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Olympus E-P1 photos

Looking only a bit like the original Micro Four Thirds concept design Olympus floated last September at Photokina, the company's retro interchangeable lens E-P1 debuts this year to ride the coattails of the 50th anniversary of the company's <a href="http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/camera/pen.cfm">PEN film camera</a>.

Lori Grunin
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
Lori Grunin
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Retro design

The body feels very well-made, and is comfortable to shoot with.
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Khaki traveler

The E-P1 comes in two two-tone bodies; black-and-silver and white-and-beige.
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Relatively compact

The body alone is a similar size as compact enthusiast models like the Canon PowerShot G10 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
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Traditional layout

Despite the retro design, the control layout and menus are typical digital camera. The four-way navigation buttons are part of a dial, and you can use the zoom scroller to navigate as well.
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Beige in back

The two-tone design carries across the back of the camera.
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Lens compactor

The 14-42mm lens is ingeniously designed to retract into a smaller footprint when not in use.
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Recessed mode dial

The recessed mode dial gives the top a nice clean look, and Olympus doesn't crowd it with more features than can comfortably fit.
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Remember!

I found this a bit odd.
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Optional optical viewfinder

The optional viewfinder only works with the 17mm lens. The lack of an eye-level viewfinder is a mixed blessing; yes, it keeps the camera smaller than models like the G10, but many people will miss the viewfinder.
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Four Thirds adapter

An optional adapter allows you to use Four Thirds system lenses on the E-P1.
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Using older lenses

If you've got OM-1 lenses, there's an adapter for that too.
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Flat flash

The lack of on-camera flash is a big drawback for the E-P1, though Olympus offers an optional hot-shoe flash with a relatively compact profile.
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Hot shoe flash

The optional flash on the camera.
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Lens caps

Colorful vintage lens caps are also available.
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Old-fashioned strap

Opt for the old-fashioned strap to keep the vintage theme going.
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17mm prime

Olympus offers a 17mm lens kit (34mm equivalent) with the optional optical viewfinder.
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Matching colors

In an unusual move, Olympus offers versions of the lenses that match the different body colors.

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