Some time ago, BLEND\ was invited to a try-out of Olympus’ latest mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the PEN E-P5. It’s a beautiful camera with looks based on the analogue Olympus PEN series originating in 1959, but since it has the latest in technology (Wi-Fi, geo-tagging, 1/8000 sec. shutter speed, tilt and touch LCD) it’s a new force to be reckoned with.

The event took place in Amsterdam’s Studio 13 where a small selection of bloggers and online media could lay their hands on a few exclusive pre-production samples. After workshops on portrait (by Brendan de Clerq) and streetstyle photography (by Meis Belle Wahr), we had the opportunity to try out the camera for ourselves. It has been a very pleasant experience thanks to the ease of use to take great photos, even if you’re not that good of a photographer (I consider myself to belong to this category). Personally, I am a big fan of analogue point-and-shoot photography and I always feel DSLRs take away my fun because of the many settings, but this camera made it so easy I actually enjoyed taking digital photos. The included art filters and photo frames truly add something to the camera as well and shorten the process considerably, because it allows you to not necessarily use Photoshop. With the built-in Wi-Fi it’s even possible to upload them directly to the web. Another welcome feature is the ability to take double exposures on the spot.

A few lucky bloggers will get to borrow a PEN E-P5 to capture their Summer, while five Dutch Olympus ambassadors (photographers Fleur Bult, Desiré van den Berg, Yael Temminck, Meis Belle Wahr, etc.) will be present at more than 40 events in the Netherlands having started with London Calling Tolhuistuin and ending with Valtifest on 7th September. At the end of the Summer, the best photos by these professionals and bloggers will be shown during an exhibition.

Have a look at the photos below and visit Olympus for more information.