If you're tempted to switch to the Micro Four Thirds digital camera format, there is now another choice in the mix: the Olympus EPL-1. While it takes its styling and technology platform from the earlier EP-1 and EP-2, the plastic-shelled EPL-1 is clearly meant for a different set of users. The EPL-1 will support interchangeable lenses, so there are still all the options of upgrading focal range; and it's roughly the same size and shape as its predecessors. But while the EP-1 and EP-2 offer the manual controls desired by more adept users, the EPL-1 has a much easier user interface. Luckily, photo quality has not suffered, and is comparable to the previous versions. Olympus has just made it easier to find the right combination of aperture settings and shutter speeds for the desired effect. The menu system has been simplified, with options to enhance image aspects such as brightness, colour saturation and even blur the background. The EPL-1 produces 12.3-megapixel images and comes with a standard 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 lens. It also captures HD video (1280 x 720 pixels) at 30 frames per second, but only in AVI Motion Jpeg format, which uses more memory than the now trendy H.264 format. There is also a built-in flash, which the EP-1 and EP-2 didn't have. The Olympus EPL-1 costs HK$5,490. Pros: lowest priced Micro Four Thirds model, retro look and feel, automated shooting functions Cons: manual controls are hard to access, standard lens aperture is F3.5