Olympus Imaging Corporation (President: Masaharu Okubo) is pleased to announce that the OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 interchangeable lens digital camera been named Camera Grand Prix 2010 Camera of the Year by the Japan Camera Journal Press Club, becoming the first Olympus product to receive the prestigious award.
In addition, the OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 also received the 2010 Readers Award, which is based on the results of voting by Japanese camera journal readers.

The Camera Grand Prix 2010 Camera of the Year was selected from 199 cameras introduced in Japan between April 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010. In naming the OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 Camera of the Year, the judging committee said, "the OLYMPUS PEN E-P1, which successfully combined the concept of the legendary masterpiece "OLYMPUS PEN" and state-of-the-art digital technologies, is the camera, which offers the new direction of digital cameras. Based on the review, Camera of the Year went to the OLYMPUS PEN E-P1." The OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 is the first Olympus camera to receive the Japan Camera Journal Press Club's highest honor since the inception of the Japan Camera Grand Prix awards in 1984.

The Readers Award, which was introduced in 2008 to mark the Camera Grand Prix's 25th anniversary, is based on the results of an online poll of Japanese camera journal readers. In this year's poll, held March 10, 2010 through April 10, 2010, the OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 was the readers' top choice, underscoring its wide-ranging popularity among the general public.

About the Japan Camera Grand Prix

The Camera Grand Prix is held under the auspices of the Japan Camera Journal Press Club. Founded in September 1963, the Club's membership includes camera journalists from 13 of Japan's leading photography and camera journals.^* Camera Grand Prix winners are chosen by a panel of judges selected by the Camera Grand Prix Executive Committee, which oversees the awards. The Camera of the Year award is presented to the still camera introduced in Japan during the past year that the judges deem most worthy.

The judging panel is made up of Japan Camera Journal Press Club members, journal editors (or their representatives), non-member panelists selected by the Camera Grand Prix Executive Committee, and special guest panelists (academics, technical writers, photographers, representatives of photography-related associations, and others).

In 2008, to commemorate the award's 25th anniversary, the name was changed from "Camera Grand Prix" to "Camera Grand Prix Camera of the Year" ("Camera Grand Prix" is now used to refer to the event itself.) In addition, the name of the former "Camera Journal Press Club Special Award" was changed to "Camera Journal Press Club Award," and the new "Readers Award" was introduced.

*	as of May 2010

The OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 is only the second camera to be doubly honored with both Camera of the Year and Readers Awards.

Camera Grand Prix Executive Committee
OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 Camera Grand Prix 2010 Camera of the Year Award Rationale^*

The OLYMPUS PEN E-P1 achieves a favorable balance between the reduction in size and weight and high image quality with its first Micro Four Thirds system and mirrorless design. In addition to its high-tech basic specifications including a 12.3 megapixel sensor, high sensitivity shooting at up to ISO 6400, and HD movie shooting, the camera has a number of unique functions such as Art Filters and live control. So it is the camera of a small body into which the joy of "shooting" and sense of fun are packed.
By dispelling the "big and heavy" image of conventional DSLRs, the camera successfully appealed not only to camera fans but also to people in a wide age range, mainly to a younger segment.

The OLYMPUS PEN E-P1's major features:

• Micro Four Thirds system and mirrorless structure are adopted to achieve smaller body and higher image quality
• 12.3 megapixel Live MOS sensor of high resolution with which the camera precisely recreates the details, rich gradation, and natural color reproduction
• Built-in anti-shake mechanism with a correction effect up to 4 EV steps
• Dust reduction system with SSWF (Supersonic Wave Filter), which strongly removes dust
• Six art filters for more creative expression including "Pop Art" and "Soft Focus"
• Multi-Aspect function for selection from 4 aspect ratios including 4:3, 16:9, and 6:6
• GUI (graphical user interface) for intuitive operation
• 2-direction level gauge corresponding to vertical and horizontal directions
• High-quality movie shooting function which produces nice bokeh effect in images
• 3-inch Hyper Crystal LCD monitor with a wide viewing angle of 176 degrees
• OM lenses can be used via the OM lens adapter
• High-quality appearance that follows the look of "OLYMPUS PEN"

The OLYMPUS PEN E-P1, which successfully combined the concept of the legendary masterpiece "OLYMPUS PEN" and state-of-the-art digital technologies, is the camera, which offers the new direction of digital cameras. Based on the review, Camera of the Year went to the OLYMPUS PEN E-P1.

*	Source: Japan Camera Journal Press Club, Camera Grand Prix 2010 Press Release

Past Japan Camera Grand Prix Awards for Olympus

1994	Olympus µ Zoom Panorama (Stylus Panorama) 5th Camera Journal Press Club Special Award
1998	Olympus CAMEDIA C-1400L 9th Camera Journal Press Club Special Award