Center Valley, PA—The Olympus PEN E-PL7 is a compact, interchangeable-lens camera sporting a portable body and featuring a 180º downward-flip touch LCD, a selfie mode and built-in Wi-Fi that combines with the enhanced Olympus Image Share app (OI.Share)—giving users the power to upload images instantly using mobile devices.
Employing much of the same technology as Olympus’s OM-D cameras, the E-PL7’s TruePic VII image processor combines with a 16.05 megapixel Live MOS sensor and M.Zuiko lenses to aid in delivering high resolution and color reproduction as well as high sensitivity. An in-body three-axis VCM image stabilization system derived from the OM-D E-M10 compensates for horizontal and vertical angular shifts as well as camera shake.
Additionally, its “FAST” AF is Olympus’s fastest autofocus system and uses 81 points to cover the whole image. Small AF target and super spot AF make it possible to zoom in and focus on small sections of the frame. The E-PL7 is also capable of capturing 8-frame-per-sec sequential bursts. Its fast processor also supports continuous capture of 20 RAW frames or an unlimited number of JPEG frames, and the continuous autofocus with tracking mode captures moving subjects as fast as 3.5 fps.
With one-touch self-portraits in mind, a 3.0-inch, 1.04 million-dot touch LCD monitor automatically turns into a mirror display and activates into its selfie mode when tilted downward 180º. The shutter-release button appears on the screen so subjects can frame the image, shooting one second after the button is touched to capture selfies with high image quality. Plus, selfie interval shooting provides a way to capture images with a custom self-timer switching button that defaults to deliver three shots at one-second intervals, giving subjects time to strike different poses. When an electronic zoom lens is attached, the zoom automatically adjusts to the wide-angle position so users can quickly incorporate the background.
The E-PL7 can pair with an external flash to capture selfies against nighttime backgrounds, and e-portrait mode can be activated with a single touch for augmented skin textures. iAuto was also enhanced with selfies in mind: portrait settings were added to common scene modes to automatically detect 42 types of scenes.
The new PEN includes built-in Wi-Fi. Using the Olympus Image Share app, along with a smartphone, and scanning the QR code on the camera’s LCD, the smartphone syncs with the Wi-Fi network created by the camera. OI.Share shooting functions now make it possible to operate the custom self-timer for sequential and selfie interval shooting. And, of course, live view can be displayed on the smartphone, so the camera can be controlled by touching the phone’s display. Users can then send images to their smart device for sharing on social media sites. Other OI.Share enhancements include: a movie button to quickly record a movie at customized settings; live bulb, which allows users to control and monitor the bulb photography process on a smartphone while the shutter is released; and the ability to geotag images.
Additional features include: the new vintage art filter; a partial color filter that leaves certain colors while others are converted to monochrome; shade effect, which adds bands of shadows on the left and right, or top and bottom of the image; photo story, which now includes layout mode for a photo-album-style arrangement; the panning scene mode; and a new movie effect, old film effect, which records video to look like old movies shot on film by adding noise, scratches and dust effects.
For photographers who prefer composing their shots using an eyepiece, the E-PL7 is compatible with the optional high-definition VF-4 viewfinder that provides a 1.48x magnification, a 2.36-million-dot LCD, eye-detect to turn it on at the right time, and intuitive functionality that enables real-time viewing.
Olympus is also introducing a black version of its M.Zuiko Digital 12mm f/2.0 lens for an SRP of $799.99. This high-speed, single-focal-length, wide-angle lens is geared for shooting landscapes and street scenes in low-light conditions. It has a full-metal body and a snap ring that enables photographers to pan focus with a distance indicator.
Optional PEN E-PL7 accessories that will be available in October include: a genuine leather body jacket, the CS-45B, available in light brown, brown and black, $59.99; the leather lens cover LS-60.5GL (compatible with the M.Zuiko 14–42mm f/3.5–5.6 EZ lens), $44.99; the PT-EP12 waterproofing case rated down to 45m, $749.99; and the UFL-3 underwater flash, $499.99.
The Olympus PEN E-PL7 will be available late September in the following configurations: $699.99 in black or silver with the M.Zuiko Digital 14–42mm f/3.5–5.6 II R lens and $599.99 body only in black or silver. olympusamerica.com
