With the market for mirrorless cameras heating up, Olympus is getting into the game with a new micro four thirds camera, the Pen E-PL9.
The new camera comes with a 16 MP CMOS sensor on the front, with support for a 121-point autofocus system (up from 81), aided with a high-end TruePic VIII image processor.
ISO, Shutter, and Design
ISO levels can go between 100 and 25,600. Shutter speeds can go up to 1/4000s. Low-light shots will be handled by a built-in flash, though, professionals can aid themselves further via a hotshoe.
Design-wise you get a retro look, which will feed into the industry’s love of nostalgia, available in black, brown and white. There’s a dial on top for changing modes, while the body also comes with a built-in stabilization system, with support for 3-axis instead of 5-axis stabilization, still impressive for a camera this size.
Video and Connectivity
On the video front, you get up to 4K at 30 frames per second, with support for 1080p full HD at 30 fps too. On the connectivity front you get Bluetooth low energy as well as Wi-Fi, which should make connection with the companion app easier.
At the back is a 3-inch touchscreen LCD, which flips all the way to the front to aid in self-portraits, hence, banking on another trend. A number of image filters (16) are also built-in for easy customization.
Price and Availability
As for the price, it is set at €549 for the body only, or € 699 with a 14 – 42mm f/2.5-5.6 EZ Pancake lens. The camera will be released in March of this year. The Pen E-PL9 is the cheapest way to get into the market if you are set on an Olympus camera.
