Olympus PEN E-PL7 compact mirrorless camera announced

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We were invited to the official launching of the Olympus Pen E-PL7 mirrorless camera at G Tower, Kuala Lumpur. This camera is wifi enabled. Images can be downloaded to android or iOS smart phones via wifi. One of the main feature is that this camera is specifically design for taking selfies. It has a drop-down LCD panel and a 1 sec. timer delay that aids the taking of selfies. Olympus research has shown that selfies images is a growing trend. It will exceed proper photos category. Wow! This is something new, perhaps we should be holding photography workshops to teach people how to take more creative selfies.

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., August 28, 2014 — Olympus makes it easier than ever to shoot and share your stories in brilliant detail with the new PEN E-PL7®, an interchangeable-lens camera in a portable, compact and lightweight body, with a premium design. Featuring a new 180-degree downward flip touch LCD, Selfie-dedicated mode and built-in Wi-Fi®, combined with the enhanced Olympus Image Share app (OI.Share™), the PEN E-PL7 gives users the power to easily upload and share images instantly using their mobile devices.

Outstanding Image Quality
The Olympus PEN E-PL7 features much of the same technology as Olympus’s award-winning OM-D® line of cameras for a level of performance that rivals that of high-end interchangeable-lens cameras. The TruePic VII image processor combines with a 16.05 megapixel Live MOS sensor and M.ZUIKO® lenses to deliver beautiful image quality with high resolution, superior color reproduction and high sensitivity, all in a portable, compact and lightweight body, with the same high-level design and build quality of the PEN flagship, the E-P5.

The in-body 3-axis VCM image stabilization system is derived from the Olympus OM-D E-M10®. This powerful technology compensates for horizontal and vertical angular shifts (yam and pitch) as well as camera shake along the optical axis (roll) which is especially common in one-handed shooting scenarios. With the in-body image stabilization mechanism, camera shake can be prevented with any lens, allowing users to take beautiful, dynamic images, all the time. 

Official launching in Kuala Lumpur on 28th August 2014

Official launching in Kuala Lumpur on 28th August 2014

Speed
The on-board FAST AF is Olympus’s fastest-ever AF system and uses 81 points that cover the whole image. Small AF Target and Super Spot AF modes make it possible to zoom in and focus accurately on small sections of the frame. The E-PL7 is also capable of capturing high-speed action with 8fps sequential shooting, the fast processor supports continuous capture of up to 20 RAW frames or an unlimited number of JPEG frames, and the Continuous Auto Focus with Tracking mode accurately tracks and captures moving subject as fast as 3.5 fps.

One-Touch Self Portraits
The 3-inch, 1.04 million-dot high-definition touch LCD monitor automatically turns into a mirror display and activates into its “Selfie Mode” when tilted downward in the 180-degree position, perfect for one-touch selfies. The shutter-release button appears on the screen so subjects can frame the image appropriately, shooting one second after the button is touched, and capturing beautiful selfies that could not have been captured with a smart phone alone. Selfie interval shooting provides a fun way to capture images with a custom self-timer switching button that defaults to deliver three shots at one second intervals, giving subjects time to strike different poses. When an electronic zoom lens is attached, the zoom automatically adjusts to the wide-angle position so that the user can quickly take their shot, incorporating the background as well. 

The E-PL7’s built-in flash helps users take beautiful selfies against nighttime backgrounds, and e-Portrait can be activated with a single touch for more beautiful skin textures. iAuto has also been enhanced with selfies in mind: Portrait settings have been added to common scene modes to automatically detect 42 types of scenes to match the subject and optimize for the ideal image.

Easy Smart Phone Connection
The Olympus PEN E-PL7 includes built-in Wi-Fi, and connecting to a smart phone is simple. Using the Olympus Image Share app, along with a smart phone, and quickly scanning the QR code displayed on the camera’s LCD, the smart phone syncs with the Wi-Fi network created by the camera. OI.Share shooting functions have evolved, making it possible to easily operate the custom self-timer for sequential and selfie interval shooting. Live View can be displayed on the smart phone, and the camera can be controlled by touching the smart phone display as if it were the camera itself, then users can send selected images to their smart device for immediate sharing on social media sites. 

Expanded OI.Share Capability
OI.Share has been enhanced with a number of remote shooting functions to expand the use of a variety of selfie options. Settings for single, sequential high and sequential low switching button, as well as controls for the timer bar and interval shooting, can all be easily accessed remotely on the user’s smart phone. A new movie button lets you quickly record a movie at customized settings, including customized time length for each movie clip. Live Bulb has been added to OI.Share, allowing users the ability to control and monitor the bulb photography process on a smart phone while the shutter is released. Images can also be geotagged through the OI.Share App, giving users a record of all of their adventures.

Camera Creativity
The PEN E-PL7 is equipped with several new creative features, including two new Art Filters. The “Vintage” art filter transfers everyday images into a photo that looks to have withstood the test of time, and “Partial Color” enables users to utilize an intuitive color ring to leave certain colors in an image while other colors are converted to monochrome to emphasize specific parts of a photo or subjects (18 colors are available). “Shade Effect” is a new art effect that adds bands of shadows on the left and right, or top and bottom of the image. Photo Story has also been expanded to include Layout mode for a photo-album-style arrangement. “Panning” is a new scene mode that matches the E-PL7’s movement to the subjects so users can track it for the optimal panning effect. And finally, a new movie effect, “Old Film Effect,” records video to look like old movies shot on film by adding noise, scratches and dust effects.

For photographers who prefer composing their shots using an eyepiece, the E-PL7 is compatible with the optional high-definition VF-4 viewfinder that provides an impressive 1.48X magnification, a 2.36 million-dot LCD, eye-detect to turn it on at the right time, and intuitive functionality that enables real-time viewing of shooting conditions.

New Micro Four Thirds® Lens and Accessories
Olympus is also introducing a black version of its popular M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 12mm F2.0 lens. This high-speed, single-focal-length, wide-angle lens, which was previously only available in silver, is ideal for shooting high-quality, dramatic landscapes and street scenes in low-light conditions. It has a beautiful full-metal body and a snap ring that enables photographers to pan focus with a distance indicator.

A genuine leather body jacket made especially for the OLYMPUS PEN E-PL7, the CS-45B, will also cover the camera’s grip. In addition to the utility of protecting the camera body from damage, it also offers a robust feel, thanks to the luxuriousness and craftsmanship that comes with the use of genuine leather. The jacket is available in light brown, brown, and black, and matches the new Genuine Leather Lens Cover LS-60.5GL (compatible with the M.Zuiko 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 EZ lens) and is a great complement to the Genuine Leather Neck Strap CSS-S109LLII, which is already available. The special snap buttons are used to attach the jacket to the body, making the jacket smooth and easy to remove. The jacket can also be quickly removed when you want to use a tripod or insert or remove batteries or an SD card. You can also take selfies even with the jacket attached.

A waterproofing case optimized for the OLYMPUS PEN E-PL7, the PT-EP12, rated to handle water pressure down to 45m. works with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 EZ, M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f2.0, M.Zuiko Digital 17mm f1.8, M.Zuiko Digital 25mm f1.8, and M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f1.8. 

Compatible with the external flash bundled with the E-PL7, you’ll be ready for underwater photography with the PT-EP12. You can also now switch to underwater mode using the arrow pad, allowing you to concentrate on taking photos stress-free even underwater. An even greater variety of underwater photos can be taken if you use the Underwater Macro Converter PTMC-01 or the Underwater Wide Converter PTWC-01, both of which can be attached directly. A brand new dedicated underwater flash, the UFL-3, operates with high-performance, is compact and reaches a guide number of GN22. With a charging time of approximately two seconds, this flash is pressure resistant to water at a depth of 75m. It’s compatible with the wireless flash controller and is bundled with a dedicated diffuser. This is a next-generation all-in-one underwater photography system that condenses all of the options needed for underwater shooting in a compact body.

A new lithium-ion battery BLS-50 with increased capacity, from 1150 mAh (BLS-5) to 1210 mAh (BLS-50), replaces the BLS-5. The BLS-50 is the same shape as the BLS-5 and can be used in Olympus models that support it. 

U.S. Pricing and Availability
The Olympus PEN E-PL7 will be available in late September 2014 in the following configurations: 

Estimated Street Price
$699.99 Body in Black or Silver with M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 II R lens

$599.99 Body only in Black or Silver

Lens Pricing
$799.99 M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 12mm f2.0 lens in Black 

Accessory Pricing
$59.99 Body Jacket (Available in October)

$44.99 Leather Lens Jacket (Available in October)
$749.99 PT-EP12 Underwater Housing (Available in October)
$499.99 UFL-3 Underwater Flash (Available in October)

Note: The Olympus Pen E-PL7 in Malaysia comes with a Zuiko 14-42mm f3.5-5.6EX lens

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Specifications

Price
MSRP $599 (body only), $699 (with 12-42mm F3.5-5.6 II R lens)
Body type
Body type Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Body material Composite
Sensor
Max resolution 4608 x 3456
Other resolutions 3200 x 2400, 1280 x 960
Image ratio w:h 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels 16 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors 17 megapixels
Sensor size Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm)
Sensor type CMOS
Processor TruePic VII
Color space sRGB, AdobeRGB
Color filter array Primary color filter
Image
ISO Auto, 200 – 25600
White balance presets 7
Custom white balance Yes (4 slots)
Image stabilization Sensor-shift
Image stabilization notes 3.5 stops
Uncompressed format RAW
JPEG quality levels Super fine, fine, normal, basic)
File format
  • JPEG
  • Raw (ORF)
  • 3D (MPO)
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
  • Contrast Detect (sensor)
  • Multi-area
  • Center
  • Selective single-point
  • Tracking
  • Single
  • Continuous
  • Touch
  • Face Detection
  • Live View
Autofocus assist lamp Yes
Manual focus Yes
Number of focus points 81
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds
Focal length multiplier 2×
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD Tilting
Screen size 3
Screen dots 1,037,000
Touch screen Yes
Screen type TFT-LCD
Live view Yes
Viewfinder type None
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed 60 sec
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 sec
Exposure modes
  • iAuto
  • Program
  • Aperture priority
  • Shutter priority
  • Manual
  • Bulb
  • Time
Scene modes
  • Portrait
  • e-Portrait
  • Landscape
  • Landscape + Portrait
  • Sport
  • Hand-held Starlight
  • Night scene
  • Night + Portrait
  • Children
  • High Key
  • Low Key
  • DIS mode
  • Macro
  • Nature Macro
  • Candle
  • Sunset
  • Documents
  • Panorama
  • Fireworks
  • Beach & Snow
  • Fisheye Conv.
  • Wide Conv.
  • Macro Conv.
  • Panning,
  • 3D
Built-in flash No (small external flash included)
External flash Yes (GN7 @ ISO 100)
Flash X sync speed 1/250 sec
Drive modes
  • Single
  • Continuous (H, L)
  • Self-timer (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Continuous drive fps
Self-timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Exposure compensation ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 1 EV steps)
AE Bracketing ±5 (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps)
WB Bracketing Yes (3 frames in 2/4/6 stops in A-B/G-M axis)
Videography features
Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Format H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone Stereo
Speaker Mono
Storage
Storage types SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Connectivity
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI Yes (micro-HDMI)
Microphone port No
Headphone port No
Wireless Built-In
Wireless notes 802.11b/g/n
Remote control Yes (wired or via smartphone)
Physical
Environmentally sealed No
Battery Battery Pack
Battery description BLS-50 lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA) 350
Weight (inc. batteries) 357 g (0.79 lb / 12.59 oz)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38 mm (4.53 x 2.64 x 1.5)
Other features
Orientation sensor Yes
Timelapse recording Yes
GPS None

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