Olympus EP-1 Digital Pen

NEW COMPACT CAMERA with INTERCHANGEABLE LENSES

CAN MOUNT LEICA OR NIKON VIA ADAPTER

available 13 July

Price US : 700$ - body only; 800$ - with 14-42 zoom; 900$ - with 17mm f 2.8 prime

Europe : 749 € (avec 14-42mm), 849 € (avec pancake 17mm et viseur optique), 949 € (avec 14-42mm et pancake 17 mm).

NB also Panasonic to release 20mm f 1.7 this autumn.

Press release

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0906/09061601olympusep1.asp


Previews

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/olympusep1/

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/olympus/e_p1-review


Suggestion

Get EP-1 body + adapter leica M to micro 4/3

Get any wide M-mount lens you can get your hands on, including Voigtlander 12 (screw mount plus screw to M adapter) and 15 mm in M mount

(Please do check that lenses depth is compatible before mounting)

Work with manual lenses probably similar to Panasonic G1: need to select manual lens in menu and then live view zoom on part of scene to facilitate focusing. Focus confirmation.

Pluses

Compact, smart and cute

good resolution 12mpix

Video HD 720p 30 i/s

Sensor based dust shake system doubles as image stabiliser - works with any lens

Can work in permanent live view without any delay

Interchangeable lenses - quicker operation operation, incl. manual manual focus

Digital level

SD card (thank you!)

Good handling (padding in front, selection dial on back, etc.)

Minuses

No optical or electronic viewfinder

need to buy separate optical finder (retro look - but not practical with zoom)

No total black finish

Metal body but not sealed for dust and moisture

Not appealing for wide shooters as X2 sensor magnification factor - 25mm lens is a normal (50mm equivalent)

On other hand using tele is advantaged by image stabilisation and X2 sensor magnification, but composing a tele shot with live view is not that practical

Big LCD 3", but normal resolution 230k compared to latest Nikon/Canon 920k