It’s a good time to be looking for “the little camera that could.” If you’re willing to spend $300-$500, there are some really compelling options out there. The Panasonic LX series is great, and for a little more you can pick up the excellent Nikon P7000. Now Olympus has a new entry to this particular arena, the XZ-1, and although the price and specs aren’t published yet, I can see from here that it’s got a sweet little lens. → Read More
This is kind of exciting but also not: the Olympus E-PL2 appeared in the camera rumornet but it’s not a major upgrade – at least so far – from the E-PL1. Improved features include a new “PENPAL” Bluetooth module that connects to the hotshoe and a new filter called “Dramatic Tone.” Sadly, it has the same good sensor but the size and shape are slightly different. One more pic after the jump. → Read More
Olympus, purveyor of fine photography goods, has put it on the record that they are out of the crowded entry-level DSLR game. I don’t blame them; with a great Micro Four Thirds series like the Pen, and with Canon and Nikon duking it out at the sub-$1000 level, they’ve got no reason to spend precious R&D cash on an also-ran product. → Read More
One of the “sub trends” of this year’s CEATEC exhibition (that’s currently taking place near Tokyo) is augmented reality, especially among the telecommunications companies. Japan’s biggest mobile carrier NTT Docomo is experimenting with an AR technology (developed by Olympus in 2008) called AR Walker. → Read More
Olympus has updated its DSLR line with a successor to the E-3. It’s got a micro four-thirds sensor but it’s still an SLR, so M4/3 fans had better look elsewhere. This is a full-size camera. It’s aimed at the prosumer crowd, and like the upcoming Pentax K-5 and Canon’s 7D, it’s weather-proof (they say “splashproof and dustproof) and capable of HD video. → Read More
No, you’re not seeing triple — those really are three totally different models of voice recorder from Olympus. Well, they’re not actually that different. Core functionality is largely the same between them: a few gigs of internal storage, rechargeable AAA battery, built-in stereo mics, and a monochrome LCD screen (now bigger!).
People do, in fact, still use these; not everyone can get by with a 99¢ iPhone app for recording important meetings and lectures. → Read More
If you’ve been living your life in an endless nightmare of pain, confusion, and horror, your prayers have been answered: the Olympus PEN E-P2 now comes in silver. → Read More
Short version: This thing could take a bullet and keep on shooting, but its chunky form and average image quality don’t impress. However, if strength and resilience are your main criteria for picking a camera, you could do a lot worse. → Read More
The Olympus E-P1 is a funny device. Everyone was stoked when Olympus first announced the retro camera, but then people actually got it in their hands. There were some issues with the first-gen camera. Some have been addressed in previous update, but now the manual focus is getting some attention with the upcoming 1.3 firmware update. → Read More
The Olympus E-PL1 budget micro four thirds camera launched last week but Amazon already has it available for pre-order. On one hand this pre-order will ensure you’re one of the first kids at school with the new toy, but that’s not going to be until next month away so you may wanna hold on to your $600 a bit longer. Something a bit more tantalizing might come along. → Read More
Olympus just took the wraps off its new $600 E-PL1 micro four thirds camera the other day and your main question is still probably what’s the difference between the new model and the previously-announced E-P2. At least that was our primary question. There is a $500 price difference after all. So here you go, the main differences. → Read More
After a series of leaks brought us the news of the E-PL1 early we were concerned that the new member of Olympus’ PEN family would be a clunker. We were wrong. This new model looks “cheaper” than the EP-1 and EP-2 simply because it is clad in aluminum up front and polycarbonate in the back. This makes the camera considerably lighter than its predecessors. We saw the grey and silver models although the black model is said to look the nicest. I also had a quick hands on with the entry-level point and shoots they announced today. → Read More
Hello, beautiful. The Olympus PEN E-PL1 isn’t supposed to be official until tomorrow, but that didn’t stop good ol’d Engadget from posting the full press release along with all of the product shots early. Well done, boys. And PR agencies are afraid we’re going to break their embargoes because of Arrington’s rant. (we don’t, btw) But anyway, back to the not-yet-official camera. → Read More
Do you live an extreme lifestyle? Do you climb mountains by day and fight baddies by night? Do you enjoy such activities as Bigfoot hunting, Yeti racing, or Sasquatch breeding? Do you have children? If the answer is yes to any of the previous questions, Olympus has two new cameras for your consideration: the Style Tough 8010 or 6020. → Read More
Olympus isn’t new a new player in the megazoom game. The camera company’s megazoom line is older than some Jonas Brothers’ fans. And it shows. The new kits are officially drool worthy. → Read More
Olympus is announcing.. something.. soon. We think. It kinda looks like a camera. But it might be fingernail clippers, or perhaps prosthetic hands. We’re not sure. → Read More
So we told mere moments ago (in internet time) that Olympus had officially announced the leaked and rumored E-P2, the latest in their line of EVIL cameras. The good news: they’re not just announced, you can buy one online too! → Read More
Chances are if you, or your spouse, is the type that gets excited about gadgets covered in Swarovski crystals, then you probably don’t care that Peter found the Olympus E-P1 to be just an average performer and nothing special. You also probably have the disposable cash to pay a $2,000 premium over the sticker price. → Read More
Yeah, that leak did a number on the official “release moment” of Olympus’ new micro four-thirds camera. All the stats are there, but I forbore from weighing in on the thing. I’m cautious but bullish about the M4/3 phenomenon; they’re legit to be sure, but this first generation isn’t going to break any sales records. They’re too expensive and too limited at the moment — but that’s how DSLRs were back in the day, and now everyone wants one.
I suspect the non-SLR interchangeable-lens camera (AKA the EVIL system) will replace the point and shoot, and the phone or PMP will fill that snapshot role. But until they get that price down it’s not going to happen. → Read More
Someone really ought to explain to the British Journal of Photography how to keep a secret. They leaked the Nikon D3s early, and now they’ve dropped the new Olympus E-P2 as well, which was expected to be announced later tonight. I guess they just think they’re too cool for school. Or maybe they read the embargo time wrong. To be fair, much of the announcement was already leaked — we knew about the body style, as well as the electronic viewfinder and microphone add-ons. However the official specs are new. → Read More
