Olympus Launches New Pen E-P5 Digital Camera – Availability, Features & Specs 12 May 2013

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Olympus has announced the launch of the OLYMPUS PEN E-P5 mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera, the flagship of the PEN Series conforming to the Micro Four Thirds System standard.

It is scheduled to go on sale in Singapore at the end of June 2013.

Main Features

1. Sophisticated PEN design that enshrines a “portable premium quality” experience
2. World’s First mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera to offer 1/8000 sec. high-speed shutter*1
3. World’s First Photo Story
4. Built-in Wi-FiÒ*2 function enables easy sharing of images and wireless shooting
5. 2×2 Dial Control for ease of use and options for customisation
6. Full line of accessories to make it a pleasure to carry and fun to use (sold separately*3)

The OLYMPUS PEN series that debuted in October 1959 took the world by storm as a pioneer in its day for bringing cameras to a mass audience, thanks to the original concepts such as cutting the size in half to reduce weight and offering a beautiful design. Known as the camera that could be carried easily anywhere like a pen, the series was a big hit with 17 million units sold.

Revived a half-century later in July 2009 as a digital single lens reflex camera that retained the concept behind its film version predecessors, the series has won great praise since the introduction of the first digital version – the OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 – for its exacting design, excellent portability and the rich powers of expression and superb image quality it offers. The cameras have been warmly received by those who are particular about their lifestyles.

Olympus have been working to satisfy the desires arising from the increasingly diverse attitudes to how people interact with photography. In 2010, Olympus added the OLYMPUS PEN Lite series to their lineup for those customers who enjoy being more active in their photography. Olympus followed that in 2011 with the OLYMPUS PEN mini-series which, as the smallest PEN of them all, brought new levels of casualness to photography.

At the same time, Olympus has also been making steady advances with the original digital camera lineup. As a pioneer in the area of clearly differentiating cameras for expressing yourself from the conventional “big, heavy, and difficult” type of single lens reflex cameras, its digital version of the OLYMPUS PEN series has always offered the pleasures of finding new ways of enjoying photography and creating new photographic expressions.

In this, the series’ fifth, year Olympus are introducing the OLYMPUS PEN E-P5, a flagship model with the highest quality to date.

For its appearance, Olympus has used a design that, at every turn, maintains the PEN DNA of always providing new value while taking it forward to a new generation. Exacting down to the smallest detail of the materials and textures used, the design is one that delivers a “portable premium quality” experience.

Furthermore, the performance is such that no photo opportunity will slip by with the advanced 5-Axis Image Stabilisation, that is a step up from the OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5, with the high-speed response FAST AF, and the 1/8000 sec. of high-speed shutter – a world’s first*1 for a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera.

The camera’s built-in Wi-Fi function have vastly improved the series’ capacity to work together with smartphones when it comes to sending images, setting up sharing, and wireless shooting. It integrates mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras even further into your life and makes them easier and more convenient to use.

In terms of operability, the new 2×2 Dial Control helps when it comes to both ease of use and customisation. The functions of the two dials can be easily changed using the Fn (function) lever, allowing your photographic intentions to be instantly reflected in the snaps you take, thus broadening your scope of expression.

The lens kit includes the newest Electronic Viewfinder, the VF-4. The VF-4 makes it easier to take even more elaborate shots; the user can engage in high-resolution finder photography at high-power magnifications that are on par with those of a full-size single-lens reflex camera.

The OLYMPUS PEN E-P5 is the flagship of the OLYMPUS PEN series. It has a functional beauty that makes you happy to hold it, to take photos with it, and to get the most out of it.

Sophisticated PEN design that enshrines a ” portable premium quality” experience

Advanced design for a new generation

The OLYMPUS PEN E-P5 carries on the essence of the design found in all OLYMPUS PEN cameras and advances its appearance to new levels of sophistication, as is appropriate for a flagship product. The shape of the top deck as viewed from above retains that of the OLYMPUS PEN E-P3 to deliver a naturally intuitive configuration incorporating the tilting LCD, while the design of the OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 is retained for the silhouette view of the front.

The front of the body itself incorporates the leather essence of the OLYMPUS PEN F – which on its debut was the world’s first half-frame single-lens reflex camera – and adds to it a modern treatment that brings out the metallic texture body and gives it a contemporary finish.

The character line that creates an overall impression of the camera retains the design of the OLYMPUS PEN F and has the OLYMPUS PEN logo engraved upon it. That logo is the crown of the OLYMPUS PEN brand, symbolising that this is the flagship model for which advances have been made that are only appropriate for this brand, and has provided new value from an innovation standpoint on cameras..

Exacting attention to materials, form, texture, and colour

While adhering to the modern flavour expected of the OLYMPUS PEN series, Olympus were exacting when it came to the superiority of the texture of the metal parts used for the top desk, front control dial, rear control dial, mode dial, shutter release button, lens-release button and the arrow pad cover, increasing the degree of overall perfection.

Also, the colour of the dials and the treatment method change depending on the colour of the body; various elements shine with silver or black from dial to dial on the black body and Olympus aimed to get optimal texture in each and every place for each colour variation. The body is finished such that none of the screws can be seen on the sides, front, or top of the body.

Form and operability, with a concern for ease of use

To permit the user to easily take photos even though the body is small, Olympus tried out a variety of patterns to conform not only the height of the grip and position of the dials but even the places where the strap attaches, and achieved the optimal sizes and positions. Levers and buttons are positioned in a clearly understandable way around the arrow pad, with consideration given to being able to operate them more intuitively.

The sides are also shaped so the user can get grip them readily and the tilting LCD can be smoothly pulled out even when a tripod is being used. Olympus have reassessed operability in all aspects in their pursuit of ease of use.

World’s First mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera to offer 1/8000 sec. high-speed shutter*1

The 1/8000 sec. high-speed shutter found to date only on certain cameras is now available for the first time with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera. It is perfect for photographing subjects that are moving quickly, and what’s more is that the large aperture lens can be used at maximum aperture even during bright daytime shooting.

The newly added low sensitivity ISO LOW mode (equivalent to 100), used in combination with the 1/8000 sec. shutter speed, also makes it possible to do defocused shooting even under bright daylight, allowing more varied photographic expressions.

Built-in Wi-Fi function enables easy sharing of images and wireless shooting

Easy and convenient image transfer functions

A built-in Wi-Fi function is new to the OLYMPUS PEN E-P5. You can easily connect the camera to your smartphone by just tapping the Wi-Fi icon. Using the Olympus Image Share (OI.Share) smartphone application, you can easily send the photos you have taken to your smartphone and view them easily.

You are able to send only those pictures you want to your smartphone by adding the selecting photos on the camera to a customised list. Photos marked for sharing can be viewed after making a “One-time Connection,” which is convenient for when you want to share photos directly. Up to four devices can be connected simultaneously, allowing you to enjoy sharing the photos you take on the spot with family and friends.

Wireless Touch AF Shutter remote control permits operating the camera from your smartphone

Using the remote control features of OI.Share, you can check the camera’s Live View screen, which displays live feed directly from the camera, while taking photos by remote. By tapping on the Live View screen shown on your smartphone, you can set the AF point just like you would when operating the camera and release the shutter.

You can also set the timer from your smartphone, making it optimal for taking group photos. Since you can release the shutter when cued by a voice recorded on your smartphone so everyone can easily recognise when the shutter is going to be released, you can catch everyone with their best smiling faces on.

“Tagging” function allows location information data to be added to photos via GPS

Geotags (location information) can be easily added on the camera to the photos you take with it by simply sending the high-precision GPS log data recorded by OI.Share to your camera.

Edit Images on your Smartphone

Advanced Image Manipulation features include the 12 kinds of Art Filters that the OLYMPUS PEN E-P5 supports. You can also make sharing photos even more fun by using for those shots taken using the camera’s PHOTO STORY mode such features as “PHOTO STORY+” for adding a rich variety of stamps and “Signature” for adding a handwritten or original image signature.

In this function, you can create a combination of photos, by selecting one of the four themes, to tell a story of your everyday moments. The features of PHOTO STORY can help you to turn both everyday scenes and memorable moments into something colourful and unique.

Easy Wi-Fi connection setup to link the camera to a smartphone

Use the OI.Share’s private connection to smoothly complete even the most bothersome initial Wi-Fi setup by just reading the QR code displayed on the camera’s display with your smartphone.

2×2 Dial Control for ease of use and options for customisation

The 2×2 (“two-by-two”) Dial Control is a new system for controlling four commonly used photographic functions — aperture/shutter speed, exposure compensation, ISO setting, and white balance — directly by dial. By default, exposure compensation is assigned to the front dial and aperture/shutter speed is assigned to the rear dial.

By switching the Fn (function) lever, ISO setting can be adjusted by the front dial, and white balance by the rear dial, and these settings can be customised to be controlled by either the front or back dial by users. In addition to controlling 2×2 Dial Control operations, the Fn lever can also be used to switch Movie button functions (movie functions and Fn button function) and the focus modes*5. The easy operability makes it possible to intuitively get what you want into a photo with these customised functions.

Full line of accessories that make carrying the camera a pleasure and using it fun (sold separately*3)

Olympus has put together a line of separately sold accessories to make taking photos with the OLYMPUS PEN E-P5 that much more enjoyable.

Other Features

1. 5-Axis Image Stabilisation mechanism that’s a further improved from the OLYMPUS OM-D I)
   1. Newly added IS-AUTO
   2. Correction checking on the Live View screen
   3. Multi-motion IS
2. FAST AF and a Short Release Time Lag mode that make quick responses possible
3. Super Spot AF and Focus Peaking make it easier to focus
   1. Super Spot AF
   2. Small AF Target
   3. Focus Peaking
4. High-speed sequential shooting at 9 fps
5. New forms of photographic expression: Art Filter and world’s first PHOTO STORY
   1. Olympus’ Art Filters for expanding the world of photographic expression
   2. Snap a single scene from multiple viewpoints with PHOTO STORY
6. Interval Shooting and Time Lapse Movies
   1. Interval Shooting
   2. Time Lapse Movies
7. Movie Teleconverter and Art Fade to expand the scope of moving image expression
8. Superb image quality inherited from the OLYMPUS OM-D
   1. High-performance M.ZUIKO DIGITAL lens, a product of traditional optics technology
   2. New 16M Live MOS Image Sensor for expanding low-sensitivity options and adding higher speeds
   3. TruePic VI image processing engine to fully bring out the capabilities of the lens and sensor
9. Advanced Live Bulb
10. i-AUTO automatically selects from among 42 different shooting modes *14
11. 1.04 million dot, 3-inch Tilt-type Touch Panel LCD*15
12. High-performance built-in flash

New Optional Accessories

1. High-grade Electronic Viewfinder, VF-4 *3
2. Genuine leather accessories to accentuate the high-grade camera body
   1. Premium Leather Camera Bag, CBG-9 PR
   2. Premium Leather Strap, CSS-S117L PR
   3. Premium Leather Body Jacket, CS-41B PR
   4. Leather Body Jacket, CS-40B
3. On sale in limited quantities: Premium model equipped with premium wood grip

Availability & Recommended Retail Price

1. The OLYMPUS PEN E-P5 is available in White, Silver and Black at Olympus authorised retailers from end of June 2013 onwards.
2. The OLYMPUS PEN E-P5 mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera, the flagship of the PEN Series will be available for pre-order globally starting from 10 May 2013 to 30 June 2013.

OPTION 1: OLYMPUS PEN E-P5 Body Only: $1,388 inclusive of GST (standard bundle 16GB SD card PEN Suit Case+ 3 months extended local warranty)
· Body (Available colours: Silver/Black/White*)

OLYMPUS PEN E-P5 17mm f1.8 Lens Kit: $1,998 inclusive of GST (standard bundle 16GB SD card PEN Suit Case+ 3 months extended local warranty)
· Body (Available colours: Silver/Black/White*)
· M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm f1.8
· VF-4 Electronic Viewfinder

For the list of authorised retailers, please visit http://home.olympusimage.com.sg/contactus/authorised_retailers.asp

The OLYMPUS PEN E-P5 accessories will be available at selected Olympus authorised retailers from the following dates:

• Electronic Viewfinder VF-4 End of June 2013/ TBA
• Li-ion Rechargeable Battery, BLN-1 Available Now $99
• Li-ion Rechargeable Battery Charger, BCN-1 Available Now $99

Pre-Order

The OLYMPUS PEN E-P5 will be available for pre-order globally starting from 9am on 17 May 2013 to the end of June 2013. Customers will have to pay a deposit of $200 upon ordering, and have the option of collecting their camera from their preferred retail store**.

Non E-Club Members

Non E-Club members will receive an OLYMPUS $100 voucher*.

E-Club Members

To reward OLYMPUS fans, E-Club members will receive a free OLYMPUS Lens Hood worth $88*** and an OLYMPUS $100 voucher*.

*Terms and conditions apply
**List of retailers where pre-order customers can choose to collect their camera
***Free Lens Hood LH-48B (excluding camera body & lens)

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