Olympus is building on its significant micro four-thirds IP (i.e. mirrorless cameras with the M4/3 sensor size) with a premium offering with a stylized, retro look. The OM-D EM-5, digital successor to the long-running OM series of film cameras, has a look straight out of the 70s but specs that should satisfy enthusiast photographers looking for a compact but powerful system.
Their PEN series of M4/3 cameras is popular and well-reviewed, and the EM-5 builds on that tech. The difference is in some pro-like features Olympus has added in: a weather-resistant magnesium body, high-FPS EVF, and high-speed autofocus and shooting. → Read More
More news on the Sony-Olympus alliance that’s supposed to be announced soon: Japan’s biggest business daily The Nikkei is reporting today that big S is interested in purchasing a stake as large as “20%-30%” in its potential, scandal-hit partner (that would be up from the 0.03% Sony currently owns).
The capital and business alliance would be mainly aimed at bringing together Sony’s strength in imaging sensor technology with Olympus’ expertise in endoscopes and other medical equipment. → Read More
It would be a tie-up between two giants: Diamond Weekly, a major Japanese business journal, is reporting [JP] on its website today that scandal-hit Olympus is about to ink a capital and business alliance deal with Sony. Olympus has been under fire for months, after it was revealed the company has covered up large losses for the past 20 years.
At some point, Olympus was in danger of getting de-listed at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, but it’s now on a 3-year “probation” that requires the company to improve governance. According to Diamond, Olympus’ top management has been consulting with various electronics companies but chose Sony as the best partner to help get it out of one the biggest corporate scandals in Japanese history. → Read More
Riding high from a series of mid- to high-level successes in its 2010 and 2011 camera line, Olympus execs could be excused for feeling good. However, as 2011 winds down, Olympus is not in the news for medical imaging devices or micro 4/3s lenses.
Instead, it’s in the news for a scandalous affair that threatens to sink the company and has already claimed the company’s board.
It was a cover-up, and a huge one at that, and some are calling it the the biggest corporate scandal in Japan since the 1990′s. And while the technical illegality of what went down is certainly not up for debate, the word “scandal” deserves a closer look. → Read More
After months of uncertainty and allegations thrown out left and right, Olympus admitted today that it has been hiding company losses for the past two decades.
Here’s what’s up: Including the 2008 takeover of medical equipment maker Gyrus, the company used four acquisitions to cover up losses on securities investments, as well as advisory fees. Bloomberg reports that the company payed inflated fees to takeover advisors, which effectively covered up Olympus losses from the 90′s. → Read More
Short Version
It’s hard to recommend the E-PL3 over the more powerful and touchscreen-capable E-P3 but if you’re in the market for a much more compact micro 4/3s shooter and you can survive without a built-in flash, this may be the camera for you. → Read More
Olympus is trying to do with their new E-PMT1 PEN Mini camera what other manufacturers already have: bring DSLR power to the masses. It’s their smallest Micro Four Thirds camera to date, and it’s definitely got its proverbial sights set on the mass market — and the fact that it comes in six colors certainly doesn’t hurt. Olympus was kind enough to let me play with an E-PM1 at the U.S. Open of all places, and here are a few of my quick impressions. → Read More
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.
→ Read More
Olympus first announced the E-PL3 late in June, but at the time only the E-P3 (which we recently reviewed) had a price and a date. No longer! The E-PL3 is now officially coming to the US in September, though Oly didn’t want to get any more specific than that.
At $700, the E-PL3 is $200 cheaper than the E-P3; the two share the same sensor, image processor, and general camera capabilities (including interlaced video, unfortunately), but the E-PL3 lacks the sexy OLED touchscreen. Instead, it has a tilting, 3″, 480×320 LCD. It also lacks a built-in flash, something to think about if you’re looking for an all-in-one device (an external flash is included, though). → Read More
Short Version
As a long-time fan of Olympus’ Micro 4/3s series of cameras, I came to the E-P3 expecting good things. I was not disappointed. The camera is like Mini Cooper or a Smart car: it gets you where you need to go, you have fun on the way, and the resulting savings in size, bulk, and, in some ways, price makes it a great second camera for a DSLR buff or a great first camera for someone just getting started in the world of removable lens shooters. → Read More
Olympus just announced the new PEN E-P3, PEN E-PL3, and PEN E-PM1. Why so many, you ask? Well, this is a full range of M4/3s cameras in various sizes – the granddaddy P, the “light” PL, and the mini PM. The E-P3 costs $899 with 12.3-megapixel Live MOS Image Sensor and 14-42mm lens. Only the E-P3 has been priced but here are some specs on the other, smaller cameras. In all, we’re looking at a fairly complete family of M4/3s cameras with big boy chops. The question? Will someone pick this up over an entry-level DSLR. → Read More
No, you cannot take pictures with these tiny E-PL1 and E-PL2 cameras, but you can, feasibly, buy one and carry it around on your keys. Sadly, you can’t take pictures with these tiny, removable-lens cameras, although that would be amazagasmic.
And remember: “It’s love, It’s a pen.” → Read More
Olympus’s XZ-1 competes with models like the Canon S95 and Panasonic LX-5 in the “primo point and shoot” market, and looks good doing it. But having a manual lens cap can sometimes be a pain: it’s either dangling from a lanyard, taking up space in your pocket, or getting lost somewhere. This excellent retracting lens cap fits over the lens and splits apart to get out of the way when it’s shootin’ time. It’s from UN Ltd, and it looks to me like it costs ¥5800, though with shipping it comes to ¥7350 — so, $90 unless you want to go over to Japan and pick it up. [via DP Review] → Read More
We recently reviewed the Zoom Q3HD, a pocket cam (like your Flips and Playsports) with a little extra love given to the audio side of things. Olympus has decided to take that route as well with its new LS-20M… a pocket cam with a little extra love given to the audio side of things. What, I said it was the same route. → Read More
To be sure, Olympus’ micro 4/3s cameras, the E-PL1 and the E-PL2, are changing the way we think about removable lens cameras. However, I worry that high price coupled with potentially limiting features will cause some shooters to shy away from this line. While that may be the case, I encourage anyone thinking about a point and shoot or ultrazoom camera to look into these clever and high-quality shooters. → Read More
Believe it or not, handheld mics are a blogger’s best friend — I use the Zoom H1 almost daily. The DM-620 PCM is no different. The handheld mic records uncompressed 16 bit/48 kHz Linear PCM audio and stores it on the 4GB built-in memory (up to 32GB with microSD/SDHC Card). Features like auto-leveling, scene select, noise cancelation, zoom microphone and low-cut filter help identify recording conditions and adjust accordingly.
It looks like a pretty much standard mic for the most part. But it will win major points if it feels nice and sturdy — the H1 feels really cheap. → Read More
Olympus, who normally makes our favoritest portable camera in the world, the E-PL1, just announced three standard point and shoots into the world. The SZ-30MR and SZ-20 are your bog-standard shooters while the Tough TG-810 is apparently “crushproof,” which is great if you work at Fred Flintstone’s quarry and tend to leave your camera near the brontosaurus that lifts the boulders. Otherwise, you’re basically talking HD video recording, 16-megapixel vstills, and some nice zoom on the 30 while the 20 is a bit less feature-rich. The cameras can even take 3D photos using an odd camera angle technique. Old Toughie is waterproof and includes GPS and a built-in compass. It has four underwater scene modes including a top notch auto mode for divers who are too busy fending off great fish to fiddle with dials. These are UK-only, right now, sadly. PR after the jump. → Read More
A trusted tipster has informed 4/3 Rumors that Olympus is planning on dropping a few new cameras come March 2nd. There’s no more information than that, but what’s this? Forum Olympus France has discovered some recent Oly patents for a couple big-zoom compacts. They’re not interchangeable lens models, more in the luxury point-and-shoot zone, but still could be worth your consideration. We’ll keep our eyes open come March and give you the news as soon as we hear it. → Read More
Our brothers at HuffPOL/Engadget snagged this press release announcing that Carl Zeiss, lensmaker to the stars, will start selling M4/3 lenses in the near future. Note the release does not describe any particular lens but instead promises to start building in the format over the next few years and that they are now part of the Micro Four Thirds System group, a set of companies dedicated to the format.
Why is this important? Well, to begin with, Carl Zeiss is the beginning and end when it comes to high-end lenses. By putting their might behind the new standard, it proves that M4/3 is, at the very least, a respected format. As a convert, I’m excited to see where these cameras are headed in the next few years, especially once the big boys like Canon and Nikon finally accept the inevitable and join the party. → Read More
The Olympus E-PL2 is due to hit retailers soon, and we’re starting to see pictures of the accessories that will be available. Sure, there’s the standard fisheye, macro, and wide angle lenses; but what other camera has lights on flexible arms? → Read More
