A modern reinvention of the classic Pen camera from the 1960s and 70s, Olympus’ E-P1 rolls a compact point-and-shoot form factor and full-size DSLR features together in a way that seems to defy categorization. There’s something undeniably appealing about a 12.3-megapixel camera with interchangeable lens system, 720p high definition video, image stabilization and stereo audio recording that you can carry in a classic leather half-case and leather strap.

During the 1960s and 70s, the Olympus Pen series was a popular line of compact film cameras that used a half-frame format. Today’s Pen, the E-P1, uses the Micro Four Thirds format behind some slick retro styling to create a compact yet capable digital camera that is neither a point-and-shoot nor a DSLR. The market between these two categories is typically made up of prosumer cameras like the Canon PowerShot G10 that have fixed lenses but advanced shooting features and full manual control.

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