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All posts tagged "olympus"


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


Monday, August 20, 2012

Engadget's Back to School "Guide" for Digital Cameras 2012

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 09:00 AM

http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/17/...igital-cameras/

"Your Facebook friends and future employers deserve an accurate account of those glory days, and you'll need a proper snapper to get the job done. College is as good a time as any to learn responsibility, but don't expect to walk out of the experience with all your gear unscathed."

What do you get when gadget editors pick cameras for students? You get US$3000 SLRs in the equation. I'm not sure what kind of college these people went to, but I am quite sure most students aren't going to be able to splurge that kind of money, especially in these times. In fact, there are a lot of high-end picks here, when there are plenty of cheaper but good cameras out in the market. Particularly for DSLRs - there're competent cameras like the Canon Rebel T4i/EOS 650D or the higher-specified Nikon D7000 that will take great pictures without breaking the bank. What are your own personal recommendations?


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.


Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Olympus Announces Tough TG-1 iHS

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

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/0...-compact-camera

"Olympus has announced the Tough TG-1 iHS, a high-end rugged, waterproof compact camera. The main selling point of the camera is its 25-100mm equivalant F2.0-4.9 zoom lens. The TG-1 is tougher than previous Tough models, being waterproof to 12m (40ft) and shockproof from a height of 2m (6.6ft) and will have optional waterproof fisheye and telephoto converter lenses available."

What is iHS supposed to mean? Anyway, this is a new Tough camera with increased specifications from the previous models. In particular, the 4x 25mm-100mm equivalent f/2.0-4.9 zoom lens is faster than many other cameras in its class, especially at that wide end with the f/2.0 aperture. The camera has a 12 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor which is stabilised, a 3" VGA OLED screen (but in Pentile layout), 1080p video mode coupled with a 10 FPS still shooting mode at full resolution or 60 FPS at 3 megapixel, and built-in GPS. As with a rugged camera, it features waterproofing and shockproofing. The camera also promises to feature AF technology from the PEN cameras, so hopefully it will be quick (I do suspect the technology is more on the software side). Oh and what modern Olympus camera is without the Art or Magic Filters? Available in June for US$400.


Monday, April 30, 2012

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Reviewed by Digital Photography Review

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 12:00 PM

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusem5/

DPReview.com has a review of the latest Micro Four Thirds camera, the E-M5. I'll spoil it a little: It's the best rated one yet. I have spent some time with the E-M5 and I have been quite impressed with many aspects of it, though the up-close and personal experience with what Olympus fans call the "Olympus Colour" did not leave me quite as impressed. It consists mainly of a very aggressive tone curve that pulls the upper-midtones and overall increases contrast to deliver a very punchy yet natural look. I think I prefer to process my raw files and their colours myself, thank you. The rest of the camera, including its low-light high-ISO noise, its AF speed, the user interface, were really good. My only quibble was with the rear command wheel, which being placed closer to the viewfinder meant I had to stretch my right thumb more than normal compared to the Lumix Micro Four Thirds cameras or Nikon DSLRs. Overall, a great performance. Now Panasonic, where is that GH3?


Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Olympus Announces OM-D E-M5 Micro Four Thirds Camera

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 10:46 AM

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/0..._E-M5_announced

The big news of the past 24 hours is Olympus's E-M5 camera, which is part of the OM-D line. For the uninitiated, Olympus used to make small and very well-made film SLRs back in the day, under the OM moniker. I myself started photography using dad's OM-1 almost two decades ago. Ah, the memories!

Well, while Olympus is trying to stir feelings of nostalgia, I can say that the OM-1 and this E-M5 are quite different beasts once you get past the superficial. The E-M5 is a digital camera through and through, with the controls pretty much geared towards an electronically-controlled lens mount, unlike say, the Fuji X100. Still, it does look good, and the accessory battery grip is really retro; I have not seen something like that since the old motor winders back in the days of manual focus SLRs.

The camera itself is made from the best Micro Four Thirds has to offer. Highlights include a sensor that is the 16 megapixel Live MOS affair that goes from ISO 200 to 25,600 (presumably from Panasonic; about time Olympus ditched that old 12 megapixel sensor), a contrast-detect system that Olympus promises to be world's fastest (challenging cameras like the mighty Nikon D3S and Canon EOS 1DIV), an improved sensor-shift stabilisation system that promises to keep track and correct movement in five different axis, 1080i video at up to 60 FPS, continuous shooting at 9 FPS with single AF, 4.2 with continuous AF, 3" tilting VGA (presumably using a Pentile arrangement) OLED screen, a great SVGA EVF and a weather-proofed body that offers complete weather-proof capabilities when used with the right lenses. Despite that faux pentaprism hump (it is its successor, the EVF hump), there is no built-in flash, just like the old OM cameras.

Other niceties include things like a Live Bulb mode, so you can keep track of the exposure when it is progress. Ever shot in bulb and have no idea how long to open the shutter for, especially in conditions where the light level is rapidly changing? This is the crutch. There is also a tone curve overlay for finer control over how the camera handles shadows and highlights, though I suspect that is more for JPEG shooters.

All that nice stuff does not come cheap. The camera will ship in April for US$1000 for just the body, $1100 with a 14-42mm kit lens, and $1300 with the new 12-50 powerzoom lens (which is weather-proof). Along with the camera, Olympus also announced a 75mm f/1.8 lens, a 60mm f/2.8 macro, and a new flash with an LED for video work, the FL-600R. The FL-600R will ship in April for US$300, while pricing information for the lenses are not available.

More details and photos at the link, along with a preview! Be sure to see the grip, it just so old school!


Olympus Announces SZ-31MR Superzoom Camera and TG-820 Rugged Camera

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 10:45 AM

Olympus has two compact cameras for show today as well. First is the SZ-31MR, which Olympus calls a compact superzoom. I am not sure what the difference between a compact superzoom and a travelzoom is now any more, since everyone is going crazy with the zoom ranges, but I digress. The camera has a 16 megapixel backlit CMOS sensor, a 24x 25-600mm equivalent f/3.0-6.9 (!) zoom lens, sensor shift stabilisation, a 3" VGA touchscreen LCD, 1080p video in h.264, 10 FPS continuous shooting mode, and of course, what Olympus camera would be without the Art Filters. Ships in late April for US$400.

Next up is the rugged TG-820. The camera packs a 12 megapixel backlit CMOS sensor, a 5x 28-140mm equivalent f/3.9-5.9 zoom lens, sensor shift stabilisation, a 3" 720x480 LCD screen, 1080p video, a rugged body rated to be waterproof to 33 feet (10 metres), shockproof to 6.6 feet (2 metres), freezeproof to 14F (-10C), and dustproof. Ships in March for US$300. More photos and details of the two cameras at the links below.

DPReview: Olympus SZ-31MR

DPReview: Olympus TG-820


Friday, January 13, 2012

CES/PMA 2012 Round-up: Compact Cameras

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 12:00 PM

A large number of compacts have been announced over the past few days, so here is a brief round up of the various cameras announced:Panasonic - (News Article One, News Article Two, News Article Three)Pansonic, as usual, have announced their cameras, but with no pricing and availability. In an increasing commoditised market, I am not sure if it is a good idea. In any case, Panasonic has five cameras, with two belonging to a new line, the SZ superzoom compact. It does leave me a little confused: So it is smaller than a travel zoom, which in turn is smaller than a superzoom bridge camera, but still bigger than a not-so-super-but-still-generous-zoom compact (you know it is trouble when companies start finely dividing markets in this manner). The DMC-SZ1 and DMC-SZ7 both come with 10x 27-270mm equivalent f/3.1-5.9 stabilised lenses, with the former packing a 16 megapixel sensor, a 3" QVGA LCD, and 720p videos at 30FPS. The latter has a 14 megapixel sensor (strange considering consumer cameras tend to have more pixels further up the range), but boasts a 3" HVGA LCD, and 1080p video at 30FPS in AVCHD.Next up are a couple of budget compacts in the FH line, the DMC-FH6 and DMC-FH8. Both possess a 5x optically stabilised 24-120mm equivalent f/2.5-6.4 zoom lens and 720p video mode. The former has a 14 megapixel sensor with a 2.7" QVGA LCD, and the latter has 16 megapixel sensor with 3" QVGA LCD. With differences so minor, I wonder why they bother.Last for Panasonic, is the DMC-S2, which is an update of the S1 budget camera. The specs are now almost that of the S3, so I suppose given the right pricing, the S2 is the one to go for if you are truly looking at the cheapest of the cheap. The camera has a 14 megapixel sensor, a 4x optically stabilised 28-112mm equivalent f/3.1-6.5 zoom lens, a 2.7" QVGA screen, 720p video mode, and a curvy plastic body instead of the metal ones in the FH line.More cameras after the break! Read more...


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.


Monday, July 18, 2011

Lifehacker's Guide to Choosing Cameras

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 10:00 AM

http://lifehacker.com/5822098/how-t...-for-your-needs

"Choosing a digital camera used to be a simple process that was heavily dictated by the amount of money in your pocket. Now the same money can buy you different benefits and compromises, making the decision much more complex. Here's a look at your camera-buying options, the pros and cons of each, and some specific suggestions to help you pick the perfect camera for your needs."

Lifehacker has a long article on how to choose a camera (and it even includes a guide on cameras in phones), but I recommended not going through the recommended picks just because they are there. Seriously, a Sony NEX-3?


Thursday, June 30, 2011

Olympus Announces PEN E-P3 Camera

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 04:17 AM

http://www.dcresource.com/news/news...tem.php?id=4333

It is a big day for Olympus here, as they launch a total of THREE new Micro Four Thirds cameras. The first is the leading PEN camera, the E-P3. This is a bigger overhaul than the "upgrade" that the E-P2 was. There is a new 12 megapixel sensor (with the by-now usual Olympus sensor-shift stabilsation), an upgraded AF engine with 35 points that is touted to be even faster than the phase detect systems used in SLRs, a very nice 3 inch OLED touchscreen with 614k dots (I still am not certain of the resolution yet), 1080i60 movie mode with manual controls, a popup flash handy for daytime fill flash, and a removeable grip when you want the camera to look sleeker. DCResource.com has a review up, so go check it out. I think it is looking very promising, and might even be an upgrade for GF1 users or photographers looking for something like the GF1. Ships in August at US$899 for the camera and a kit lens, with a choice of either the 17/2.8 pancake or the 14-42/3.5-5.6 zoom.

More Coverage:

DPReview.com


Olympus Announces PEN E-PL3 and E-PM1 Cameras

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 04:16 AM

http://www.dcresource.com/news/news...tem.php?id=4332

Next up are the smaller versions of the E-P3. In a way they are Olympus's answer to Sony's tiny NEX cameras; this time the E-PL3 has been given a diet, and is made smaller and lighter. As a result, it loses the nice handgrip found on the E-PL2, along with the built-in flash. That is now an external accessory, like the NEX cameras, but at least it uses a standard hotshoe. That said, it gains a flip LCD, which is a nice bonus. The LCD itself is a standard 3" HVGA affair, so it is not quite as nice as the one on the the E-P3. The rest of the camera reads pretty much like the E-P3 specifications-wise, with the same revamped 12 megapixel sensor, the same fast 35 points AF engine, and the added bonus of having a faster continuous shooting speed of 5.5 FPS compared to the E-P3's 3 FPS. I think Olympus has come up with a nice compromise in both the E-P3 and E-PL3 that satisfies the enthusiasts while attempting to capture the market Sony is going for with the NEX. Price and availability is unknown.

The E-PM1, dubbed the "Mini", is essentially the E-PL3 with fewer buttons and a fixed LCD to get the size down even more. Without having seen either camera in the flesh, I wonder if the sacrifices are worth the space savings, not to mention the need to market and sell another product in the lineup. Again, price and availability are unknown. Photo of the E-PM1 after the break, and check out the link for full specs and more photos!

More coverage:

DPReview.com

Read more...


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.


Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Olympus PEN Cameras Eagerly Anticipated

Posted by Brad Wasson in "Digital Home Talk" @ 07:30 PM

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/03/ol...-pro-this-year/

"Olympus has been reported to be releasing new versions of its high-performance PEN cameras later this year or early next year. The first PEN to be released will be nicknamed the "Olympus PEN Pro" model - a high-end model with touchscreen technology. Another model to be released will be a mid-range PEN camera with a tilt screen and the third rumored model will be a PEN camera that's said to follow the original PEN EP-1′s design."

If you are in the market for what will almost surely be a high-quality portable camera, you may want to wait a bit and review one of these eagerly anticipated upcoming Olympus cameras. The folks over at the Ubergizmo website report that these cameras are expected to produce SLR-quality images in a nice compact format. While it is uncertain exactly which features will be included in each model, the touchscreen technology (if it is indeed included) is one feature I will be curious to try out.


Monday, February 28, 2011

Olympus E-PL2 Reviewed

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

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/o...us/e_pl2-review

"The Olympus E-PL2 ($599 with lens) is a consumer-friendly interchangeable lens camera that uses the Micro Four Thirds standard. It's the successor the to E-PL1, and has a fairly modest list of improvements. They include a more ergonomic design, a larger/sharper LCD, refinements to the user interface, and a new kit lens. The E-PL2 retains the same sensor, image processor, movie mode, and overall design of the E-PL1."

Digital Camera Resource Page has a review of the Olympus E-PL2, and it is mostly a competent little camera. The most interesting thing about the E-PL2 to me is the Bluetooth PENPAL accessory, and there is a paragraph or two talking about it. The functionality is rather basic as all it does it transfer the image over, so it still does not quite bridge the ease of use and easy sharing of photos that make camera phones so popular nowadays. I am not sure if another stand-alone app to help achieve that functionality is needed though; perhaps a bridging app of some kind?


Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Olympus Announces More Superzooms and a Budget Camera

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 02:00 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/08/...longside-entry/

I will admit, I am getting somewhat confused by who is releasing what these days. After CES 2011 there are now more consumer compacts being released ahead of the CP+ show. If I am confused, I wonder what the average buyer thinks. Anyway, Olympus has released another batch of superzoom cameras, and these are the slimmer, more compact types. The first is the SZ-10, which comes with a 14 megapixel CCD sensor, 18x 28-504mm equivalent f/3.1-4.4 zoom lens stabilised via sensor shift, 3" HVGA LCD screen, 720p video at an unspecified frame rate, and the ability to render images in "3D", hence that little logo in the corner.

The VR-330 also includes the 3D function, and is a slim superzoom compact. It packs a 14 megapixel CCD, a 12.5x 24-300mm equivalent f/3.0-5.9 zoom lens, again stabilised via sensor shift, 3" HVGA LCD screen and 720p video at 30 FPS. There is also the VR-320 for those who find the 3D feature gimmicky, but this drops the HVGA screen for a QVGA one, and also loses the HDMI output.

Finally there is the VG-110 budget camera. Not much to say here: 12 megapixels, 4x zoom lens equivalent to 27-108mm, and VGA video mode. See the other cameras after the break.

Read more...


Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Digital Photography Review Tests the Olympus XZ-1

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 09:00 AM

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/OlympusXZ1/

"Back in 2001, when it was possible to charge $999 for a compact camera, Olympus produced the C-3040Z, C-4040Z and C5050Z which featured some of the brightest zooms to ever appear on such cameras. Sadly, as the years have gone on and prices have dropped, Olympus moved away from this part of the market and it's been a long time since we looked to it for class-leading compacts."

DPReview has their review of the XZ-1 up (I keep on typing ZX-1 for some reason), and they have reminded me of the old f/1.8 series of cameras that Olympus did. Those were some nice cameras for their time, but here is their successor, the XZ-1. Going by the naming convention, I'm also wondering if they are trying to draw a connection to their XA cameras? The review is favourable, and if I still use small sensor cameras, this could well be my top pick. Minor nit: The Bluetooth module that was announced with the E-PL2 will not work here; the connector apparently is different.


Saturday, January 22, 2011

DigitalRev Olympus PEN E-PL2 Hands-on Review

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 10:00 AM

"Less than 2 years on since Olympus first introduced the E-P1 and we are already on the 4th Micro Four-Thirds camera. The latest, the E-PL2, is in the same mould as the E-PL1 but it's not quite a replacement as such. Watch the video to find out whether this camera is worth upgrading to or not."

While Panasonic is "only" on the GF-2 (the second small-form factor micro 4/3rds camera in the series), Olympus has already released their fourth version. Is it worth the upgrade? Watch the video to find out!


Thursday, January 6, 2011

Olympus E-PL2 Released; It's a Big Upgrade Folks!

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 09:12 AM

http://www.dcresource.com/news/news...tem.php?id=4247

Now this is an upgrade! The E-PL2, while an upgrade over the E-PL1, makes a number of changes that make even the E-P2 look outdated. Right now, the only advantage of the E-P2 appears to be the design and construction, as well as having a thumb dial, which the E-PL2 removes. The 12 megapixel sensor remains the same, but now there is a new 3" HVGA LCD screen, a new grip that looks much better to hold, and of course, a much lower price at US$600, which includes the new 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 MSC (Movie and Still Compatible) lens, which focuses quickly and quietly.

A bit of a minor laugh comes where Olympus mentions the new lens is also compatible with three new conversion lenses; a macro, wide-angle and a fisheye. I thought the idea behind an interchangeable lens camera was to well, you know, change lenses. I do wonder if the macro and fisheye convertors are a response to keeping Olympus users from buying Panasonic lenses. If so, here's a hint: Make your own lenses Olympus.

Other features include 720p video, a built-in flash (which the E-P2 lacks) and even more Art Filters. One downside is that the camera uses a new battery type. Sorry, no bringing in your old batteries from the last camera.

Also introduced are two new hotshoe accessories. First is the MAL-1 macro light, which is essentially two LED lights with mini diffusers each attached to a gooseneck to allow adjustments. Second is the very interesting PENPal Bluetooth dongle to allow sending photos to mobile phones and computers. As I mentioned in my previous article, connected cameras are the way to go, and this is the first step. It does look a little bulky though, so Olympus needs to get ease of use and reliability of the connection right. If it is a UI nightmare or bug-filled mess, the idea will die a still birth.

The E-PL2 will be available this month. Once again, price is US$600 with the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 MSC lens.


Olympus XZ-1 Announced: Late, but Better Late Than Never

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 08:52 AM

http://www.dcresource.com/news/news...tem.php?id=4246

With Olympus's XZ-1, the premium fast lens compact group just got more crowded. Now all we need is Pentax and Nikon to join in the fray and it will be complete. The XZ-1 features a 10 megapixel CCD, similar to those in this group of cameras, and a Zuiko lens that goes from 28mm to 112mm equivalent. The neat thing is this lens is f/1.8 to f/2.5; it's a fast lens! In comparison, the similarly-sized Panasonic LX5 has a 24-90mm lens that goes from f/2 to f/3. Not a bad feat at all by Olympus. I just hope they did not sacrifice optical quality in the process.

The camera has a lot of neat things; there is a 3" OLED screen that is probably the same as the one on the Samsung EX1/TL500, sensor-shift stabilisation, 720p video, a ring around the lens that can be used for camera control (but not customisable unlike the Canon S95), built-in electronic level, an accessory port under the hotshoe that is the same as that on the Pen cameras (and supports the new Bluetooth dongle), and of course, Art Filters! Another interesting is that the camera charges the battery internally; in fact the camera comes with a USB charging plug. There is quite a bit more, so hit the link for more, as DCResource has done a preview. Priced at $500, and expected this month. Talk about fast.


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