This is now the cheapest new Micro Four Thirds camera you can buy. The Olympus E_Pl1 body sells for $139 at Amazon (Click here – Thanks jdhodges.com for finding the deal). We also have a new small 2% Back in Rewards on almost all camera and lens purchases at Amazon (Click here to read the conditions). Not a big discount but if you have to buy a lot of stuff than it’s actually a very good deal.
And than we have an interesting news. BHphoto (Click here) marked the AG-AF100 as “discontinued”. The question is, when will Panasonic announce the successor? My guess, right before the Las Vegas event in January đ
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How many of the E-PL1 did Olympus really think they were going to sell? Sales must have been absolutely dismal compared to their expectations to still have the cameras sitting on store shelves when the E-PL series has already been updated three times since then…
It’s almost comical at this point.
@Josef
the only mirrorless stock I see sitting on shelves gathering dust because of absolutely dismal sales isn’t made Oly, Panny, Pentax, Sony or Samsung.
Olympus PEN stock on shelves always looks new to me, the E-PL1 was/is cheap to produce and has less marketing and distribution costs than much of the current mirrorless competition…
Being sold at that price as body only means you either are a P&S upgrader so will also buy a lens (hopefully an OLY and thus give themselves an additional sale) or an DSLR owner looking for a camera more fitting your lifestyle, who might not immediately buy an additional lens because they can use adapters and their old lenses but if happy with their initial purchase/dipping their toe in the water will buy additional lenses and/or upgrade…
It would be smarter move for olympus just to destroy the huge left over stock,
selling the camera at this price is just embarrassing.
@frosti7
can you prove that it is “left over stock”? and not thoughtful strategy…
“can you prove that it is âleft over stockâ? and not thoughtful strategy?”
I guess I may give that a try. Companies that have actual “thoughtful strategies” probably do not need other companies (i.e. Sony) to bail them out of their own mess. Just a wild guess on my part, mind you.
They have produced lots of them. En they have sold lots of them. Some say the E-PL1 is still in production.
Olympus has gathered very much marketshare with this model and that was the goal. People like me started with the E-PL1 and kitlens and bought some lenses and other m4/3 things along the road. Bought into the system and will upgrade within the system. I will not switch to another system because I will not be able to use my lenses anymore. And I do love my 12mm f/2.0.
Oly really need to stop making the epl-1 already. If they still have a lot of stock of the epl-1 sensors, just put it in the xz-2 successor with a new f1.8- 4.9 lens and sell them for $400 and give the Sony RX-100.a run for the money
The “comical” part I think is that 43Rumors is jumping on these nonsensical “leads” 3 full years after the camera was released. Who cares about old door-stoppers at any price, really?
Indeed very cheap! Seems like buying a disposable gadget. It would be much wiser if they sell this a little more expensive but with a kit lens included, maybe $40-$60 more? This will entice all those potential P&S buyers.
Regarding the pana AF-series, i thought i read a panasonoc statement before that the AF-100 was not as successful as they thought, so they will be abandoning that series, and they will just focus or they might create a different series based on the current demand… I hope someone will correct me if i’m wrong.
@Ton
The AF100 did reasonably well on launch and in it’s first year and was well regarded and received, I would imagine that sales have dropped off the last 12 months probably because it was as technologically advanced as it should of been…
Jan Crittenden Livingston product manager of Panasonic USA has stated recently that the AF line has not been abandoned
AG-AF line by Panasonic has been abandoned. The company’s latest camera, Lumix DMC-GH2 does so much better than any AG-AF100 could deliver, it’s not even funny.
Now, if Panasonic can in fact deliver an AG-AF200 very soon, priced at under $4,000, that will beat circles around the RAW, Pro Res, and DNxHD recording codec capable Blackmagic Cinema Camera priced at US$3,000 with $1,300 worth of software thrown in by BMD, then they will have a fighting chance of succeeding. Otherwise — probably not.
I think it’s a strategy. This cheap camera (I have three – one for infrared)was my entry in the System – including OMD.
It’s a good camera, it’s plastic – the parts costs probably less than 50 $ – just assemble it – ready for selling for this price.
Sony has now a similar strategy – their NEX3 is also very cheap.
About the AF100, Barry Green from dvxuser.com insists it’s not discontinued…
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?293773-AF-100-discontinued-say-it-ain-t-so!-(It-ain-t-so-)/page3
in Japan, the product is still in stock at major retailers.
AG-AF100 has been DISCONTINUED by B&H Photo Video and others, most likely because it was NOT SELLING for them any more. On the other hand, Panasonic will likely continue carrying it is a “current product” until the year 2025 or thereabouts, who really knows for sure?
Although a great price, anyone who might be tempted to buy into a m43 system, say from a P&S background, is going to want a lens. And I see no bargain-priced lenses save for the 15/8 which is not available. Maybe they should give this camera away with a purchase of the 45/1.8 lens?
Admin,
Would it be possible to get some clarification, possibly from a source: Is Olympus still producing the e-pl1, or are all of these bodies just unsold stock?
I find it tough to believe that there were so many extra cameras made, that they are still on the top seller list after all this time.
@Admin
Olympus have completed the sale of their ITX telecom business (chain of mobile phone shops in Japan) for about 53 Billion Yen ($676 million /ÂŁ417 million)…looks like they’ll be turning a profit this quarter
For this price this is a nice backup camera for taking stills when I don’t want to carry my GH2 with me and I can use all my lenses I currently have. The only problem I have with this camera is that it doesn’t have a port for an intervalometer. I would love to use it for timelapses and not use my GH2 shutter actuations.
Does amazon charges taxes?
@Nako, I hear ya on the intervalometer! I think it’s the only PEN that it is impossible to do timelapses with.
@Nako
shutter actuations are there to be used :-]
“Does amazon charges taxes?” in a few states, but they currently avoid company taxes across most of European countries except Ireland and Luxembourg…
bhphoto always marks stuff as discontinued, then a couple months later, in stock.
is the deal over? i can only see $189
I presume someone blabbed loudly about the deal and demand increased. Increased demand leads to higher prices. Thanks, admin! đ
Cameta still has black refurbs for $120:
http://www.cameta.com/Olympus-PEN-E-PL1-Micro-4-3-Digital-Camera-Body-Black-Factory-Demo-57826.cfm
I ordered one of the Cameta ones, but unhappy to learn that there is no external shutter port on this model, was hoping to use it for timelapse.
The 2% cash back is to slightly compensate for now charging sales tax in CA, which is undoubtedly one of their largest markets. I imagine they saw a big hit to their sales numbers, and are trying to do something to offset that.
I have a strong feeling that B&H, Adorama, and/or Norman’s will be seeing more of my photo and big-ticket CE biz. I love Amazon’s fantastic return/exchange policy and free 2-day shipping. But, if I can save hundreds of $$ shopping at another reputable etailer, I’ll put up with longer ship times.
Of course, I’m sure there will still be plenty of times that Amazon’s price will be competitive, even with the sales tax. In those cases, I’ll still use them, even if they are a few $$ more.
Thanks Admin for posting this
I have a sleu of lenses and only one body, for this price I could not resist. What a great deal.
Be aware that Panasonic will much likely announce the AF200 at the end of 2013, since their professional video cameras have a three year cycle, and although a lot of speculation exists about the allegedly discontinuation of the AG-AF series, Panasonic already denied that rumor after revealing the GH3 and the new line of video/photo hybrid fully-manual MFT primes (main focal lengths at f/0.95 and above) and zooms (G X Vario f/2.8 set of 12-35 and 35-100, with more to come).
I was going to buy the AF100 but after that confirmation from Panasonic Iâll just keep renting it and see if that announcement comes to fruition by next yearâs last trimester.
Iâm hoping to see implemented many of the GH3 image improvements, namely the exceptional dynamic range that crushes the highlights/low light issues. Then, 10bit HD-SDI out and at least 1000 lines of resolution (just capture at 2k and downsize to 1080p like other cameras do it). AVC-Intra would be welcome, definitely.
With this features Iâd gladly pay âŹ7k for the camera or more if there was a bigger point like the future 4k of the FS700. I wouldnât think twice. The AF200 over the FS700 (the lenses flexibility and their more accessible prices win, especially when you can achieve the S35 look with the right glass combination)
I really love the MFT format because allows for more compact cameras and lenses at (way) better prices than larger sensors and although this ones have more native DoP we can get the same by using fastest glass (aka Nokton 0.95 and Noktor Ultra Fast), not to mention the universal acceptance of lenses from the past and the future đ
You can argue that MFT is the smallest of all the large sensor digital cameras (no, the BMCC is even smaller) but that only means youâll have to invest on higher-end lenses for compensation of the shortcomings, which actually is an advantage as you should always acquire better glass because it will outlast your camera body by far. Thus, the sensor size is not that much of a problem unless you truly need a +S35. If thatâs not the case, lowest price, smaller size and light weight of accessories and lenses for a MFT format camera offsets the present disadvantages they have, which can be reduced if Panasonic wants to stay in the game and seriously improve the AG-AF series to be able to shine on the low/conscious budget professionals and filmmakers market.
Cheers!
“Lowest price, smaller size and light weight of accessories and lenses for a MFT format camera offsets the present disadvantages they have, which can be reduced if Panasonic wants to stay in the game and seriously improve the AG-AF series to be able to shine on the low/conscious budget professionals and filmmakers market.”
Mario, if Panasonic will have an AG-AF200 by late next year, they better make it with a Super 35 sized sensor if they wan to compete with Sony and other makers. M4/3 sensor was okay for the AG-AF100, but they can’t strike gold twice that way. For M4/3 aficionados, there will be the GH3, of course.
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Digital Bolex are anomalies, one-off camera bodies from esoteric manufacturers chasing non-existing matching lenses. For digital cinema cameras, the main if not sole format is still a Super 35 sensor. Not Micro 4/3.
Good thing now is, you can finally shoot Super 35 without having to use the Arri PL-mount cine lenses that can cost anywhere from $7,000 to $70,000 a pop.
I agree on the “hot” format right now but Panasonic would be killing itself going from MFT to S35, unless the option is a hybrid S35 camera with a crop factor that allows to shoot with a MFT field of view.
I say this because I seriously doubt that after the big investment on the new native MFT fast primes and zooms it would be a big mistake just leave it with the GH series and not have a professional camera with that sensor. They could release that hybrid or a more expensive S35 and an AF100 successor, but I think the second alternative is the best in terms of cost/benefits all-round, and letâs be honest, profit is the real motor of a business.
You can use not cine lenses with a S35 camera but thatâs adjusting the game because they are stills glass, so, not proper video ready (lacking main controls and usability features even with cine-mod treat). The new Lumix have way more cine like features and capabilities with a great price and image quality.
I use MFT, S35 and 35mm cameras. I donât own an interchangeable video camera, I just rent them depending on the type of job Iâll be doing, as I didnât find the right one for me, but I do invest on glass.
No doubts that MFT is more flexible and 35mm gives the best results. If you can live with a smaller sensor (I can, just plan ahead, which is not a bad thing) the MFT is a better budget conscious pick (but not at the moment… dynamic range, line resolution and highlight handling must be improved like on the GH3) and S35 or 35mm ideal for someone with deeper pockets (build a full-range reach of good lenses is more expensive and you have less options).
Don’t get me wrong, I love working with all the upper mentioned sensors but money does matter. Invest on glass (preferably PL like the CP.2 or the RED zooms)is the way to go no matter what video camera you use but having the opportunity of also use great fast compact lenses or even broadcast glass will be unbeatable if Panasonic chooses to improve the AF100 like I suggested. With better image quality and performance I bet many (me included) will buy the successor, with MFT sensor or S35+MFT, because a camera as such under âŹ10k is gold (again, I recommend people to invest more on glass and light).
What do you think? Maybe or not really?
Best regards.