Olympus E-P3, E-PL3, and E-PM1 Micro Four Thirds cameras: specs, pricing, and release dates

And pricing on the last of Olympus’ new micro thirds cams is in -- the PEN E-PM1 or PEN Mini will be hitting in September for $499.95. That’s $400 cheaper than the company’s halo E-P3, but the smaller body and lack of an OLED display (it’s just a regular touchscreen LCD) obviously shaves off some cash. Still, you get a 12.3 megapixel sensor, 1080p video recording, and the ability to swap out the 14-42mm kit lens for the variety in Olympus’s lineup. Check out the press release below and the full specs in the database.

Olympus last updated its flagship PEN line of Micro Four Thirds shooters in November of 2009 with the E-P2, and today the company has announced its successor, the E-P3. Although it uses the same 12.3 megapixel sensor as its predecessor, the E-P3 ups the ante with 1080p video recording, an OLED touchscreen to work in conjunction with a revamped UI, and what Olympus claims is the “world’s fastest autofocus,” all while dropping the price to a solid $900. The E-P3 stands strong against competitors like the Panasonic GF3. While the GF3 lacks a hotshoe, it’s priced lower (at $700), but the E-P3 takes the cake with a max ISO of 12,800, which should allow for some serious low-light shooting. Sony’s NEX-C3, another player, has an ISO cap of 12,800 as well, but is stuck shooting video at 720p.