessing there’s a reason of some sort it’s listed, but we’re still struggling to find the patience required to see this whole thing through.

[Via 4/3Rumors]

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Olympus E-P2 leaked in the most insignificant of ways originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon’s EOS 7D experiencing ‘residual image’ phenomenon, fix is on the way

Canon’s $1,900 EOS 7D DSLR just started shipping a month ago to pros and those who’d like to be, and already the thing is causing all sorts of fits when shooting continuously. In a service notice posted today on the outfit’s website, we’re told that images “captured by continuous shooting and under certain conditions [can exhibit] barely noticeable traces of the immediately preceding frame.” The phenomenon isn’t apt to be noticeable with optimal exposure, but apparently a number of Photoshoppers have been irked by the additional (and unwelcome) elements added to their shots. Canon assures us that a firmware fix is on the way, and you can bet we’ll point you to a download link as soon as it hits.

[Via DPReview]

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Canon’s EOS 7D experiencing ‘residual image’ phenomenon, fix is on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pentax’s entry-level K-x DSLR receives glowing review

Pentax’s K-x has been shipping in various corners of the globe (in various hues) for a hot minute now, but at long last the entry-level DSLR has found itself on the test bench. The good folks over at Tech Radar were able to take the $650 shooter for a spin, and with few exceptions, they absolutely adored it. Image quality was deemed fantastic, and without qualification, that’s easily the most important aspect of a camera. Critics also appreciated the build quality, rear LCD and ergonomics, though they did note that the 720p movie mode was “hit and miss.” They found it to be a good fit for novices and amateurs, and while they did feel that it was somewhat less comfortable to wield than Nikon’s D5000, they still maintained that it’ll be a great bargain when the street price falls just a bit. Tap the read link for the full skinny — but only if you feel compelled.

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Pentax’s entry-level K-x DSLR receives glowing review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pentax’s limited edition Korejanai K-x DSLR reminds us of Harlequin VW Golf

You Yanks won’t be getting your paws around this without a buddy in Japan ready and willing to ship it your way, but those camped out in the Land of the Rising Sun can soon jockey for an opportunity to grab the most colorful Pentax K-x DSLR of all time. The Korejanai K-x — which was engineered by the same folks behind the ‘Self Destruct Button‘ USB hub — looks as if it had all of its panels painted a different hue, and as diehard lovers of the iconic 1996 Volkswagen Harlequin Golf, we can’t help but drool here. Only 100 of these will be sold, and it’ll be bundled with a matching Korejanai Robot Model. Of course, the camera itself is identical to the standard version save for the paint job, but somehow we’re guessing you’ll appreciate this one just a wee bit more. It’s set to sell for ¥79,800 (around $880), with orders being accepted starting at 10AM JST on November 2nd. Best set your alarms, kids!

[Via Image-Acquire]

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Pentax’s limited edition Korejanai K-x DSLR reminds us of Harlequin VW Golf originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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