Olympus PEN E-P1 Ultra Compact Camera
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- Enthusiast's Digital SLR Camera with 10 Megapixel CMOS Sensor.
- 2.5" Live View HyperCrystal LCD Screen.
- Mechanical Image Stabilization for sharp images.
- Dust Reduction System for spot-free images.
- TruePic III for image clarity.
- Included 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko lens.
- All E-Series cameras support the Four Thirds Standard.
- Easy-to-use, easy-to-handle light and ergonomic design.
- Accepts both CompactFlash Type I & II, Microdrives, and xD-Picture Cards.
The Olympus E-P1 marks the formal introduction of the Olympus Micro Four Thirds (4/3) camera system in the form of a high-quality, sub-compact digital camera. Designed around a 12.3-megapixel (17.3 x 13mm) Live MOS imaging sensor, the E-P1 enables pro-quality still and video imaging abilities in a small, unassuming package. Along with a new line of compact M.Zuiko Digital lenses, the new system is compatible with all existing 4/3-format fixed-prime and zoom lenses from 7mm through 800mm (114° to 1.5° AOV).
Clad in ergonomically-designed stainless-steel body panels, the Olympus E-P1 takes many design queues from the Olympus Pen F, a popular half-frame SLR that made its initial debut in 1959. But unlike the original Pen F, the E-P1 has the ability to produce vividly-detailed still photographs and HD video with stereo sound, both of which can be enhanced post-capture using the E-P1's advanced in-camera retouching and audio dubbing tools.
Essentially a 4/3-format DSLR minus the prism and mirror housing (hence the smaller body size), images can be composed and edited using the E-P1's 3" HyperCrystal LCD, which features anti-reflective coatings on its surface to enable Live viewing of 100% of the image area under the brightest of lighting conditions. When shooting in manual focus, a 5x magnification of the center of the frame pops up as a focusing aid each time you adjust the focusing ring. (This magnification can be can be manually increased up to 10x)
This kit comes with a 17mm f/2.8 M.Zuiko Digital 'pancake' lens, which with an angle-of-view of approximately 62 degrees (34mm equivalent) and a profile of less than an inch, makes for an ideal travel / daytripping camera/lens combination. Also included in this kit is a matched optical finder, which allows for fast, 'journalism-style' street shooting.
Other features found on the Olympus E-P1 include Dust Reduction technology, in-camera Image Stabilization, which enables low-light hand-held shooting with all 4/3-system lenses, advanced shooting modes, and creative post-capture editing tools.
- Compact Design with Pro-system Capabilities
- The Olympus E-P1 combines the casual, easy-to-use persona of a pocket-size point-and-shoot camera with the imaging capabilities of a pro-level DSLR. As an extension of Olympus' proven 4/3 imaging system, the E-P1 can shoot casual stills and video as well as complex imagery with equal ease and precision
- High-Definition Stills and Video
- The Olympus E-P1 enables high-definition capture of still and video images while maintaining full auto-focus functionality and image stabilization with all 4/3-format optics. And unlike video-enabled DSLRs, the Olympus E-P1 maintains full AF in video mode
- 12.3 MP 4/3-Format Live MOS Sensor
- The E-P1 utilizes the same 12.3-megapixel Live MOS imaging sensor used in Olympus' 4/3-format DSLRs. Measuring 17.3 x 13mm, this sensor is half the size of 'full-frame' DSLR sensors (2x crop factor), but far larger than comparably-sized digital cameras, all of which lack the option of lens interchangeability
- Compatible with all 4/3-System Lenses
- Aside from the physically smaller M.Zuiko Digital lenses, the Olympus E-P1 is also compatible with all FourThird-format lenses, which enables you to take advantage of one of the widest angle-of-view (AOV) selections available today (114° to 1.5° AOV, or 14 to 800mm)
- Live View Mode
- Live View enables real-time viewing of your still and video images as you compose and capture them
- Advanced, Pro-Quality Autofocus & Metering System
- The camera's 11-point Imager AF autofocusing system ensures quick and accurate focusing under all lighting conditions. For equally accurate metering, the Olympus E-P1 utilizes a 324 segment ESP metering system. There's also the option of selecting Spot or Center-weighted metering as desired
- In-Body Image Stabilization
- An in-camera stabilization system allows for up to 4-stops EV of movement compensation with all 4/3 and Micro-4/3 format lenses
- Dust Reduction
- Olympus' Dust Reduction, which runs an ultrasonic cleaning cycle each time you power up the camera, helps keep dust particles out of the image path
- Advanced Shooting and Post-Capture Editing Modes
- Advanced shooting modes, including ePortrait for optimized portrait photography, iAUTO for decision-free shooting under most common shooting conditions, Shadow Adjustment Technology (SAT) for optimizing highlight and shadow details, and Art Filters (Soft Focus, Pale & Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film, and Pin Hole) are easily employed as needed. Other post-capture editing features include sound dubbing (in stereo) for still and video images
- High-Quality Stereo PCM Audio
- You can record video with linear, non-compressed sound, as well as add sound to images post-capture
- Manual Focus Assist
- When shooting in Manual Focus mode (MF) a 5x close-up of the center of the image is superimposed into a box at the center of the screen to aid in fine focusing. This magnification can be increased up to 10x magnification
Olympus PEN E-P1 Photo Samples
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Photos courtesy of Flickr and belong to respective users. To view a larger image click on thumbnail.
