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New Olympus cameras offer interchangeable lenses, speedy auto-focus

Olympus

Olympus has some new toys for the camera-obsessed folks: The PEN E-P3, PEN E-PL3, and PEN E-PM1. The slick little beasts will offer interchangeable lenses, a speedy auto-focus, 1080i HD video, overhauled user interfaces, and an assortment of features to make shutterbugs' ears perk up.

All three of the new cameras will have a 12.3-megapixel Live MOS Image Sensor, TruePic VI Image Processor, high ISO of 12,800, a reengineered autofocus system, full 1080i HD video with Dolby Digital sound recording, newly designed user interfaces and a variety of Art Filters and "built-in creative features." According to Olympus these specs will leave users with "powerfully simple cameras [which] offer advanced capabilities without the complexity of a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera."

As far as the individual PEN models go, there's something for everyone — whether he or she wants power or pure portability:

PEN E-P3: Also announced today, the flagship Olympus PEN with a classic, all-metal design and the world’s fastest autofocus. A body portable enough to travel the world without sacrificing DSLR image quality and control that experienced photographers expect. It features a bright, 614,000 pixel, high-resolution, OLED touchscreen to easily navigate and control the camera at the touch of a finger.PEN E-PL3: This powerful camera is perfect for photographers who want their memories to reflect incredible, professional image quality. Easy-to-use creative technologies are packed in its versatile body – the size of a small, portable point-and-shoot camera, but with the versatility of interchangeable lenses. A clever, tilting three-inch LCD empowers photographers to go head-and-shoulders above the crowd to capture graduations, easily stoop to eye-level as babies take their first steps or even lower to the ground to get an adorable shot of the family pet.PEN E-PM1: The smallest and lightest Olympus PEN is available in six stylish colors (purple, pink, brown, white, silver and black) and features a new and simplified user interface as well as a streamlined button structure for superior ease of use. Its small size and portability make it the ideal camera to document life’s fun and spontaneous moments.

Olympus isn't saying much when it comes to the pricing or availability of these new toys. All that's known for now is that the Olympus PEN E-P3 body with either a zoom or a prime lens will run you $899.99. 

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Rosa Golijan writes about tech here and there. She's obsessed with Twitter and loves to be liked on Facebook.

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