Olympus Pen F Launch - The 'Masterpiece’

[wonglp]

New Olympus PEN-F combines timeless styling with a new 20-megapixel Live MOS sensor

With classic design that exudes quality and masterpiece craftsmanship, the new PEN-F has the highest resolution image sensor in an Olympus compact system camera, and the shortest shutter release lag in its class.

Olympus Imaging is pleased to announce the new PEN-F, the latest
model in the PEN series of Compact System Cameras.
The PEN-F has a classic design that exudes quality and ‘masterpiece’craftsmanship. Designed for reportage, documentary and travel photography, the PEN-F uses a new 20-megapixel Live MOS sensor and has a built-in 5-Axis Image Stabilisation (IS) system that achieves up to 5 EV steps of stability*1 for the highest quality handheld imaging. With the shortest shutter release lag*2 amongst compact system cameras of 44ms, the super responsive PEN-F helps you capture the fleetest of photographic opportunities to record your most decisive moments. It has a new Colour Profile feature that takes colour or monochrome photos with the look of classic film types. The PEN-F is the first Olympus PEN model with a built in viewfinder, using a 2.36M dot OLED.
Aimed at photographers who appreciate photographic instruments of fine design and quality, the Olympus PEN-F captures attention with its beautiful classic styling that is inspired by the elegant Olympus PEN F 35mm film camera of 1963. Exuding "masterpiece'' craftsmanship and a highly-refined finish, the new PEN-F is designed to have outstanding ergonomics. Its milled-metal, click-detented dials and control switches feature diamond-cut edges that, combined with the precise touch and feedback response of its mechanical interfaces, provide the photographer with a luxuriously tactile usage experience.

A new 20-megapixel Live MOS sensor and the Truepic VII imaging engine gives the PEN-F the highest imaging resolution amongst Olympus compact system cameras. Together with the proven in-built Olympus 5-Axis VCM IS system and high-resolution M.Zuiko lenses, you are assured of the highest quality handheld stills and video results.


Feature Highlights
1. Classic design styling with masterpiece"craftsmanship and finish quality
2. New 20 megapixel Live MOS sensor
3. 5-axis VCM Image Stabilisation (in-built) with up to 5 EV*1 stability
4. New Creative Dial allows quick access to:
a) Monochrome Profile – simulate B&W films
b) Colour Profile - simulates characteristics of classic colour films
c) Art Filter
d) Colour Creator
5. New High-res Shot captures 50MP JPEG or 80MP RAW shots
6. Shortest shutter release lag*2 in the compact system camera class of 44ms
7. 2.36M dot OLED electronic viewfinder with aspherical optics for ultra-low viewing distortion (100% view; 0.62xmagnification)
8. Swivel 3.0 inch Touchscreen LCD with 1037k dots
9. Full-HD movie with 5-axis IS stability(24, 25, 30 or 60 fps frame rates)
10. Silent Mode for stealth shooting
11. Built-in Wi-Fi when coupled with OI.Share app for smart devices (iOS & Android) enables camera remote control; image and video transfer for social sharing

 

[wonglp]

A design of timeless beauty and outstanding operability

The PEN-F body"s line and silhouette are inherited from the world's first half-frame SLR camera, the elegant stylish 1963 Pen F. It has a control layout that is optimised to let you easily adjust camera settings when you're looking through the viewfinder, and its overall design impression is of a timeless, rangefinder-style camera.
With top and front covers made of magnesium alloy, the bottom cover of the body and the machined dials are made of aluminium. To enhance the ''clean'' aesthetics, body assembly screws have been hidden from view.

The rear of the LCD monitor also features the same synthetic leather as that used on the camera body for a unified appearance and feel. The dedicated exposure compensation dial and the four custom positions added to the mode dial simplify operations and enable instant access to user-preferred settings.


The PEN-F is the first Olympus camera to have a Monochrome and Colour Profile Control feature. Accessed through a front-facing Creative Dial, profile control provides user-customisable tone and
saturation image pre-sets that simulate the appearance of classic colour and black and white film. In the monochrome profile mode, digitised ''film grain'' can even be added to the image. The Creative
Dial also provides quick access to Art Filters and the special Colour Creator mode that enables intuitive, preview-able application of colour hue and saturation adjustments.

 

[wonglp]

New 20 Megapixel Live MOS sensor and 5-axis VCM image stabilisation for the ultimate image quality

The combination of the excellent image quality of Zuiko Digital lenses, the new 20 Megapixel Live MOS sensor, and TruePic VII image processor result in extremely high image quality. The low pass filter-less construction of the 20 Megapixel Live MOS sensor assists to achieve high resolution. The PEN-F"s low sensitivity “ISO LOW” mode is equivalent to ISO 80.
The powerful 5-axis VCM (Voice Coil Motor) image stabilisation provides up to 5 shutter speed steps*1 of stability compensation. Such extraordinary stability lets you capture clear images of night and other low light scenes with minimal noise without having to raise the ISO speed. In-body image stabilisation also makes it possible to use vintage manual focus lenses with the same stabilisation benefits, including stabilised viewfinder preview. The PEN-F is compatible with Olympus" latest 5-axis Sync IS technology that provides even more effective image stabilisation with the M.Zuiko 300mm F4.0 IS PRO lens up to 6 shutter speed steps*7.

 

[wonglp]

High Resolution Shot uses a sensor-shift shooting process to capture ultra-high-resolution images that exceed or rival the image quality of full-frame DSLRs. 50 Megapixel equivalent JPEG images are captured in this special mode with brilliant resolution and colour clarity. (80 Megapixel in RAW)

To ensure that you will rarely miss important decisive moments, the PEN-F has the shortest shutter release lag*2 amongst current compact system camera of just 44ms. This has been achieved through
optimised digital and mechanical control systems that include the lightning-quick autofocus performance of Olympus M.Zuiko lenses. For photography in noise-sensitive situations, the PEN-F"s silent mode*6 provides the photographer with the ability to shoot in near complete stealth.

 

[wonglp]

Monochrome and Colour Profile Control provide enhances creative expression
The PEN-F"s new Monochrome and Colour Profile Control provides the photographer to simulate the imaging characteristics of film. This process is different from using photo editing software after shooting, as you preview, and fine tune desired tonal and colour characteristics of a chosen „film" that you can subsequently apply as a profile pre-set. Both Monochrome and Colour Profile Control functions feature default pre-set profiles that simulate the visual „flavour" of classic black-and-white and colour films. The user can modify these pre-set profiles to suit their shooting style.

The Creative Dial positioned on the front of the camera provides instant access to the Monochrome and Colour Profile settings, as well as Art Filters and the Colour Creator mode.

a) Monochrome Profile Control (New)
In monochrome shooting you can combine 5 tone effects such as Colour Filter effect, Shading effect, Film Grain effect and Highlight & Shadow Control. These features allow a variety of monochromatic expressions possible. In addition to default setting (pre-set 1), there is also the Classic Film B&W (pre-set 2) for a monochrome film effect with high contrast, and the Classic Film IR (pre-set 3) for an effect that simulates B&W infrared film.

b) Color Profile Control (New)
In this mode, the saturation of 12 colours can be adjusted individually in 11 steps. This can also be
combined with Highlight & Shadow Control to capture colour images with a user-determined colour palette.
In addition to the default setting (pre-set 1) there is also the Chrome Film Rich Colour (pre-set 2) which gives deeper colour tones, and Chrome Film Vivid Saturation (pre-set 3) which captures images with even more vibrant colours.

c) Color Creator
The Colour Creator feature allows you to have creative control to capture scenes in unique and
impressive way through varies colour hue and saturation adjustments. The Hue or Saturation of the entire photo will change together to portray the mood the user. It is completely different to conventional white balance compensation.
Hue adjustment: 30 steps control Colour saturation adjustment: 8 steps control

d) Art Filters
14 Preset Art filters with 9 art effect variations are available to instantly enhance both stills and videos.
? Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light colour, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Cross Process,
Gentle Sepia, Dramatic Tone, Key Line, Watercolour, Vintage, Partial colour.
Partial Colour filter allows user to select a single colour to be retain in a photo or video from a range of 18 colours.





Difference between Color Profile Control, Color Creator & Partial Color

Colour Profile Control
This feature allows user to control the saturation of 12 colours individually to achieve desired results. Only selected colour will change during adjustment.

Color Creator
This feature allows user to control the Hue & Saturation of the image to portray the mood desired.
The Hue or saturation of the entire image will change together during adjustment.
Partial Color – Art Filter
This feature allows user to retain a selected colour in an image from a range of 18 colours. Non selected colours will display as B&W or in lighten colour mode depending on user selection.

 

[wonglp]

*1 CIPA guideline compliant, when correction is carried out on two axes (yaw and pitch).
Lens: M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 EZ; Focal length: f=42mm (35mm film
equivalent f= 84mm)
*2
As of January 27, 2016. When using the mechanical shutter.
*3
S-AF shooting mode (mechanical shutter)
*4
Tripod use is required for Hi-res shooting due to the sensor movement
*5
Olympus Viewer 3 v2.0 (64-bit Mac OS / Windows) is required for the processing of
Hi-res raw files
*6
Switches to electronic shutter when in use
*7
Measured using the standardised CIPA testing methodology

 

[wonglp]

Review on CS will be up tonight. It's an exciting camera for sure

 

[bhtan83]

80MP for raw files is a beast in disguise, but i can't see myself using much of this feature.

 

[keithwee]

It's timely for the Olympus MFT sensor to get an update too looking forward to the review

 

[bousozoku]

It's unfortunate that they didn't have a TruePIC VIII processor to improve image quality.

I look forward to seeing how the GX8 and Pen-F compare in image quality.

 

[sj6497]

Does not look like PEN-F at all... design is more close to Barnack...

 

[thexcuriousxwanderer]

Review on CS will be up tonight. It's an exciting camera for sure

Seems like the reviews don't rate the new sensor that much, most are saying the sensor is pretty much similar to the old one with finer grain at higher ISOs

 

[keithwee]

Sharing this review by Steve Huff. (he's pretty much a fanboy but images don lie)

A very good sharing on the new Monochrome schemes and a clear verdict the new 20mp sensor is indeed improved (he did a direct comparison of the Pen F with the Leica M)

at: http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2016/01/26/the-new-olympus-pen-f-camera-review-just-wow/

 

[thexcuriousxwanderer]

Sharing this review by Steve Huff. (he's pretty much a fanboy but images don lie)

A very good sharing on the new Monochrome schemes and a clear verdict the new 20mp sensor is indeed improved (he did a direct comparison of the Pen F with the Leica M)

at: http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2016/01/26/the-new-olympus-pen-f-camera-review-just-wow/

If you read the article carefully there is zero actual comparison of quality, and his article is full of hype. No pictures side by side, no files backing up his claims. Nothing like the measured reviews given by Robin and Ming Thein.

 

[JacePhoto]

If you read the article carefully there is zero actual comparison of quality, and his article is full of hype. No pictures side by side, no files backing up his claims. Nothing like the measured reviews given by Robin and Ming Thein.

Always felt that way about Steve Bluff.

 

[keithwee]

If you read the article carefully there is zero actual comparison of quality, and his article is full of hype. No pictures side by side, no files backing up his claims. Nothing like the measured reviews given by Robin and Ming Thein.

Lol, that's why I said *fanboy* and that to just focus on the images. Usage of superlatives in a review doesn't really give it more credibility.

 

[Vulpix0r]

Always felt that way about Steve Bluff.

Lol, that's why I said *fanboy* and that to just focus on the images. Usage of superlatives in a review doesn't really give it more credibility.

To be fair to him, he has mentioned multiple times in multiple posts that no one should be taking his technical portion seriously.

 

[Vulpix0r]

TK Foto got demo units available after 29th January. Seen on their facebook.

 

[NikF601]

TK Foto got demo units available after 29th January. Seen on their facebook.

Thanks for the update

 

[ricleo]

haha actually i am quite tempted by the Pen-F. Shall wait for the street price to settle down.