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Olympus Micro Four Thirds debutant picture leaks: It's the E-P1

Olympus's long-awaited Micro Four Thirds model has a name: the E-P1. Click the story to see a first picture, and have your say on what this new market sector should be called...

Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
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Richard Trenholm

Olympus has been promising its first Micro Four Thirds model for ages, but with a 'mysterious' launch event in exactly one week's time and the Internet abuzz with rumour, it seems the wait is over. The new camera even has a name: the E-P1.

We've been salivating over the gloriously louche concept since last September's Photokina -- has it really been that long? In the meantime, Panasonic has reached its second Micro Four Thirds milestone, following the Lumix G1 with the video-shooting GH1. It's high time for a little competition in this new -- and still somewhat overpriced -- market sector. Now all we need is a name for this new type of interchangeable lens, non-dSLR cameras. Are they hybrids? dSLR-alikes? dSLaren'ts? Suggestions in the comments, please.

Olympus retro concept

How close the E-P1 will be to the show concept, pictured above at PMA by CNET.com's Stephen Shankland, remains to be seen, but Olympus has been feeding the flames of speculation with a series of teasers related to the classic Pen camera. It seems the new model will definitely be retro-inspired at the very least.

Crave will be winging its way to Berlin this time next week for the international launch. Stay tuned and all will be revealed...