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The Olympus PEN E-P5 has finally become official after months of speculation. It features WiFi, tilting touchscreen, a very fast shutter speed, and plenty of other amazing specs.
Olympus has decided to mark the 50th anniversary of the PEN F camera by announcing the PEN E-P5 compact system camera. The company says that the new shooter is now the flagship device of the PEN series, as it is borrowing a lot of features from the critically-acclaimed OM-D E-M5.
Olympus E-P5 rumors were true, Micro Four Thirds camera becomes official with 16.1-megapixel image sensor
All the rumors about the Olympus E-P5 have turned out to be true, including the recently leaked full specs list. The mirrorless camera features a 16.1-megapixel Live MOS image sensor, TruePic VI processing engine, quick autofocus speed, and a 5-axis image stabilization technology.
These features are also available in the aforementioned E-M5, but the company claims that everything has been fine-tuned therefore they should perform better in the E-P5.
Design inspiration comes from 50-year old PEN F camera, but its shutter speed and Focus Peaking give it away
The camera’s resemblance to the PEN F is obvious, as the E-P5 looks like a retro film camera. However, Olympus says that the only “retro” thing about the Micro Four Thirds system consists of its looks and that is a good thing, as the consumers will certainly dig the design.
Olympus E-P5 has become the world’s fastest compact system camera, thanks to its 1/8000th of a second shutter speed. Usually, such mechanical shutters can be found in higher-end DSLR cameras, which allow photographers to capture insects and birds in mid-flight.
The shutter speed can also be used in combination with the revamped Super Spot AF system, which can easily put small objects into focus. The sought-after Focus Peaking technology is also there, allowing users to manually bring subjects into focus.
The company says that this technique has also been improved and it is now faster and more accurate. Photographers will add beautiful background blur to their shots, thus creating that dramatic effect that everybody loves.
Improved manual controls are there, along with 5-axis image stabilization technology
Olympus praises the new image stabilization mechanism as well. The 5-axis IS is able to detect camera shake and steady the image. Users can also look at the Live View, in order to properly frame their shots by half-pressing the shutter button.
A 2×2 Dial Control mechanism has also been added, which can be set with the help of a lever. The P / S / A / M modes are there and they will allow photographers to control the Micro Four Thirds camera like they would do on a full-sized DSLR.
First Olympus camera with built-in WiFi, says the manufacturer
Olympus says that this is its first shooter to came packed with integrated WiFi. An app is also available for iOS and Android smartphone and tablet users. It can be used to backup photos, add GPS information to the images, and even control the camera with a mobile device.
Editing capabilities have also been added to the Olympus PEN E-P5. Users can access the Photo Story mode, which allows them to capture a single scene from various vantage points and then create a collage. Additionally, a Time Lapse Movie feature is available, along with 12 Art filters.
VF-4 viewfinder joins forces with tilting touchscreen and burst mode of 9fps
The new MFT system is packing a 3-inch 1,036K-dot tilting LCD touchscreen, which can be used as the Live View. However, a VF-4 optional electronic viewfinder is available and it features a 2.36 million-dot resolution and eye detection support.
Olympus E-P5 can capture RAW photos and offers a minimum shutter speed of 60 seconds, a continuous mode of 9 frames per second with a pause between sequential shots of just 0.044 seconds, and full HD video recording at 30fps.
The camera is compatible with SD / SDHC / SDXC storage cards and it offers a built-in flash with a sync speed of just 1/320 seconds.
Olympus E-P5 release date and price get “official” status
The Olympus E-P5 release date is late May 2013 for a price of $999.99 for body-only. It will be pushed to the market in three versions: Black, White, and Silver.
The company is also offering a bundle which includes the new M.ZUIKO Digital 17mm f/1.8 lens as the VF-4 viewfinder for a price of $1,499.99. The body will be available in Black and White, while the lens will be all Black.