The Olympus PEN PEN E-PM1 Shipping In September For $500

Olympus has just announced the US availability in September of the PEN E-PM1, the “mini” version of the PEN line. This camera is the smallest micro 4/3s shooter available and is compatible with all of Olympus’ current M4/3 lenses.

I’ll be testing the E-PL3 this week for review next week but I can’t wait to get ahold of the E-PM1. The size, compatibility, and lens quality have thus far been very impressive on the rest of the models and this is a definite move in the right direction for the platform.

From the PR:

PROFESSIONAL IMAGE QUALITY
The new 12.3 megapixel sensor is the same size as those used in pro quality DSLRs. Olympus’ in-body image stabilization technology makes it possible to use any compatible lens from wide-angle to telephoto, for perfectly clear, crisp photos no matter what the shooting situation, even in low light. New Face Detection Auto Focus adjusts focus automatically on the subject’s eyes for the best shot every time. You no longer need to worry about subjects appearing too dark against a light background with the PEN E-PM1’s Advanced Shadow Adjustment Technology.

CREATIVE FREEDOM
Shoot up to 29 minutes of full 1080i HD video with Dolby Digital stereo sound using the direct HD Movie Button. Add more flair to your photos and videos with six in-camera Art Filters (Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama and Dramatic Tone). Every Art Filter can be used in all shooting modes, including HD movie mode. Art Filters can achieve dramatic results on the go without the need for a computer or editing software, so you can spend more time shooting and less time computing. A variety of interchangeable lenses, accessories and flashes are compatible with the Olympus PEN E-PM1 to support all different photography needs. High-precision engineering and an improved internal focusing mechanism have enabled the Olympus MSC (Movie+Still Compatible) lenses to autofocus quickly, smoothly and silently; perfect for stills and HD movies in stereo with amazing clarity. In any mode, from close up to landscape, 3D technology brings your images to another dimension. The 3D data is processed in-camera for easy display on 3D televisions or laptops.

LOW-LIGHT PERFORMANCE
Capture the life of the party with the PEN E-PM1’s super luminosity AF Illuminator LED beam, which allows the camera to focus faster in low-light. Stunning night-time photos are a click away with a maximum sensitivity of 12,800 ISO. Additionally, the “PEN Mini” provides the flexibility of an optional slide-on flash included with camera.

BLAZING SPEED
The Olympus PEN E-PM1 offers fast sequential shooting, enabling you to take up to five photos per second. Capture that perfect shot, even when your subject is moving. The new FAST (Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology) AF System is able to focus at an incredible speed and offers 35 separate focus areas that are spread over nearly the entire sensor, which makes it possible for pin-point accurate focusing on small subjects wherever they appear in the frame. The TruePic VI image processor has been designed specifically for the Olympus PEN series, with two (dual core) processing engines for superb color and clarity.