Zone-10 is starting the rumor game for 2010 😉
“By moving up the E-P2, this creates space for the model that I am projecting to come in the next few months. This projected model is not styled like the E-P1 or E-P2 but will be more “modern” in shape with a plastic body similar to that of a slightly downsized E-330. The recent financial reports coming out of Olympus indicate several new models of Micro FourThirds and FourThirds cameras coming out in the next few months. In fact, if history and financial disclosures are any indication, I am expecting a wholesale upgrade of ALL existing models in FourThirds. I am still expecting the next rash of cameras to have a higher pixel-count, possibly as high as 14.7MP.”
Is that a Zone-10 speculation or do they know something we don’t know?
13 Responses
E-P1 with it’s rangefinder like styling is beautiful. SLR styled bodies are ugly and is an odd choice given that it is a throwback to the need for mirror / prism box for the optical viewfinder.
Metal exudes high end, plastic feels cheap.
I’d take a classic design over a “modern” design.
E-P2 was Olympus’ chance at rolling out a high end camera, instead of the embarrassment that it is.
I won’t totally count out this camera, but if it is simply a miniaturized SLR body or looks like a GH1, if I buy it, it will be because of spot on performance. Will Olympus get it right this time? If Panasonic or some other manufacturer offers an alternative with better styling, I would purchase that instead. I really like the in body stabilization and at the moment is the only thing that Olympus has going for it.
Actually if it’s shape more like E330 then it will be more of a boxy / rangefinder shape thanks to its porro mirror design. It does not have that typical SLR hump on the top of body. You can try to find out some pics of e330 online.
Everything I have seen points to the next Panasonic sensor being an improved 12MP not a 14.7MP. Panasonic still has some work to do, and I do not think bumping up the MPs is going to help them any.
Hmm… is the comment system broken?
Maybe adding something like E-620 grip, make it 2-3cm higher and perhaps wider to make room EVF and maybe flash. Then I think we could have a winner.
I mostly liked the E-330 design, the prism-free design made it ‘feel’ more compact than it really was. And the E-620 grip is actually quite nice.
I think it should have Olympus OM-1 styling instead. Keep the vintage look.
Honestly I couldn’t care less about flash. I’ve got my own Metz 48 AF1 and I believe there are incredible portable alternatives that you can mount on the hot shoe which will over perform any fixed unit and won’t allocate more than a shirt pocket.
GH1 sensor, YES!
Tilt and swivel, YES!
High resolution EVF, YES!
Manual focus aids, YES!
1080p, YES!
60fps, YES!
Integrated Flash, NO!
The E-330 shape is wonderful and a refinement of that shape to make it slightly slimmer, have an inbuilt EVF and incorporate the E-P1 sensor and processing (and any improvements) would be just what I want.
Olympus needs to make a heavy-duty (a.k.a. “pro”) mFT body. Basically, an mFT version of the e-3. I mean with weather sealing, articulating LCD, toughness, and sealed lenses to match. I’m hoping that getting rid of the mirror will give us an e-3 that is 2/3 (dare I say 1/2?) the size and weight of conventional four thirds. I’d be willing to take a slight hit on autofocus speed to have this. This would realize the true potential of the mFT design.
I would love to see a micro 4/3s With a grip and ac . It would be the perfect high volume school potrait camera I would need for my company .
We are still using c8080 for this work because it is a sealed system with 4/3 aspect ratio and live view. I have been waiting so long for a mirrorless pro camera.
one of my 8080 has 200,000 images on it.
Shutterless camera would be outstanding too, only using it for when the lens is removed or the camera is off. Higher syncs and shutters would be a game changer on a more professional level camera.
I, too, am happy with no flash. But I am less happy with choosing between external flash and EVF. I want EVF AND a usable hot shoe!
I’d like Olympus to design a plug-in accessory hotshoe to allow a flash and/or a mic at the same time as the EVF…
I suspect, however, we’ll have to get Ken’s predicted “high-end” camera to be able to do this?
recently i heard from a source in the uk that there is likely to be an mft model in the near future with integrated evf similar to ep2+evf