Olympus introduced the E-3 Digital SLR camera in late 2007 as a successor to their flagship E-1 camera introduced several years earlier in 2003, and in 2008 came the introduction of E-30 with it's unique Art Filters, and in 2009 came the introduction of the Micro Four Thirds format and cameras. In this interview with Sally Smith Clemens of Olympus we learn what the priorities were in the design of the new camera format, and new technologies that it introduced. With rumors in the wind, the photo world was wondering what Olympus had in store with a new micro version of it's DSLR line. In late 2009 came the first Pen E-P1, 2010 introduced the Pen E-P2, and finally at CES Olympus unveiled the E-PL1 a consumer friendly, affordable entry into the new format. Using their DSLR sensor, but minus the mirror box, the Pen series harkened back to a pocketable camera with interchangeable lenses, and the quality of much larger sensor.

 One of my favorite announcements was their decision to jettison those wasteful instruction manuals in multiple languages in favor of PDFs on board all their new cameras, saving a huge amount of paper, as well as a commensurate drop in the carbon footprint to harvest the trees, make the paper, ship the paper, print the paper, and then the extra shipping costs and fuel use for the heavier boxes. A win for the photographer and environment alike! Recorded at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, in January 2010 by Harris Fogel. (12.49)

Harris Fogel, Posted 7/14/2010

For more information on Olympus visit: www.olympus.com

Photographs by Harris Fogel ©2010