Olympus expands award-winning professional range with a silver OM-D E-M1, firmware upgrade, super-fast 40-150mm telephoto zoom lens and 1.4x teleconverter booster

For increasing numbers of professional photographers, Olympus is the go-to brand for super-portable, pro-standard, all-weather system cameras and lenses – and the launch of our new Olympus products further underlines that trend. The new version of the iconic OM-D E-M1 comes with a pre-installed firmware upgrade* that delivers tethered shooting, on-camera Digital Shift and Live Composite. Photographers with professional ambitions will be equally pleased with the E-M1’s beautiful new silver casing, new lens and compatible teleconverter. The extremely fast M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm 1:2.8 PRO (80-300mm**) is available with a booster for ultra-high zoom photography: the M.ZUIKO Digital 1.4x Teleconverter. The silver E-M1 upgrade goes on sale in early October – at €1299 for the body only, or €1999 in a kit with the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-40mm 1:2.8 PRO lens. The new 40-150mm zoom lens and 1.4x Teleconverter follow in early November. The lens costs €1399, the teleconverter €349. Alternatively, they are available together for €1599.

Professional design

Despite the E-M1’s compact and light design – it weighs 38% less than the average DSLR camera – this OM-D delivers the best images in the history of Olympus cameras. That’s thanks not least to world-first 5-axis Image Stabilisation, its TruePic VII image processor and Live MOS sensor. The original, black E-M1 has already won numerous awards and the new, silver version continues the OM-D tradition of retro-inspired, iconically angular, metal-bodied cameras that stand out from the much heavier and larger competition in the full-format and APS-C DSLR categories.

Professional workflow

Form clearly follows function for Olympus designers, and the firmware upgrade that accompanies the new E-M1 will be just as important as the camera’s good looks, for pros and semi-professionals alike. Olympus responded to requests from working photographers by developing firmware Version 2.0, which includes USB tethering capability for full integration in collaborative workflows at studio shoots. Once the E-M1 is connected to a computer via a USB cable, the free Olympus Capture software*** mirrors the Live View on the computer screen, making it easier to discuss changes with clients, models and other team members stress-free. Of course, it’s also possible to adjust settings and release the shutter directly from the computer.

The new firmware upgrade will be available for download to all E-M1 users from September 16, 2014.

Professional correction

Another feature of Version 2.0 will interest architecture photographers in particular: in-camera Digital Shift. Using two dials, this lets you correct the converging lines of trapezoidal distortion straight away on the Live View – irrespective of the lens attached. No post-processing or lens adjustment required. In combination with 5-axis Image Stabilisation, Dual Fast AF and OM-D trademark weatherproofing (the E-M1 is dust, splash and freezeproof****), in-camera Digital Shift makes the E-M1 ideal for capturing pro-standard images of buildings from a variety of outdoor angles, in virtually any conditions.

Other highlights of the new firmware include Live Composite, two new creative Art Filters and further reduced viewfinder lag (down to 16ms from 29ms). Live Composite lets you capture trails of lights such as stars, fireworks or traffic, even when the scene would be too bright for Live Bulb. You can monitor progress on the Live View display.

The Partial Colour and Vintage Art Filters boost the potential for adding sophisticated on-camera effects. Partial Colour highlights one part of image in colour and leaves the rest in black and white. Like Vintage, which lends images a nostalgic charm, it gives you a choice of three different settings.

The E-M1 includes an OI.Share software upgrade with an improved range of features that can be remote controlled via WiFi from a compatible smartphone. In addition to the existing features such as wireless shutter release, LIVE View mirroring and P, A, S and M control, it’s now possible, for example, to activate the self-timer for sequential and interval shooting directly from the smartphone screen.

Professional zoom quality

Like the E-M1 itself, the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm 1:2.8 PRO (80-300mm**) zoom lens is dust, splash and freezeproof**** – and standout in the pro class. ‘Too long, too big and too heavy’ is the professional verdict on the DSLR competition, so Olympus made this lens more compact and lighter than a typical full-frame lens with comparable characteristics and scope of performance.

They also made it a record-holder – by incorporating the first-ever focusing system to power two high-grade lens elements using dual linear motors. Which means it’s extremely quick to focus. What’s more, it’s very quiet, so it’s ideal for shooting easily frightened wildlife as well as other fleeting subjects, for example, at sports events, but also perfect for weddings. With a minimum focus distance of just 70cm at all focal lengths, a dedicated Fn button, manual focus clutch and a sliding, protective lens hood, the new M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm 1:2.8 PRO (80-300mm**) is both versatile and easy to use. With a very large zoom range and a maximum aperture of 1:2.8 at all focal lengths, its optical performance is likewise outstanding.

Professional zoom range

For anyone in need of even more zoom power, the 1.4x Teleconverter boosts the zoom range of the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm 1:2.8 PRO (80-300mm**) to 420** mm. At just 15mm slim, it’s a light, easy-to-carry addition to the serious photographer’s kit. It nevertheless matches the robust, metal-cased, dust, splash and freezeproof**** build quality of the rest of the PRO lens range – making it ideal for shooting out in the field, even in the rain.

Professional protection

Olympus has also developed a professional-grade protection filter for the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm 1:2.8 PRO (80-300mm**) zoom lens. The first filter of its kind in the ZUIKO range, the PRF-ZD72 PRO is very compact and comes with the ZERO coating (to reduce ghosting and flaring), as well as an anti-reflective, alumite-coated black matte barrel. Identical protection will be available for the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-40mm 1:2.8 PRO lens, in the shape of the ZUIKO PRF-ZD62 PRO.

Professional accessories

Olympus caters the full spectrum of professional needs with a series of durable, premium accessories for the OM-D E-M1. These range from an underwater housing and flash to a dedicated lens system camera bag and detachable, vertical grip-come-battery pack.

The silver E-M1 upgrade is available as a body-only or in kit form from early October – at €1299 for the body or €1999 with the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-40mm 1:2.8 PRO lens. The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm 1:2.8 PRO (80-300mm**) lens will cost €1399, the M.ZUIKO Digital 1.4x Teleconverter €349 – both from early November. They will be available together for €1599.

Product specifications are subject to change without notice. Please check the Olympus website at http://www.olympus-europa.com for the latest specifications.

* Equivalent to 24mm on a 35mm camera.

For questions or additional information, please contact:

Martina Beckmann
Olympus Europa SE & Co. KG
Tel.: +49-40-23773-5400

Email: martina.beckmann@olympus-europa.com