Small update about the soon to be announced new OMD entry level camera. According to one source it will be already announced in January. UPDATE: I corrected the original rumor. The new OMD has the same processor as the E-M1. and the same sensor as theE-M5. The source also confirmed the camera will NOT replace the E-M5. The E-M5 will continue to be sold and likely be replaced at Photokina.
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Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct
173 Responses
hmmmmm….entry-level with a PDAF sensor….interesting…wonder what wonders the new E-M5 will behold?!?!?!
Finally superb video codec! And a best sensor on the market (haha) (what a wishful thinking)
Read it carefully Bob, ‘Same sensor as E-M5’, no PDAF on that one.
The original post said E-M1 sensor..
Omega…read carefully…see the word “Update” in the post. When I read the post early this morning (as you can see I am the very first post on the page!), it said that the new camera would have the same sensor as the E-M1. Admin changed it with update sometime during the day…so maybe you are the one who can not pay attention to detail, not me? 🙂
Then maybe it’s Admins fault for not saying what the Update was, as it could simply have been anything, even something being removed.
Logical to me.
They need more volume cause that is probably what they promised Sonny to get the cheap price.
E-M5 sensor is probably expansiver they what they will be paying for this one.
I’m not surprise with this .
It’s common Olympus shared the latest sensor among all it’s cameras .
This new camera definitely will not get me excited .
What I hope to see before end of the year is the arrival of the Nocticron .
end of 2013 ?
I won’t be excited by this new camera either. The same sensor as in E-M1! Sh!t!
I don’t think many people buying an OMD have 43 lenses and really care too much about PDAF (which is only used for 43 lenses). Wish Olympus could just get a non-PDAF version of that sensor and therefore better iQ by not having PDAF cells in the sensor. What’s the point of another OMD model, if it is not any clearly better in any way than existing models?
There are some nice pro lenses for 4/3 that don’t have equals in MFT yet. Especially in the telephoto realm. The 300mm f/2.8 for example.
If you want to use one of those with a current generation sensor, the EM-1 is your best option.
Are you kidding? How many would buy a new 43 lens to use on an E-M1? Big, heavy, expensive and slow AF. Might as well get a FF DSLR.
Correction “slightly as slow as E-5 AF” instead of “slow AF”…
Do you mean to say, “almost as slow as the E-5’s AF”?
As usual, you don’t know what you are talking about. First of all the sensor is the E-M5 sensor, NOT the E-M1 sensor. The new OM-D will use the E-M1 processor. Big difference. Second, I happen to have a number of 43 lenses, and contrary to what you may think, many of us do. On my E-M1 the 43 lenses work really well. The AF is as fast as or faster than on my E-5, or just slightly slower. The point is that these 43 lenses work very, very well on the E-M1.
Since you don’t own an E-M1 or E-5, you are not qualified to critique them. Period.
Yes C.C. the 4/3 lens DO work very well on the EM1 and is the main reason I purchased this body. I suspect that there are quite a few users of the 4/3 lens lineup who are/will purchase this camera body for this very reason. And Yes, the 4/3 lens quality makes their use almost mandatory if you are lucky enough to own them. Last weekend at the cricket: EM1, micro4/3 – 4/3 adapter, 1.4 converter, and Zuiko digital 50-200 lens, giving equivalent 560mm focal length @ f3.5 to fill the frame with sharp perfectly-focussed action. Superb result and the combination is quite manageable especially using IBIS.
Olympus’ HG series of lenses is a better value than their micro Four-Thirds lenses, and they’re all weather-sealed.
If this camera does PDAF, maybe I will sold my E-M1. Provided that this new one already provide some good features I needed. I mainly don’t like my E-M1 size (due to the added grip) and the higher price tag.
The E-M1 when using MFT lenses and in C-AF and C-AF w/ tracking will use both PD and CD AF which really works good. Finally C-AF that works good.
I don’t know. I am not expecting a new and improved sensor every 4 months or so.
Lets see what this new model has to offer and at what price.
The em5 sensor is way into the years now
My understanding is that the sensor in the M1 is basically the same as the sensor in the EM5, EP5, EPL6, & EP2 except that it has PDAF cells on it. And you do use the PDAF for moving subjects WITH MFT lenses in CA. You really don’t need PDAF in other situations as far as I am concerned. The CAF is so damn good what would you gain??????
This is correct…isn’t it!.
The M1 hasn’t been sold since the early 1970s.
The report doesn’t say EM1 sensor. So it won’t have PDAF.
It said E-M1 sensor until Admin got new informations. That’s why the headline is saying “Updated”.
Thanks Do.
Someone who names himself Reading Comprehesion [sic] should also clearly notice that this is no report but a rumor. So much to your comprehension.
Interesting, I like camera releases. I was intrigued with the release of the e-m1. It’s fun to see all the new things they add to each progressive camera. I’m sure it’ll have something (better)the e-m1 doesn’t have and will probably make you question your e-m1 purchase for this instead.
Before the time comes for self-reflection, I would have already taken more than 10,000 pictures with the camera that I already have in my hand, which is the E-M1.
And isn’t cameras all about taking pictures?
True, I completely understand. And it’s always fun to get a new camera. I started my m4/3 venture with the E-P1 and had it for a few years. And after a while I began contemplating the E-P3 and it’s “better” noise handling. For whatever reason I never came to buy it, not knowing the E-M5 was around the corner. I’m glad I didn’t buy the E-P3, because when the E-M5 came out, it blew me away. Had I bought the e-p3 I probably would have been slightly regretting it in the back of my mind knowing I could’ve gotten the e-m5 instead just a short time later. But…that’s how cameras are, there’s always a newer or better one just around the corner.
By the way, I do have the e-m5 now and am very interested in the e-m1, obviously this is new news about this new O-Md, so I suppose I’ll wait to see what it’s all about.
Interesting, the same capabilities in a cheaper body, that works for me 😉
If they release camera without weather sealing, it will be OM-D brand dilution. If they release camera WITH weather sealing, it most certainly WILL NOT be below E-M5. With added PDAF and most certainly TruePic VII – what else can you take out of E-M5 to make it lower class? Make it all-plastic? 200kpixel EVF? Sounds implausible.
Fixed lens?
“If they release camera without weather sealing, it will be OM-D brand dilution.”
How so?
DSLR/OM style m4/3 camera with integrated viewfinder, weather-sealing or not.
Of course your idea of OM-D might include weather-sealing, but I don’t remember Olympus saying every OM-D will be weather sealed.
Yet so far both OM-Ds had weather sealing, creating the brand saying “quality”. Without weather-sealing, 2 years after E-M5, it is going to be dilution, no customer expectation to see “OM-D” and get the valuable property anymore, so brand “OM-D” becomes less valuable.
I expect it will be not weather sealed. Otherwise it would not make any sense.
The E-30 once was a slightly stripped-down version of the E-3 flagship, without actual weather-sealing, but a well-made, full-featured camera in every respect, similarly the E-620, which was even more stripped down but still a very capable camera. And it was a mistake for Olympus to discontinue them, back when the E-5 came out.
If then new OM-D will compare to the E-M1 like the E-30 or E-620 compared to the E-3/5, it will probable become a very attractive offer – and possibly enable me to join the MFT party earlier than I thought… 🙂
Peevee seems to not understand what “dilution” means, or how camera lines are built.
Probably you don’t understand what brand dilution means.
E-PL / E-PM + EVF = entry level OMD
What would be more logical?
Probably with a large grip making it more DSLR style than rangefinder style.
In the end, Olympus will have a 6 camera lineup at a variety of price points and feature levels in both compact rangefinder bodies and DSLR style bodies.
A smart move really. Though I think they need to make the E-PM3 smaller than the E-PM2 when they come out with that. Make it something like the Panasonic GM1.
The EM5 is already a DSLR style camera with hump but without grip. It was a design compromise that worked for some but not others.
> If they release camera WITH weather sealing, it most certainly WILL NOT be below E-M5
I think the new model can only be placed above E-M5, and E-M5 will become the lowest entry, likely with a price cut. The new model and E-M5 together will be the new “entry level”.
Of course, I never thought of the E-M5 as an entry level model, but as a full professional model, and there are tens of thousands of shots on Flickr to prove that.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/43rumors/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/om-d_user/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/olympus-omd-em5/
It says EM5 sensor, not EM1 sensor, so no PDAF.
It says it NOW. admin instead of adding new rumors changes older ones retroactively. But even without PDAF, with the same sensor as E-M5 and better processor, it is still not going to be lower class unless they remove weather sealing and make it a plastic sht – destroying “OM-D” brand value in the process.
Such a camera would be very interesting for E-520/E-620 owners wich are waiting for long time an replacement for their cameras.
Olympus promised this product several times in the past and probably now their promise will become true. It took very long time, but finnally is here.
Current E-M1 is a great camera, but expensive.
The new camera will be affordable for many people.
But new m4/3 camera for E-520, E-620 users should also have lens compatibility with their previous 4/3 arsenal of lenses. Hence it should have PDAF on sensor too..
I hardly believe they will omit PDAF from new OM-D camera, despite being entry level…
I really like what Olympus is doing, but they should be careful and slow down a bit. One entry level camera without EVF, one cheaper semi with IBIS but maybe the optional EVF, and the E-M1 should be enough. Maybe even a semi with EVF, but more than 4 models is too much in my opinion. It confuses the consumer and makes him stop buying because he can’t decide. I think at least the E-PM or E-PL has to go and the E-P has to get a bit cheaper.
Agree. But they have too many marketing people who want to create many products and many brands to keep their jobs.
Olympus, weird decision, going the fuji way, too many bodies, not enough lenses. Is this new body above or below the em5? Makes no sense to have 3 bodies on the go…
What is wrong with offering 3 bodies at 3 different price points?
It is in fact a very common and very successful approach to a product line, you get an entry-level, medium level and premium level product, and this rumored camera will hold the first of those 3 spots, the E-M5 (and its future replacement) the medium and the E-M1 the premium level spots.
An entry-level OM-D that skips on the weather-sealing, has a slightly lower build quality then the E-M5, but thanks to being much newer, has some important improvements in functionality (focus peaking, c-af, and according to this rumor good support for 4/3 lenses) would make the line much more competitive against the medium level DSLRs on the market, and would finally give E-520/620 owners a realistic upgrade.
An E-M5 replacement could improve on that by providing weather-sealing and better build quality, with the E-M1 providing much better build quality and ergonomics, and possibly a larger viewfinder also?
The real question will be what Olympus is going to do to differentiate those products based on features. Going from the past, very little, and the number of buttons, the vf, build quality and weather-sealing will be the differentiators.
Hi. Maybe we should calm down here:
1. This is “only” a rumor, not on official Olympus announcement
2. Not enough lenses? If this thing has PDAF on sensor, it means it can fully use FT lenses on top of existing mft lenses.
3. Above or below em5, still we don’t know. 43rumors calls this new body “entry level omd”, but once again it’s not an official Olympus annoucement 😉
Let’s wait till january (and dream 😉 ).
Together with the 25mm/1.8 ?
E pl5 + EVF and maybe weather sealing would be a logical guess IMO
They are, like any business, just trying to boost sales into another sector. The problem is worldwide, m4/3 just has not hit the sweet spot Olympus/Panasonic hoped for. Apart from Japan, most semi serious photographers will still go for Canon/Nikon DSLR’s as bigger is better, and deep down in our minds it always will be. On a med cruise this year of 2000 people from Europe, I spotted only a handful of m4/3 – and not one OM-D! Still, I did get some interesting looks as it always does.
I realize that “rep rumors” are seldom reliable, but for what it’s worth: I heard from someone involved in camera sales that the new O-M’s key point of difference from the existing models will be that the body will be physically smaller, and that Olympus will introduce a new “pancake” kit zoom lens to go along with it. Supposedly the combination will be thin enough to be “coat-pocketable” and won’t be much larger overall than the new Stylus-1 camera, but with the advantage of interchangeable lenses.
I’m skeptical, but the idea does make sense given that Panasonic is doing something very similar.
It’s not in contradiction with this one: http://www.43rumors.com/olympus-interview-at-dc-watch-focus-on-omd-and-more-professional-market/
quote (automated translation): “Now, are you thinking you want to do most It is the lens. There was a 3 lineup E-SYSTEM high-end, OM-D, and PEN, but was integrated into the line-up of two by adding E-M1 of the top model in OM-D this year. But the body has just came out yet, lens for the E-M1 is not enough. Was released at the same time the “12-40mm F2.8 PRO M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED” as M.ZUIKO PRO series, but it is allowed to complete the line first. Please expect specs easy-to-use than ever, such as minimum shooting distance, in many ways, So we will issue a lens is easy to operate and small.”
In other terms: they work on a “PRO” line of lenses, but they also work on “easy to operate” and “small” lenses…
Anyway I like the idea: small mft body with integrated EVF and pancake zoom sounds perfect to me 🙂
The 16mp sensor which was a step up on the old 12mp option is starting to look like it will have an equally long history. By the time this model comes out we will have had it for 2 years.
Whatever the Olympus fans claim the 16mp sensor never even caught up with the older Sony APS 16mp sensor and is now even further behind the Sony 20+24mp options as well as the Nikon option in the D5200,D5300 & D7100.
For those who claim that APS is not that much better .look at the difference between the older GH2 and the E-M1, which many here claimed was spectacular apparently ISO 12500 is clean lol,Then look at the E-M1 compared to the D7100 or K3
Could this 16MP with PDAF on sensor be called “that same old 16MP sensor”?
Sorry , I should have clarified I was alluding to the same image quality performance.I was very disappointed that the E-M1 did not bring with it a worthwhile advance in image quality, preferably with a higher MP count.
The E-M1 is an awesome machine but as an E-5 owner,there was nothing in the E-M1 that would make me part with the £1299 body only price. I know it is at a higher level but I already have weather sealing,5-axis, same image quality same poor video.
I don’t keep my camera in the freezer nor do I hammer nails in with it.The lack of developments at high ISO is getting tedious, despite what some people say the E-M5/E-M1 or any other mFT is downright mediocre above 1600iso. Comparing images from my 2009 GH1 to the E-M5 regarding noise I really do not see the gains that I would like for a four year old camera
The rumor says EM5 sensor, not EM1
It doesn’t matter which variant of 16mp sensor they use the E-M1 is a fraction of a stop “better” re DR and a fraction of a stop worse re high ISO. For the price of the E-M1 I hoped for better image quality.
Regards image quality if you buy a £360 e-pl5 you get the same image quality as the E-M1.If you are more interested in features basically toys to tinker with , you are in luck.If you want to progress in image quality there is no where to go inside the system.
Look at the Nikon D90 and then the latest Nikon D7100. How big are the gains in the last 5 years.
Now look at the difference between the Nikon D80 and D90. There was a bigger leap in one generation because of Sony’s technological breakthroughs than the last five years
So until somebody makes a technological breakthrough in sensors and starts manufacturing them (before people start going on about organic sensors) you’re not going to get any significant improvement in m43.
The expectation that every year there is going to be a leap in IQ is totally unrealistic IF you’re already using the best sensor technology and Sony’s are amongst the best.
That would be OK if our best sensor was as good as the APS models it is not even as good as the previous gen APS Sony sensor. The 5yr old D90 is on a par with the E-M1!
http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Compare/Side-by-side/Olympus-OM-D-E-M1-versus-Nikon-D7100-versus-Nikon-D90___909_865_439
Compared to the D90 the D7100, has higher resolution, 1.2 stops higher DR,1.5 stops higher colour depth , better high ISO, along with considerably better shadow noise.
If they go with plastic for the entry level cam I hope they use carbon fiber reinforced resins like the Nikon D5300. It would probably provide enough rigidity to ensure good quality weather sealing with lower weight. I also hope they keep the 4/3 lens PDAF capability… just because they’re using the same sensor does not mean they will enable the functionality.
Haha, I highly doubt anybody will question their E-M1 purchase. I’m sure the speed, the build quality, the viewfinder and customizability will NOT be the same in this entry-level camera. There’s much more, in my opinion, than just the sensor. I don’t think anybody questions their 7D purchase when a new Rebel comes out.
This camera will be the “Rebel” of the OM-D line. I don’t think this dilutes the line at all. If they price this thing right, and don’t skimp too much on features, they may actually start to make a dent in the dSLR market. My only worry is if they over-simplify the camera too much. This camera MUST have advanced features in a cheap body.
A lighter, PDAF compatible alternative would be an absolute smasher, and bode well for the future.
The mystery is rather how they will deal with the E-M5 at Photokina: will it have a new-new sensor or just the ‘old’ compatible one?
Yes, it will be interesting to see what they do with the E-M5. It will also be interesting to see which EVF Olympus puts in the new entry level camera. This new entry level camera could be a run away best seller.
It depends on Epson if the older EVF will be in production in 2014+ otherwise it will be cheaper to put a newer one to the E-M9. The main difference may be: no touch screen, no WS and plastic body, 3axis IBIS, 1/4000 shutter (1/8000 for the E-M5 II?).
The E-M5 II is a mystery 🙂 With an organic sensor?
And I forgot to mention: the same (bad) video codec. Improvements in video can be expected with the E-M5 II.
The rumor says EM5 sensor. The EM5 sensor has no PDAF sensors. What on earth makes you think the new camera will offer PDAF?
Ugly DSLR shape like E-M1 = No buy
+1
But it’s highly unlikely they’ll make something without a hump and branded OM-D.
Sony and Nikon have now copied the retro “hump” of Olympus. Obviously, that is attractive to many of us.
And Fuji is rumored to be following suit with their first weather sealed camera. It seams that a hump and weather sealing are conjoined. 😉
Nikon haven’t copied anything from Olympus the DF design is an homage to older Nikon designs.You may be shocked to discover that Nikon has been making cameras for decades lol. Then there is the small fact that they have a bloody prism in them making the hump useful
Nikon didn’t copy. Their cameras have been based on DSLR with mirror and pentaprism. Sony is wrost. A7 has huge hump even without pentaprism and IBIS. Olympus’s E-M5 or E-M1, on the other hand, borrows DSLR pentaprism style and place IBIS inside, thus making their cameras extremely ugly. IMO, E-M1 has really ugly design. It’s just a helpless attempt to make DSLR-shape in mirror format.
If I had to wager a guess, it will be in some ways better than the E-M5, in a cheaper plastic body. There’s no way this will look and feel like the E-M1, in my opinion. There’s no doubt, if they do this right, that people will buy this instead of the E-M5. However, that shouldn’t be surprising to anybody. I’m sure when the replacement E-M5 comes out, it will be a similar build to the current E-M5 with features closer to the E-M1, and most likely a feature or two that is better than the E-M1. That’s simply a natural progression of technology.
+1 Me too.
E-M1 is the ugliest mirrorless style. It looks exactly like my old DSLR. I prefer range-finder style for mirrorless camera.
I’ve just seen so much retro “rangefinder” style at this point, that I’m tired of it. When the Fuji x100 came out, I thought it was the best looking camera I’d seen in a long time. Now, it’s old news, and I think the E-M5 looks better than, say, the gx7. They could refine the OM style a little more, with a better grip shape and smaller VF hump, but overall, it has grown on me.
One should be readily able to see and feel advantages a rangefinder style camera has over a DSLR style if trying to minimize space required or bulk or trying to pack one into a small case because of the EVF projection on top and front. The problem in the past was too small EVFs or less resolution on the rangefinder models but that is no longer the case. Don’t get me wrong I love to use my DSLR and the optical viewfinder but I drag it around much less than a rangefinder style camera or compact always with me.
Get over it – I thought the E-M1 looked unsightly but having used it for many hours I feel it is almost perfect !
What?!?!?!?!? you actually USED a camera? I thought they were just to look pretty!
So very clever – you must get out more !
I thought the handgrip looked plain wrong but have found it nearly perfect in use.
Oh don’t worry, I have one as well, and really like the way it handles. Just find all the bickering about it being ugly (or not) a bit silly.
+1 I find it totally silly. It can’t come from people taking pictures…
+1 agree. Latest E-M1 is just a ridiculous copy from DSLR. Plus, from the price tag, it is at the same price as A7, even though IQ of E-M1 is not possible to compete with IQ of A7 at all.
“Ugly DSLR shape like E-M1 = No buy”
This is amazing! I will never buy a camera for its “look”. But yeah, people are different….
Im really exited about an Entry level omd. For about a year ago, i bought the e-pl3, and later that year i bought the 75-300mm. I need IS for that lens. Also oly makes nice beginner cameras, for my needs as a beginner 🙂
I bet it’s a e-pl5 plus viewfinder. If they only feature the old ibis, no weathersealing, plastic body, and vf-2 tech, it’s easily below the e-m5. but still a really interesting camera!
If it features the 2x2dial and is sold with a 25f1.8 kitlens, I will surely buy one. I don’t need a lot of the features of the e-m1, and I believe I’m not the only one. if the price is around 699euro this could be a top seller.
No 24p, no buy.
If it has 24p, my wallet awaits.
For a semi-pro camera is should have 50p (PAL) in addition.
The “new” sensor is more than capable of handling this.
24p??? do you own a cinema?
25p would be what the whole of europe needs…
50p/60p with the OMD 5 axis IS would make this the camera I (and a few others i expect) will be getting…
24p is the standard for Blu-ray discs worldwide. Most BD players can ouput a native 24Hz sync signal. Most TVs will natively sync an incomming 24Hz signal. The video can be displayed with NO frame rate conversion and not even any sync change. No flicker, No jumpy frames.
At the same bitrate, 24p offers more bits per frame, compared to higher frame rates. At the same quality per frame, 24p can get away with a slightly lower bitrate. This makes 24p the ideal framerate for web distribution as well.
It’s guaranteed 24p will be a standard, most common format for many decades to come. Even if I’m just shooting home videos, I’ll want it in the most standard format.
On top of all that. It’s a matter of look. When I watch 30p content it has an obvious “soap opera”, or “live news” look. It looks like analog video. However 24p content has a cinematic feel. When I see 24p my mindset goes into movie mode.
There’s a reason why fictional/scripted/story TV shows are shown in 24p, and live event shows and reality TV are shown in 30p/60i.
Good move by Olympus! So much for all those who were telling me I was wrong when I said they’d be putting M1 sensor in all future models for some time.
However if you check the title again like I did, it says “E-M5 sensor and E-M1 *processor*, so it might as well *Not* have PDAF on sensor, but just some processing perks like the Color Director.
Yes, rumor has been updated by admin!
I’ve been looking at the different cites this cite says EM-1 processor EM-5 sensor . The other cites say EM-1 sensor. So What is it?
Looks like you are FT5 wrong
Yeah, admin proved me wrong himself :D. E-M5 sensor is still excellent, so if priced right ( somewhere near Panasonic G6 ) this camera could be a big hit.
Well in the past the sensors always have trickled down… As it’s still a rumor we will find out soon
“E-M5 sensor is still excellent”
Compared to what ?
Compared to all APS-C and smaller sensors.
All I want is an EM5 with focus-peaking. If they did that with a firmware update, that would be great.
But I just recently got a GX1 and started my mirrorless experimentation, so maybe by the time I’m looking to replace that the EM1 and EM6 will be cheap, anyway…
If they just changed the eye-cup so it doesn’t fall off, it will be a great advance
Had this issue with the E-M5 multiple times but not once with the E-M1. The eye-cup sits very firmly and I have no worries that I will lose it one day.
The updated rumor makes more sense. I wonder if it will be get the shutter mechanism of the E-M1 and E-P5 or the one of the E-M5.
It would (or should) only get the E-M5 shutter as it is a low end model OM-D. It can’t be made cheaper (more affordable) with more expensive components in it. The E-3’s shutter was put into the E-30 but not the E-620 at the time & this would be a similar situation here. This model was asked for right back when the E-M5 was made available but has taken this long to come, but the E-M5 was probably needed to capture the market sufficiently first. This is a good move because a lot of prospective buyers are just not interested in buying a camera without an EVF included as in the PENs, while others like that style instead & they have a limited budget, so this E-M50 (for the sake of a name) should suit these people fine (except they might be still be wishing it had PD-AF support too).
It is good. When Olympus entered the market with a new sensor of a format 4/3, this product was positioned, including, as well as cheaper in comparison with SLR cameras. What do we observe now? Unless the product of Olympus/Panasonic is cheaper than similar products from Nikon/Canon/Sony? I look at the price of new E-M1 and I think: yes I can take Nikon D600 for such money! At us in Russia E-M1 is much more expensive to Nikon D610! So in what a trick, Olympus? If initial level of new OM-D cost $400 that it was great. But it won’t be therefore people prefer the initial Nikon/Canon level, besides (people think) at reflex cameras more sensor – means the reflex camera much better…
Well, the new OM-D light might fix exactly that. I have always been in favour of cheaper prices, but the excuse was that you paid for smaller and lighter.
However it is a dangerous game, because Canon could come at any moment with a 600 $ mirrorless and undercut everybody.After all the loss of mirror box makes cameras cheaper. So perhaps the OM-D light will cure that.
In the late consumerist phase however you’ll always find somebody to enjoy having it there. They call it “the pecking order” 🙂
Very hard to see this happening. Too much legacy baggage and development cost. Yes Canon could come up with a camera, but what lenses would it use? A FF mirrorless couldn’t effectively use the EF lenses designed for PDAF, and it wouldn’t cost $600. An APS-C mirrorless wouldn’t work well with the EF-S lenses and it would probably be more than $600 as well. Hard to imagine Canon wanting to start over developing an entirely new one of lenses.
If they did, it would probably not be pretty. One reason that Panny and Oly have been coming out with better lenses than Canon and Nikon may be that they can concentrate on one format rather than three or four. Canon and Nikon are spread too thin over too many formats.
Canon already has several STM lenses which are designed for CDAF.And they have the resources to introduce STM versions of all their EF-S lenses almost overnight, if they choose to. Their optics wouldn’t need to change, only the electronics.
I’m not suggesting Canon will do this. I think it unlikely. But if they wanted to, they could throw more money at mirrorless than Oly’s or Panasonic’s entire budget for camera design and manufacture without breaking a sweat.
No point in introducing STM versions of the entire or even a good part of the lens line. Stepper motors are contraindicated for PDAF systems and that’s what Canon uses. How big a market would there be for a worse performing version of the 70-200 f/2.8?
This is what I’m talking about. In order to move to mirrorless Canon would need to start completely over with both its lenses and its bodies. No way is that happening. What we’ll see is a few appropriate STM lenses designed for manual focus with video.
I am not sure I follow you. The Canon M2 (?) is already selling in Japan
Canon mirrorless. Bwahhahahahaha. Good one! 🙂
Not having PDAF is not a big loss. The E-M5 wasn’t ergonomically good for shooting action, at least not without the grip. The camera was too small, the buttons too squished, and the VF not up to the task. The E-M5 is a PEN with a VF and CDAF works extremely well for this type of camera. Adding PDAF would add cost but not functionality.
The new entry level OMD can cut down on weather sealing, additional grip support, less control and slightly worse build to cut down cost. Because it has now no weather sealing, it can use a higher resolution screen.
This OMD sounds like the E-P5 people here wanted: cheaper than the EM5 but still with an integrated EVF.
But the EM5 sensor implies no PDAF on-sensor. The ISO 100 and 1/8000 could be there… or not.
I’d love to see a new Oly with an EVF on the left side and no hump, weather sealed, with the awesome IBIS. That wouldn’t be an OMD line, and doesn’t really fit the PEN model either. The GX7 almost fits the bill, but lacks weather sealing and the IBIS falls short. But great ergonomics, form factor and feature set. Gotta love the M43 space for diversity of body and lens choice. I don’t miss Canon 🙂
Ok, if it’s the E-M5 sensor, then no, thanks, Olympus. Then it will be a used E-M1 in about a year’s time or so, after a substantially reduced street price has settled for the new camera.
You can dream on about that. It will not be a substantially lower street price. This camera serves two customer basis: (1) the strictly E-M5 type of crowd, and (2) the E-M1/E-5 dSLR type of crowd where 43 lenses are enabled with faster AF. The demand will be there and even some more pros will gravitate to the E-M1. So, either ante up for the E-M1 or go elsewhere.
If Olympus are going to call it an entry level OMD then they should enable it to take, say, group pictures with the photographer also in the group. My old Nikon D80 had this little gizmo which you pointed at the camera and it took a picture; one could even use it for bracketing.
Also wanted by many would be a fully articulated screen.
These improvements in a small lightweight package which is reasonably priced, will sell well.
We are well past needing little gizmos (I assume like a remote?) these days- cameras can detect when everyone smiles, respond to voice commands, or be controlled remotely from your cell phone screen.
Soon, it will have a little tripod with legs and walk around doing the shooting for you. 😛
rpm40, I was not referring to all the brilliant, gifted photographers on this site, but the myriad of prospective photographers who would like a ‘real’ camera and for whom these two added abilities might make them buy the new OMD. The more cameras Olympus sells, the more improvements they make for us ‘aficionados’.
Peter Del
I like the tilting screen of the Olympus cameras, much more practical, faster, does not get in the way.
I often photograph the base of tree trunks and the pullout screen is invaluable, but when I want to take the picture in portrait mode the screen is useless and the picture almost impossible to capture correctly.
Peter, there’s this thing called a “self”-timer. Why do you think they call it that? People were including themselves in pictures decades before 35mm cameras were created, much less digital cameras with remote control.
I am well aware of that, I was just referring to what might make the camera appeal to buyers now. No running backwards and forwards between the camera and the group, like in the old days!
Delusional.
Sensor and other features apart, if the new model has better ergonomics than the old one, it might be more attractive to those who did not enjoy the EM5.
There is NO camera that appeals to all people. Olympus can’t be expected to do this, nor can any other camera company. Is there one car that appeals to all people? Is there one house that…? You get the picture.
Doesn’t sound like a lot to see here, more raiding of the parts bin and model proliferation; just as likely to cannibalize sales of their other cameras.
This seems like more churn, not a real advance.
Do we know its size and weight? Will it conform to the trim EM5, or will it tip its hat to the bloated micro 4/3 EM1?
I’m sure the body will be too small to be held comfortably by average human hands for longer than half an hour per day. That’s alright, because it’s not meant to be a pro camera. Shutter shock, mostly due to low body mass, is also acceptable in a consumer camera. 😛
It’s an OM-D & I doubt it will be smaller than the Stylus 1 which is a similar design. I would think having it the same size as the E-M5 to be a good idea & then more HLD-6 grips could be sold to fit it too, but that might not be the direction Olympus takes.
The incredible stupidity of Olympus amazes even me.
Let’s see, take the non-PDAF 16mp sensor out of the EM-5, combined with the TruePic VII processor of the EM1, and put it in a non-weather sealed body, with a non-tilting LCD rear screen, and probably the same VF-2 viewfinder, and charge what, $800 or so for it?
Maybe in Asia there is pent up demand for the expensive Olympus version of the Lumix G6, but not in the USA or Europe, that’s for sure.
Restricting PDAF to the EM1 only is utter insanity. What we have here is a camera company who want to quickly go out of business, making cameras people do not want.
You think they would have learned their lesson with 4/3, but I guess not.
What a bunch of dingbats.
– Olympius
Another idiotic post from you. And you don’t even know what the price is, so stop the bashing. Stupid.
Having to wade thru trolling drivel like Olympius posted (and rhw many other angry toned troll posts in this thread) really takes away from my enjoyment of an otherwise fun and informative website.
Admin, when are you going to start policing posts for angry/negative/trollish/baiting content? There should be no place for it here. Set up some basic ground rules and then quietly enforce them.
Now that I’ve thought about it, this new omd will be launched in order to justify the exorbitant price of the em1…..
A new entry OMD with same electronic viewfinder, without weather sealing, without 5-axis stabilization, without tilt-screen. Price it $699. It will sell. The replacement for the EM-5 should have weather sealing, 5 axis, newer electronic viewfinder, faster shutter speeds, and some technological improvements. Price it at $999.
I guess the entry level OMD will have:
– plastic chassis (with extra shutter shock)
– 1/2000 sec fastest shutter speed
– 1/180 flash sync limit
– one thumb or index finger dial instead of two dials
– VF-2 equivalent finder
With the E-M5’s price dropping, how much will the new body be?
Don’t forget wi-fi. It must have it. Olympus and Panasonic need to be ahead on this…
at least 1/4000 shutter….
I think it would have 1/4000 sec shutter speed & WiFi because the Stylus 1 has 1/2000 sec shutter speed & WiFi (& pretty similar to the E-M1).
more of the crap tinny sensor
Full Frame, you knowledge is very poor, the sensor is not made of tin.
I may very well buy one, as I have a spare M.Zuiko 14-150 (which I have tried to sell) and I will keep them in the car in case I should see something interesting!
Entry level OMD:
– 16MP Sensor without PDAF
– no weather sealing
– EVF VF3 or similar (entry level with better EVF is E-PM2 + VF4)
– new Engine and Processor = faster AF + some compact camera features like panorama and HDR
– Wifi??
I wish that Olympus did THIS camera!
http://www.43rumors.com/new-panasonic-mft-camera-patent/
If you’re going to make an RF style body, why stick the EVF in the middle?
Excellent move, very logically constructing a products line.
– EM-5 sensor means cheaper sensor, no pdaf and no 4/3 aimed
– EM-1 processor means lots of skills for good PDF performance like color, highlights & noise management, focus peaking, tons of filters, panoramic modes etc.
+
– EM-5 EVF and tilting touchscreen as they’re getting cheaper, probably only 3 axis IBIS to keep low volume & price.
– Body would be plastic, no weather sealing, probably internal flash as a need for up-graders, but no grip as it would aim a very compact volume.
– 500 U$ body only price tag
= great product for up-graders getting in interchangeable lens universe at a prize close to best expert compacts.
= drive more demand for EM-5, as people going to the shop for the cheaper model can easily be convinced to choose a slightly better, and more expensive, model.
= justifies EM-1 price, as top of the line, and for EM-1 owners can be sold as a second camera, as a cheaper, compact but still decent setup.
I like your train of thought but why not use same body style as E-M5, then if a user so wishes there is the opportunity to add the grip if required. An advantage of that idea is base plate remains same, no new designing and tooling required.
I could live without weather sealing, but the new Om-D should have 5 axis IBIS as long as it’s Olympus unique selling position (which will change soon since we know they gave the technology to Sony). Then it could be superior to the GX7.
Another interesting question for me is: While the E-M5 has the well-known banding issues with the Panasonic 20mm, the E-M1 doesn’t (according to one of the testers at dppreview.com). So, if the new OM-D uses the old sensor, will the banding issues return? (Maybe as an additional argument for the rumored 25mm pancake 😉 )
Blah blah sensor blah blah pixel… All that matters here is price. Whoever walks into a store and buys one of these for 1000 + lenses + flashes, when they can have a D3200/700D/100D *with lens* for a lot less, and a huge catalogue for future upgrades? Sure, there is already a small user base, but what about new customers?
If this company wants to survive, they must cut those prices. And I am not thinking of the toys without viewfinder and manual controls, which are firesaled after a year; I am thinking of the “advanced” models like this, which still offer less and cost more than the CN basic offers. Less autofocus, less usability, and marginally less image quality, but that is probably good enough for now.
M43 lenses are not really cheap, either; and the small ones are compromised in light gathering – simple physics.
So it’s weather sealed? They all are. Or has it got an ISO-certified IP of 55 or higher?
So it is a little smaller? How much is that worth to you? Are there so many nancies around, who cannot carry an extra pound? I don’t think so. This is still the only selling point Olympus can use to attract new users, and I find it too weak.
Another option could be: leave those prices high as they are, but add an innovative tech. What about a super quiet global shutter with high flash sync speed? It should be easier on smaller sensors.
Try fitting a D3200 or any other entry level dslr with a 50mm in your jacket pocket and go for a leisurely walk.
Now fit the em5 or a pen series in your pocket with the pancake 20mm and go for your walk. Or hang it off your wrist or throw it in your purse, etc. Get the point?
They are smaller and offer a lot. And the new omd just adds more choices to a growing collection.
It’s not only that. They are lensmaker’s bodies. DxO discovered recently Perceptual Resolution – but Olympus always knew.
Is it so difficult to understand that the format itself has been selected to enhance the optic’s properties.
FF35 falls easy apart at some focal ranges, at the edges, when too close. APS too has problems compared to 4/3. Some say a small square would optimize the digital image circle. 4/3 is v. close.
So it’s not only about being small, but optically excellent *with a format that helps*.
That this does not cost Leica prices is a privilege, one still pays a bit for the extra mile. And yet one has lenses for all prices, so again the format helps the lenses, and reciprocally.
That is what gross people fail to see, or recognize only partially by saying that you get lighter kit.
You get it lighter because it’s better optimised.
OK then here’s a trick for the “gross” APS or 135 shooter: crop the pics from 3 to 2 to a 4 to 3 ratio. You will be amazed at the improvement… Not? Better even: stop looking at corner sharpness and rubbish like that and learn to take pictures.
About walking in the park: true point, but *the price is too steep*. If I want a camera for hikes, I buy a G16/P7800/Nikon 1 V2 with a small prime. All these cams have vf and control dials; M43 cams with those essential features cost twice as much. BTW, the Nikon 1 is down to 400 + lens by now, and it handles beautifully. It is really ultra fast, with exc autofocus. No M43 cam can touch it there.
If I want a toy camera for hikes, I buy a firesale EVF-less and dial-less Olympus from 2 years ago. Now, there is the only place where I see new buyers coming in. I think Olympus could do better than that right?
I just bought a small competent camera for hikes / skiing / stealing images in the street and guess what? I passed on the M43 offers. Can you fathom why?
A lot of us purchase mft gear specifically for hiking and playing outside. You can’t beat an E-M5, GX1, GX7, etc., to carry with you when hiking, backpacking, fly fishing, etc. Superb gear. It bothers me not that trolls can’t appreciate it.
Yes you can, and for half the price. I just did: read my post. I am also glad you are happy with your toy, as I am happy with mine. We are both happy.
What is this nonsense with “trolls” by the way? Are they the opposite of “fangirls”? Sorry I could not resist 🙂
All I can say is that the Canon 100mm 2.8 L macro at f5.6 is not sharp at the edges (it´s sharp at f8), some wide angle lenses never get sharp at the edges (Canon 17-40mm 4.0) and that my Pana/Leica 25mm 1.4 at the E-Pl1 is sharp at the edges at f1.8, not to speak of other FF lenses. There is a lot of truth behind the statemant that mft lenses are sharper at the edges on average. Not always but on average.
But Oly uses in camera sharpening to compensate for soft edges (True pic VII) and that processing (it does more than sharpening) can create a “digital” look – I didn´t like how the jpgs of the E-M1 with 12-40mm looked – a little natural softness can be a good thing – reality is not bitingly sharp^^
picture-node: neutral or muted
sharpness: -2
contrast: 0 or -1
noise filter: low or off
Should give a bit more natural ‘softness’ to the jpegs then the default settings.
A fool and their money are soon parted. But make sure those edges are sharp! Also Ansel Adams was very worried with edge sharpness. Or not?
+1 to Bollox. The most important thing Olympus can do right now is to expand its market, and not to put out yet another model for the insider fans (who, loyal though they be, are not helping the corporation attain profitability). The best way to expand the market is to offer a quality product at an attractive price to the consumer.
The micro 4/3 cameras and lenses are perceived to be too expensive, and are slowly growing out of what their original promise was- tininess and lightness. Consumers aren’t buying the patter, and have already voted for DSLRs. We can complain and whine about how stupid the consumers are, but they believe they are getting more for their money, and do not plan on buying 2 or 3 different lines of gear with redundant effective focal lengths.
This is Fuji’s plan- release lower end cameras that still offer great quality in an attempt to expand the market. Unfortunately, the lenses are still quite dear. I don’t expect that plan will work out that well for Fuji. I certainly hope it will work out for Olympus.
“The micro 4/3 cameras and lenses are perceived to be too expensive,”
If you bother to shop around, neither have to be expensive, but of course you have to look around a bit.
“and are slowly growing out of what their original promise was- tininess and lightness.”
Oh, I guess you missed cameras like the e-pm models, or the gf/gx/gm models from Panasonic.
I’m sorry to put it like this, but you are being utterly silly. You see a bigger model in the line-up, totally ignore that during that same time also the smallest m4/3 camera and a pancake zoom were introduced and claim a trend of things getting bigger.. Silly is actually a nice understatement there.
What I do agree with is expanding market and aiming for profitability but trying a race to the bottom isn’t the way to accomplish that unless you are in a position where you can comfortably await the end of such a thing, and even then profits are a long way off.
24p or GTFO.
That’s a shame. I was hoping for something with phase detection to replace my L10K.
If it is cheap it will be a big hit.
I doubt it will be ‘cheap’, but will be cheaper than the E-M5. 😉
LOL………….years old small not so good sensor in new body. This camera should not cost more then 200 euro.
Sorry Olympus but
DSLR style = No buy !!!
I think they have a few PEN models, and Panasonic has a nice GX7, so whats your problem?
In terms of Specification this camera may seem to some as though it out specs the em5 but that’s only because the em5 is now relatively old and this new camera will receive hand me down parts from various cams.
The em5 sensor paired with the new true Pic 7 processor from the em1 for a new imaging engine and most likely the em5 evf and lcd. There probably won’t be weather sealing but it wouldn’t surprise if it has a lower grade form of weather sealing.
Other things they could skimp on are raw buffer, timelapse but as an OMD it should have the 5 axis IBIS.
When the em5’s true successor comes out I expect some new technology and in some ways will outshine the em1 with I expect will be for Olympus it’s first truly impressive camera at video with 4k capability and an entirely new sensor and a new feature or two never seen before and that will be paired with my em1.
No PDAF..no buy. For me, as I do not own 4/3 lenses, this new cam should be like the EM1 but without the 4/3 possibility. So a pure m43 cam with all the EM1 features. The price ideally would be a bit lower.
For most people though, if the only difference is the sensor that weathersealing, EVF etcetc is really good. Next time, the sensor not only needs to have PDAF but also needs to get us better IQ>