Sony has announced a 5-inch clip-out LCD preview display, the CLM-V55 LCD video monitor, intended to give DSLR videographers a change to see their footage in higher resolution than most camera screens provide. The 800 x 480 panel has a tilt/swivel mount that fits onto an auto-lock accessory shoe or ISO shoe, is powered either by an independent battery or AC adapter, and hooks up to the camera itself via HDMI.
It’s not just a dumb LCD screen, however; there’s a pixel magnification mode which ofers an enlarged view of a selected portion of the Full HD image, together with a colour peaking function that highlights the edges of accurately-focused areas of the video image. Meanwhile there’s adjustable aspect ratio (16:9/4:3), volume, brightness, contrast, colour tone (phase), colour temp and auto dimmer.
A mono speaker – and headphone jack – together with a sun hood round out the main specs. No word on pricing, but the Sony CLM-V55 LCD video monitor will go on sale in March 2011.
Press Release:
Clip-on LCD monitor from Sony for HD video shooting with Interchangeable Lens Digital cameras 13 January 2011
CLM-V55 gives big, high-resolution view of video footage
• Clip-on LCD monitor attaches to DSLR camera
• Large (5″) WVGA panel offers superb high-resolution view while shooting HD video
• Tilt/swivel for comfortable viewing at any angle
• Colour peaking and pixel magnification for precise focus confirmation
A new clip-on LCD monitor from Sony gives DSLR camera owners a bigger, better view of their footage while shooting HD video.
The CLM-V55 is a portable video monitor featuring a high-resolution WVGA (800 x 480) (5”) LCD panel. Attaching easily to most Interchangeable Lens Digital cameras and compatible HD camcorders via the supplied adaptor, it displays video footage during shooting/playback with excellent clarity and a wide viewing angle.
The clip-on screen tilts and swivels to any angle for comfortable framing in any position – even self-shooting when you’re in the picture.
The CLM-V55 is loaded with pro-style features to help photo enthusiasts and videographers shoot high-quality HD video footage with their Interchangeable Lens Digital camera.
Pixel magnification mode assists with accurate focus confirmation, giving an enlarged pixel-perfect view of a selected portion of the Full HD image. It’s complemented by a colour peaking function that highlights the edges of accurately-focused areas of the video image.
An intuitive control wheel allows quick, positive adjustment of a wide range of monitor settings without interrupting shooting. Adjustable parameters include aspect ratio (16:9/4:3), volume, brightness, contrast, colour tone (phase), colour temp and auto dimmer. On-screen markers aid precise framing by giving precise indication of a TV’s 16:9 or 4:3 actual display area. The LCD monitor’s on-board mono speaker is complemented by a headphone jack for accurate audio monitoring during shooting.
The CLM-V55 attaches easily to a wide range of Interchangeable Lens Digital cameras from Sony and other manufacturers that support HD video shooting. The supplied adaptor simplifies mounting on any camera or HD camcorder that features an auto-lock accessory shoe or ISO shoe. Signal connection from camera to monitor is via the supplied HDMI cable, while power can be supplied using a battery pack or AC adaptor (both optional). The CLM-V55 comes with a detachable LCD hood for more comfortable viewing when shooting outdoors in bright sunlight.
The CLM-V55 LCD video monitor by Sony is available from March 2011.
Cellphone cameras are packing more and more megapixels, but unless you want a DSLR that can make calls we also need all the other elements – autofocus mechanisms, lenses, etc. – to slim down as well. A team of engineers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute reckon they’re on the way to that, with an autofocus system that can focus without traditional moving parts. They’re calling the tech “liquid pistons“, which use droplets of ferrofluid that deform liquid-based lenses.
Rather than the mechanical components of current lenses, the “liquid pistons” are saturated with metal nanoparticles which move when electrically charged. For compact cameras, the pistons themselves – which can be transparent – work as the lenses, tweaking the path of light through to the camera sensor depending on the charge applied.
“As the droplets vibrate, their shape is always changing. By passing light through these droplets, the device is transformed into a miniature camera lens. As the droplets move back and forth, the lens automatically changes its focal length, eliminating the usual chore of manually focusing a camera on a specific object. The images are captured electronically, so software can be used to edit out any unfocused frames, leaving the user with a stream of clear, focused video.”
It’s not just lenses, however; the movement of the liquid pistons can also be used for mechanical pumps small enough to fit a whole “lab” on a chip. The researchers have produced a chewing-gum stick sized pump consisting of two bubbles of ferrofluid that pulse in opposition: when submerged in water, they can use capillary force to move the liquid around. The study was partially funded by DARPA.
Pentax is tipped to be readying a pair of mirrorless camera technologies, one of which is being described as the digital version of the Pentax Auto 110. According to k-rumors, the new camera will feature a sensor that’s smaller in size than an APS-C sensor, set to arrive within the next 2-3 months.
The Auto 110 was an interchangeable lens camera that used a frame size very similar in scale to those current Micro Four Thirds cameras rely on, though there’s no indication in the rumors that Pentax plan to release a micro-4/3 model at this time. Similarly unknown is whether original Auto 110 lenses will work with the new, digital version.
As for the second mirrorless system, that’s expected to use an APS-C sized sensor and be announced in late 2011. Pentax enthusiasts are already arguing at the relative sense of the company developing a pair of new mirrorless systems and whether it would be practical or cost-effective; we’ll likely find out in the next few months.
OmniVision has outed its latest mobile CMOS imaging sensor, the OV10810, offering 10-megapixel resolution stills and 1080p Full HD video capture for smartphone-scale devices. The OV10810 can manage HDR photography, full-resolution 30fps image capture, and the ability to shoot photos while simultaneously recording video.
Of course, there’s more to high quality photos than a huge number of megapixels: you also need a decent lens in front of that, too, if you don’t want to end up with a murky shots that look like you tried to take them in a nightclub. Still, as long as manufacturers bear that in mind, we’re glad to see more pixels (and pixels being used cleverly) in mobile devices. OmniVision is sampling the OV10810 CMOS now.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Press Release:
OmniVision’s OV10810 — First Native 16:9 CMOS Image Sensor to Enable Simultaneous 1080p HD Video Recording and 10-Megapixel Image Capture
Native 16:9 Aspect Ratio Designed to Support Full Screen Photo and Video Sharing
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OVTI), a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions, today introduced the OV10810, a 10-megapixel CMOS image sensor built on OmniVision’s highly optimized 1.4-micron OmniBSI™ pixel architecture. The 1/2.5-inch OV10810 is designed to offer complete convergence between high-resolution still photography and full high-definition (HD) video by combining 10-megapixel burst photography at 30 frames per second (fps) with full 1080p HD video in a native 16:9 aspect ratio. This makes the OV10810 an ideal choice for digital still and video camera (DSC/DVC) hybrids and high-end smart phones.
“The OV10810 is a 10-megapixel image sensor that allows the simultaneous capture of full-frame, 10-megapixel still images and 1080p HD video at 30 frames per second, a unique feature that is exclusive to CMOS technology,” said Devang Patel, senior product marketing manager at OmniVision. “Allowing users to take pictures even while they are recording video is a key feature that bridges the gap between DSC and DVC, giving users the ultimate camera experience. Additionally, the sensor’s 16:9 aspect ratio reflects the increasing popularity of HDTV by capturing photos and video that align with the wide screen displays used in most of today’s TVs, notebooks and smart phones, further enhancing the user experience.”
Optimized to meet the performance specifications of next generation DSC/DVC applications, the OV10810 is outfitted with improved pixel and system architectures. The enhanced 1.4-micron OmniBSI pixel features significantly improved low-light sensitivity and full well capacity, as well as higher dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratio, making it the highest performing pixel in its class.
As a RAW sensor, the OV10810′s integrated programmable scaler enables either 1080p or 720p HD video capture at 30 fps while maintaining full field of view (FOV). At 2.6-megapixel resolution, the sensor operates at 60 fps with pixel binning, maintaining full FOV while offering significantly improved low-light sensitivity. At 5.3-megapixel resolution with cropping, the OV10810 runs at 60 fps. High frame rates enable a number of key benefits, including: slow motion photography, no image lag for shutter-less designs, continuous shooting, minimized rolling shutter effect, and real-time still image and video capture without changing resolutions.
The OV10810 features a 2 x 2 binning functionality to improve low-light sensitivity, and a post-binning re-sampling filter that minimizes spatial artifacts and removes image artifacts around edges to deliver clean, crisp color images. The OV10810 supports up to 8-lane LVDS or MIPI interfaces for high data transfer rates, and is compatible with a wide range of custom and merchant ISPs. The OV10810 comes in a CSP3 or RW package and is currently available for sampling.
About OmniVision
OmniVision Technologies (Nasdaq: OVTI) is a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions. Its award-winning CMOS imaging technology enables superior image quality in many of today’s consumer and commercial applications, including mobile phones, notebooks and webcams, digital still and video cameras, security and surveillance, entertainment devices, automotive and medical imaging systems. Find out more at http://www.ovt.com.
A while ago Polaroid appointed Lady Gaga their Creative Director and at CES this year we’re finally starting to see the fruits of that collaboration. One of the big reveals at their booth, by Lady Gaga herself, was the Polaroid GL30 seen behind glass above. Like the original Polaroids the GL30 is able to spit out actual printed photos thanks to the company’s instant next generation ZINK technology. And while at first glance its design appears to be a retro homage to the Polaroid cameras of yesteryear, it’s size is probably more a result of needing somewhere to store that ZINK printer.
But as a result of its overall size one of the GL30’s other striking features is an incredibly generously-sized LCD display which makes sharing photos with a group of friends a bit more feasible. And taking a cue from the popularity of the iPhone’s Hipstamatic app, the GL30 also includes a number of filters and borders to make your prints look unique… just like everyone else’s. Available later this year, pricing TBA.
Casio has announced several digital cameras today and one of them is the new Exilim flagship called the EX-ZR100. The camera will ship this month and has a 12.1MP sensor. It can record 1080p video at 30 fps with continuous autofocus and has a stereo mic inside. The camera can shoot 10MP resolution bursts at 40 fps. Storage is to SD cards and the lens offers 12.5x optical zoom. The camera will ship in March for $299.99.
The H30 is a 16.1MP resolution camera with a 24mm wide-angle lens and 12.5x optical zoom. It promises 1000 photos per battery charge and can record 720p HD video. Storage is to SD cards and the camera has a wide range of automatic settings and modes. It will ship in March for $249.99 in silver, black, red, or gold colors.
The last two digital cams are the EX-ZS10 and the EX-ZS5. Both of these cameras are compact units that have lower price points with the ZS10 going for $119.99 and the ZS5 selling for $99.99. Both are 14.1MP resolution cameras and have 26mm wide-angle lenses and 5x optical zoom. The ZS10 can shoot 720p video and the ZS5 gets by with VGA 640 x 480 resolution. Both of the cameras will ship in March.
One thing you can count on no matter who actually makes the camera you use is that they all tend to share the same basic design. Casio has pulled the wraps off a new camera that tosses that old design we are used to out the window in favor of a much cooler and highly flexible new style that lets the user swivel the screen and more to suit their needs.
The camera is called the TRYX and its only 0.59-inches thick. It has a swiveling 3-inch TFT LCD that can be rotated 270-degrees when the frame of the camera can be rotated a full 360-degrees. That allows the body of the camera to be used as a tripod or a handle when shooting over the heads of a crowd. The camera uses the Casio Exilim Engine HS for processing speed an image quality.
The camera can shoot slow motion video with speeds up to 240 frames per second. The lens is a 21mm wide-angle unit with high-speed SR zoom technology and 1.5x single frame zoon and 2x SR zoom. The camera has 12.1MP resolution and can record movies in MOV, H.264, and other formats at up to 1080p. Content is stored to SD cards. The camera will ship in April for $249.99.
Polaroid‘s involvement with Lady Gaga still seems a little offbeat, but the unusually-costumed “Creative Director” has just unveiled a range of instant photography devices at CES 2011. Polaroid Grey Label consists of two sensible products – the GL10 Instant Mobile Printer and the GL30 Instant Digital Camera – and then a crazy one, the Lady Gaga GL20 Camera Glasses.
Video demo after the cut
The GL10 printer and GL30 camera each use ZINK instant camera paper and can either print the shots from another digicam or, in the case of the GL30, take the shots itself and then produce hard copies. The GL30 also has various filters for adding retro and other affects. The GL10 will go on sale in May 2011, priced at $149.99, while the GL30 will arrive later in 2011, price tba.
As for the GL20 Camera Glasses, they’re a set of oversized sunglasses with an integrated digital camera in the bridge and a pair of LCD displays behind the lenses. That means you can snap a shot and then display them rather than your eyes, which is probably great for fashion but not so useful for navigating rooms. They’ll go on sale later in the year, pricing tba.
Press Release:
Polaroid and Lady Gaga Announce Grey Label
A Collaboration Between Two of the Most Influential Icons of Our Time, Polaroid Grey Label Comes to Life With Three New Products That Showcase the Magic of the Polaroid Instant Experience
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Polaroid and its Creative Director, Lady Gaga today unveiled Polaroid Grey Label, an original line of products co-designed with Lady Gaga. This collaboration between two cultural icons reflects Polaroid’s long standing tradition of innovation tracing back to founder Dr. Edwin Land and Lady Gaga’s mission to deliver products that enable creativity for all, celebrate artistry and make sharing instantaneous across the physical and digital. The inaugural Polaroid Grey Label line is truly expressive of Lady Gaga’s artistic vision and includes the GL10 Instant Mobile Printer, GL30 Instant Digital Camera and the GL20 Camera Glasses, a unique new look at how to turn images into a fashion statement.
“I consider myself to be a visionary, not just a songwriter and a singer. I am an artist,” said Lady Gaga, Polaroid’s Creative Director. “I brought my vision and love of fashion, technology and obsession with the future into all of my work with Polaroid.”
Polaroid Grey Label Products
Polaroid and Lady Gaga today unveiled the first trio of Polaroid Grey Label products at Polaroid’s CES booth:
1. GL10 Instant Mobile Printer:
Advanced Technology: The newest instant printing experience begins with the embedded dye-crystal ZINK® Zero Ink® Technology from ZINK Imaging. Patented ZINK Paper™ is an advanced composite material with cyan, yellow, and magenta dye crystals embedded inside. Before printing, the embedded dye crystals are clear, so ZINK Paper®, looks like regular white photo paper. The GL10 Instant Mobile Printer uses heat to activate and colorize these crystals.
Superb Print Quality: The GL10 Instant Mobile Printer uses ZINK’s second-generation thermal technology, delivering image quality that rivals a photo-lab. Prints emerge fully developed and protected by a smudge-proof, water-resistant coating.
Aesthetically Pleasing and Environmentally Responsible: Designed for both form and function for use both in the present and future. ZINK technology requires no messy ribbons, toner or inkjet cartridges.
The GL10 Instant Mobile Printer will be available in May 2011 (US $149.99 MSRP). ZINK 3×4″ Paper will be available in May 2011 at a price to be announced.
2. GL30 Instant Digital Camera:
Brings the Polaroid Instant Experience to Life: Introducing a new generation to the joy of instant photography, the GL30 uses next generation ZINK Zero Ink Technology from ZINK Imaging.
Fuses the Digital and Physical Worlds: Featuring the benefits of a digital camera, instant photo printer and digital display, the GL30 is a creative tool that delivers the best of the digital and physical worlds.
Pays Tribute to Polaroid’s Legacy: Reminiscent of Polaroid cameras of the past, the GL30 is clearly a significant departure from a typical camera. Designed for longevity, the GL30 is not only for the future, it’s an object of desire. Users can select from a number of filters and borders to create truly original images that instantly fit in the palm of your hand.
The GL30 Instant Digital Camera will be available later this year, at a price to be announced.
3. GL20 Camera Glasses:
Merges Fashion With Photography: Never before has the world seen fashion, photography and technology come together in one, singular product.
Tells Your Story to the World: Users can instantly capture or upload photos with the built-in camera and then display the images on the glasses’ LCD screens for others to see.
Expresses True Artistry and Originality: Only Lady Gaga could create a hybrid that’s part fashion statement, part revolutionary technology and part tool for self-expression.
The GL20 Camera Glasses will be available later this year, at a price to be announced.
The Polaroid Grey Label Evolution
After being named Polaroid’s Creative Director in January 2010, Lady Gaga and Polaroid collaborated to define a direction for the line that blended the brand’s core values with Lady Gaga’s creativity. Stemming from “greige goods,” a fashion-industry term for fabric in its purest form, the Polaroid Grey Label line encompasses Polaroid’s heritage of delivering simplicity with the style, wit and sensibility of Lady Gaga.
Committed to bringing originality back to product design across all genres, Lady Gaga articulated that all Polaroid Grey Label products communicate three essential elements of self-expression:
Creativity: All Polaroid Grey Label products are designed with the idea that creativity and sharing go hand in hand, in both the digital and the physical world.
Instant Artistry: All features found in Polaroid Grey Label products celebrate, express and bring an element of artistry and originality to the act of image making.
Fashion: Intended to be just as much everyday fashion accessories as innovative imaging tools, all Polaroid Grey Label products feature unexpected design elements such as leather touch points, brushed metal and exposed mechanical details.
“The Polaroid Grey Label line embodies the Polaroid brand, with an injection of the future-looking fashion and design mantra of Lady Gaga that simply can’t be replicated,” said Scott W. Hardy, Polaroid’s President. “It represents Polaroid innovation for the new generation, one in which there are no limitations to sharing creativity through photography, both physical and digital.”
About Polaroid
Across several generations, people regard Polaroid as one of the most trusted, well-respected and recognizable brands when it comes to instant photography. The Polaroid brand has been around for more than 70 years starting with polarized sunglasses which then evolved into instant film, camera and camera accessories, marking the beginning of the well recognized Polaroid Classic Border Logo. In recent years, the Polaroid brand has expanded into flat panel televisions, portable DVD players, digital photo frames, digital HD camcorders, waterproof digital cameras and more. People can expect to see new Polaroid products that will deliver the fun, instant gratification and value for which the brand has long stood.
For more information, visit www.Polaroid.com.
Polaroid, Polaroid & Pixel, Polaroid Grey Label, and Polaroid Classic Border Logo are trademarks of PLR IP Holdings, LLC.
About ZINK Imaging
ZINK Imaging Inc., a privately held company, was founded to enable millions of customers to enjoy the magic of ZINK® Zero Ink® products. ZINK Imaging invented, manufactures, and is an OEM supplier of the ZINK Printing Technology and the award winning ZINK Paper® to partners that will bring ZINK?enabled products to market under their respective brands. ZINK Imaging’s headquarters and research and development labs are in Massachusetts, with a state of the art manufacturing facility in Whitsett, North Carolina. For more information, please visit www.ZINK.com.
As expected, Olympus‘ latest Micro Four Thirds camera, the PEN E-PL2, has made its official debut at CES 2011 this week. A 12.3-megapixel interchangeable lens camera, the PEN E-PL2 supports in-camera image stabilization, 720p HD video, a 3-inch 460k dot display with Live Guide II for photos and video, and ISO 6400 support. There’s also a new iDetect feature, which goes one better than face detection and makes a subject’s eyes the focus of the frame.
There’s also an HDMI output, while optional accessories include the PENPal Bluetooth dongle which stores up to 2,600 images and can send them wirelessly to Bluetooth devices, and the Macro Arm Light (MAL-1) with twin flexible LED lights for close-up photography. Storage is via SDHC/SDXC card, and Olympus will be offering a range of conversion lenses for wide-angle, fish-eye and other shots.
The Olympus PEN E-PL2 will be available this month, in a kit with an M. ZUIKO MSC DIGITAL ED m14-42mm f3.5/5.6 zoom lens, for $599.99.
Press Release:
POWERFULLY SIMPLE OLYMPUS PEN® SYSTEM GROWS WITH INTELLIGENT ENHANCEMENTS AND BLUETOOTH® CAPABILITY: THE OLYMPUS PEN E-PL2 CAMERA
Enhance Your High Definition Videos and Stills with Movie and Still Compatible Lens Technology, New Live Guide II, More Robust Art Filter Effects and a New Range of Accessories
CENTER VALLEY, Pa., January 5, 2011 – Today Olympus announces the new powerfully simple PEN E-PL2, the fourth generation of the award-winning and pioneering Olympus PEN family of compact interchangeable lens digital cameras. Known for pro quality, point-and-shoot simplicity and high-definition video, the PEN E-PL2 continues the PEN family’s legacy of simple design, intuitive interface and Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) image quality. The new camera also expands your creative potential with Live Guide II, new in-camera creative features, new auxiliary lenses, a new Close-Up Spotlight accessory (MAL-1) and the new Olympus PENPal™ Bluetooth accessory. Capturing amazing still images and HD video just got a lot more fun. Further proof that Olympus lets you capture it all.
Outstanding Features:
• MSC Lens – the new Movie & Still Compatible (MSC) ED m14-42mm f3.5/5.6 zoom lens (28mm-84mm equivalent) features a high-speed, silent autofocus during still shooting and high definition (HD) video capture;
• New 3″ 460,000 dot LCD – for bright and easy image composition;
• Live Guide II – preview HD video and still image effects on the E-PL2′s high-resolution LCD screen to achieve the perfect result effortlessly;
• Art Filter Variations and Enhancements — choose from different art filter looks to expand your creative horizons or overlay different art filters to create something new, now with full manual control;
• ISO 6400 – take great low-light photos with the camera’s increased ISO sensitivity;
• New Ergonomic Body Design – shoot stills and videos comfortably with a more ergonomic grip and updated button placement and functionality for ease of use; and
Face Detection with iDetect – an amazing new function makes it easier to capture the spirit of your subject, automatically making a person’s eye the focus point of the image. The E-PL2 further reduces the chance of blurred subjects in images by recognizing up to eight faces, tracking them within the image area, and automatically focusing and optimizing exposure for sharp portraits.
At an affordable $599.99 with the new MSC ED m14-42mm f3.5/5.6 zoom lens (28mm-84mm equiv.), the 12.3 megapixel ergonomically-designed E-PL2 is perfect for everyone from beginners, who want to expand their creative horizons, to experienced photographers who desire high-quality results without the size and weight of a traditional DSLR.
“The innovative PEN E-PL2 is designed to go with you and grow with you – it’s the total compact multimedia package,” said Katie Roseman, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “We’ve expanded everything but the size of the camera. Live Guide II, new art filter variations and enhancements for instant gratification, three converter lenses and MAL-1 close-up spotlight will all help grow your creative potential, while the Olympus PENPal lets you send images straight from the camera to your smart phone for social sharing.”
New Lens Optimized for Video and Image Stabilization for Every Lens
The E-PL2 comes with the new Movie & Still Compatible (MSC) ED m14-42mm f3.5/5.6 zoom lens. This new kit lens has a smooth, silent and uses a quick inner focus mechanism to make it exceptionally fast and nearly silent when recording high-definition movie. The M.Zuiko Digital MICRO Four Thirds® lenses are designed to be more compact and portable, just like the E-PL2 itself. In addition to the kit lens, choose from the ED m17mm f2.8 lens (34mm equivalent), the super wide-angle zoom ED m9-18mm f4.0-5.6 lens (18-36mm equivalent), the high-power wide to telephoto zoom ED m14-150mm f4.0-5.6 lens (28-300mm equivalent), the wide zoom ED m40-150mm F4.0-5.6, or the super telephoto ED m75-300mm f4.8-5.6 (35mm equivalent 150–600mm).
If you’re looking for even more options, the MMF-2 Four Thirds™ System Lens Adapter makes the E-PL2 compatible with all Olympus Zuiko® Digital Specific lenses and other Four Thirds System lenses from Sigma, Panasonic and Leica. Olympus OM film-based lenses can be attached to the E-PL2 with the MF-2 OM Lens Adapter, and third-party adapters have been developed for lenses from most other manufacturers.
New Live Guide II for Stills and Movies
The PEN E-PL2′s Live Guide II takes the E-PL1′s popular Live Guide interface for stills and expands it to preview effects for HD videos. Live Guide takes the guesswork out of great photography and videography by previewing effects at the touch of a button. Want more vivid or muted color in your shot? Want warmer or cooler color? Want a brighter or darker subject, or a sharper or softer background? Or maybe you want to capture the fast-moving action of your subject with a little artistic blur, or perhaps freeze the action? Simply select Live Guide and turn the wheel on the back of the camera to slide through numerous photographic and videographic effects. Make adjustments and watch the LCD as the effects are made live – before the image is captured! Don’t worry about learning technical things like f-stops, shutter speed and white balance; jump right in by composing, adjusting exposure and more before the shot is taken.
Seeing the results before snapping the image or shooting a video ensures you are getting the results you want, and it will change the way you use your camera. Shooting Tips are also available with Live Guide, so you can leave the manual at home.
Limitless Creativity with New Art Filter Variations and Enhancements
Olympus pioneered easy-to-use in-camera art filters for still images captured inside its E-System DSLRs and was the first company to offer the ability to apply art filters to HD video recordings captured with the PEN E-P1 camera. The E-PL2 features six art filters: Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, and Dramatic Tone. For the first time, the E-PL2 also features art filter variations and enhancements to maximize your creativity and expand the potential results. Give your images a different look by choosing from six art filters. Overlay an art effect over an original image with or without an art filter. Shoot a sunset with Pop Art and then add the Pin Hole Effect. Take a portrait in Grainy Film and then add a funky art frame. The possibilities are limitless.
Whatever you create, it will be easy to display on the big screen. When you’re ready to share your work, just plug the E-PL2′s camera into any high definition television (HDTV) using the camera’s HDMI output with an optional HDMI cable (sold separately) and show it off from the comfort of your living room.
HD Videos and HDMI Control for a Home Theater Experience
The E-PL2 shoots gorgeous 720p HD video, so you’ll always capture the moments you cherish in clear, crisp high-definition at the touch of a button. With HDMI Control, playback is also a breeze. You’ll be the hit of the party or any family event when you proudly display your brilliant images and movies on HDTVs. Simply connect the camera to an HDTV with an optional HDMI cable. With HDMI Control, you can use your HDTV’s remote to control playback functions and navigate the camera’s menus from the comfort of your couch.
New Optional Accessories for Every Shooting Challenge
Along with the E-PL2, Olympus unveils five new accessories to further expand what you can do with PEN cameras.
• Add-on Conversion Lenses – Olympus has three new affordable and compact conversion lenses that mount on the new MSC ED m14-42mm f3.5/5.6 zoom lens to further expand what you can do with the E-PL2:
o Fish-eye Lens Converter (FCON-37): captures a distorted hemispherical image covering 120° – to generate dramatic shots and edges that wrap around the frame of your image;
o Wide-angle Lens Converter (WCON-37): enables the user to capture a broader shot, for example, to include more people in a photograph. It dramatically alters the proportions of close and distant subjects. Subjects close to the lens appear much larger, while subjects in the background appear smaller – creating a dynamic sense of depth; and
o Macro Lens Converter (MCON-58): Enables the user to capture fascinating close-ups from as little as 24cm. away from the subject (depending upon the lens in use). The MCON-58 is also compatible with the ED m14-150mm f4.0-5.6 lens (28-300mm equivalent), ED m40-150mm F4.0-5.6, and ED m75-300mm f4.8-5.6 (35mm equivalent 150–600mm) for close focusing shots.
• Macro Arm Light (MAL-1) – Not one, but two bright LED lights – each on the end of its own fully flexible metal arm and powered by the camera. Both arms extend up to 17cm. from a sleek and slender unit mounted on the camera’s Accessory Port. For macro shots or attractive close-ups of small items or for online auctions, the MAL-1 is ideal for getting the lighting just right.
• PENPal – A sleek communication unit for storing up to 2600 images and transferring them via wireless Bluetooth to other Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as a mobile phone, PC or even another PENPal-equipped camera. From there it’s easy to share them with friends in online communities or via e-mail.
In addition to these accessories, the E-PL2 is compatible with the optional VF-2 detachable electronic viewfinder, which provides 1.15x magnification and a 100 percent field of view with sharp resolution, brightness and contrast, and the optional SEMA-1 external microphone adapter set for those who want to capture enhanced audio with any microphone that has a 3.5mm plug. These optional accessories easily slide into the camera’s accessory port and hot shoe.
In-camera Image Stabilization that Supports a Wide Range of Lenses
Olympus has Image Stabilization built right into the body of the E-PL2. This means that any lens (MICRO Four Thirds, Four Thirds and any third-party lens) attached to the E-PL2 will deliver blur-free images thanks to three modes of in-body Image Stabilization that automatically compensate for camera shake, including in low-light situations or when shooting without a tripod.
Achieve More with Automatic Features Including New iDetect
The E-PL2 features Face Detection with a new Eye Detection function called iDetect to make it easier to capture the spirit of your subject. This feature automatically makes a person’s eye the focus point of the image. The E-PL2 further reduces the chance of blurred subjects in images by recognizing up to eight faces, tracking them within the image area, and automatically focusing and optimizing exposure for sharp portraits. In addition, the E-PL2 has a variety of automated technologies to free you up to focus on your subject instead of the camera settings.
• 22 Scene-Select Modes — from portraits to sunset shots, the E-PL2 is equipped with 22 Scene-Select modes for effortless picture taking, including Fireworks, Sunset, Children, Macro and Panorama, to name a few. Capturing beautiful portraits is easy with the ePortrait mode that enables you to smooth your subject’s complexion. There are even three scene modes that are specific to shooting with the new conversion lenses to optimize the performance of those lenses;
• Intelligent Auto (iAuto) Mode — when you don’t want to use the scene-select modes, the iAuto mode automatically identifies what you’re shooting and adjusts settings to ensure you capture the best result for each situation you encounter;
• In-Camera Panorama — capture three images and stitch them together to create one amazing, seamless panoramic picture. Or use the included OLYMPUS [ib] software to stitch up to 10 images together for the ultimate panorama; and
• iEnhance — with this mode the warm yellow and orange colors of a sunset are heightened to a dramatically lifelike color that’s truer to what you see with the naked eye. iEnhance is available in any mode, and automatically engages when using iAuto to enrich color in any subject.
Large Sensor for Excellent Image Quality
The E-PL2 features a large image sensor similar to the one inside the top of the line Olympus E-System cameras. The only difference between this sensor and what the pros use is that this big sensor is inside the much smaller body of the E-PL2. This high-performance 12.3-megapixel Live MOS Sensor (eight times larger than the average point-and-shoot camera sensor) delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate color fidelity, and a state-of-the-art amplifier circuit to reduce noise and capture fine image details in both highlight and shadow areas.
True-to-Life Color
The E-PL2′s Live MOS image sensor is complemented by Olympus’ TruePic™ V Image Processor, which produces clear and colorful photos using all the pixel information for each image to provide the best digital images possible. The image processor is noted for accurate natural color, true-to-life flesh tones, brilliant blue skies and precise tonal expression; it also offers a maximum ISO sensitivity of 6400, to reduce image noise in photos shot at higher ISO settings, enabling great results in low-light situations.
World-renowned Dust Reduction System
The Olympus dust reduction system is an industry first and a proven technology. You don’t have to worry about dust spots on your sensor ruining the perfect image every time you change lenses. Spend more time shooting with the E-PL2 and less time worrying about dust with the superior dust reduction system producing spot-free photos with the exclusive Supersonic Wave Filter, a patented ultrasonic technology that silently vibrates to remove dust and other particles from the front of the image sensor. Dust will no longer get between you and a great shot.
Flash Alternatives for Everyone
For low-light shooting situations photographers can select the built-in flash or choose an optional external unit. Wireless flash control is also possible with the E-PL2, making customized lighting set-ups an easy reality.
Underwater Housing for Aquatic Adventures
The new camera’s compact design makes it the perfect companion for all of your dive trips. Olympus has designed a custom underwater case for the PEN E-PL2, the PT-EP03, which is waterproof to a depth of 40 meters (approximately 130 feet). With its durable, high-quality polycarbonate construction, this Olympus housing protects the camera from water while also cushioning it from knocks and bumps on land. The housing enables viewing from either the camera’s LCD screen or an optional electronic viewfinder. Use up to two UFL-2 underwater flash units via fiber optic cable with the case’s flash connectors. A non-removable front lens port accommodates multiple MICRO Four Thirds lenses.
Availability
The Olympus E-PL2 Kit will be available in January 2011. It includes the E-PL2 Body, M. ZUIKO MSC DIGITAL ED m14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zoom, USB Cable, Video Cable, Li-Ion Battery Pack (BLS-5), Li-Ion Battery Charger (BCS-1), Shoulder Strap, OLYMPUS [ib] software CD-ROM, Manuals and Registration card.
U.S. Pricing / Product Configurations
E-PL2 Body with MSC M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED m14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zoom Lens
Estimated Street Price: $599.99
At the start of their press conference today Casio said they’d be revolutionizing the digital camera market with a new P&S model. And while the industry hasn’t been completely shaken to its core by their new TRYX, I still think it’s going to be a very popular choice among consumers. The 12.1MP, back-illuminated CMOS sensor-equipped camera boasts a clever variable frame design which lets you do everything from propping it up on a desk to holding it like a camcorder for extra stability to even hanging it on a wall.
At just 0.59 inches thick it feels only slightly larger than a smartphone, and the majority of the body is composed of a 3-inch 460K pixel LCD display, with all of the controls integrated into its touchscreen UI. It also captures full 1080P HD video and even high speed clips up to 240fps if you’re willing to settle for a resolution of just 432×320. While the models on display after their press conference weren’t functional, the video demos of the TRYX also showed off a streamlined UI with clever features like a region-specific motion sensor shutter so if you were taking a self-groupshot for example you could snap the pic simply by waving your hand in the corner of the frame. Available in April for $249.99.
