Digital Home Thoughts: Olympus PEN E-PL1 Micro Four Thirds Camera Introduced

"The mirrorless interchangeable lens camera was a long time in coming but has fairly quickly established itself as a viable alternative both to compact cameras and DSLRs. However, while manufacturers regularly talk to us about wanting to exploit the gap between these two established types of cameras, all the models released so far have tended towards the DSLR-end of that space.... [T]he Olympus E-PL1... brings a stripped-down body and simplified interface to the Micro Four Thirds format."

Richard Butler, at dpreview.com, has previewed the new Olympus E-PL1, and while his article is not an actual Review of the camera, the tone suggests that he is favorably impressed with it overall. The E-PL1 offers some attractive features, including 720p Movie Mode, In-Body Stabilization, a large image sensor (apparently the same as in the Olympus E-30 DSLR), Live View LCD Display, an included 14-42mm Lens - and the ability to use other Micro Four Third lenses. On the down side, the basic body plus lens kit retails at $599, which seems steep for a camera which makes advanced controls less convenient, and which lacks an eye-level viewfinder - an oversight that Olympus will gladly remedy for the princely sum of $279.99 for the VF-2 Electronic Viewfinder attachment. Someone who owns a Micro Four Thirds system might find the E-PL1 an attractive addition, but I cannot help but wonder who else would be tempted by it.