The new Olympus PEN E-PL9 comes in a sophisticated design aimed at trendy photographers looking to go beyond smartphone photography
Olympus finally announced today the North American availability and pricing of the Olympus PEN E-PL9, the newest model in its legendary PEN lineup. The compact and lightweight interchangeable lens camera sports a stylish design aimed at the younger market of trendy shooters, bloggers, and travelers. As we’ve reported earlier, it features a number of improvements worth noting; the latest Olympus TruePicTM VIII Image Processor, 4K video at 30p, built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, a much-improved grip, and built-in flash.
True to its positioning as a compact camera for stylish snappers looking for creative touches to add to their photos, the PEN E-PL9 also boasts 16 Art Filters. These include an “Instant Film” filter that mimics the classic look of instant film. The Advanced Photo (AP) Modes also allow shooting with creative techniques such as nighttime Live Composite and multiple exposures.
Selfie lovers will also have an easy time with self-portraits via the 180-Degree Flip-Touch LCD Monitor, which allows focusing and tripping the shutter with a simple touch of the screen. Interestingly, this screen can also be flipped down to activate the Selfie Mode for framing the perfect selfie without getting fingers in the shot.
According to the press release, the Olympus PEN E-PL9 is now available in Pearl White, Onyx Black, and Honey Brown for $599.99 USD / $699.99 CAD for the camera body and $699.99 USD / $899.99 CAD for the one lens kit. The kit includes the M.Zuiko 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ lens, custom camera bag, custom camera strap, 16GB memory card, Quick Tip Card, and Quick Start Guide.
Read the full press release below:
IMAGING MADE SIMPLE:
THE EYE-CATCHING OLYMPUS PEN E-PL9
New PEN Is a Compact, Lightweight Interchangeable Lens Camera That Delivers Outstanding Image Quality and Creativity for the Trendy Shooter
CENTER VALLEY, Pa., April 5, 2018 — Olympus introduces the Olympus PEN® E-PL9, a compact, lightweight interchangeable lens camera packed with features to enhance your photography with stunning image quality and sophisticated design. The PEN E-PL9 is the newest model in the award-winning PEN lineup and combines Olympus’ latest touchscreen controls with an array of interchangeable lens options to go beyond smartphone photography, perfect for those looking to capture and share their lifestyle in attention-grabbing detail with friends and followers.
The Olympus PEN E-PL9’s sophisticated design is bolstered by aluminum accents, metal dials, and leather grain that perfectly complements each color option to match your personal style — Pearl White, Onyx Black, and Honey Brown. The 180-degree flip-touch LCD monitor simplifies selfie stills and videos with an easy-to-use interface that automatically switches the camera to Selfie Mode when the monitor is flipped downward to its front-facing position.
In-body image stabilization delivers sharp images and smooth 4K video even in low light environments or when using a telephoto lens. The latest Olympus TruePicTM VIII Image Processor, the same processor included on the Olympus flagship OM-D™ E-M1 Mark II, improves image quality and responsiveness. Built-in Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi™ allow you to easily connect your PEN E-PL9 to your smartphone to wirelessly transfer images and upload to social channels.
With the PEN E-PL9’s Auto Mode, the camera instantly detects a scene and chooses the best settings. Scene Modes let you choose from preset scenarios like People, Motion, Indoors, Nightscapes, Scenery, or Close-ups for easy setting customization. Advanced Photo Modes are readily available using the touch LCD monitor and facilitate high-end photo techniques such as nighttime Live Composite and multi-exposure shooting, so anyone can capture stunning images without worrying about difficult settings.
Main Features
Easy-To-Shoot Creative Photography
The PEN E-PL9 features 16 Art Filters for adding unique, creative flourishes to make your images stand out, and the new Instant Film filter adds a modern effect to images while maintaining a nostalgic feel. AP (Advanced Photo) Modes support advanced photography techniques such as nighttime Live Composite and multi-exposure shooting, so anyone can enjoy complex shooting techniques without worrying about difficult settings. Olympus Micro Four Thirds lenses are available to deliver a range of expression and superior image quality only achievable with an interchangeable lens camera; portraits come alive with beautiful background defocusing effects, and dynamic snapshots boast an enhanced sense of perspective.
Easy Selfies with 180-Degree Flip-Touch LCD Monitor
The Touch AF Shutter function makes self-portraits easy; simply touch the LCD monitor to focus and trip the shutter in a single step. For additional control, the monitor flips down 180 degrees, so you can frame a perfect selfie without getting your finger in the shot. When flipped down, the monitor automatically switches to Selfie Mode where e-Portrait, the shutter, video recording, playback, and the custom self-timer can all be operated using simple touch operations.
Automatically Transfer Images to a Smartphone
The PEN E-PL9 features built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to easily connect to a smartphone and share images on social media. Using Bluetooth, the camera can stay in standby so it is ready to be turned on from your smartphone when you want to transfer an image using the Olympus Image Share (OI.Share) smartphone app. Even when the camera is in your bag, you can view and transfer images from the camera to a smartphone. A convenient new function allows you to transfer images to your smartphone automatically by simply selecting the image with the camera’s Share Order button. The chosen images are transferred to your smartphone once the camera is turned off.
A Compact, Lightweight Body
The PEN E-PL9 is extremely portable and lighter than a 500-ml bottle of water even when combined with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ lens, making it compact enough to fit in the palm of your hand. The camera’s new grip has been modified into a shape that is easier to hold for more control while shooting, and attractive leather grain and details such as foil stamping produce a simple, sophisticated design. Multiple body colors are available to match your style.
Sharp, High-Quality Images and Video
In-body image stabilization delivers sharp images and smooth 4K video in low light or when using a telephoto lens. The addition of the latest TruePic™ VIII Image Processor, used in Olympus’s flagship OM-D E-M1 Mark II, reduces noise in various scenes to produce clear images. For simplified shooting, the PEN E-PL9’s Auto Mode detects subject faces, eyes, brightness, and movement to automatically select the optimal shooting settings, so all you need to do is press the shutter button to capture beautiful photos.
Other Features
- SCN (Scene) Modes let you instantly activate the appropriate shooting settings by simply touching a shooting theme on the screen
- The built-in flash can be used to reduce blurring even when shooting at night
- Versatile AF functions make it possible to quickly focus on a face or eyes no matter where they are on the screen
- Maximum 8.6 fps high-speed sequential shooting lets you capture split-second subject expressions
- Olympus Image Share (OI.Share) now includes the “Camera How To” section, which introduces tutorial videos of how to shoot with the PEN E-PL9
U.S. Pricing and Availability
The Olympus PEN E-PL9 will be available in Pearl White, Onyx Black, and Honey Brown beginning on April 5, 2018 for a street price of $599.99 USD / $699.99 CAD for the camera body and $699.99 USD / $899.99 CAD for the one lens kit. The one lens kit includes the PEN E-PL9 camera body, M.Zuiko 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ lens, custom camera bag, custom camera strap, 16GB memory card, Quick Tip Card, and Quick Start Guide.For a complete list of specifications, visit the Olympus website: https://www.getolympus.com/digitalcameras/pen/e-pl9.html
