Olympus PEN E-PL2

I am intrigued by the development of the new breed of interchangeable lens cameras which aren’t DSLRs. One of their key features is smaller size — smaller than most DSLRs – and resemblance to point and shoot cameras, apparently making them less imposing.

The newest model from Olympus is the PEN E-PL2. This is the fourth generation PEN compact interchangeable lens digital camera. It continue’s the family’s legacy of simple design, intuitive interface and DSLR image quality. The new camera has Live Guide II, new in-camera creative features, new auxiliary lenses, a new close- up spotlight accessory (MAL-1) and new PENPal Bluetooth accessory. And, yes, it takes HD video along with stills.

The E-PL2 comes with the new Movie & Still Compatible (MSC) ED m14-42 mm f/3.5/5.6 zoom lens. This new kit lens is smooth and uses a quick inner focus mechanism to make it exceptionally fast and nearly silent when recording movies. The M.Zuiko Digital MICRO Four Thirds lenses are designed to be more compact and portable. In addition to the kit lens, there’s the ED m17 mm f/2.8 lens (34 mm equivalent), super wide-angle zoom ED m9 -18 mm f/4.0-5.6 lens (18-36 mm equivalent), the high-power wide to telephoto zoom ED m14-150 mm f/4.0-5.6 lens (28-300 mm equivalent), the zoom ED m40-150 mm F/4.0-5.6 (80-300 mm equivalent), or the super telephoto ED m75-300 mm f/4.8-5.6 (150–600 mm equivalent).

Of course, the MMF-2 Four Thirds System Lens Adapter makes the E-PL2 compatible with all Olympus Zuiko Digital Specific lenses and other Four Thirds System lenses from Sigma, Panasonic and Leica. Even Olympus OM film-based lenses can be attached to the E-PL2 with the MF-2 OM Lens Adapter, and third-party adapters have been developed for lenses from most other manufacturers.

The PEN E-PL2’s Live Guide II takes the E-PL1’s popular Live Guide interface for stills and expands it to preview effects for HD videos. Live Guide previews effects; select Live Guide and turn the wheel on the back of the camera to slide through numerous photo and video effects. Make adjustments and watch the LCD as the effects are made live – before the image is captured.

Olympus pioneered in-camera art filters for still images captured inside its E-System DSLRs and was the first company to offer the ability to apply art filters to HD video recordings captured with the PEN E-P1 camera. The E-PL2 features six art filters: Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, and Dramatic Tone. For the first time, the E-PL2 also features art filter variations and enhancements. Overlay an art effect over an original image with or without an art filter.

The E-PL2 shoots 720p HD video.

Olympus has three new conversion lenses: Fish-eye Lens Converter captures a distorted hemispherical image covering 120°; Wide-angle Lens Converter captures a broader shot; Macro Lens Converter enables capturing close-ups from as little as 24 cm away from the subject (depending upon the lens in use).

Then there’s the unique Macro Arm Light (MAL-1) with not one, but two bright LED lights, each on the end of its own fully flexible metal arm and powered by the camera. Both arms extend up to 17 cm from a unit mounted on the camera’s Accessory Port.

PENPal (cute!) is a communication unit for storing up to 2,600 images and transferring them via wireless Bluetooth to other Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as a mobile phone, PC or even another PENPal-equipped camera. From there it’s easy to share them with friends in online communities or via e-mail.

The E-PL2 is compatible with the optional VF-2 detachable electronic viewfinder, which provides 1.15x magnification and a 100 percent field of view with sharp resolution, brightness and contrast, and the optional SEMA-1 external microphone adapter set for those who want to capture enhanced audio with any microphone that has a 3.5mm plug. These optional accessories easily slide into the camera’s accessory port and hot shoe.

Olympus has Image Stabilization built right into the body of the E-PL2. This means any lens (Micro Four Thirds, Four Thirds and any third-party lens) attached to the E-PL2 will deliver blur-free images thanks to three modes of in-body image stabilization that automatically compensate for camera shake, including in low-light situations or when shooting without a tripod.

A new Eye Detection function called iDetect automatically makes a person’s eye the focus point of the image. The E-PL2 further reduces the chance of blurred subjects in images by recognizing up to eight faces, tracking them within the image area, and automatically focusing and optimizing exposure for sharp portraits.

There are 22 Scene-Select Modes, including Fireworks, Sunset, Children, Macro, and Panorama. When you don’t want to use the scene-select modes, the iAuto mode automatically identifies what you are shooting and adjusts settings to ensure you capture the best result for each situation you encounter.

In-Camera Panorama captures three images and stitches them together to create a single seamless panoramic picture. Or you can use the included Olympus [ib] software to stitch up to 10 images together. iEnhance is available in any mode, and automatically engages when using iAuto to enrich the colour in any subject.

The E-PL2 features a large image sensor similar to the one inside the top of the line Olympus E-System cameras. This 12.3-megapixel Live MOS Sensor (eight times larger than the average point-and-shoot camera sensor) delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate colour fidelity, and a state-of-the-art amplifier circuit to reduce noise and capture fine image details in both highlight and shadow areas.

The sensor is complemented by Olympus’ TruePic V Image Processor, which produces clear and colourful photos. The image processor is noted for accurate natural colour, true-to-life flesh tones, brilliant blue skies and precise tonal expression; it also offers a maximum ISO sensitivity of 6400.

The Olympus dust reduction system is an industry first and a proven technology. The Supersonic Wave Filter is a patented ultrasonic technology that silently vibrates to remove dust and other particles from the front of the image sensor.

The Olympus E-PL2 Kit should be available now. It includes the E-PL2 body and ED m14-42 mm f/3.5/5.6 lens, with an expected street price of $599.99.