...for years now we've been imploring every manufacturer who would listen to us to build a non-reflex interchangeable lens camera around a large sensor, and the E-P1's styling (and all metal construction) harks back to the glory days of the mechanical camera in the 60's and 70's, when men were men and cameras were built like swiss watches

In summary this camera will not replace a top end SLR, its goal is to be a step up camera for point and shoot users, as well as a camera that serious photographers carry with them. It is designed to be priced affordably, as well as carry the top quality images that the most critical desire. With these requirements above no other camera can from my experience compete.

The advantage of the Micro Four Thirds system is that it makes it possible to change the traditional DSLR camera design drastically. A number of key elements have remained the same, but Olympus has seized the opportunity to design a compact housing with both hands. The retro design seems an almost impossible to justify choice. Personally, I am in favor of it and I find this design a truly wonderful addition to the current camera market.

Fifty years ago, Olympus came up with the Pen-series of half-frame film cameras. These cameras were well known for their design, compact size, and photo quality, and ended up selling over 17 million units. The most significant of these models was the PenF, released in 1963. The PenF was the world's first and only interchangeable lens half-frame camera, with twenty F. Zuiko lenses to choose from. In case you're wondering why they were called "Pen", Olympus says it was because "it was small enough to carry with you at all times, with the ability to easily record the events of daily life". Sounds good to me.