Olympus Unveils the E-PM2, E-PL5, and X-Z2: Two Mirrorless and a Compact

Olympus is entering Photokina week with three new cameras: the E-PM2 and E-PL5 for its PEN Micro Four Thirds lineup, and the X-Z2 as a flagship compact camera. Both PEN cameras feature a 16.1MP CMOS sensor, a max ISO of 25,600, in-body image stabilization, a 3-inch touchscreen, touch shooting, 8fps continuous shooting, photo filters, RAW files with in-camera editing, and 1080i HD video recording.

E-PM2

The E-PM2, pictured above, is designed to be the most portable camera in the PEN lineup. It’s the smallest and lightest camera that’s designed for people who want to try out a PEN camera for the first time.

Available in black, white, silver, and red, the camera will be available starting in October 2012 for $550 for the body only, or bundled with a 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 lens for $600.

E-PL5

The E-PL5 is the more powerful of the two new low-end PEN cameras. It features an all-metal body and a swiveling LCD screen that has a range of 170-degrees up and 64-degrees down, allowing you to shoot with it above your head or lowered to waist-level.

It’ll be available in black, white, or silver flavors starting in October 2012 for the price of $650. Like the E-PL2, you can also add $50 for the same kit lens.

X-Z2

The new Olympus X-Z2 is the company’s flagship point-and-shoot camera, designed to compete against the likes of Nikon’s P7700. Like the P7700, it packs a 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor. Other specs include a 4x f/1.8-2.5 lens, a max ISO of 12,800, a pop-up flash, a 3-inch LCD touchscreen, in-camera HDR, art filters, 1080p HD video recording,

A hybrid control ring, which the company calls “the world’s first, can be found on the front of the camera. Functions of the camera can be assigned to this ring, and the ring can also be switched between analog and digital (fly-by-wire) operation. When the FN2 lever next to the camera is placed downward, the ring is used physically to adjust focus or zoom. When it’s not, the ring is digital and can be used to adjust exposure-related settings.

The X-Z2 will be available in November 2012 with a pice tag of $600, smack dab in between the two PEN cameras.

Lenses

Finally, Olympus also announced a few new lenses today. They include the 12mm f/2, the 17mm f/1.8, and the 60mm f/2.8 macro.

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