Roberts Raw!

› posts tagged ‘pen’

Olympus Rounds Out Pen Announcement With Two Long-Awaited Metal Lenses and a New Flash

Finishing off the Pen extravaganza Olympus seems to be throwing today are a pair of metal-clad “professional” primes for the Micro Four Thirds system that Olympus has been promising for some time, and a new flash unit.

 

The lenses are the M.Zuiko Digital 12mm f2 ED and the M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f1.8 ED. Both feature Oly’s MSC tech which’ll make them better for video focusing than the first generation M.Zuiko lenses were, and the elegant looking metal construction gives them a bit more of a serious air than the other lenses as well. With Micro Four-Thirds’ 2x crop, their effective field of views will be 24mm and 90mm respectively, making them good choices for street/landscape work and portraits. Also respectively.

The flash is the FL-300R. The R means this works with Olympus’ remote flash system, and can be controlled by many on-board flashes as well as older models like the FL-500R. It’s got a GN of 19m at ISO 100, and has a pretty decent tilt range, but no swivel. It also sports what I’ll forever consider the traditional “tourist” aesthetic.

The 14mm will run around $800, the 45mm around $400, and the flash around $160.



Olympus Adds New Pen Line with Pen Mini E-PM1

Finishing out Olympus’ announcement of three Pen bodies today is the new “Mini” line, which since it’s the first year for this gets called the E-PM1.

All of the bodies feature the same basic guts and are differentiated by body and control options instead. Not to say that’s a bad thing. While the sensor sticks at the same 12ish megapixels that Olympus thinks is the sweet-spot for these types of cameras, the processor has been upgraded to new TruePic VI processor, and the AF has been improved with a new Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology (FAST) system. And by “improved” I mean I’ve heard tell it can check AF 120 times a second and Olympus is already talking about it rivaling many DSLR AF systems. There’re 35 AF areas, and you can group them into 3×3 areas for tracking active subjects.

Other features across all models include ISO support up to 12,800, 1080i HD video, three-mode in-body Image Stabilization, the most effective dust-reduction system I’ve ever used, multiple aspect ratios, multiple exposure, and the Pen series’ infamous Art Filters.

The E-PM1 sits as the most consumer/point-and-shoot step-up oriented of the three brothers. The controls are pretty minimal compared to the two models above it, and the reward for that is that the body is right about the same size as Olympus’ fairly tiny XZ-1 compact.

So,what’s the difference between this body and the next step up, the E-PL3? Well, luckily, the advanced hotshoe port isn’t one of them. It’s still sitting there, inviting you to use the external viewfinder or nifty macro light Oly makes for the Pen bodies. Three more buttons (delete, zoom, and Fn) have disappeared, as has the mode dial. The screen is back to being fixed, and is downgraded to a more pedestrian 460,000 pixel LCD. It’ll be available in a bunch of colors: black, white, silver, red, purple, and brown. For a shot around back and the press release, hit the jump.

read more



Olympus E-PL3 Fills Out Middle Of New Pen Line-Up

So, continuing Olympus’ Pen revival today we come to the middle body, the Pen Lite E-PL3. Which of course replaces the E-PL2 in the line-up.

All of the bodies feature the same basic guts and are differentiated by body and control options instead. Not to say that’s a bad thing. While the sensor sticks at the same 12ish megapixels that Olympus thinks is the sweet-spot for these types of cameras, the processor has been upgraded to new TruePic VI processor, and the AF has been improved with a new Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology (FAST) system. And by “improved” I mean I’ve heard tell it can check AF 120 times a second and Olympus is already talking about it rivaling many DSLR AF systems. There’re 35 AF areas, and you can group them into 3×3 areas for tracking active subjects.

Other features across all models include ISO support up to 12,800, 1080i HD video, three-mode in-body Image Stabilization, the most effective dust-reduction system I’ve ever used, multiple aspect ratios, multiple exposure, and the Pen series’ infamous Art Filters.

The E-PL2 was the bottom of the Pen line, but this new E-PL3 moves up to the middle of the line. Either way, as you’d expect, there are some things the bigger bro has that this model doesn’t. The E-PL3 has a smaller, slimmer body than the E-P3, and will come in black, white, red, or silver. The built-in popup flash (although a small external one is included in the box) , secondary control wheel, and dedicated EV comp button are gone, leaving a more point-and-shoot feeling control scheme using a combined four-way controller and jog wheel. The touchscreen is gone, and the resolution is down to 460,000 dots, but it’s still OLED. And, to ease the sting a little, the E-PL3′s screen is articulated, although tilt only. No swivel here, loyal fans of articulated displays.

It’s worth pointing out real quick that while the controls are simplified, the Pen series is now in its third year of looking absolutely gorgeous in all its incarnations. Check out more pics of the Pen Lite E-PL3 and the press release after the jump.

read more



Olympus Updates Pen Line With E-P3

Olympus announced three cameras in its Pen series of interchangeable lens compacts today. Two are replacements for existing models, and one is a new ultra-compact to compete with the increasingly tiny Sony NEX series and Panasonic’s new smaller GF bodies. All of the bodies feature the same basic guts and are differentiated by body and control options instead. Not to say that’s a bad thing. While the sensor sticks at the same 12ish megapixels that Olympus thinks is the sweet-spot for these types of cameras, the processor has been upgraded to new TruePic VI processor, and the AF has been improved with a new Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology (FAST) system. And by “improved” I mean I’ve heard tell it can check AF 120 times a second and Olympus is already talking about it rivaling many DSLR AF systems. There’re 35 AF areas, and you can group them into 3×3 areas for tracking active subjects.

Other features across all models include ISO support up to 12,800, 1080i HD video, three-mode in-body Image Stabilization, the most effective dust-reduction system I’ve ever used, multiple aspect ratios, multiple exposure, and the Pen series’ infamous Art Filters.

The E-P3 sits on top of this new line-up as the flagship. It looks largely like the E-P2 before it, so, no surprises there. It’s still got a bunch of physical buttons and a mode dial, and it has the advanced hotshoe port to support the external viewfinder or the nifty macro light. In enhancement news, the grip is now removable via a thumb-screw mechanic, so you can use it or not as suits you. Also, the 3″ OLED display is up to 614,000 dots resolution and is touch-enabled, including touch to focus. The E-P3, being the top of the Pen line, also has a built-in flash, for what that’s worth to you out there. Looks like it’ll come in black, silver, and that cool retro white and tan that I continue to love so much. For more pictures and the full press release, hit the jump.

read more



Olympus Announces E-PL2, New Lens Steals the Show

Well, yesterday at CES Olympus went official with the successor to its popular E-PL1 Micro-Four Thirds shooter. On the camera front, we’re not exactly re-inventing the wheel here. The 12.3 megapixels remains the same, as does those being on a Four-Thirds DSLR sensor with a 2x crop factor shoved into a tiny, retro, rangefinder body with point-and-shoot controls around back (although they’ve grown up a little, I see a jogwheel back there now).

So, what is new? Apparently some new and re-tweaked creative filters (more excitingly, they’re now usable in manual control modes), and a second-gen accessory port up by the hotshoe. That new port will still accept the first gen accessories, like the viewfinder, but will also support new ones like a swank macro lighting kit with two LEDs mounted on poseable metal goosenecks, and the new PENPal bluetooth file transmitter, which should make cables a thing of your past for getting pictures onto your laptop.

And there’s the new 14-42mm lens. It’s still 14-42, it’s still 3.5-5.6, so, what’s changed, you ask? Well, this one is a brand-spanking new MSC branded lens (Movie- and Still-Compatible). Much like the lenses from Sony’s NEX system, this new MSC lens has silent autofocus so it can be used during movies, and supports twist on lens attachments like a fisheye adapter or a macro adapter to change how the lens behaves. While I was formally quite skeptical of these sorts of glorified filters, there was no denying the fisheye adapter for Sony’s system rivaled most true fisheye lenses, so, we’ll go ahead and assume the Olympus system is equally faith-inspiring.

Shipping for the Pen E-PL2  is supposed to start this month, but you know how that goes. MSRP is just under $600 with the new lens. Not too bad, O.

More pictures, as always, past the jump.

read more



Olympus M.Zuiko 14-150mm Reviewed

Olympus’ M.Zuiko 14-150mm f4-5.6 zoom, the 28-300mm equivalent super-zoom for its Micro Four Thirds Pen system, is the subject of the newest lens review over at Imaging Resource. Those of you who’ve been in photography a bit will know that super zooms, that have to contains optics that switch from wide angle to super-tele, are always a bag of compromises. If you’re wondering just how Olympus managed those compromises in this budget lens, hit the external link.



Panasonic To Update All Its M43 Cameras, Too

So, remember last week when we said Olympus was updating its entire Micro Four Thirds line-up? Well, Panasonic announced today that it would, too.  Just, next month. What’s it going to offer? Glad you asked, gives me a good rhetorical foil to post the following:

Firmware ver.1.2 for DMC-GF1

  • Improved operation menu for image stabilizer ([OFF] will be added under [STABILIZER] only when LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS014042) is attached)
  • Improved AF (auto focus) performance with lenses of other manufacturer

Firmware ver.1.3 for DMC-GH1

  • Improved operation menu for image stabilizer ([OFF] will be added under [STABILIZER] only when LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS014042) is attached)
  • Availability of AF performance in FHD (full HD) movie recording mode with Four Thirds lenses that are compatible with contrast AF
  • Improved AF performance in movie recording with LEICA DG MACRO-ELMARIT 45mm / F2.8 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. (H-ES045)
  • Improved modulation accuracy of flash
  • Improved AF (auto focus) performance with lenses of other manufacturer

Firmware ver.1.5 for DMC-G1

  • Improved operation menu for image stabilizer ([OFF] will be added under [STABILIZER] only when LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. (H-FS014042) is attached)
  • Improved modulation accuracy of flash
  • Improved AF (auto focus) performance with lenses of other manufacturer

Again, keep your peepers peeled for that next month.



Crumpler Mornings and Walkabout Evenings

So, before we all go and forget I’m a Crumpler fan, this was a rather Crumpler morning as I swung up onto my bike, through my 7 Million Dollar Home full of this evening’s kit over my shoulder, and dangled a lightweight Crumpler tote full of essentials (water and food, so, literally essentials for once) off the handlebars and put some pedal action in to catch a ride with Nick (remember kiddies, carpooling is good for everyone, and the environment.)

Which leads us to the evening plans. Whatever idiocy and confused dates Nick mentioned in the last post, tonight is the next photo walkabout. That’ll be going down at 6:45pm at Coxhall Park in Carmel, Indiana. Grab a camera, grab a buddy, share a ride and come up and see us. Spend some time. Take some pictures. Feel free to show up early. Explore. Make mistakes. Take some winners.

So, if you’re reading this in the Indy area, make it out. Come on, make our day.



Olympus Pen System Gets Firmware Update

Olympus has pre-announced (seriously, guys, what’s up with pre-announcing firmware these days? How’s that even work) new firmware for the entire Pen system due out one hot week from today (that’d be April 22, don’t say I ever made you do math on a weekday).

From the press release:

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., April 15, 2010 – Olympus today announces the release of new firmware that improves auto focus performance for still images and high-definition (HD) video recording for the Olympus PEN E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras. The firmware update will also enable the menu and recorded image to be displayed on the E-P2 and E-PL1 LCD while the VF-2 electronic viewfinder is in use.

The firmware update improves the autofocus speed for the E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1’s still image capture with all Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds lenses. In addition, the update improves auto focus tracking in continuous auto focus (C-AF) mode when shooting movies and using the new M. Zuiko Digital™ ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 and M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm F4.0-5.6 lenses. These lenses are Olympus’ first movie and still [picture] compatible (MSC) lenses and are optimized to achieve accurate and silent auto focus while shooting HD videos.

“This firmware update makes the popular PEN series cameras even more functional for photo enthusiasts and movie-makers alike,” said John Knaur, senior marketing manager, PEN & E-System, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “The improved auto focus speed will make it even easier to capture outstanding, high-quality images and HD videos.”

The new firmware will be available on Olympus’ Web site starting on April 22, 2010. Click on the following link to learn more about the update and gain access to the firmware updater application:http://www.getolympus.com/penupdate.

The M. Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 lens will be available in May 2010, and the M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm F4.0-5.6 lens will be available in June 2010.

Journalists interested in more information, review units and high-resolution images of the Olympus PEN series cameras, M. Zuiko Digital lenses and E-System accessories should contact Jeff Hluchyj, Mullen Public Relations, (617) 226-9939 or jeff.hluchyj@mullen.com, or Jennifer Colucci, Olympus Imaging America Inc., 3500 Corporate Parkway, Center Valley, PA 18034, ph: (484) 896-5719 / (800) 622-6372 orjennifer.colucci@olympus.com, or visit the Olympus website: www.getolympus.com.



Nikon Reportedly Recipient of Two Red Dot Awards

So, via Imaging Resource is a press release from Nikon talking excitedly about it’s two Red Dot awards. The Red Dot awards are some design awards that take the idea of design pretty seriously, appearance, ease-of-use, the ease with which one can pick it up and figure it out, etc..

Anyway, Nikon apparently won some awards for the Coolpix S1000pj point-and-shoot with the LED projector, and for the D5000 entry-level DSLR. Not that I can verify this independently, since Red Dot’s site hasn’t updated with this year’s winners. It does look like this won’t be Nikon’s first time winning a Red Dot, the D3 won one last year.




Switch To Mobile Site