Olympus PEN and OM-D Mirrorless System Cameras
If you'd like your digital camera to also have a sense of style, then Olympus has some cameras for you.
The line of Olympus mirrorless sytem cameras is based on two older film cameras: the Olympus PEN and the Olympus OM.
Olympus PEN film cameras only used HALF of a frame of standard film. This not only produced double the number of exposures on a single roll of film, it also allowed Olympus to reduce the size and weight of the cameras.
Today, Olympus has done the same thing in a digital format they they did with film back in the 1960s.
Defining Features
What's most notable about all of Olympus mirorless system cameras is their decidedly retro look.
The Olympus cameras of today look quite a lot like the cameras of old despite the bright fancy LCD screens stuck on the back of them.
This unique styling is paired with in-camera image stabilization on every model which helps ensure clear shots regardless of the lens you happen to be using.
Special lens adapters also make the Olympus mirrorless system cameras compatible with Olympus four thirds and even old OM lenses.
Olympus Mirrorless System Cameras - 2012
Release Date: April 2012
OM-D E-M5
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Borrowing a camera body style that is 40 years old, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 re-creates the look of a classic film camera but packs in tons of modern technology. Two notable features are the high resolution electronic viewfinder and the flexible 3 inch OLED LCD screen.
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Olympus Mirrorless System Cameras - 2011
Release Date: September 2011
E-PL3
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Providing a little something for everyone, the E-PL3 has a flexible 3 inch LCD screen which allows for high and low-angle compositions. Like the E-P3, this camera is compatible with the Olympus VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder (as an optional accessory).
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Release Date: August 2011
E-P3
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If you've become used to using a touch screen, then you'll feel quite at home with the 3 inch OLED LCD on the E-P3. You can also customize the look of any image by applying one of 10 different art filters like Diorama, Pop Art, Soft Focus and Gentle Sepia.
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Release Date: August 2011
E-PM1
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Also known as the "PEN Mini" the Olympus E-PM1 is the smallest, lightest and simplest of the 2011 PEN cameras. There is no optional viewfinder for this camera and there is no built-in flash.
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Olympus Mirrorless System Cameras - 2010
Release Date: May 2010
E-PL1
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This third camera in the Olympus mirrorless lineup features the addition of a built-in flash AND the ability to control other remote Olympus flashes wirelessly. Plenty of art filters let you customize the look of your photos without needing a computer.
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No Longer Available New (Used Only)
Olympus Mirrorless System Cameras - 2009
Release Date: November 2009
E-P2
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Mere months after the E-P1 arrived the E-P2 was announced. This model improves on its predecessor with the addition of an accessory port - where you can attach an optional viewfinder or an external microphone for recording video.
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No Longer Available New (Used Only)
Release Date: July 2009
E-P1
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The first mirrorless Olympus camera created quite a stir when it was first released due more to the way that it looked than any particular feature. A special feature is the built-in image stabilization that helps you get clear shots with any lens you attach.
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No Longer Available New (Used Only)
Page current as of: August 2012
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