High Tech Lounge » E-P2

The E-P2 camera from Olympus is coming to stores

adina — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:37:45 +0000

The Micro Four Thirds camera from Olympus, considered an improvement of the E-P1, began to ship under the name E-P2. It brings aperture and shutter control, as well as continuous autofocus in 720-pixel movie recording. The E-P2 has new software filters, a more detailed electronic viewfinder and a stereo microphone adapter.

The camera is priced at $1,099 and is selling through Amazon, for the version with bundled VF-2 viewfinder. The same price applies to the 14-42mm version meant for average photographers and to the 17mm pancake lens meant for users ready to give up zoom for a wider aperture and portability. The 14-42mm Olympus E-P2 camera version is already available for selling.

Olympus E-P2 Finally Unveiled

adina — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:33:56 +0000

As promised, Olympus has released the E-P2, a second-generation Micro Four Thirds camera. This camera is rather a refinement of the original idea than a real successor of the E-P1 camera. Lack of viewfinder and built-in flash were generating most complaints from the customers. There is still no integrated flash, but the 12.3-megapixel E-P2 device adds motion-track auto focusing that allows better following of the subject across the frame, maybe the most important improvement. There is manual control of the aperture and shutter speed. A new VF-2 electronic viewfinder providing a 1.44-megapixel image is a big step forward compared to the previous version. It also allows 1.15× magnification with any attached lens and 100 percent coverage. This accessory port of the new camera allows a microphone adapter for a stereo microphone attachment. CEC support is added to the HDMI video output and is controllable by a compatible TV remote. The E-P2 is in black version only.

Olympus has also launched new Micro Four Thirds lenses working with both E-P cameras. A super wide 9-18-milimeter (an 18-36-millimeter film equivalent) f4.0-5.6 lens will enable a wide-angle zoom lens for the mounting system; a super zoom 14-150-millimeter (a 28-300-millimeter equivalent) f4.0-5.6 lens will give users the alternative to Panasonic’s telephoto-ranged lens. The lenses will not ship until the first half of 2010 and pricing will not be available until nearer launches.

The kits containing the 14-42-millimeter f3.5-5.6 lens or the17-millimeter lens will equally cost $1,100. What is even better is that the E-P1 camera will be cheaper this way, its actual price being $750 with a lens.

The camera comes with iEnhance, a mode that boosts the color saturation for pictures seeming unusually dull. Live Art Filter image effects include a Cross Process mode flipping color values for surreal look and a Diorama mode simulating the narrow depth of field.

Olympus New Camera, Probably E-P2, Next Week

adina — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:08:28 +0000

A teaser page from Olympus PEN is already counting down to a launch on November 6th for a new camera, probably being called E-P2. Some pictures of the new camera have leaked and it seems to be a lot alike the E-P1 on the outside but is black coloured and has the option of a stereo microphone attachment and an electronic viewfinder.

On the inside is supposed to be changed also, because many complaints where addressed to the slow auto focus speed. Resolution and image quality are also subject to changes. The existing E-P1 has a 12-megapixel sensor with 720-pixel movie recording, as well as with stereo audio. Lack of viewfinder and built-in flash were reasons for dissatisfaction for many customers.

Other complaints were about the camera’s price. E-P1 is currently selling at $800 and some people think that this price is too high for the performance. This new camera is supposed to be available before the end of this year.