It keeps much of the retro feel of the original PEN cameras but does away with the plastic, presenting a camera that looks better and feels more reassuring in the hand.The Olympus E-PL2 is the company’s fourth stab at a compact system camera (CSC).

Price: £529 | Olympus

Matching DSLR image quality with the increased portability and user friendliness of a compact, features include: 720p HD recording capabilities with HDMI out, a bright, 3-inch LCD display for playback, and Live Guide, which let you see the effects of adjustments, and a selection of Art Filters.

The 12.3-megapixel Olympus E-PL2 comes packaged with a 14-42mm kit lens. With 15 further E-PL2 compatible lenses available, this CSC offers shooting options for all levels of user.