If you want to learn more about the E-PL7 you can see a cool presentation site at Olympus UK (Click here). What’s definitely not so cool for now is the very low interest for the E-Pl7 at least in USA according to Amazon sales(and presales) ranking (Click here). You will have to scroll quite a couple of sites before to find the E-Pl7 🙁
UPDATED(!) preorder, specs and price links to all newly announced Olympus stuff:
Full special page at Adorama.
Silver E-PL7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, GetOlympus, Wex UK.
Black E-PL7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, GetOlympus, Wex UK.
Silver E-PL7 with lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, GetOlympus, Wex UK.
Black E-PL7 with lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, GetOlympus, Wex UK.
White E-PL7 at Wex UK.
Black 12mm f/2.0 lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, GetOlympus.
Black LH48 Metal hood for the 12mm lens at Adorama.
Black kit lens lens cover at Adorama, BHphoto.
Brown kit lens lens cover at Adorama, BHphoto.
Black CS-45B body jacket at Adorama, BHphoto.
Brown CS-45B body jacket at Adorama, BHphoto.
Black E-PL7 CS-45B at Adorama.
Brown E-PL7 CS-45B at Adorama.
Olympus BLS-50 Lithium-Ion Battery at BHphoto.
EP12 underwater housing at GetOlympus.
84 Responses
Who the f** needs this camera?
people into having their cameras match their spring-wear
Then I need it!
Please donate if you have one!
Olympus REALLY blundered here with the E-PL7. They are marketing it as the selfie camera to young women??? All young women…ALL OF THEM…already have selfie cameras. It is called their cell phone. The are not going out to buy a $700+ camera that is technically beyond them to do what they are already doing with their iPhone or Galaxy or whatever. ..and by marketing this as the “selfie” camera, they have alienated anyone who would like to buy a real camera. Duh.
…at least that is how I see it….I am not surprised that there are no pre-orders.
I would have though the same, but it turns out this exists:
http://www.digitalrev.com/article/casio-ex-tr35-selfie-camera/MjM2MDkxNjE2
I think I found the problem. The Amazon listing doesn’t use the word “selfie” once. How are young idiots supposed to understand what it can do? Seriously, though, this is a consumer-oriented product and it takes buzz-worthy qualities to warrant pre-orders, This may turn out to be a fine camera but why pre-order without any reviews, revolutionary features, or low price?
Oh..I think it is a nice camera…but at the cost if you want a VF…you would go buy the E-M10 and save a BUNDLE!!! I know that it is intro price and will come down…but I just don’t understand this other than “we need to keep realeasing products”…until the good stuff is ready! LOL!
Yes, E-M10 body-only with built-in EVF and flash $650, E-PL7 body-only with VF2 and easily lost add-on flash that can’t be used simultaneously with the EVF, $850. Olympus math at it’s best. And to think, they did this instead of an overdue E-M5 refresh.
Selling a $700 camera (E-PL7 with kit lens) without a built-in EVF and flash in this day is like trying to sell buggy whips. Then marketing it as “adorable”, the final death knell.
Man, I think iPod (an overpriced, “adorable” music player) overcame the same death knell…
I agree completely, except the “technically beyond them” part. All women aren’t tech idiots.
True..it was an over simplification. ..a certain percent of people are not tech savy Since It appears that Oly is targeting women…..my comment did not really say what I meant……I worded it poorly…. I apologize.
A possible scenario: Young women got tired of selfie, put on an EVF and dig out the real potential of the camera. It’s good there are still hotshoes, dials, buttons on the camera and one can still take nice pictures out of it, at EM5/EP5/EM10 level.
Not everybody needs to get a camera to show off how advanced they are. And those who do probably weren’t targeted with this camera.
Totally agree. This just shows that even Olympus has lost faith in the PEN brand.
And I think this marketing angle is a total failure. In Asia (China especially), if you want a selfie camera, you buy a dedicated selfie camera (Casio or the new Sony KW1). Why buy this?
And outside Asia, there’s no seflie camera rage, like there, and a selfie camera is simply a phone. For fashionable/trendy people, that’s probably gonna be an iPhone, and I just don’t see this PEN competing with that.
And one more nail in the coffin. It seems that in the US, it’s not being offered with the pancake zoom. And this is ridiculous. This lens is perfect for this camera.
So, RIP PEN.
It’s an expensive compact
It has the same sensor as the E5/E10 and many more features than a compact, so no.
Unfortunately Olympus is marketing it that way which is suicidal.
That ‘cool presentation’ made me feel a bit sick on my stomach…
Agreed.
Sales in Asia might be more interesting.
In other areas the OM-D sells much better and many might prefer the slightly more expensive E-M10.
But so close before the photokina I wouldn’t pre-order anything.
“Essentials: Adorable design”
Haha, that’s actually a official feature now. ^.^
Well, the ads are convincing me it’s a chick camera. You know, guys can use these cameras too.
Don’t all DSLR fanboys (i dont mean you) think mirrorless are for chicks? ” Awawwrr, a real man should use a big thick ugly chunk of camera”
I don’t know if DSLR fanboys exist anymore, I notice that the least educated people new to photography are attracted to the biggest cameras. Most use them to euphemistically shoot an ant with a bazooka (or canon:)
Releasing this camera without the emphasis on selfies might have allowed some self-respecting male photographers to buy the thing. But branding it as a selfie-camera just makes it an embarrassing camera to own. It’s sad, really.
Of course, who is going to buy a PEN when you can buy an E-M10 for the same price. The line should be drastically cut in price as a low end line, or it should be ditched altogether. If you have the money for an OM-D, you’ll buy an OM-D.
I’ve been waiting like a 10 year old for Santa but as soon as I saw how the screen worked I was like… and then I saw that full chicktard commercial ,I was like … I’m out. What a disaster. No self indulgent 20 something girl would ever buy a camera that had more than one button let alone a camera that had some kind of round deal on front that could come off. Who’s Idea was this and who did they think they were targeting?
Exactly. Although to be honest, it would be a nice feature on all their cameras if the screen could do this. It’s just not really something that makes anyone want to buy a high end system camera.
They already did, my epl5 flippes up( at least enough to see yourself) so you could use it on a tripod or set it down on something . I don’t know why they don’t swing it to the side and swivel like a t5i or every camcorder on earth.
Exactly my thoughts. Selfie camera doesn’t even need interchangeable lenses and 20-something girls don’t have any fond memories of PEN cameras of the sixties anyway and it’s not their fault. What Sony does with their curved sensor, perfume-like camera is more like it but it will only ever work if it’s attached to a phone and even that’s not certain.
Who cares about a promo movie. Afraid the sales people will laugh behind your back?
399 vs 599 isn’t same price between E-PL7 and E-M10
Where is it priced at $399? The E-PL7 is $699.99, dude. The E-M10 is $649.99.
http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Compact-System-Camera-14-42mm/dp/B00MCWSZ88/ref=zg_bsnr_3109924011_7
http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Compact-System-Camera-Silver/dp/B00HPQ09H6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1409334111&sr=1-1&keywords=e-m10
Fri13’s just looking ahead a few months 🙂 . Quick steep discounts are nothing new, this is mFT rangefinder styled cameras we’re talking about.
Yeah, they’ve deeply discounted some of them, but generally because of poor sales. If it sells badly and the price gets cut to $299, it will be my #1 recommendation to anyone looking for an entry level system camera. But at $699, I’m recommending the E-M10, no question.
599€ dude at olympus’ own shop, that’s including the pancake zoom.
Olympus.nl
imo its embarassing if i would admit i am sensitive to the kind of marketing…..maybe cool to promote it as a camera for reporting the war agonies in order to get more sales. its interesting that photographers care about the marketing. even the compact Polarod SX 70 series cameras were and are sold alot to both trendy and professional people. I think these days we want to pretend more then what we are.
Admin, why don’t you write an article about how the E-PL7 is priced very differently in the EU vs. US? 399,- € for the body vs. 599,- for the E-M10 body in the EU! A real bargain!
I hope Olympus only designed it for Japan as it’s going to be a huge dud everywhere else. Panasonic is definitely making much smarter decisions regarding bodies and accordingly will make much more money. Oh well. Hope Olympus learns from this mistake.
Just a little of my observation: This summer I was in China for 1 month, about 1/5 of the photographers i saw were holding ICL mirrorless cameras (you could see many guys with DSLRs sitting down and resting outside the scenic areas :). I live in Sweden, I’ve seen 4 or 5 persons holding mirrorless cameras in total, and two of them are Asian (travelers or students I guess), let’s say, within the past four years. I do think Olympus pays more attention to the eastern market, where people prefer smarter digital devices more. In some places, by some people, this kind of selfie-feature cameras would be considered stupid or even a piece of crap (it’s definitely not since it’s no worse than EPL5), but maybe it’s just not for you. I won’t buy this EPL7, just like I won’t buy a Canon 5DIII nor Voigtländer Bessa. Is this camera a mistake? I doubt that. Someone would love it. It’s like an iPod.
Judging by the vast majority of the comments here. It’s for none of us. The question is: is the demographic of Japanese women taking selfies big enough to make this camera be profitable? Somehow I doubt Olympus is doing well in China with the EP series.
Of course Olympus’s presales were awful. Nobody in their right mind pays money more for less sensor. (maybe the extra money goes towards the overpriced, bulky camera bodies and slow, bulky, overpriced lenses. Or maybe money goes towards the massive fine for Olympus’s unprecedented corporate fraud)
Give this a little more effort next time.
Flagged for trolling. Go away, and go clean your Mom’s basement where you currently reside.
He may be a troll, but he’s right about the corporate fraud. Oly fanboys seem to forget that little occurrence, causing a lot of people to lose money, and with only a wrist slap from the government. Shoulda been some hari kuri…
Do you think Olympus is the only Japanese corporation that practices fraud? They’re just the only ones who got caught.
Oh, and it’s spelled “Harakiri”, btw, though the correct written form for the act is actually “Seppuku”.
Fine, back the troll. I hope you enjoy his company.
Nothing against targeting the camera to a specific demographic group… I’m just wondering, is it the group that nowadays buys interchangeable lens cameras for hundreds $$$ and has the ambition to understand the tech and workflow involved? If selfies ought to be its selling point that means there’s no real selling point. I bet GM1 is seen as a much more “cute” and stylish accessory by the female demographic.
I agree, they need to make it dead simple for it to be a hit as a “selfie camera”, like that casio thing.
I don’t think they really know what to do with this part of the lineup, so they made a couple of minor modifications and are taking a stab at marketing it to that audience. I’m not sure it’s realistic.
I think marketing a camera that’s essentially a throwback to the sixties to young females – I mean wow, I wonder what are they smoking… You’re absolutely right about such camera having to be dead simple _and_ cheap _and_ stylish and this is neither.
You’re right; it has no real selling point. That “selfie” thing isn’t going to work – people use phones for that so the shots can be instantly sent via social media. Adding WiFi to a camera just makes an extra step. Anyway, a lot of the new cameras have similar adjustable screens (RX100M3 for example) so what’s the big deal Oly? Saying it’s a “selfie” camera is really saying “we just can’t get that video above 1080/30, so this is the best the marketeers could come up with.”
Right. Now, if Oly’s wifi implementation meant you could upload your photo from your camera through a wifi signal directly to facebook, google+, flickr… then they may have SOMETHING. As it stands… wifi ONLY connects to your phone so now you have to upload to your phone then upload to social media. Its a pretty poor user experience. Hell, you can’t even wifi to your PC to download files… wth!
Without a built-in EVF, the PEN’s boat has sailed. Especially with the new vanity reciprocating screen. I SO hope Olympus reads these opinions.
They are opinions and are worth shit, A lot of ppl here are plain snobs and pretty arrogant in their vocal disapproval of this camera. It is what it is a better camera than the E-PL5/6 even leaning towards the E-P5 but a lot smaller and has one feature a little different it has a tilting DOWN screen ideal for selfies. So what, what’s wrong with that. I’m a fifty plus old fart and I’m not getting insecure by this cam as many here seem to be. I read some get soft in the stomach to see women take selfies, well I understand probably they take better pics of themselves then those who complain get from working with their models in the studio.
I’ve never seen so much childish and hyppocritical comments on any site then currently in the thhreads about the E-PL7.
The selfie snapper market is huge but for them a phone and a quick upload or send it to a friend is going to beat a comparative retro brick with limited features which doesn’t even take good movies. They should have focussed on enthusiasts more than giggly girls!
E-M10 is for enthusiasts.
…and Olympus failed to notice nobody except enthusiasts buys cameras anymore.
Hey, I kinda like the “giggly girls.” The camera’s a dud, but the ad is so ridiculous that it’s really entertaining…especially the part where they show how the lens comes off at the end…can’t believe the marketeers added that, unless the whole thing was meant as a parody.
believe me a lot of “giggly girls” ask me, “what camera should I get?”
I tell them to buy small, but they usually go buy the biggest most expensive thing or a 5D MK 3 with a 24-70 and then never use it and go back to using the phone,
Maybe the E-PL7 will be worth it come November sales (with discounted lenses that you can sell on).
first of all PHONES are really the perfect solution for “selfless” if you need to take selfless. Most people have a lot invested in their phones and don’t want to buy additional costly heavy systems to tote with them to do what their phone can do.
Second of all, I think the phenomenon of “pre-orders” is for fools. I mean who buys camera systems before anyone has seen one or used one? I understand many get caught up in the excitement and hype (which it all is) and pre-order gear, but there is also a sucker born every minute.
To write a blog entry that pre-sales are low on an also-ran camera, the day after it’s announced says a lot about the times we live in…
I’m scratching my wee brain on this one
All people look like ghosts or goblins in the night scene selfies taken by phones (My facebook is flooded with such photos. Horrible.).
And the ghosts and goblins are happily taking pictures on phones. They will not buy a $600 camera just to take pictures of themselves when the phone pictures are ok, instantly edit them, publish my pictures on Facebook, upload it to cloud, I can listen music, browse
The point is olympus cannot compete with phones in general population. The camera on smart phones are now decent enough and they are getting better every year.
This Camera will be for enthusiast and maybe pros can use it as pocket camera who really care about picture quality and OCD about it.
That should be the focus, not your general public.
They buy $1300 dedicated casio selfy cam.
sure, and you think this is a right move for Olympus. Spending time and energy on creating a downward facing selfie cam 🙂 This will help them gain market where folks are willing to spend $600.
The European market seems to be getting the PL7 with EZ pancake zoom as a premium kit, but it isn’t listed on North American sites, which makes little sense if the key rationale for M43 gear is high capacity and high quality in a small and fashionable package.
a-hahahaha it gives me such joy when I read things like available world wide with the new pancake lens, the US will use the old 14-42. hahahaha that’s what you get when all you care about is money and how cheap things are.
Olympus is one of those wild companies that systematically sabotage themselves but can come up with an occasional stroke of genius. To me it doesn’t look like they have a coherent strategy, they seem to be stubbornly doing their thing, designing cameras on a paradigm that has significantly shifted over time. They produce some excellent optics but I no longer trust them as a company that has any vision or even basic common sense. They are completely stuck. It’s not like I hate them or anything. For instance, Sony is all over the place and represent the opposite extreme, trying to have a foot in every door but lacking in long-term commitment to their product lines. I could go on but there’s no point. This camera will be a total flop although it’s not like I wish Olympus cameras to be flops.
Agreed. There is no reason for this camera to even exist.
Was it Hegel or someone else said: what is reasonable is real, that which is real is reasonable.
This actually looks like a lovely little camera, but it doesn’t matter.
The problem is that they keep coming out with products that do and offer essentially the same thing … with minor and largely meaningless differentiations.
The smartphone has all but replaced the compact camera, and even today’s state-of-the-art m4/3 cameras are producing IQ much better than anything 35mm film could provide 15, 20, or 30 years ago … which means we’ve hit the point of sufficiency for the “goldilocks zone” of the market.
What’s needed now to jumpstart sales (among enthusiasts and pros, at least) is a quantum leap forward in sensor technology and in direct cloud/social media connectivity. So far, none of the Japanese manufacturers are doing that; they’re iterating in a saturated market and trying to make sales by continually rolling out largely undifferentiated products.
Even WITH those advances, I still predict that within the next 10 years — if not less — there will only be a handful of camera manufacturers left. And most of the titans will have been forced to downsize (at least their imaging divisions). They will be back to the size they were in the late 1970s. The era of explosive growth in digital is over and most of the companies overbuilt and overestimated the growth potential, IMHO. Not that they could have foreseen disruptive technology like smartphones, of course…
Okay, okay … so the PL7 will not appeal to the techie community that always demands the
“bleeding edge” of technology. So what if it is a well designed quality camera designed for the ladies. There is a market there as well as for the techies. I own an EM-10 as well as an EM-1, P2, P3, PM1, PM2, PL3, and PL5. I value quality build in my hand as well as “bleeding edge” technology, which is one of many reasons I gave up on the cheap “plastic” Nikon line. Olympus might not sell as many, but I hope that altering the form factor of the EM-10 to better appeal to the ladies is still profitable. One WILL be able to take outstanding photos with the PL7. Might buy one myself to add to my collection. Why buy Olympus? Their cameras are designed by engineers rather than the financial or advertising departments as with Nikon and Canon.
But their designs tend to reflect engineers’ nostalgia rather than actual market, at least in my opinion. The market for non-techies is almost non-existent now. Even if that supposed selfie camera could connect to a free WiFi network and post pictures directly to a Facebook account it would still be one additional device for girls to carry. But it can’t even do that. On top of that, Facebook will downscale and compress the hell out of any picture, negating any possible IQ advantage this camera may have over ever-improving smartphone.
But their designs tend to reflect engineers’ nostalgia rather than
actual market, at least in my opinion. The market for non-techies is
almost non-existent now. Even if that supposed selfie camera could
connect to a free WiFi network and post pictures directly to a Facebook
account it would still be one additional device for girls to carry. But
it can’t even do that. On top of that, Facebook will downscale and
compress any picture, negating any possible IQ advantage
this camera may have over ever-improving smartphone.
Facebook will also reduce the quality of the smartphone photo as well. The difference can therefore still be seen.
The amount of compression FB needs to apply to smaller photos is obviously lower. And because of chroma subsampling or dithering patterns in JPEGs and naive downsampling methods used, high resolution picture might actually appear even worse, introducing checkerboard-like artifacts.
I’m pretty sure that all camera manufacturers employ engineers, who work within budget constraints dictated by men in suits. Olympus is no different than Nikon or Canon.
I think Olympus UK page shows what is the target audience for this camera; people with money who want good IQ and a stylish camera.
People with money, would rather get a Leica or a simple point and shoot with a fixed zoom, not a interchangeable lens camera. Plus, they’re not changing lenses either.
They may have a target for this camera, but Olympus is way off.
More Olympus Inventory… how many more times will they be able to release cameras that fail?
Maybe it doesn’t do well in the US because it isn’t big & doesn’t look like DSLR. 😉
Nobody on Earth’s even got one yet… how fast do you expect it to make #1 on a sales list?? Jeez…
It is obvious the video has been doctored up by professional software.
But the screen flips down… means if you want to selfie on a table or a tripod… you’d want to sync the camera with the phone :((
That is the most awkward place to put the screen for a selfie. It interferes with functionality.
Casio TR Selfie cameras (as it’s the case with cellphones) have the screen placed under the lens for a easier achievable 45 degree tilt for selfie… sadly it’s not a good place for a “hobby” camera