Earlier this summer, Olympus announced new additions to its PEN series, including the pocket-friendly E-PM1. The digital camera is a nice compromise between some of the more advanced features of the PEN series and almost too-basic entry-level cams.
Here’s a quick refresh on the E-PM1. The camera comes in six metallic shades and features a 12.3-megapixel Live MOS sensor and ISO sensitivity up to 128000, as well as what Olympus says is an impressively fast AF. And despite its small stature, the E-PM1 doesn’t skimp on screen size: It has a 3-inch 460K pixel LCD display. Beginners or PhotoShop-less shooters will also appreciate Olympus built-in filters and the more advanced or learning crowd will still have manual control over the camera.
This light, small camera will be available in September for $499.99, making it Olympus’ most affordable PEN camera. Now we know $500 isn’t exactly cheap, but considering the rest of the series and the features the PEN Mini includes it’s fairly reasonable. Many of the most important elements of its more expensive, professional counterparts are still there: 1080i HD video, built-in filters, manual mode, and fast shutter speed – all housed in a much smaller body.
The interchangeable lens and MFT cameras we’ve been seeing are a nice step up from your average pocket cam, but sometimes lie in this awkward place between advanced DSLR imaging and on-the-go, digicam convenience. If the E-PM1 out-performs competitor cams from Nikon and Canon, its size makes it an attractive option for high-quality images without making sacrifices for size.
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