The OLYMPUS PEN E-PL1 is the third model in the OLYMPUS PEN series of Micro Four Thirds System interchangeable lens digital cameras. It’s predecessors, the OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 and E-P2, introduced last year, were widely acclaimed for their light, compact form, distinctive design, and superior image quality.
Featuring a new interface specifically designed to be more friendly to compact camera users, the new E-PL1 is an entry-level model that makes PEN series photographic quality accessible to an even wider range of consumers than before.
In addition to delivering high-quality photos with full-auto ease, the E-PL1 features a new Live Guide interface that makes it easy for users to exercise their creativity. With the Live Guide, even users who have only used point-and-shoot cameras can easily and intuitively adjust brightness, hue, background defocusing, and other image parameters—and get the results they want without learning a lot of SLR-class photographic techniques.
Light, compact, Micro Four Thirds System design and a built-in flash assure an easy transition for first-time interchangeable lens camera users. A choice of white, champagne gold, and black body colors are also being offered to suit a broader range of customer preferences.
New features include a dedicated Movie mode button that enables 720p HD movie recording at a moment’s notice, and i-ENHENCE Picture mode (originally introduced on the E-P2), which delivers images with exceptional clarity and heightened realism that fully communicate the excitement of the moment. Six Art Filters are also offered, including a new Gentle Sepia filter, and they can be applied to movies as well as still-image shooting. Like the E-P2, the E-PL1 is equipped with an accessory port that can be used to attach a high-definition VF-2 Live Viewfinder or SEMA-1 Stereo Microphone Set 1.
For imaging, a 4/3-inch, 12.3-megapixel high speed Live MOS Sensor and TruePic V image processing engine assure quality that rivals that of advanced digital SLR systems.
Moving forward, Olympus will continue to expand its Micro Four Thirds System product lineup, and the growing market that it serves.