Olympus has announced its PEN Lite E-PL1 Pancake Kit. The package includes an E-PL1 camera body, the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm f/2.8 lens and the optical viewfinder VF-1.
In addition, the pancake kits will also have a choice of two new limited edition color-scheme E-PL1 bodies.
The EPL-1 is a more user-friendly, if a bit more limited in features, version of Olympus’ PEN E-P1/E-P2. It is aimed more at the casual shooters who want better image quality than a point & shoot, but don’t want the bulk of a DSLR and the relative complexity of full-featured EVIL cameras like the Olympus E-P1/E-P2 and Panasonic’s GF-1. More information about E-PL1 can be found at the Olympus site. A review of the the E-PL1 can be found here.
With the popularity of the E-PL1, Olympus has decided to offer two new body colors for the E-PL1, Ruby Red and Blue Black. Each of these limited edition E-PL1s will come with a matching VF-1 optical viewfinder to aid in composing pictures without the LCD (useful in bright daylight or for saving battery power), and the pancake M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm f/2.8 lens which allows the E-PL1 to remain compact in form.
E-PL1 in Blue Black
In addition, Olympus also announced an eyecup for its VF-2 electronic viewfinder (EVF). The EP-9 eyecup will help block out bright light to allow better viewing of Olympus’ brilliant electronic viewfinder. It is significantly larger and will also accommodate photographers with eyeglasses.
The PEN Lite E-PL1 Pancake Kits, including those with limited edition color bodies, will go on sale 28th of May 2010. Only 9,000 kits will be sold, offer good while supplies last. Price as per dealer.
The EP-9 is projected to go on sale mid-June 2010 with an MSRP of JPY2100 tax-inclusive.
Olympus EP-9 Eyecup
EP-9 Eyecup on VF-2
