There is a new category for digital cameras that Olympus has been at the forefront of in design and acceptance in the marketplace.
The PEN series of cameras uses a 4/3 sensor, which allows you to keep a pretty compact profile while getting a high quality image.

We showed you a full up demo from Lou Manna awhile back, and at the latest PMA show, they introduced a more affordable solution: the E-PL1.
Now we are problem/ solution people at heart, and while walking the floors the hunt is on to find great solutions to photographic problems we have.
OK, we do have a bunch of photo problems to solve. Never ending it seems.
So the problem here was finding a small camera with interchangeable lenses, that could shoot HD video.
Oh yeah, and deliver high quality files, preferably in RAW.
The first one on the market that got out attention was this PEN series. The design actually goes way back in their history.
We were at a camera swap a couple of weeks ago and saw on the the first types of these. But that was film. This is now.

Take a look at this walk through of the Olympus PEN E-PL1 :

The biggest demo that you should consider is the size of the sensors in these cameras as opposed to most point and shoots.
In the world of sensors, bigger is better.

And the accessories allow you to add your own mic and get it away from the dang camera! The biggest issue we have with vids on point & shoots is the “finger noise” and breathing that you capture because the mic is right on the camera.
Yes, it is the same thing with camcorders. We have the same issue. You really need a separate mic.

Anyway, we’ll be doing a real world review of this of this unit, and report back in.