New Olympus E-PL1 officially invites the average consumer to join M43rds

The sixth Micro Four Thirds camera appears to be the one that plans to invite the average consumer, the Best Buy buyer, the interested-compact-shooter, the curious photographer to give Micro Four Thirds a try. Already Amazon is taking pre-orders at $600.

Olympus E-PL1 Previews and Hands-on
+ Quesabesde - also video hands-on
+ Imaging Resource
+ dpreview (4-pages with R.Butler)
+ CNet Asia
+ Four Thirds User and screens/menus
+ Crunch Gears
+ Digital Camera Info
+ Digital Camera Review
+ Gizmodeaux
+ Derrick Story

Underwater case PT-EP01 to go with new camera [New?]
+ CNet Asia
+ Buy-n-Shoot

Olympus video-ad on YouTube

Reactions to the camera
+ Where are the dials on the camera body asks E-P1.net
+ various threads at dpreview M43rds forum
+ RFFs (Micro forum)
+ post-announcement reactions at e-p1.net
+ one E-PL1 thread sneaked in the Olympus SLR forum at dpreview
+ Pros and cons of E-P1 vs E-PL1 specs at Radiant Lite
+ Ryan Brenizer at End User Blog
+ Neutral Day channels PJ Harvey: Is this desirable?
+ mu-43.com forum

Off-topic
Unrelated to the E-PL1, but of interest to Olympus fans, there is an active thread at the Rangefinder forums: "OM, I've become a Zuikoholic!".

Announcement coverage
+ Four Thirds Photo
+ Four Thirds User
+ Biofos
+ dpreview
+ Imaging Resource
+ Pop Photo
+ Focus Numerique
+ Fotopolis
+ Photoxels
+ DC Resource
+ Le Monde de la Photeaux
+ Photoscala
+ CNet
+ Digicam Review
+ Engadget
+ AP UK
+ DC Views
+ PDN Gear Guide
+ Imaging Insider
+ Steve's Digicams

Olympus E-PL1 pre-orders accepted
Amazon did not waste any time, it is already accepting pre-orders for the standard kit with the 14-42mm lens for $600. Three body colors are available, black, slate blue and champagne-gold.

Also available for pre-order is the new Olympus SEMA-1 Mic Adapter Set for the E-PL1 going for $90.

The two promised lenses (9-18 and 14-150mm) have also been formally announced today and pre-orders for those two are also accepted.