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All posts tagged "m.zuiko"


Monday, September 17, 2012

Olympus Announces E-PL5 and E-PM2 PEN Cameras, X-Z2 Compact, and Two Micro Four Thirds Lenses

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 11:41 AM

Olympus has announced a number of new products. First up are the PEN E-PL5 (pictured above) and E-PM2 cameras. The main new feature is the 16 megapixel sensor that is the same the OM-D EM-5's, which is truly excellent, being a Sony sensor. Other new features include the AF system from the E-M5, and a new 3" touchscreen HVGA LCD. In the E-PL5's case, the screen can be tilted up to 170 degrees, making it possible for self-portraits. BOth cameras offer 1080p video at 30 FPS as well. The main difference between the two cameras is in that tilting LCD screen, and a mode dial with a few extra buttons for the E-PL5. Both cameras still do not offer a built-in flash, instead they will be packaged with a small external flash like their predecessors. Ships in October for US$700 for the E-PL5 with the 14-42 lens, or US$600 for the E-PM2 with the same 14-42 lens.

Next up, the Olympus XZ-2. The original XZ-1 was something unique, as it offered a 28-112mm equivalent f/1.8 - 2.5 lens that was still pretty bright across the entire range. Now in 2012, the same lens is a little less competitive, given that both Panasonic and Samsung have similar cameras that feature a f/1.4 lens at the wide side, which are also wider at 24mm equivalent. The main upgrades are in the new 12 megapixel CMOS sensor, a tilting 3" VGA LCD screen, and a new detachable grip like the E-PL5 above. 1080p video at 30 FPS is present. Ships in November for US$600.

Finally, the lenses. The two lenses are the weather-sealed 60mm f/2.8 Macro lens that does 1:1, and the "body cap" fixed-focus lens of a 15mm f/8, which is only 9mm thick. The former will be available for US$500 in October. No word on the body cap lens, though the Europe price is just 70 Euros. Oh, well, there is the re-release of the 12mm f/2 in black at an eye-watering price of US$1100, though this time around, it comes with a lens hood. There is also a "development announcement" (or what I call the "please-don't-go-we-have-something-up-our-sleeve" announcemnt) of a 17mm f/1.8, which should be perfect for street shooters, but only available in 2013. More photos and details at the following links:

DPReview.com: Olympus Pen E-PL5 and E-PM2

DPReview.com: Olympus XZ-2

DPReview.com: Olympus Micro Four Thirds Lenses


Friday, May 25, 2012

Olympus Announces M.Zuiko 75mm f/1.8 Lens

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 01:00 PM

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/0...zuiko-75mm-F1-8

Micro Four Thirds shooters, there is yet more good news for you! After Panasonic's 12-35/2.8 lens, Olympus has announced a 75mm f/1.8 lens, which translates to a 150mm lens on a 35mm camera. I actually managed to spend some time with a pre-production version of the lens, and I was very impressed with it. Due to the pre-production status of the lens, along with the pre-production OM-D E-M5 it was on, I did not get any images from it, but reviewing the results on the rear OLED screen showed promise. Get ready your wallets, for this lens ships in Summer 2012 for US$900. DPReview has a hands-on at the read link.


Thursday, December 15, 2011

Olympus Announces M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-50mm F3.5-6.3 EZ

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 11:30 AM

http://www.dcresource.com/news/news...tem.php?id=4414

"Olympus has announced a new 12 - 50 mm Micro Four Thirds lens with some interesting features."

Interesting barely describes it for me. Bizarre is more apt for me. A lens that has pro features like weathersealing (which something the PEN series lacks; perhaps Olympus will have a higher grade PEN camera in the near-future?), coupled with decidedly consumer features like a power zoom and a rather small aperture that becomes even smaller rather quickly at the longer end of the zoom. While the power zoom mechanism can be disabled, I am still wondering why it is even there in the first place. It makes sense on the compact lenses like the Panasonic 14-42 zoom which is aimed at the compact camera upgrader, but this, I am left a little befuddled. Ships in January for US$500. More details at the read link.


Thursday, June 30, 2011

Olympus Announces Two Micro-Zuiko Lenses and Flash; Nearly Makes My Wish Come True

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 04:15 AM

http://www.dcresource.com/news/news...tem.php?id=4331

Olympus also announced two new Micro Four Thirds lenses: The Micro Zuiko 12mm f/2.0 and the Micro Zuiko 45mm f/1.8. I have been wanting to use my own Micro Four Thirds system as a three lens camera, with the three lenses being an ultra-wide, a normal, and a short telephoto. The two lenses almost come close. I say almost, because what I really wanted was something along the lines of a 10mm f/2.8. Still, this is a f/2.0, so it will help with the slightly noisier Micro Four Thirds sensors. Also, the 12mm f/2.0 has something few Micro Four Thirds lenses have: A focusing scale to use hyperfocusing techniques with! The 12mm f/2.0 is shipping now for about US$800 (ouch), and the 45mm f/1.8 will ship in September for about US$400.

Also introduced is a slim compact flash, the FL-300R, which can pivot up and down for various situations. With a guide number of just 19 metres at ISO 100 however, I think bouncing its output is a bad idea. The flash is available now for about US$170. Photos of the 45mm f/1.8 and the flash at the news link.


Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Olympus Announced "Black" E-P2 Kit and Two Micro Four Thirds Telephoto Lenses

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 08:30 AM

http://www.dcresource.com/news/news...tem.php?id=4178

"Olympus has announced a special "all black" kit for their E-P2 Micro Four Thirds camera, and also released two new lenses while they were at it."

So Olympus has announced what essentially is a vanity kit for their E-P2 camera, and more interestingly, two new lenses. The new all-black kit doesn't come with the detacheable EVF, which I find more important than having all black accessories, but hey, I guess vanity has a price, and in this case it is a grand.

The two new lenses are telephoto zooms; there's the US$300 40-150/4-5.6 (to mimick the now very standard consumer 70-300mm zoom) and the US$900 (!) 75-300/4.8-6.7. While Olympus touts the latter as the smallest "600mm" lens, I can't help but think that for the price and the slow aperture, Olympus has made one too many compromise in making it smaller, but not small; compare Nikon's new 55-300/4-5.6 at 3.1" by 4.84" against the Olympus at 2.76" by 4.57". The Nikkor needs to make space for the VR motors as well as cover a larger imaging circle, and costs less than half the price. This is probably why all manufacturers are scrambling towards mirrorless I guess; potentially cheaper construction yet higher sale prices! Photos of the lenses after the break. Read more...


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