Olympus E-PL1 finally has a pop up flash - image from Olympus website
Olympus recently launches E-PL1, the smallest micro four third system camera up to date. It is a camera for photo enthusiasts that want a light weight, portable interchangeable camera. So how it compares to the other micro four thirds camera such as Olympus E-P1 or E-P2? Despite the lower price, It seems like Olympus E-PL1 addresses some major issues from previous cameras and make it even better in several areas such as lack of pop up flash, size and price.
Here are some of the key differences compared to Olympus E-P1:
Olympus E-PL1 advantages:
- Lighter and smaller camera body
- Pop up Flash
- Live Guide control (You can see adjust color balance, brightness, saturation and see it before you take any picture)
- Six in-camera Art Filters (Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama and our new Gentle Sepia filter).
- Wireless flash control!
4 groups 3 channels - External mic connector
- About $100-$150 cheaper (when it hits the market)
Olympus E-P1 advantages:
- Metal body construction
- Two dials for better control
- Slightly bigger LCD Screen (3″ vs 2.7″ 230k res)
- Six in-camera Art filters (Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film and Pin Hole).
Off course, both cameras has Olympus signature features such as
- Built-in image stabilization
- Anti dust mechanism
- 12.3 megapixel image resolution
- HD 720p video recording
- Scene Modes, Face detection
- Shadow adjustment technology, etc
Who is Olympus E-P1 / E-PL1 for?
Olympus E-P1 is designed for experienced photographers. Photographer who uses digital SLR camera will appreciate the built quality and control. On the other hand, E-PL1 is designed for consumers that uses compact cameras but want to upgrade to a better quality camera that capable to take better quality images and able to change lenses.
E-PL1 is a refreshing product from Olympus because it sets a new standard in size and price. It will be selling about $500-599, this compact m43 camera will surely attract consumers that are looking for high quality camera.
Olympus E-PL1 design is quite similar to typical compact camera or entry level DSLR camera
Olympus E-P1 has more dedicated buttons and dials on the back. This indicate better control.
Become our Facebook Fans
Follow me @ Twitter
{ 1 trackback }
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
I want news on Classic four third also.
Please see olympus link on E-PL1:
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1501&cid=em_epl1_02_10_camera&hq_e=el&hq_m=1896822&hq_l=11&hq_v=db40b6c6db
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
Hey did anyone notice that the wide angle photo of the food from the “missing blog” is now on the Olympus movie at 1:29 seconds. I don’t know why but I found that to be interesting.
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
I am almost sold on getting one + the viewfinder and a panasonic 20mm
but first I want to see what will be panasonic’s reply…. I guess a new GF will arrive soon now
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
lighter low pass filter, that’s good news, it’s usually gives sharper images.
point’n’shoot controls, that’s bad news. There is a lot of menu and sub menu, and no ring to control them all
flash, that’s good news
cheaper, that’s good news
extention port, that’s good news
faster AF,oh yes ! that’s good news
In brief, what the place of the one year old E-P1/E-P1+ ? They look’s like draft camera. The only real avantage is a better ease of use.
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
The Live Guide is interesting for P&S user to upgrade. Just played with the interactive demo on the official website.
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
The pre-order price of E-PL1 in Japan are 69,800 Yen (Body only), 79,800 Yen (14-42mm Kit Set) & 99,800 Yen (40-150mm Kit Set), equivalent to USD767, 877 & 1097 respectively. Also, Japanese models have white, champagne gold and black color versions.
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
99,800 Yen should be for double lens kit. Sorry for the mistake.
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
The E-P1 and E-P2 were just the warmup act. At the $599 pricepoint, this new camera has the potential to make a serious dent in the entry-level dSLR market. I predict a top ten Amazon position by May…
This comment was originally posted on 1001 Noisy Cameras
The link that you have for the underwater housing isn’t for the E-PL1. Check it out here-
http://www.olympus-global.com/en/news/2010a/nr100203ptep01e.cfm
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
More accessories-
http://www.olympus-global.com/en/news/2010a/nr100203acce.cfm
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
Excited about this camera’s price!
And really really want someone to tell Lori Grunin that she needs a makeover, stat! Her t-shirt and unkempt hair are depressing.
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
E-PL1 has arrived and suprise still has IBIS and many other features including flash but why then why omit the low light AF light assist? The plastic mount change on lens and cast aluminum mount on camera are a very disappointing downgrade in my opinion. Too bad for anotherwise exciting new model promising to expand the m4/3 market and bring all m4/3 prices down for the rest of us hopefully.
43rumors promised Pany lovers some very very exciting news soon maybe this week? . But apparently 43rumors is primarily an Olympus site as I don’t see even as little as a advertisement for a Pany m4/3 product in current news but Samynag lens for another format receives mention it is only about E-PL1.
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
The Olympus site (link noted by Rocky) has a nice specifications list. All I can say is that it has packed a whole lot in this small package at a fraction of the size of my E-3 and E-30, essentially with Live View display only and no nice button or dial controls and at a pretty cool price. Could be a great underwater camera too. Concerned about speed though. They made a great little feature-laden P&S in the SP-350 but it was gawd-awful slow. This one may suffer lack of enough power to use well with full-sized 4/3rds lenses. I can’t see re-buying micro 4/3rds lenses…
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
Don, does the live-preview of the aperture’s depth of field only show in iAUTO mode (“background blur”), or does it also live-preview in manual mode?
I know the live-preview of the shutter speed (“express motion”) only shows in iAUTO mode.
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
Yes, very nice, but where is the E-5??
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
79,800 Yen (14-42mm Kit Set)…
I saw the GF1 sold with the pancake for less than that price during Christmas when I was in Japan. I told the sales that in Canada, GF1 and E-P1 are the same price. He was surprised, since E-P1 is treated as a high class luxury in there. The E-P1 & 2 have the biggest booth and most abundant variations of brochures and books.
Also that I saw the E-30, E620, E520 all were selling at least 200$ CAD cheaper in Japan… I should have bought a few…..
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
Hi OM! Should be announced soon…
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
I’m surprised that the entry-level model adds features like wireless flash control (which is great, I think!)
If this had been the very first m4/3 camera I’d have bought it in an instance.
Hope the evolution goes on quickly and we’ll finally see a pro version m4/3 camera combining the features which are unneccessarily distributed between three models.
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
Hi OM! Should be announced soon…..
Thanks, now that sounds like good news!!
I hope the source is good.
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
OM, I heard the E-5 should be available in March. I also hope he is right
This comment was originally posted on Olympus and Panasonic rumors
this model represent the power of 4/3 itself (small, starting to be aggressive in pricing & good image quality)
Hoping this system will change the digital imaging industry which is cheaper, smaller, lighter than ever before !
From my point of view this camera feels like a missed opportunity. I was excited about this at first; a compact interchangeable lens camera with an entry-level price and the ability to use my Canon FD lenses with an adapter sounds like exactly what I’m going to be in the market for. I can live with an entry-level 1 dial control setup if it’s done right.
Except it doesn’t even have a 1 dial control system, so no deal. The 3 major reasons I want to upgrade from the old Olympus C-series I have now are lens flexibility, sensor size and the awful, awkward controls. I’ve missed more shots than I care to remember because of those bloody push-buttons, so that requirement is non-negotiable.
Sure, shooting in the auto modes will solve that problem, but if you outgrow that and move into A/S/M modes, you *will* be driven insane. You *will* miss shots. You *will* spend half the time swearing at your camera’s inadequate control scheme. Been there, still doing that.
Wonder what Panny’s answer will be? An entry-level priced m4/3 kit with their autofocus system, compatibility with GF-1 accessories, controls similar to those of the dSLRs it would compete directly against and enough of Panasonic’s manufacturing ability allocated to make it actually available to buy would be top of my Christmas list for sure!
This comment was originally posted on 1001 Noisy Cameras
If you wait long enough, Paul, the perfect camera will be developed. In the meantime, however, you will miss many shots while waiting for it…
This comment was originally posted on 1001 Noisy Cameras