Micro Four-Thirds cameras have long promised to bridge the quality of DSLRs with the size of point and shoots. The Olympus PEN EP-3 is the fullest realization of the Micro Four-Thirds dream so far, even if it’s not quiiiiiiite perfect. More »
There’s no question that Canon and Nikon still dominate the interchangeable lens camera (ILC) market, but with Olympus, Panasonic, Sony, and now Pentax all launching compact, inexpensive, mirrorless models in recent years, the legacy manufacturers have some catching up to do. In an interview confirming the restoration of pre-quake production levels in Japan, Canon camera division head Masaya Maeda told Reuters that the company is “considering the technical aspects” of creating a mirrorless camera, following up by saying “we will launch an interesting product next year.” The comment doesn’t exactly make a mirrorless Canon a sure thing, but it’s as solid a commitment as we can expect for now.
One possible concern for Canon is that entry into the new ILC category would cannibalize the company’s higher-end point-and-shoot offerings, which likely offer higher margins. But if mirrorless models gain market share over traditional DSLRs and Canon doesn’t have its own cam to match, the company could find itself racing to catch up, rather than dominating the ILC category as it has done in the past. Competition from Canon isn’t likely to start a price war, since there isn’t much elasticity at this point, but it could put pressure on other manufacturers to push the limits with image quality, accessory selection, and perhaps even lead to a future lens standard — though we’re probably more likely to see a Pentax Q that can actually capture DSLR-quality images far before manufacturers decide to adopt a universal lens mount.
Canon restores camera production in Japan, hints at mirrorless model in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Earlier today, Olympus announced its loosely veiled PEN E-PM1 (in the image above), along with the PEN E-P3 and PEN E-PL3. Our Chinese bureau had a chance to go hands-on with the trio of Micro Four Thirds cams at an event in Hong Kong, and walked away with some fairly positive impressions. The $900 E-P3 feels solidly built, and did appear to offer excellent autofocus performance, though we weren’t able to verify Olympus’s rather lofty claims that the new flagship model features “the world’s fastest autofocus.” We were able to capture an image within a second of tapping the shutter button, including the time required to refocus on a subject. The 3-inch OLED display was sufficiently bright for outdoor use, with noticeable improvements over its predecessor, and the touchscreen was a pleasure to use, offering three straightforward shooting functions — focus, focus and shoot, and enlarge. We’ll have additional details to share after spending more time with all three models, but our hands-on photos in the gallery below should help whet your appetite in the meantime.
Olympus PEN E-P3, PEN E-PL3, and PEN E-PM1 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The handsome EPL3 has the same sensor and internals as the top-of-the-line EP3
In addition to the new top-end EP3, Olympus has also announced a pair of smaller Micro Four Thirds cameras. These are more like Sony’s NEX range, or the new Panasonic GF3 than their big brother, but they’re still pretty capable cameras.
First is the EPL3, and update to the EPL2. It has a new tilting three-inch, 460,000-dot LCD in a slimline metal body. It also sports the same new 12.3MP sensor and processor found in the EP3, which means 1080i video capture and low-light shooting at ISO 12,800.
The Pen Lite also has the same sensor, in an even tinier package
Next up is the EPM1, or Pen Lite. This tiny thing will slide into your pocket, and yet still has the same sensitive sensor and circuitry as the other cameras. And of course it will work with any Micro Four Thirds lens available.
It’s good to see Olympus adding to its range with these smaller, simpler cameras, instead of going the Panasonic route and just forgetting about the enthusiast and pro users and concentrating instead on the lower end.
Unlike the EP3, the prices and availability of the EPL3 and the Pen Lite have yet to be announced.
Pen Lit and EPL3 press release [Olympus]
Pen System product page [Olympus]
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The Olympus EP3 could be the Micro Four Thirds camera we have always been waiting for
A big day for photography news today, thanks to the folks at Olympus. First up is the Pen EP3, the fifth iteration of its PEN Micro Four Thirds line, which manages to mix up pretty much everything while keeping it in the original PEN’s retro-style body.
First, the basics. The 12.3MP sensor is almost the same, with tweaks to make it play nicer with Olympus’ own Zuiko lenses. It will shoot photos up to ISO 12,800, and capture video at 1080i (60fps), but the main difference is speed. Coupled with the new processing chip (TruePic VI), the camera can check focus 120 times per second. Speed of any kind was never the PEN’s strong point, and according to early reviews, the EP3 really is a lot faster.
The shutter is also faster, with a lag of just 60 milliseconds. Compare that to Nikon’s official lag for the D700 — 40 milliseconds — and you can see that it’s pretty quick.
What you’ll probably notice first, though, is the pop-up flash, which the original PENs lacked. These things are useful for triggering bigger, off-camera units, although they can of course be used to get that traditional “party-photo” look, complete with red eyes and washed out faces.
Then there’s the removable finger grip. Unscrew it with a coin and you can replace with a bigger grip, or none at all. I imagine a whole third-party cottage industry springing up around this.
The LCD, too, is new, with higher resolution (614,000 dot OLED) and a capacitive touch screen. You can use this to touch-to-focus like the iPhone, and to control other functions. Don’t worry, though: Olympus hasn’t gone all Panasonic on us and removed the manual switches. Lots of proper knobs and dials remain, and many can be customized to do what you want.
Finally, lenses. Also new are the Zuiko Digital ED 12m ƒ2.0 (24mm equivalent) and the Zuiko Digital ED 45mm ƒ1.8 (90mm equivalent). The second will make a great portrait lens. The first has a “snap-focus” ring that acts like a real manual-focus ring, complete with distance markings on the barrel.
If you’re a Panasonic GF-1 owner looking to upgrade, this is probably the first place you’ll look, at least until Panasonic stops pumping out skinny, dumbed-down Micro Four Thirds GF cameras. I’m certainly going to be trying one out when I can.
The EP3 will be available in August for $900 with either the Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm II R ƒ3.5/5.6 zoom or the Zuiko Digital ED 17mm ƒ2.8 prime.
EP3 product page [Olympus]
EP3 press release [Olympus]
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You won’t be coloring us surprised at the launch of the E-PM1, but those other two? Well, let’s just say we’ve always been big fans of the elusive trifecta. Olympus just went live with the PEN E-P3 (shown above), PEN E-PL3, and PEN E-PM1, three 12.3 megapixel interchangeable lens cameras with Live MOS sensors, TruePic VI image processors and an ISO ceiling of 12,800. You’ll also get a reengineered autofocus system, a 1080i HD video mode, newly designed user interfaces and a variety of Art Filters. The E-P3 is outfitted with an all-metal body and “the world’s fastest autofocus” (really?), while the rear is dotted with a 614,000 pixel OLED touchscreen. The E-PL3 steps it up with a 3-inch tilting LCD, while the smallest and lightest of the PEN line (yeah, the E-PM1) will be shipping in a half-dozen hues. The outfit also revealed a new pair of prime lenses, a camera grip and a FL-300R flash, all of which are detailed in the source links below. The bad news? Only the P3 is being priced, with $900 landing you a fairly swank kit this August.
Update: We got hands-on with these guys, and you can check it out right here.
Continue reading Olympus reveals PEN E-P3, PEN E-PL3, and PEN E-PM1 interchangeable lens cameras
Olympus reveals PEN E-P3, PEN E-PL3, and PEN E-PM1 interchangeable lens cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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On the eve of its rumored launch, we’ve spotted what looks to be a leaked press shot of Olympus’ new teensy micro-four-thirds camera. According to the folks at 4/3 Rumors, the miniature shooter is pegged to debut (alongside the E-PL3 and E-P3) with a 12-megapixel sensor and TruePic VI engine. Not making the jump however, are its brother’s OLED screens, leaving the emaciated light-box to make do with just a regular LCD. Interest piqued? Start pinching those pennies now — we hear tomorrow isn’t far away.
Olympus E-PM1’s petite frame outed before launch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 22:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
There’s only one way to make leaked blurrycam images appear even less legit: shoot ’em in black and white. That’s exactly what we have here with the claimed leak of a new Olympus camera — the E-P3, according to Photo Rumors — in all its Micro Four Thirds glory. The camera appears to be a hybrid of both the E-P2 and E-PL2, including a P2-style button layout, but with a pop-up flash and sloping top plate reminiscent of the PL2. The new cam is also rumored to include a new 12 megapixel sensor, a max sensitivity of ISO 12,800, a high-res touchscreen, much-needed AF improvements, and an updated UI. Photo Rumors expects Olympus to announce the E-P3 on June 30th, along with an E-PL3 and E-PM1. That last model would be the first in the rumored Pen Mini series. We don’t expect the E-PM1 to best the new Pentax Q’s record-breaking small size, but with a significantly smaller sensor, the Q will be no match for any of Olympus’s new Micro Four Thirds offerings.
Update: Andrea wrote in to tell us that Mirrorless Rumors now has a much clearer publicity shot. Isn’t it lovely?
Is this the Olympus E-P3? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 19:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Micro Four Thirds cameras continue to shrink, with the leaked Olympus EPM1 PEN
This looks like a pretty solid leak from Olympus, showing a new slimline Micro Four Thirds camera to be launched on June 30th. The camera is called the EPM1, and it looks to be an answer to Panasonic shrinking GF series of Micro Four Thirds cameras.
Like the GF3, the EPM1 is tiny, more in line with compacts like the XZ1 (also pictured above) than Olympus’ previous PEN cameras. It has a touch screen for control (losing some mechanical buttons in the process), stero mics for video recording and apparently has super-fast AF.
According to 43 Rumors’ source, there will be two more PEN cameras launched along with the EPM1, as well as some new lenses: a 12mm ƒ2.0 and a 45mm ƒ1.8. I can’t wait.
First E-PM1 image and hands-on report [43 Rumors via Electronista]
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This automatic lens cap will change your life
Taking a lens cap off to snap a photo and then replacing it afterwards is such a chore. Is there any good reason we should have to do something so tedious in an age of Roombas and shoot-to-kill remote control drones? No. Which is why the folks at Japanese company Un-Ltd have come up with an automatic, retractable lens cover for the Olympus XZ1.
The cap assembly fixes onto the lens by way of Allen-wrench grub screws, and sits in place keeping dust and debris away from your precious glass. Then, when you switch the camera on, the lens extends and pushes away the three leaves that make up the front face of the cap. They sit off to the side and then spring back into place when the lens retracts.
And it costs $72.
The units are hand made, and surely fill a market niche, but why doesn’t the XZ1 have this already? With interchangeable lenses, you can understand the use of lens caps. But surely a compact digicam should have it built in. Canon’s G series manages it, and so do many others.
Still, if you do want one (and don’t go for the alternative of leaving a UV filter permanently attached) then dust off your PayPal account and head over to the Un-Ltd site to spend your hard-earned ¥5,800, plus shipping.
Olympus XZ-automatic retractable lens cap [Un-Ltd via DP Review]
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