It's been some time since the Micro Four Thirds standard was introduced, but we haven't really seen it catch on as quickly as we'd hoped for. Basically, the new standard allows camera makers to come up with smaller, cheaper dSLR cameras without sacrificing much in terms of image quality.

Olympus did just that, an came up with the E-P1 Pen, its first Micro Four Thirds camera and also the world's smallest dSLR. It has basically brought back to life its Pen series of cameras, which dates back to 1959, and as you can see it did so in style, loads of style.



The new digital Pen offers a sensor shift stabilized 12.3 megapixel Live MOS sensor coupled with the TruePic V image processor, ISO 100-6400 sensitivity, a 3-inch screen and an HDMI out which will come in handy with its 720p video support.

The only drawback of making the Pen the world's smallest dSLR, measuring just 121 x 70 x 36 mm is the fact that it hasn't got an integrated flash, something many punters will find to be quite a nuisance, retro or not.

Luckily, Olympus didn't go overboard with pricing either, and prices start at $799 for with a 14-42mm lens, while with a 17mm pancake lens it will cost $899. The Pen should show up in retail sometime in July, and we have no doubt there will be many takers.