Olympus Korea will release its next generation digital camera that is known as the Olympus Pen (model: EP-1) with interchangeable lenses. Designed by renowned style guru Yoshihisa Maitani, the camera represented the perfect marriage of simplicity, style and performance. This small camera can also record HD quality videos with depth of field and Art Filter effects familiar from still photography. The E-P1 also adopts all the advantages of Olympus imaging technology including Image Stabilization, a dust reduction system, and bright interchangeable lenses. The Olympus EP-1 will be available for 795,000 Won or around $620 (excluded lenses).

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Hanwa Japan today announced the availability of Liquid Image UDCM310 waterproof snorkeling video camera mask in the Japanese market. In case you didn’t know, Liquid Image is a US-based company specialized in providing diving mask with an embedded camera. The mask has a 5MP camera module that is able to take photos and videos at a maximum of 10-meters deep. This wearable camcorder also provides a MicroSD card slot for more storage capacity. The Liquid Image UDCM310 is priced at 16,800 Yen ($180). [Hanwa Japan via Akihabara]

Panasonic is getting ready to release a new HD camcorder ‘HS350′ that comes equipped with a 240GB hard drive. This particular camera is capable of capturing up to 31 hours, 40 minutes of 1080i widescreen footage in AVCHD (H.264) format. Apart from that, it also integrates a microSDHC card slot for adding up to another 32GB of storage. Other specs include a 2.7-inch LCD monitor, 12x optical zoom lens, a built-in 5.1ch microphone and up to 1.5 hours of battery life when recording to the hard drive. The HS350 will start shipping in Japan starting on July 25th for about $1,591. [Impress via Electronista]

Sony has added two new members to its HD Handycam line-up with the introduction of HDR-CX500V and HDR-CX520V. Both of these cameras are equipped with a 12-megapixel image sensor, a new backlit CMOS sensor, a built-in GPS (to geotag photos and videos), a three-way image stabilization that catches unusual movements, a touch-based face detection system and a six-blade aperture. Either camera is capable of capturing digital still images at high resolution as well as 1080i widescreen video in AVCHD (H.2640) format. The main difference is that the CX500V only comes with a 32GB of storage, meanwhile, the CX520V offers a bigger storage capacity of 64GB. The CX500V and CX520V will be available in September for $1,100 and $1,300, respectively.

[Electronista]

Sony just introduced the VRD-MC6, which is a new DVDirect camcorder-to-DVD recorder. The gadget can transfer AVCHD quality videos to DVD discs in their native 1080i HD resolution when connected directly to a Sony hard drive or Memory Stick media-based Handycam camcorder. These AVCHD quality DVDs can be played back on compatible Blu-ray disc devices, including players, computer drives, and Sony PlayStation 3 console. The new VRD-MC6 model has a 2.7-inch color LCD screen for previewing videos or pictures. If you are interested, you can purchase the new DVDirect from Sony for $229 in September 2009. [Sony]

Sony is getting ready to announce two brand new cameras namely the DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1 which are believed to be available by the end of this month. According to Sony Insider, both cameras are based on the recently launched DSC-HX1. So here are the specs, the DSC-TX1 is a 10-megapixel camera that features a 3-inch LCD, 4x optical zoom and a 720p HD video recording. meanwhile, the DSC-WX1 is packed with a smaller 2.7-inch LCD, a 10-megapixel image sensor, 5x optical zoom, and a 720p HD video recording. Not to mention, both cameras also sport the same panoramic shooting mode as the HX1 and use G-series lenses. The TX1 will cost $356 while the WX1 will cost $327. [Electronista]