Olympus Pen Camera Reborn!

In 1959, Olympus changed the face of photography by pursuing one simple idea: create a camera as easy to use and carry as a pen. Designed by renowned style guru Yoshihisa Maitani, the Olympus Pen triggered a camera boom that would last through the end of the 1970s. Today the legend comes alive again in digital form with the release of the E-P1. This first groundbreaking Olympus Micro Four Thirds model comes at a time when mirrors are no longer a necessary component for digital cameras with interchangeable lenses. Incredibly small size, retro style, and ease of use are a nod to the Pen’s past. However, D-SLR quality and a host of new features place the E-P1 at the leading edge as Olympus innovative technologies reimagine the future. Now everyone can have the best of both worlds: high-end design and D-SLR performance. The E-P1 will be available for purchase in July 2009 at a retail price of £699.99

When he originally designed the first of many Pen cameras, Maitani could not have suspected that he was starting a revolution. Selling over 17 million units, the Pen became one of the most trusted, popular, and successful camera series ever. The removal of the mirror box in the 21st century has brought the legendary series back. Mirror-less construction is the foundation for both the Olympus Pen E-P1’s stunning new design and its remarkably compact size. Everyone will fall in love with the camera’s irresistible retro-look. It is reminiscent of the classic Olympus Pens, which were cherished for their compactness, usability, and affordable price.

Five decades later, the E-P1 promises to honour the memory of its famous forefathers. It hails the beginning of the next generation of the digital era. In addition to all the advantages of Olympus imaging technology, the new ultra-compact hybrid device can even record HD quality movies with sound and stunning creative effects familiar from still photography. In addition to the application of Art Filters, it includes the ability to vary depth of field, angle of view, and autofocus during recording.

The Olympus Pen E-P1 reinvents high-end stylish photography for the new millennium. The new model and its two accompanying Micro Four Thirds lenses will hit stores in July 2009