Olympus launches E-P2 Micro Four Thirds camera

by **maxgoh** Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:15 am

Olympus has announced the E-P2 just five months after the launch of its first Micro Four-Thirds camera, the E-P1. It's a minor upgrade with the addition of a port for a new high resolution electronic viewfinder (or external microphone), two new Art filters and a pearlescent black finish. It also gains AF tracking and includes a new i-Enhance 'colour boosting' function. Available from January 2010, the E-P2 with VF-2 electronic viewfinder and either 17mm pancake or 14-42mm zoom lens will sell for a suggested retail price of $1099.99.

The E-P2 represents almost as subtle an enhancement as the company's E-450 does, compared to the remarkably similar E-420. The two models will sell alongside each other, with all E-P2 kits including the plug-in viewfinder. The launch of the E-P2 so soon after E-P1 might prompt the more cynically inclined to wonder whether this is the product Olympus originally planned to create - though its similarity should mean early adopters of the E-P1 don't feel stung for having excercised their credit cards so readily.

Full UK pricing on all kits is yet to be confirmed. The E-P2 14-42 Zoom kit with viewfinder included is expected to have an RRP of £849. This and the other kit prices will be confirmed nearer the availability date.

The Olympus E-P2 – main features:

Small & stylish design

Extremely small and light-weight Micro Four Thirds System
Stylish design with black metal finish
Accessory port to clip-on electronic viewfinder and microphone adapter
SLR image quality

12.3 Megapixel Live MOS Sensor
TruePic V image processor
Built-in IS with max. 4 EV steps efficiency
Adapter for all ZUIKO DIGITAL & OM lenses
Easy operation

Live Control GUI for intuitive handling & real-time views of effects
Automatic recognition of common scenes possible with i-Auto
i-Enhance function to boost colours
Clear skin with e-Portrait
AF Tracking
Two dials for easy handling
Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology
20 shooting modes (5 exposure, i-Auto, 14 scene modes)
Creativity & HD Movie

HD Movie with stereo sound featuring depth of field and Art Filters now available in M-mode
8 Art Filters, Multi-Aspect ratios
Multi Exposure function
Art Filters can be applied to previously taken RAW images in the camera and with Olympus software
Enhanced creativity with special lenses e.g. fisheye is available via Four Thirds lens adapter
Additional features of the Olympus E-P2:

Based on the Micro Four Thirds Standard
HDMI interface
Linear PCM sound recording
Level gauge
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface
3fps with sequential shooting (max. 10 in RAW mode)
ISO 100-6400
Bracketing functions for white balance and exposure
Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction system
Wide dynamic range in highly lit areas
Simultaneous writing of RAW and JPEG
SD memory card slot (SDHC compatible)
High-speed data writing and lossless RAW compression
7.6cm/3.0” HyperCrystal LCD
AE/AF lock functionality
Auto gradation adjustment to prevent blown highlights and
blocked-in shadows
Remote release possible via the optional remote cable RM-UC1
New accessories:

M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 super wide-angle zoom lens (first half of 2010)
M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-150mm F4.0-5.6 high-power telephoto zoom lens (first half of 2010)
Leather strap in black
Leather body jacket in black
* 35mm equivalent

Olympus launches E-P2 Micro Four Thirds camera E-P2__body_lenses_VF2_XL_001