Olympus Unveils All-Black Version of PEN E-P2 Digital Camera; New Micro Four Thirds Lenses

AUGUST 31, 2010

Olympus unveiled a new all-black version of its Micro Four Thirds-format PEN E-P2 digital. The retro black camera will be sold as a kit with a black M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 17mm lens and a black FL-14 flash for $999. It will go on sale at the beginning of October.

Olympus also announced two new Micro Four Thirds lenses, the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300 MM F4.8-6.7 and M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150MM F4.0-5.6. Both lenses feature faster, silent autofocus during still shooting and high definition (HD) movie capture.

The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300mm f4.8-6.7 ($899) will be available in December 2010, while the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm f4.0-5.6 ($299) will be available in November 2010.

More info in the two press releases below.


PRESS RELEASE

OLYMPUS PEN E-P2: BACK IN BLACK

Exclusive New Kit Features Black PEN E-P2 Body, Black 17mm M.Zuiko Lens and Black FL-14 Flash

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., August 31, 2010 – In the past year, the Olympus PEN family has won a series of high profile awards, including the CEA CES Innovations Award, the EISA Best European Camera and the Red Dot Design Award. Today, meet the newest member of the world-renowned family: the Olympus PEN E-P2 black-on-black kit. For the first time, the PEN E-P2’s stylish retro black metal body is complemented by a black M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 17mm lens and a black FL-14 flash in an exclusive, limited availability kit.

Look what you can do with a PEN E-P2 kit. Just like the original, it blends high-quality still images like those taken with a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) with High Definition (HD) video, stereo linear PCM audio recording and In-Camera Creativity inside an ultra-portable body.

“The PEN E-P2 kit’s edgy black styling gives the camera a discreet, more professional look. Perfect for photographers who want to capture the action without being a distraction,” said Katie Roseman, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “Photo enthusiasts will appreciate the camera for its excellent image quality, HD video, creative functions and high-end stereo sound, while design aficionados will relish its sleek black profile.”

The powerfully simple PEN E-P2 is compatible with an array of Micro Four Thirds lenses, including the newly announced M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300 MM F4.8-6.7 and M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150MM F4.0-5.6, which feature a high-speed, silent autofocus during still shooting and HD movie capture. It is part of a new generation of system cameras.

The black Olympus PEN E-P2 kit will cost $999.99 and will be available at select photo specialty stores beginning in October, 2010. The kit includes the PEN E-P2 Body, black M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 17mm lens, black FL-14 flash, USB Cable, Video Cable, Li-Ion Battery Pack, Li-Ion Battery Charger, Shoulder Strap, OLYMPUS [ib] software CD-ROM, Manuals and Registration card.


PRESS RELEASE

THE STRONG, SILENT TYPES: TWO NEW POWERFUL OLYMPUS MICRO FOUR THIRDS
ZOOM LENSES

World’s Smallest 600mm Telephoto Zoom Lens and 80-300mm Equivalent Lenses Deliver Both Extreme Portability and Optimal HD Movie Recording

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., August 31, 2010 – Olympus today announces two new lenses to its Micro Four Thirds lens family: the M.ZUIKO® DIGITAL ED 75-300 MM F4.8-6.7 and M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150MM F4.0-5.6. Both lenses feature a high-speed, silent autofocus during still shooting and high definition (HD) movie capture. They are the ultimate lenses for zooming in on sporting events, beautiful wildlife and faces from a distance, and because they make barely a whisper when focusing, they won’t call attention to photographer or add unwanted noise to movie recordings. Look what you can do.

Strong Zooms

 The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300mm f4.8-6.7 with a 35 mm equivalent of 150-600mm is the world’s smallest and lightest 600mm super telephoto lens. Weighing merely 15.17 ounces and measuring 2.76 by 4.57 inches, this lightweight lens delivers excellent portability and outstanding image quality when paired with the award-winning Olympus PEN® cameras. Previous lenses offering 600mm or more have been too large and heavy for most users to enjoy super telephoto shooting. This lens is smaller and lighter than the comparable ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 70-300mm f4.8-6.7.

The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm f4.0-5.6 is extremely light, weighing only 6.7 ounces. With a wide zoom range with a 35mm equivalent to 80-300mm, this lens offers versatility and portability. It’s an affordable complement to the powerfully simple 3x wide-angle zoom lens (M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42 f3.5-5.6) that comes standard with the PEN kit.

Silent Operation
The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300mm f4.8-6.7’s rear focusing mechanism is comprised of a single-element unit, to enable remarkably fast and nearly silent HD movie recordings with sound. The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm f4.0-5.6 has two lens elements in the rear focusing mechanism. The manual focusing mechanism is designed to deliver quiet and precise auto focus operation, for an affordable, high quality means to capture your life in still images or HD videos.

The new lenses are made with ED (extra-low dispersion) glass to maximize the performance of the Micro Four Thirds System. The Micro Four Thirds System standard meets the telecentric requirements of dedicated digital design. Light rays strike the imaging element nearly head-on for optimum edge-to-edge image reproduction. It also enables much more compact design than the Four Thirds System standard (or other interchangeable lens systems) because it reduces the outer diameter of the lens mount by 6mm, and the distance from the lens mount to the sensor (the flange back distance) by approximately half. As a result, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL Micro Four Thirds System lenses offer uncompromising professional quality for capturing both still images and HD videos, and the lenses are exceptionally compact to make capturing life more fun.

The Micro Four Thirds System’s design, compact size, low weight and amazing image quality with the new lenses extend the photographic potential of the system by adding more options. The new lenses are compatible with all Micro Four Thirds System Olympus PEN cameras, and all other current and future cameras that comply with the Micro Four Thirds System standard. When mounted on an Olympus PEN camera, the lenses are stabilized thanks to the camera’s in-body Image Stabilization system and offer effective shake compensation at all focal lengths.

AVAILABILITY
The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300mm f4.8-6.7 will be available in December 2010, while the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm f4.0-5.6 will be available in November 2010. Both lenses will be available in black and silver.

U.S. Pricing / Product Configurations
M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75-300mm f4.8-6.7 Estimated Street Price: $899.99
M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm f4.0-5.6 Estimated Street Price: $299.99