Olympus launches a new Micro Four Thirds camera ahead of Photokina 2014

Aug 28, 2014 09:02 GMT  ·  By

These days you can’t even go out for a walk in the park without running into a few people taking their daily selfie. Camera gear makers have taken good notice of this obsession and are blasting out selfie-centric cameras at full speed.

Not so long ago, Sony took things to the absurd when it released a selfie camera shaped like a perfume bottle. However, if you’re not among the people who want to look ridiculous while performing the deed, you might want to look in some other direction.

For example, you could check out Olympus’ new PEN E-PL7 mirrorless digital camera which has been designed for the avid selfie taker.

What Olympus is trying to do here is blend good quality photography feats with the possibility of accessing mobile features which smartphone and tablet users love to have around.

Basically, the PEN E-PL7 comes equipped with Wi-Fi and Olympus’ own OI.Share to make social activities like sharing your day’s work possible with ease and grace. Furthermore, it gives users the possibility of controlling the camera remotely via their smartphone buddy.

A particularity you’ll notice from the get-go is that, unlike most digital cameras, the 3.0-inch 1.04M-dot touch panel opens downwards and is flippable by 180 degrees.

Since Instagram is on the rise, you’ll want to have a bunch of cool filters on your selfie-camera. Olympus has your back and includes Art Filter effects (you get new additions in the form of Vintage, Partial Color or Shade Effect).

To make a roundup, Olympus throws in 14 Art Filters and 8 effects, so you can put your own spin on the images you shoot.

Moving away from the fun smartphone camera-like features, we should talk about the camera’s raw specifications. These include a 16.05MP Live MOS (not CMOS) sensor, an in-body 3-axis VCM image stabilization system, 81-point autofocus, small AF Target and Super Spot AF modes.

The new PEN E-PL7 takes some aesthetic features from the E-P5, like the premium design and the leather body cover. Furthermore, you can use the mirrorless in concert with Olympus OD-M interchangeable lens lineup.

The camera has been announced, but it is not yet available for purchase. Olympus will most likely bring the device at Photokina 2014, where we will have the chance to have a better look at it.

As for retail availability, the PEN E-PL7 is expected to drop next month and customers will be given a choice between Black or Silver paint jobs.

The compact can be yours for $599.99 / €454, but if you want the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 II R lens, you will have to pay $699.99 / €530.

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Olympus PEN Lite E-PL7 Camera (17 Images)

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL7 launches
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