Olympus is officially back! Meet the Olympus PEN E-P7 – the first new camera under OM Digital Solutions ownership
(Image credit: OM Digital Solutions)
OM Digital Solutions has announced the Olympus PEN E-P7 – the first new Olympus camera of the new era, under new ownership.
The Olympus PEN E-P7 is at once a resurrection of the dormant E-P line, and an exciting hybrid of the brand's most popular cameras and features. It takes the sleek styling, Profile Control dial and mono / color shooting modes of the Olympus PEN-F, the tiny form factor of the Olympus PEN E-PL10, and the latest tech and functionality of the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV.
Under the hood, the new camera has a lot in common with the E-M10 Mark IV. It packs a 20.3MP sensor with the latest contrast-detect autofocus, 5-axis in-body image stabilization that's good for 4.5 stops of compensation, 4K video up to 30p (with 720p up to 120p, albeit with no audio) and USB charging.
From the PEN-F, as noted, it takes the sublime styling of Olympus' classic film cameras, along with the dual control dials and the Profile Control dial – which, at the flick of the switch, enables you to shoot in eight mono and color profiles that emulate the feel of classic film stocks like Tri-X, Ektachrome and Portra. And of course it comes with Olympus' standard 16 Art Filters, including Instant Film, Vintage and Pop Art.
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(Image credit: OM Digital Solutions)
(Image credit: OM Digital Solutions)
(Image credit: OM Digital Solutions)
(Image credit: OM Digital Solutions)
(Image credit: OM Digital Solutions)
(Image credit: OM Digital Solutions)
(Image credit: OM Digital Solutions)
(Image credit: OM Digital Solutions)
And from the E-PL cameras, it retains not just the thin profile and light weight but also the 180° flipping touchscreen that's perfect for both selfies and vlogging. In fact, combined with the improved AF and the brilliant stabilization, the E-P7 becomes a compelling content creation device for those who don't know (or want to know) the ins and outs of video required to get the most out of cameras like the Panasonic GH5 II.
That user-friendliness continues with the Advanced Photo Mode options, which enable novices to get to grips with techniques such as long exposures and focus stacking without having to study photography tips or tutorials. The Olympus Share app now works better than ever, too, for quick and easy transfer of photos and videos to your phone – as well as the ability to use your phone as a remote shutter / control (and unlike many manufacturer's apps, this one really does work well!).
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The Olympus PEN E-P7 goes on sale in mid-June in black & silver or white & silver, with an RRP of £749 (approximately $1,059 / AU$1,369) body only or £849 ($1,200 / AU$1,553) with the M.Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ Pancake lens. Olympus has advised us that the camera will be available in Europe and Japan, but will not presently see a release in the US.
Read our full Olympus PEN E-P7 review for our verdict on the camera, and to find out if it lives up to the Olympus heritage.
James has 22 years experience as a journalist, serving as editor of Digital Camera World for 6 of them. He started working in the photography industry in 2014, product testing and shooting ad campaigns for Olympus, as well as clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal. An Olympus / OM System, Canon and Hasselblad shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and he loves instant cameras, too.
