Digital Camera Blog – Deals, Promos, News and Reviews

If you are looking for a good deal on a Micro Four Thirds digital camera then there is currently the Olympus PEN E-P2 (body only) available for only $299 from Amazon.com via Cameta Camera. To take advantage of this great deal for the Olympus E-P2 click on the photo above or click here. Also available is the E-P2 with the 17mm 2.8f lens and the 14-42mm lens for $479/$499, click here to see the E-P2 lens options.

The Olympus E-P2, is the world’s smallest 12.3-megapixel interchangeable lens system with In-body Image Stabilization. It blends the high-quality still images like that of a DSLR with High Definition (HD) video, stereo Linear PCM audio recording and In-Camera Creativity inside an ultra-portable body. Along with several new features, and eight in-camera Art Filters that can be applied to still images and HD videos, the result is mighty powerful and creative.

Olympus PEN E-P2 options:

• Olympus PEN E-P2 Body – $299.95
• Olympus PEN E-P2 with 17mm f/2.8 Lens – $479.95
• Olympus PEN E-P2 with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens – $499.95

Olympus has just announced 3 new models to their line up of micro-four-third interchangable lens digital cameras. The three new PEN models are the updated E-P3 & E-PL3 as well as the new Mini E-PM1.

Olympus E-P3

The Olympus Pen E-P3 is the third flagship micro four thirds camera from Olympus and will launch in early August with the 14-42mm kit lens. The Olympus E-P3 sports a 12.3 MP Live MOS Sensor, TruePic VI Image Processor, FAST AF Tracking System with 35 focus points, Low Light Performance, Fast Shutter Response, Full HD Movie – Shoot up to 29 minutes of full 1080i HD video in either AVCHD or AVI formats and a Full HD Movie – Shoot up to 29 minutes of full 1080i HD video in either AVCHD or AVI formats. The Olympus PEN E-P3 kit will be available in stylish black, white and silver.

• Olympus E-P3 overview on Amazon and pre-order information
• Olympus E-P3 with 14-42mm lens (Black) on Amazon.com
• Olympus E-P3 with 14-42mm lens (Silver) on Amazon.com

Olympus Pen E-PL3

The Olympus Pen E-PL3 is what Olympus describes as a ‘Lite’ version of the E-P3. This powerful camera is perfect for photographers who want their memories to reflect incredible, professional image quality. Easy-to-use creative technologies are packed in its versatile body – the size of a small, portable point-and-shoot camera, but with the versatility of interchangeable lenses. It will also feature a new 12.3-megapixel Live MOS Image Sensor, TruePic™ VI Image Processor, high ISO of 12,800, a reengineered autofocus system, full 1080i HD video with Dolby Digital sound recording. No release date is available yet for the E-PL3 but it is expected to be released later in the year perhaps early fall.

Olympus Pen Mini camera (E-PM1)

The third Olympus micro four thirds camera to be announced is the Pen Mini E-PM1. he smallest and lightest Olympus PEN is available in six stylish colors (purple, pink, brown, white, silver and black) and features a new and simplified user interface as well as a streamlined button structure for superior ease of use. Its small size and portability make it the ideal camera to document life’s fun and spontaneous moments. This very compact camera will also launch in early fall.

There is a new deal for the Black version of the Olympus E-PL1 with the 14-42mm Lens which has dropped in price to $429 from $499 on Amazon.com. To take advantage of this deal click on the image above or click here.

The Olympus PEN E-PL1 is a Micro Four Thirds digital camera featuring 12.3-megapixel resolution. It includes the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 digital zoom lens, features built-in flash, a 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD with Live View function, Continuous Autofocus (C-AF) tracking system and is able to capture HD video with high-quality audio.

Olympus PEN E-PL1 with 14-42mm Lens (Black)
$429.00

Today at the Photokina show there has been a number of camera announcements and none have been more eagerly anticipated as the Olympus E-5 flagship DSLR which was finally annouced today. Olympus claims that the new E-5 body has the “highest image quality of any Olympus camera” thanks to its 12.3-megapixel High-Speed Live MOS sensor and TruePic V+ image processing engine. Other highlights include the 3-inch HyperCrystal LCD display, which has 920,000 dots of resolution and swivels 270 degrees. The weatherproofing on the “thixomold” magnesium alloy body has been upgraded from the E-3, making the new E-5 “splashproof and dustproof.” Image stablization is handled in-body and they claim it offers up to five steps EV.

The Olympus E-5 is the first Olympus DSLR to employ an HD video mode; the Olympus PEN (micro four thirds) models have had it for a while now. The E-5′s video resolution tops out at 720p at 30 fps. It does, however, have a microphone port with 3.5mm jack for recording stereo audio.

Because it comes with a price tag of $1,699, the Olympus E-5 is a prosumer camera competing directly with rigs like Canon’s EOS 7D. Most of the specs measure up, including the 5 fps burst rate, 150,000 exposure shutter life and 11-point Twin cross type AF, and wireless flash control. But, the E-5 is way behind ont the video front, which means they will really have to deliver on the image quality promises to justify the price.

The E-5 body is compatible with all of the Four Thirds lenses that are currently available. The press release claims the E-5 offers the “fastest AF speed in the world when coupled with the Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 (24-120mm equivalent) Supersonic Wave Drive Lens.

The Olympus E-5 is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com, click here to pre-order the Olympus E-5.

Olympus E-5 Specifications

• Sensor size: 17.3 mm (H) x 13.0 mm (V)
• Sensor type: High speed Live MOS Sensor
• Effective pixels: 12.3 million pixels
• Lens mount: Four Thirds Mount
• File format: RAW (12-bit lossless compression), JPEG, RAW+JPEG
• Recording format: AVI Motion JPEG(30fps)
• HD Movie Mode: 1280(H)x720(V) Aspect 16:9
• SD Movie Mode: 640(H)x480(V) Aspect 4:3(VGA)
• Display: 3.0 inches HyperCrystal LCD
• Exposure Mode: Program AE, Aperture priority AE, Shutter priority AE, Manual
• Shutter Speed: P(Ps), S, A, M mode: 60 – 1/8000 sec.
• Dimensions: 5.6″ (W) × 4.6″ (H) × 2.9″(D) (excluding protrusions)
• Weight: 28.2 oz. (body only)

Olympus announces a new Special Edition E-P2 micro four thirds camera available with two exclusive lens kits and featuring a mouth-watering selection of matching accessories, all in elegant black.

In addition to the sleek black version of the E-P2 camera, both kits offer a black edition of the super-slender M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm 1:2.8 Pancake lens. Available in black exclusively with these kits, this exquisite lens looks destined for must-have status. Both kits also include one of two additional, high-grade accessories.

The Olympus E-P2 Special Black EVF Edition features the sharp lines and flexibility of the detachable V-F2 electronic viewfinder while the E-P2 Special Black Flash Edition offers the slim retro chic of the compact FL-14 external flash, also available in black only in this limited edition kit.

The E-P2 Special Black EVF Edition will be available for €1,079 and the E-P2 Special Black Flash Edition for €1,049 from October 2010.

The E-P2 Special Black EVF Edition contents

• E-P2 camera in black
• M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm 1:2.8 Pancake lens exclusively in black
• VF-2 electronic viewfinder in black
• Historic lens cap with F logo

The E-P2 Special Black Flash Edition contents

• E-P2 camera in black
• M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm 1:2.8 Pancake lens exclusively in black
• FL-14 external flash exclusively in black
• Historic lens cap with F logo

The new lenses include the M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm lens which Olympus calls the world’s smallest and lightest 600mm equivalent telephoto lens. Weighing 430 grams, the Micro Four Thirds system lens’ 18 element, 13 group design utilizes two Extraordinary Dispersion (ED) and 3 High Refractive (HR) glass elements to reduce chromatic aberration. It promises fast and silent focusing for recording movies. The lens will be available in black and silver from December 2010 for €899.

The second lens is the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm 1:4.0-5.6 zoom lens to its Micro Four Thirds lens series. Similar to the 75-300mm lens announced today, the lens promises fast and quieter focusing optimized for video shooting. It will come supplied along with the 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 in the Pen Double Zoom Kit. The lens will be available in black and silver for €329 from end of October 2010.

All three new products are not available for pre-order yet but will be soon.

The popular Olympus PEN E-P2 Micro Four Thirds camera with 14-42mm Lens kit and Electronic View Finder has had a big price drop on Amazon.com dropping to $810.04 from $899.00; pretty good deal considering it was for listed for over $1000 about a month ago. To take advantage of this great deal click here, or click on the image above.

The Olympus E-P2, is the world’s smallest 12.3-megapixel interchangeable lens system with In-body Image Stabilization. It blends the high-quality still images like that of a DSLR with High Definition (HD) video, stereo Linear PCM audio recording and In-Camera Creativity inside an ultra-portable body. Along with several new features, and eight in-camera Art Filters that can be applied to still images and HD videos, the result is mighty powerful and creative. The second-generation PEN was launched just five months after Olympus unveiled the E-P1. The biggest difference is the addition of an accessory port, allowing the attachment of an electronic viewfinder and making it the perfect candidate for our quick review format that looks at the differences between this and its sister model.

Olympus E-P2 m4/3 with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (EVF included)
$810.04