This is the world’s first image of the new PEN-F! The camera we first “rumored” months ago. The image got leaked via Digicameinfo. The cameras has the 75mm Zuiko and a small grip. Lot of dials on the top and the integrated viewfinder in the corner can be seen too.
Those are the specs we got from our sources:
PEN-f announce datę: 27.01
Sensor: 20mpix
Two kit lens: 14-42ez and 17mm 1,8
New EVF
Price of kits 1497-1797Euro
Follow the live blogging of the event here on 43rumors on January 27 at 5-6am London time!
474 Responses
looks similar to lx100
Wowzers! Looks cheap, hopefully it is evolutionary!
No, just a cheap lo res poor quality photo of it! I still remember the similar comments for the leaked images of the E-M1. They even had the audacity to criticise the finish from that poor IQ leaked photo! I think this camera should be rather nice & then the E-M1 Mk II will be even nicer as it will include the new features, sensor etc from this PEN-F.
A few observations:
1. I don’t recognize the lens. Does it say 25mm 1:1.2 or is it my wild imagination?
2. No front dial. The dials on top must be dedicated then.
3. It looks seriously retro, in the ugly sense.
1. 75mm f/1.8 – yes it seems to be a huge camera!
2. yes, notices that too
3. yeah – like the worst from the LX100 and X-Pro1 combined (both of those are beautiful!)
25mm f/1.2 would have a much less large front element. It has to be a longer focal.
lens its 75/1,8 . it looks bigger than E-M5, not very ergonomical and durable. I don’t know why but reminds me Nikon DF. Is this photo with ermowable grip ?
I have the 75 and it does not look the same. The texture on the focus ring is different to start with. The 75 is also thicker and longer.
That is the 75/1.8, you can read it. It might be moire from the low res compression on the focus ring texture making it look different. Or it might be a special edition of the lens.
Or a 3D/Illustrator render of the lens.
The focus ring texture is definitely an aliasing effect. You can see that the visible lines don’t rotate consistently with the ring and then they start turning into curves near the top of the lens.
I had 75 and yes – it looks different. Maybe its a new water resistant version?
It IS a very low resolution photo & that is the only reason it looks different.
I believe Will Hunter is totally correct, “The focus ring texture is definitely an aliasing effect.”
Looks pretty good…would like to see it without that add-on grip and with a smaller lens…
yes I was just thinking the same
Is that a detachable grip? Does it come included?
It’s included in the price, but not sure it will be in the box… 😉
looks a bit awkward to hold
hopefully I’m mistaken,
Looks like lower grip can be removed which would leave a sleeker smaller camera body
Looks like a LX100 and X-Pro1 got a child. Just… a bit awkward :/
Hopefully it will look better without the grip and be around 1000$
Ok, if that’s the cam, I’ll better wait for an e-p7. It’s end of 80s cheapy ugly style. Nobody will buy this for 1500.
The add-on grip makes it look fugly. Otherwise, it looks like a good Oly interpretation of a Leica M.
any chance of 4K video with proper frame rates?
I know its Olympus but for 1’500 one could hope…..
Look a s bit to big for me, but i like the viewfinder on the side instead of the hump, I hope they will continue with that.
Urgh.
Without the ugly handgrip I think it looks quite nice.
I agree. I’m not sure what people expected it to look like.
I don’t know what to think about it … I don’t know either if I need to think something about it since it’s too expensive for me 🙁
Looks like a detachable grip in the bottom.
The camera seems functional but as pretty as the EP line.
Is the 75mm f1.8 the “kit lens”? 🙂
This is the 75:
http://www.furnfeather.net/Review_Images/P1000944_PC.jpg
Close enough, but different.
thanks for the picture, it’s the one.
Very different. Some additional ring around the base.
It’s just your eyes fooling you! 😉
I agree. And the angle.
dont take this picture too serious. Its low res and can be also just a rendering.
In the end its a rumored picture …
Image just reminds me how ugly the EM1 is. 😉
You must have been one of many that made that comment when the E-M1 was first leaked with its poor quality photo. 🙂
Looks actually quite good. I also like the plethora of dials.
The grip is just awkward and it ads quite a bit of bulk to the camera. If I’m not mistaken, it’s attached to a deep bottom plate with arca swiss design for tripod mounting. Without it, the lens mount seems to expand almost to the bottom of the camera body.
With the F1.8 primes, this could be a real nice and compact travel kit. I just hope the rumored price is way off…
The grip is clearly an addon, but yeah, that added grip doesn’t look comfy at all. I’m guessing once the camera comes out, there will be plenty of non-OEM grips to choose from.
I think you might be surprised at how well that grip may actually be once you have the chance to try it. It mightn’t look great here but I doubt they would produce an awkward grip for the camera, but of course, that doesn’t mean everyone will like the feel & shape of it.
I hope it don’t have the stupid EV dial as with the LX and the Fuji’s, because that’s a waste of real estate the way the made it. Else it should be able to do all the incremental steps and should cover the entire possible EV span and not limit it to +2 and -2.
Seems like the mode dial is lockable and it has two command dials.
It doesn’t look bad at all, but it is unabashedly retro:
1. Faux Leica III style “slow-speed dial” on the front, turned into some kind of multi-position switch.
2. Faux Leica II style “pull-up film rewind knob” over the EVF, now some other control TBD.
3. An AF assist lamp or sensor (?) in front of the EVF, to evoke the front window of an optical viewfinder. (By the way, the original Pen F had no such window, being a Porro-prism SLR).
4. General retro-style knurling and other details.
5. The only thing I don’t like, and it seems everyone is doing it: the old-style strap lugs that stick out from the ends of the camera. I much prefer a flattened slot or better yet, an inset strap receiver that is as flush to the body as possible. The lugs, and associated connecting rings, get uncomfortably in the way of one’s fingers. But it’s retro and apparently it’s OK for most people.
Maybe those old cameras were “futuristic”.
size might be comparable with the GM5, in relation to the bayonet size
If the picture is not squished horizontally.
If that lens in the image were a 25mm f1.8, then I might agree with you. However, the image shows the PEN-F with a 75mm f1.8 lens – not a small lens at all (for MFT). The camera body appears to be at least as large as the current EP5, and maybe significantly larger if the hand grip and base are not removable.
Probably looks a lot better without the add-on grip, which is inexcusably ugly. Looks very much the retro grips that took neither real ergonomics nor aesthetics into account.
Is that oversized ring above and to the right of the lens mount the AF-assist lamp? Is it intended to look like an OVF?
Definitely the AF-assist lamp. It looks like its placement was more of a “where can we fit this” than a design choice to make it look like an OVF.
About the price, i don’t understand the 2 kit lenses and the 2 prices (since the price of both lenses are quite the same +/-100E).
Do you think it could be 1500 with the 14-42 and 1800 with both ? Do you think it makes sens to join both lenses in the same kit ?
Why not a kit with the 12-40mm? It beats both the other kit lenses in every respect.
That would make the most sense, especially for those prices.
Maybe 12-40 would look “too big” on this camera, not to mention the price of that combination. I agree though that 1500 including 12-40 would make sense.
The 12-40mm looks good on my GX8. ?
the price does not make sense with either of the lenses.
Man, that is one ugly camera. Olympic usually is the master of style. What were they thinking?
You may feel differently once that fugly grip is removed.
Right.
Pig, meet lipstick.
I feel you and totally agree. Hope I don’t grow to like it! lol
Masters of style?
It’s just a different kind of ugly.
I love it’s rough manly lines! LOL!
Looks like a really serious camera!
Yep, just bite the pillow harder when using it. ?
I don’t like it too, but would choose it over that freak-ugly GX8.
I remember similar responses to the early leaked images of the E-M1.
The price is not nice. More than any other olympus camera. It has to be build like tank and be weather sealed to justify it.
Well, it does look like a tough outdoor tool.
E-M1 is build like tank and weather-sealed and $900 now. Pentax K-3 is built like a tank and weather-sealed and has IBIS and has bigger, higher res sensor and $600 now. It is not 2010.
Go for a K-3 its your choice. I would never chose a Pentax over any MFT camera.
The problem is, almost all the new system buyers would go for cheaper cameras, Canon, Pentax, whatever. You and all the other 10 Olympus fanboys don’t matter in the grand scheme of things, economically. Just like you were unable to save Four Thirds from death from the same terminal illness, overpricitis.
Why should FourThirds have been saved? It fulfilled it’s purpose then.
In this period Canon couldn’t make camera’s consistently work good with their existing lenses. With almost every new camera the lenses had to be calibrated. Front- and Backfocus was paramount.
Olympus didn’t suffer from that “feature” but if there was a slight doubt then you could even calibrate the lenses yourself. Even pixelmapping was there from the start.
The m43 tech was just too far away in 2002/2003 but a logical evolution!
I don’t think that compared with Canon or Nikon Olympus or Panasonic products are overpriced at all. Proof being more professionals commited to the format!
Calibrate the camera for the lenses, I meant
A bit of a shock, but doesn’t really look like something I wouldn’t buy.
So it is basically a better spec better built Panasonic gm-5 competitor ?
Or does Olympus position it against the gx-8 ?
To me, it looks like between gx7 and gx8 in size.
Smaller than the GX7…
but when you add the necessary grip it’s bigger than a GX8.
Gotta love Oly’s idea of ergonomics.
Although, all the top panel controls look like they’ve got potential.
Judging from the rumored price, definitely against GX8.
From the image, my impression is that if you take off the grip and base, it’s likely pretty close to the EP5 in size. I’m beginning to think of this as an EP6 or EP7, but with a new name.
Well… it looks like the old one… http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/.a/6a00df351e888f88340120a5f7ea27970c-800wi
The small grip means it is a small battery again. At most the BLN-1 from OM-D E-M5 and 1 (if not BLS-5 from pens and OM-D E-M10). Which is OK for a cheap and light PEN.
The government certification for the Pen F listed the BLN-1 battery.
Ok, so the only thing one could hope for regarding battery life is reduced power consumption. Which actually could be the case with a new-generation electronic viewfinder – but I guess we have to wait and see.
The EVF is probably higher-res, requiring more power across the whole video feed processing pipeline.
But BLN-1 is at least better than BLS-5.
TruePic VIII (if they don’t reuse their old TruePic VII) should be made on newer tech too.
At least this. At least it probably will beat E-M10 in battery life.
I really hope it does NOT have the fully articulating screen… I prefer the up and down version for my street shooting… which the pen line should be for… the rest can just buy an OM-D
Couldn’t agree more!
I’m hoping for the fully-articulating screen. As I own one camera with such a screen (the E620) and one without (the E-PL5), my clear preference is for fully-articulating.
what is keeping you from buying the E-M5ii then… also the E-m1ii will most likely feature a fully articulating screen… I don’t think it’s smart to put one on all cameras, as some users (especially street) prefer a diffretnt one…
I’m holding out for a PDAF-capable Oly at a cheaper price than the E-M1 before jump on the upgrade bandwagon for anything over $500.
I’m still not sure what a fully-articulating screen would prove to be less useful for street photography, particularly as that’s one of the reasons I use my E620, particularly during Carnival. The ability to easily swing the screen into the correct position when moving from low level to overhead shots really comes in handy.
Only if the articulating screen doesn’t flip away to the side and only if it takes one thumb to adjust the angle, with other fingers on the necessary control buttons, ready to shoot, I would accept an articulating screen. If it takes two hands, and/or it’s too much of a distraction, and/or it makes the camera twice as wide, and/or it takes too much time: no.
Maybe I sound a little bit picky, but I won’t buy a camera that annoys me, because I’m picky. Besides, it’s 2016.
Well flipping out the screen and turning it to the right position (on a fully articulating screen) is not as quick as on an up and down one… Plus I really don’t want to be running around with a flipped out screen like that, so I’d have to flip and turn it for every shot… Whereas the up/down flipping takes me just a just a fraction of a second and generally doesn’t look so much like a video recording device… The combination retro style + fully articulating screen is just something that I find to look a bit weird… This is of course very subjective, but I find it to look rather ridiculous and not very useful… To me these things only make sense for video or selfies, but not for photo-centric usage…
I disagree. I take a video once every blue moon, and a selfie about as often, but every single time I use the tilting screen on my GX7, I wish it was fully articulating. Every time.
And it’s as simple as this – most of the compositions that catch my eye and demand a high or low angle seem to work better in portrait, especially since the 4:3 aspect ratio of M4/3 doesn’t make portrait shooting seem ridiculous for day-to-day use the way 3:2 sometimes does. In that context, the tilting screen is worthless, whereas the fully articulating screen lets you get the photo quickly and painlessly.
Also, since you want something cheaper than an E-M1 you’re looking at the wrong camera anyway, this is new + high end… If you really need PDAF why not just buy the E-m1?? I doubt that we’ll see any new and cheap Oly cam (under 1000€) with PDAF this year… Just a feeling…
Apart from it’s price, I’m not really a fan of the E-M1’s foldout screen. I’d much prefer a fully-articulated one, as I’ve got experience with both types and found the articulated on to be a lot more useful and much quicker to use in practice – plus it allows the review screen to be turned into face the camera, which offers additional protection from damage when that’s required.
Agree: street shooting and fully articulating screens are mutually exclusive. PENs can and should be the ultimate streetshooters – always in my humble opinion.
Something else: the EVF doesn’t look like it’s articulated. Boo!
I really like it, much better than GX-8. It’s first Oly I may buy it. There are four control dials, great, but where is front dial? Hope there is one at back body, with a few Fn buttons and flip LCD too. EVF seems big, maybe new Epson 4,4MP??? I hope the size is smaller than GX-8, about GX-7 size. Grip? If it’s comfortable + for Oly. Really, really nice looking Oly cam with corner EVF.. hope it works best for fast and in-fly street shooting!!!
Seems the vertically mounted front dial is a nod to the original Pen F for which the dial on the face of the camera controlled shutter speed. Then for the OM series cameras Olympus put a shutter speed ring on the lens mount, which I really, really like as you can just keep your left hand on the lens at all times and change either aperture or shutter speed with a few wrist flicks. In any case, to answer your comment about the front dial, I don’t know what they’ve got planned for that weird little thing on the front, but it’s definitely there for historical reasons – note, I did NOT say “retro”!
Though the PL15 is my favorite lens, I don’t really see much use for the aperture ring since, using control dials with your right hand is much quicker and leaves your left hand available to either direct your subject, or use your touchscreen when shooting with the touchscreen.
With an aperture ring it won’t change until you decide to change it.
Often I mistakenly hit control dials and randomly change settings without wanting to.
This is a case of more being less.
It looks like it has a grip on the bottom. I think if that’s taken off, it would look more attractive.
Olympus apparently listend to us and made the kits 2€ cheaper hahaha…. Way to go…
Wow that is one ugly motherf*cker. But I must admit, I think the (removable?) grip is largely to blame for that. And despite its uglyness, it also has a ‘serious tool’ look I do like.
Looking at the bayonet, it is a little higher than an EP5 or an EM5 sans hump, but not much wider or deeper. But I am afraid the EVF might stick out quite a bit, and if the OVF is folding in any way, it might be deeper than this picture suggests.
Curious about it’s specs and the price of body only. With a little better than E-M5II specs (hand held high resolution?) I would think 1200 euro would be nice, and anything under 1400 (still thinking body only) would make me think long and hard about a possible upgrade in the future.
looks like leica, fujifilm and olympus had a threesome 😉
it’s beautiful 🙂
My thoughts:
1. Obviously it’s a detachable grip. Really hope there are other grip options similar to E-P5 though.
2. Without the detachable grip it seems similarly sized to the E-P5 (based on the mount), which is impressive considering they’ve added a viewfinder.
3. Top plate seems to have a pretty similar layout to the E-M10 mkii with all those chunky dials.
4. This picture is a great example of why companies don’t like leaks. A silver version with a smaller lens and without the grip is obv the first impression you want to make, not this frankenstein version.
5. I’m curious about what all is happening on the front of the camera. The button/switch seems to be mirroring the shutter speed dial on the original PEN-F, but I don’t see enough increments to suggest that it serves the same function here. Also, top right in front of the viewfinder seem to be a… lens? Could Olympus be doing some sort of hybrid viewfinder ala Fuji?
The would be a Focus Assist LED.
Maybe, it doesn’t really look anything like the LED on other Olympus cameras to me though…
That’s probably because they decided to put a dress ring around it this time, otherwise it does look like all the other models AF assist LED.
I am quite impressed for its… ‘unappealingness’. The old Pen F was a stand-out metal beauty (not to mention its many other original tech aspects). Curious about the prformance.
Looks like “Retro meets Mad Max”
I’m pretty sure this will be a success for sales, for Fuji..
Can anyone tell what the dial on the front is? Is that a focus mode selector?
Could be a focal distance selector for zone focusing, a custom mode selector, an aspect ratio selector, a metering mode selector or (most probably) a focus mode thingie.
You can adjust the brightness of the viewfinder 😉
“Could be a focal distance selector for zone focusing”
Wonderful idea! Especially if it could be changed without turning the camera on.
i would guess – drive modes – like single multi CF etc – cant be a mode dial
Looks like Olympus E-M10 and a Panasonic LX100 have been gettin it on.
IMO Panasonic cameras are much better looking. They have retro inspiration but a much more modern look. That EVF is probably stellar.
Size, shape and extra grip option look about right.
Price? Not right at all! Unless it comes with that 75mm in that kit.
What else could it offer to justify this high price? Except new for Oly a 20mp sensor and bit better evf vs todays cameras
Is it shock/drop proof? Handheld super-res mode? Waterproof? 10yr warranty?
None of the above… Probably
can we really expect better and newer specs than em5ii but cheaper ?
How about the same launch price? Is this really $1600+ USD?
It’s more than I’m willing to spend, but you can’t seriously expect Olympus to launch a better camera for the same price. MSRP on body only EM5 mkii is $1100. The 14-42 adds $150 to the kit price for all the cameras it comes with. So $1250 is the absolute floor for what anyone should realistically expect the kit price to be. Then you’ve got a new sensor and hybrid EVF which are only going to add to the price.
Also compare to the rumored $2000 that Fuji is expected to launch the X-Pro 2 at, and which Olympus is obviously positioning this as a direct competitor to, and the rumored prices don’t look that outrageous.
If the kit is $1500, then body only should be around $1350. Personally, I’ll start seriously considering getting one when used bodies drop below $1,000, which should be around 6 months from now.
your comparison works if the PEN has a hybrid viewfinder only.
Even without a hybrid viewfinder (which hello, what else do you think the freaking lens right in front of the viewfinder is for?), the sensor alone makes it better hardware than the EM5 mkii. You can wish it were cheaper all you want, but once again, if you’re seriously expecting Olympus to launch better hardware at the same or lower price than existing hardware, you’re being absurd.
That “freaking” lens in front of the EVF would likely be an AF Assist LED.
Well, it’s a new camera so I’ll hold judgement. Cameras are becoming more expensive, that is certainly a fact. But one can certainly expect a technology company to offer a new model at a MSRP close to the previous iteration. Not sure where the Pen-F falls. If it is essentially an E-M1ii in a small body then the price is justified. If it’s replacing the E-P5 then this is seriously ambitious.
“Cameras are becoming more expensive, that is certainly a fact.”
I think it’s a bit more complicated than that. They’re getting both more expensive and cheaper at the same time. Just a few years ago, getting a new full frame body for less than $3000, let alone $1400 would have sounded crazy. And a lot of the pressure to drop those prices have come from mirrorless makers.
But on the mirrorless side, as these cameras continue to advance and reach parity with DSLRs, it’s only natural for makers to extend their lineups into more premium categories that were previously only reserved for DSLRs. We’ll continue to see cameras in the $500-$1,000 range, but we’re also going to be seing more premium type flagship cameras as well.
And the reason we will continue to see cameras in the $500-1000 range is because 2 year old technology depreciates quickly. The G7 is a good example. Cheap but good camera with dated features.
That is why this camera better pack some features. If it’s a GX8 with 5-axis IBIS then $1600+ is way off the mark IMO.
Again with the $1600+ number? There’s no exchange rate factor here. Olympus lists cameras at the same price in dollars as they do in euros. Just look at any one of their european sites.
If it’s €1500 it will be $1500 in the US. And that’s still the kit price. All other cameras they sell with the 14-42 are $150 less for just the body. So, in all likelihood we’re looking at $1350 for body only. That’s obviously still a premium over the GX8 (which lists for $1200 body only). But it’s not that extreme, especially if it has more premium features like 5-axis IBIS and a hybrid VF.
Is that an expensive camera for a lot of people? Absolutely. Will it depreciate quickly? Of course, just like every other high end camera out there. But it’s not this insane price completely out of line with the competition that everyone is makeing it out to be.
You can get a Sony A7 for the same price, or even lower now
And that’s relevant how? It’s an entirely different class of camera and an generation out of date. The two most obvious direct competitors to the PEN-F are the GX8 ($1200 body) and the X-Pro 2 (Rumored $1800 body). Anyone who ever expected this camera to be priced anywhere outside of the range set by those two has been living in a dream world.
Correct, it’s not a beginner camera but obviously highend.
Why would it need to be cheaper then an outdated 35mm or even an updated 35mm camera?
There’s more to sensor size alone.
Wait until you see the price of the silver version 😉
Thing looks quite robust. Could well be weather proof.
However, the price reflects Oly’s wishes that it becomes a fashion accessory for retired gentlemen. To remind you, the E-P5 + VF-4 + kit lens was priced about the same (and failed in sales).
It will be interesting to see. I do believe that the lack of built-in EVF places the E-P5 in a separate category. GX-8 is a direct competitor, where an eventual “E-P5 mk2” would not be an alternative product.
price way out there
I’m more interested in the lens attached to this. The imprint suggests this is 75/1.8. But that lens looks different. I wonder if they made PRO version of the beloved 75mm? It probably deserves to get a weather-sealing treatment.
BTW, is the EVF so huge that it needs to protrude from the top? This really might be the monstrosity known from the new Leica SL.
EDIT: It will probably look really silly with the 14-42 EZ. And who would want it with that kit anyway?
Olympus’ answer the the GX8. The grip appears to be detachable and would be a welcome accessory with a lens the size of that 75mm.
Over all it appeals to me. Would love to see a new 25mm or 17.5mm f1.2 to match it. Maybe next year….
…the camera looks nice, but the price is horrrrrorrible (compare to OM-D line)
Be patient, we don’t know much about the feature set yet to say the price is reasonable or not.
WOW! I asked for a photo yesterday…and here it is…THAT is a camera I must own!
I will wait until late spring or early summer and order body-only via Asia. It will be less expensive.
Really want more info NOW! I know that the “ergomic” guys must all be crying…but that beast is stylin!!!!! 🙂
Those crying about price can pick up an EPL6 for a couple hundred. There is your bargain camera.. I am glad that Olympus took the new PEN to this level…this is interesting, and it makes sense. I think most new cameras from all manufacturers will have to be higher tier and offer compelling technology to sell and will command a price that reflects that. Otherwise people just use their phones now.
Please ask for more and bigger photos.
LOL! ADMIN…..WE NEED MORE INFO!!!!
Thanks! Tomorrow we will see.
Photo from the back!
🙂
I already “must own” the GX-8 which handles just right.
This one could be an alternative.
I own a GX7 and the GX8 bulk killed any kind of upgrade path for me, if I wanted to lugh shuch a beast I would go FF or even MF. I want MICRO four thirds not FF sized bodies, not even legacy 4/3 sized.
I don’t question you and you certainly aren’t the only one. To me, the GX7 grip just never felt right.
where in Asia are you going to order camera body? Im intersted also. no need for me to have those kit lenses.
Usually Korean ones have slightly lower prices.
aren’t asian camera bodies lenguage locked or have they reconsidered that idea ?
I think all olympus m4/3 cameras have the same multi- language settings, no locks, you can choose language as you wish.
The outstanding E-P5 can be picked up on ebay in mint condition for next to nothing now. I’d highly recommend that over the pretty toylike E-PL6, in my humble opinion.
Shutter shock with the E-P5. Got rid of mine. Have not noticed any on my EPL6.
I just posted that to bust all the cry-babies that want a new-release high-end camera for $200. It just gets sooooooooo old. WHAH!
LOL!!!!!
???
Yes, the crying gets just annoying as young crying baby cockatoos. If you haven’t heard them in real life, be thankful. 😉
Again, best looking 4/3″ cam with corner EVF for me, better than GX-7!!! Can we expect from Oly new primes with aperture ring??? That would be even better for fast and in-fly street shooting!!! I forgot about big Fuji X-Pro2 now !
I personally can’t reason to find the GX-8 ugly and this one gorgeous, nor vice versa.
I meant also the size, GX-8 is too big for me, it’s almost FF.
We’ll wait for more pics and info, I suspect it won’t be much smaller.
Aperture rings on modern Olympus lenses would be one of my fondest photographic wishes come true. Addendum: to make them really useful, that old Nikkor style fingerhold would be great.
I also use a Fuji system, which has aperture rings on lenses, and I hate ’em! Every time I change a lens, I wind up accidentally shifting the aperture, and have to reset it. I much prefer the Olympus system!
Interesting in a not so good way. Obviously, any modern aperture ring would have an auto position / off option in software. Never have had that problem yet on any manual Olympus PEN & OM lens, my sole Nikkor, and a Leica Summicron.
Most new lenses aren’t built the way your PEN, OM, Nikkor, and Leica lenses are.
Those old lenses (and my old Takumars as well) have brilliantly damped focus and aperture rings that are positive in just the right way. Depending on sample variation, the Fuji and Panasonic aperture rings are frequently too loose or too tight, because they’re modern electronic lenses first and foremost…
In fact, just Google “Fuji aperture ring loose” or “stiff” and you’ll get a ton of hits of people complaining.
Fuji lenses have an auto position, and when you’re mounting the lens it’s easy to twist the ring off that position. The old film-era Olympus lenses intelligently positioned the aperture ring toward the front of the barrel, where it’s out of the way, and so do most Leica lenses; modern Nikkors have a lock for the aperture ring (and old ones had that big honkin’ prong to warn you to keep your fingers away!) Fuji makes the ring non-locking and puts it back toward the mount, where you need to grip the lens to attach it, so there’s a greater risk of moving the aperture ring by mistake. Probably doesn’t affect most users, but I do a lot of photography in dark places and often have to change lenses in a hurry, so it happens to me *all the time*…
Another expensive Olympus body without 4K? That would be absolutely crazy considering the current competition.
Tron = Troll. There is no specification for video yet. At least wait for that before being critical there. In other words, wait for the announced specs etc, before criticising.
look at that bevelled bottom, looks like an integrated arca swiss adapter!
Its the 75mm f1.8 lens… But there’s something at the base making it longer. A new teleconverter? Extender? Something else?
if the grip is optional in one piece with the horizontal part it is ok (without it) otherwise not the right proportions.
But overall I’m not a fan of Olympus designs at all.
Why why why must the EVF stick out like that? What ever happened to clean straight lines in design?
Maybe it’s a different cap? It might also be because it’s huge, and they didn’t want to increase the overall body size.
It is likely a much large EVF.
That’s not the 75mm Zuiko unless they did some photoshopping. The objective is smaller so the whole thing is more cylindrical with less flare toward the front. Is this an f2.8? Could just be the angle.
Or the… sensor… is… larger… ???
I think it is the standard 75mm. It looks like this pic was almost a thumbnail size, but they blew it up, and that leads to some bad artifacts.
The EP5 with 17mm 1.8 lens was US$1,449 at launch too. Just hope it brings OSPDAF and top notch video quality to justify the price.
E-P5 + 17mm f/1.8 + VF-4
That was the kit that costed $1449.
You got just the body for $949.but you needed to buy the 17mm f/1.8 and VF-4 separately that made the whole setup few hundred dollars more. So you saved few hundred dollars with the kit instead bundle.
I have two somewhat contradictory reactions: (1) Why would I buy this instead of a GX-8, which has a tilt finder and 4K? On the other hand (2) GIMMEE! Shut up and take my money! And hurry up on those f/1.2 lenses!
Agree that it’s a beautiful camera, but will def pass if there’s no 4K. GH5 is only a couple months away and will probably have 5K and 10 bit color.
Exacltly! What does this bring versus the GX-8 which has the video specs everyone likes versus Olympus!? Hopefully, this sensor is the next big thing. I am assuming no PDAF on this camera, and Olympus will add PDAF for the E-M1II instead. For that price, it needs to be better than the E-M1 and E-M5II in all aspects.
I will be sorely disappointed if there’s no PDAF here. It amazes me that they even get away selling the E-M5 mkii without PDAF when pretty much all other mirrorless systems have it on even their most budget options now.
Well none of Panasonic’s cameras has it and most of them perform better than average in tracking mode. So does the E-M5 II. I suspect PDAF was installed in the E-M1 for backward compatibility. The Pen F would feel quite awkward with FT lenses on so it does not need PDAF.
I guess people want better tracking and continuous AF, not PDAF. If Oly can do that without PDAF, then we don’t need it.
Except they’ve yet to show that they can do it. Even their most top of the line cameras are easily outperformed by a $400 a6000 when it comes to tracking fast motion. I love my Olympus, but it’s by far the worst camera I’ve used in the last 3 years for shooting motion. And I don’t see how anyone who’s actually tried shooting moving subjects on both an OMD and either a Sony Mirrorless or canikon DSLR could actually think otherwise.
IMO, this continues to be the biggest flaw in the entire M43 lineup. Even the EM1 mostly just uses the PDAF for lens compatibility, and fails to take full advantage of it for tracking motion.
How I feel you man. Low light and monition is still hell on OLY. And I hate it, since I love everything else it does.
Haha, I do a lot of sports these days and the E-M1 with 40-150mm F2.8 is a breeze for that.
Learn your trade.
“Average” is unacceptable for a $1500 camera, IMO. Yes, all things considered M43 cameras are fairly responsive for CDAF. But I’ve yet to use one that can handle fast motion as well as an enthusiast or pro level DSLR. And given that the technology for “better than average” is widely available on even budget mirrorless options from other makers (most notably Sony), I think it’s inexcusable for Olympus to leave it off a flagship camera, in this price range, with a brand new sensor, in 2016.
thing is though…it doesn’t. I have wanted this camera since 2012, and the lack of it is what pushed me to Fuji. This doesn’t need to be better than the E-M1, as that is already enough camera. The size and shape are the selling points for me.
It will not, since it will not be the flagship. So expect limitations. Em1 is and still will be to top of the line until Mark II comes out.
Oly has 5axis IBIS, high-res mode, focus stacking, focus bracketing … I’d say Oly simply has a bit more to offer for photo centric users. And these are just the features that it will have based on previous cameras.
Lets see how this new pen AFs since, currently, the gx8 is the fastest at shot to shot single af. Rumor is the new pen is 30% faster than an em1. If true, that might put it on top.
As Turbofrog pointed out, it’s a lot smaller. The grip is massive.
First impressions:
– smaller than the GX8, but not by much
– no built-in grip, but add-on grip via add-on bottom plate
– viewfinder looks huge, sticks out quite a lot?
– no flash?
– 3 dials close together, shutter button is rather small?
– what’s the front dial for?
– contrary to many here, it’s the first Oly other than the EP5 that I like design-wise
– on the viewfinder side, it looks like there might be another dial?
– high price of kit may be because grip / add-on flash are included?
My impression is that without the add-on grip it is MUCH smaller than the GX8. In fact, much closer to the size of the GM5, excepting the protrusions (like the big VF, as you say).
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/panasonic-gm5/Z-panasonic-gm5_vs_gm1-front.JPG
Not quite GM5 size, but definitely narrower than the GX8, see http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oitnRU8NQMA/VouVsj7Je4I/AAAAAAAB4zo/ndMJgABpO5c/s500/2015-12-17_150434592_F4F63_iOS.jpg
The height must be similar to fit the viewfinder, I’d say.
Looks as wide as the Gx8 and about the same overall height with the grip. About the same as the GX8. It’s a larger camera, which IMO is a good thing.
http://static1.squarespace.com/static/53781a51e4b0f28da14f7222/55cf2345e4b0be96a305b183/55cf2380e4b05658d745c0d6/1439638400869/IMG_0127.JPG
You need glasses, if you think it’s close to the size of the GM5…
I said closer to the size of the GM5 than the GX8.
http://i.imgur.com/7gx2baf.jpg
Yeah, sorry Turbo. I actually agree with teh CAPS on this. it will be closer in size to the GX8 than a GM5. This is actually a good thing (ergonomically speaking).
I’m sold!
Why do not you think it has no PDAF?
And is EM1 that bad with CDAF only?
This is the 75mm 1.8 lens for sure. The shiny metal ring at the body makes it look awkward.
The set should be bigger than most of us expected. Looks like a serious camera. Hope the new sensor is an improvement.
http://smokeslair.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2776352-5018973633-tumbl.gif
That must be the camera’s designer.
He even appears in full-retro video mode.
Fabulous!
I like it! Yeah, I was expecting more of a classic Pen-F looks with cleaner line and smoother shape overall, but to be honest, I think I like this more… I personally like a more chunkier and boxier design over smooth and simplistic (with the exception of Leica M’s). I guess they’re going more along the lines of design like the Panasonic GX8 & Fuji X-E2 which is ok by me.
Being that the 75mm doesn’t look that big on it, my guess it’s it’s larger than previous Pens… probably similar to GX8 in size.. though, maybe not quite as big or chunky. It appears a bit slimmer and if you take off that grip, it should bring the overall package down significantly to be considered small and compact, relatively speaking.
I’m also curious what that front dial is?.. I see what looks like a mode dial with lock button in the center on the top (the dial closest to the hot shoe), so I don’t think it’s a mode dial.. unless they’ve totally reconfigured their dial layout from previous.
Obviously, no built in flash.. too bad, but I’ve personally gotten use to that.. just about all the mirrorless camera’s I’ve owned never had built it flash, so not that big deal to me.
I’m very happy they decided to finally put an EVF on the Pen model.. and, from the sound of it, it should be pretty damn good!
I can’t tell from this low res image, but I’m curious about the texture of the grip that wraps around the body. I hope it’s more leather or vulcanite like.. however, judging from the low res images, it may be a tiny diamond pattern (similar to that found on the Leica Q) or perhaps that “carbon fiber” texture they use to have on the original OM-D E-M5 (Mk1) Black model.. which I didn’t particularly like.. looks too synthetic and slippery. Hope it’s not like that.
Hmm.. 20mp sensor.. Same as GX8? probably, or damn close. but, with 5axis IBIS which is better.
There also appears to be a dial to the far left of camera by the end with the viewfinder (right side if you’re looking at the picture). On/Off? What could that dial be? I’m sure more pictures and info will follow soon as the date till it’s official announcement comes at the end of this month! Can’t wait to learn more!
I like it. Should make a nice alternative or 2nd body for MFT system to the OM-D line.. if you didn’t want the exact same body and something different to tote around and shoot with.
Maybe the knob on the front is for the four MySets; press the central button to release or lock!!! A system I advocated a couple of years ago!!!!
wow! awesome. can’t wait to see the whole thing.
silver body please!!
Looks big to me.
http://static1.squarespace.com/static/53781a51e4b0f28da14f7222/55cf2345e4b0be96a305b183/55cf2380e4b05658d745c0d6/1439638400869/IMG_0127.JPG
https://rumors.limboint.dev/wp-content/uploads-legacy/43rumors/2016/01/oly_pen-f_f001.jpg
Take the Oly’s grip off and I bet its smaller.
Then there’s no grip.
Great “solution”.
I never said it was a “solution” to anything, just that it would be no bigger than the Panny without the grip. Geez.
To be fair, I like having the option of not having a grip in some situations when I just want to walk around and have as svelt a camera as possible with say, the PL15. I do this with my E-M10 (even though the grip stays on the majority of the time).
Looks like there may be an Arca dovetail on the grip’s base.
The viewfinder does not appear to protrude very much; perhaps, in use, it has to be pulled out.
Wow, I am excited. I really really hope this is weathersealed. If so, my bank account is going to take a beating.
It is not really such a beating actually. It is, on the other side, for what you get, in my opinion. With the same you can get the Em-1 with lens!
I don’t like the E-M1
Well, then you are served! 😉
Base on the picture , the new PEN is quite an attractive stuff .
Sophisticated & good looking camera .
Looking forward to see more …. .
GX8 is beaten for sure this time !
You are remarkably optimistic lately!
Yun has man-crush on new PEN.
Praise when you have to & Fire if you need to .
That is Yun’s policy .
Still have no idea what’s going into this camera, especially for the asking price. It will likely be a side grade to the GX8, not a clearly better overall camera, though I hope it is better since we all want to see the format progress.
It’s a bit frustrating that Olympus simply isn’t able to make a camera just for being a good camera and nothing else. It should resemble by any means to an already popular ‘ancestor’ even if this resemblance wouldn’t been justified technically and ergonomically.
I understand what you’re saying, but those who care only about function and performance can easily dismiss any aspects of design that are purely about branding. Being frustrated by the legacy look of Oly products is a little like being in despair about the familiarity of blues music.
Well, Panasonic also cares about design, just take a look on GX7/GX8, GM1 or even G6. But he can launch any new camera w/o justifying its retro or – as opposite – modern look by an existing legacy model.
Not the Pen I expected (read.. not for the wife) but looks quite capable. I am anxious to know if the dials are programable like OM-D or if they decided to go with marked shutter and EV dials.
while I wish it would be the latter, I’m sure it will be the former. Not a deal breaker though
Me too and it would help differentiate it from the OM line while making it more head to head with Fuji
The style is not immediately appealing.. a bit Fujiesque. The dual wheel control is there, which is a good thing. The round viewfinder eyecap, similar to Fuji XT1 and Leica SL, so is it 2.36mm dots as the former’s or 4.4mm dots as the latter’s?
Yes, the style is very “indefinite” I would say, looks like “consensus design” more than anything else, not the “better GM5” I was potentially looking for.
But it might look much better without the grip and base plate.
“consensus design” — is pretty accurate. IMO the design is not too sure of itself, I see it’s going after the industrial/functional route but the handgrip gives it away, the shape is not ergonomic, more like GM1’s–to avoid accidental slipping away, instead of truly facilitating.
Yup. For me a disappointment. Olympus can design very nice cameras. But this one well is not for me. Without an external grip it will be flat and unusable for anything bigger then 45mm 1.8.
I regularly use a PM2 with a large lens on it as a second body, either the 75/1.8 or the 12-40. You just grip it differently. It’s actually quite wonderful with the 75, as shown here on the new model.
I’d say that is an instant classic.
This camera seems to have a different functional philosophy from all other digital Olympii. The top dials must be dedicated to shutter speed, EV compensation and perhaps ISO setting. A back dial will probably control aperture. I wonder how many m4/3 users will find the “analogue” setup appealing (I certainly do).
The design, even without the grip, is rather industrial. Dimensions seem akin to 130 X 80 mm. Classic. The front selector, whatever it does, adds to the retro appeal. So does the placement and design of the AF assist lamp. It certainly has the looks to make it a street photographer’s inspiration, although ergonomics might be awkward without the grip.
Overall I like it. This is one Oly that will look better in black.
The 3 dials are same as you find on em10 mark ii . They are not analog style like you find on fuji .
I hope that is the case. I don’t understand anyone defending Fuji’s dial setup since, you are stuck with it and cannot swap them around like you can with Oly’s dials.
if they put a shutter speed dial atop the camera like the lx100 and the fujis x100 xe xpro
i will be incredibly happy….. i love psam functionality without a stupid psam dial ….old school lives
i hope i hope
1500€ for body+kit lens seems a bit too expensive. I’m sure the sensor will be the same as in the gx8 thus having similar IQ, and I’m certain that Th gx8 price will probably come down
Screen on the back? Flip or no flip (ala E-PL6)?
I like the knobs. Sort of a step in the Nikon DF direction.
That’s about it though.
The grip and accessory mount on the bottom make it look bigger than it is. Should be interesting!
Arca-Swiss compatible hand grip!!! First, Arca-Swiss compatible tripod collar on 300/4, now this.
Nice.
I like it. Classic looking design.
I already own an EM5II though, so probably not buying this. Unless it has something compelling besides extra 4mp.
someone said this on dpreview about the front dial
“S-AF, C-AF, MF, ZF (ZOne Focusing) so pull camera out of the pocket and
rotate dial to the ZF and you have instant full depth of field for
everything. Or then go and choose another focus modes.”
quick zone focus setting would be pretty cool
I don’t see how they read that from the low res photo though
No facts needed.
Plenty of fantasizing and wishful thinking are necessary.
Well, it is a rumor site after all.
Rumors, not a stroke site. ?
The dial has 4 options. If it is for focusing modes then the first 3 make a lot of sense, zone focusing is just a guess. But what other focus mode could it be?
Could be C-AF Tracking
or face focus, eye focus, left eye, right eye
Can you say: “Man Camera!”….oh yeah!!!!!!! 🙂
Man Camera…Man Camera….Man Camera……Man Camera…….. 🙂
(Olympus..why did this take so long….a lot of foreplay is nice…but you have been ridiculous in the amount of time to get us here! We knew that you had this in you).
My thoughts as well.
Hope it will be sold as body only.
I am concerned about the trending extreme price points. Doesn’t make sense though we live in a world where there have been printing of money by the (western oriented central banks) without a hedge and we consumers have to pay back interest on inflated money…
I will wait a little while and then buy the body (and grip!), from Asia. That will take an edge off the price.
You look too excited about this new PEN .
Although I did praised it as well but I’ll definitely not going into it .
My next camera likely be X Pro 2 .
Why not on Fuji site?
Does the Fuji have an organic sensor?
LOL!
Not yet but at least it give me
* 14 ++ Elv DR performance
* Clean & Clear Imaging at ISO 6400
* Breathtaking Imaging quality
Which is far better than what Oly & Pana offer to it’s photographers .
You mean the A7S not the XPro2, right?
Yes…yes….YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This thread just made my day!
I’ll admit, that looks Dope. Screw on grip with the plate, like the XE2, Lets see if people complain about the EVF getting stuck on the clothes, like people complained about the GX7’s evf.
OMG…OMG…did you say something positive about a camera on this website..
OMG. (well..to be honest…only half of your statement was positive…but it is a start).
Yup hat off for mr allcaps
Verified, it’s actually him.
The end is near.
Just because I said it looks good, doesn’t mean much.
-Its knocked off Fujifilm to a “T”.
-It’s still has a small, noisy sensor.
-It’s going to be expensive for what it’s worth.
-it’s still an Olympus and I refuse to be affiliated with the rabid fanboys.
But hey, Olympus faithful will buy it… That is, If there’s no OMD this year.
I also like how the Fanboys are Ranting and wanting apeture rings Now, when Panasonic has been doing it for a while now, and the fanboys downplayed it with comments like “we don’t need it, my EM1 have 2 dials” and “I’d rather the clutch manual ring of Oly lenses”
But “It’s Cool” when Olympus does it….
Rabid Oly Fanboys…
Well aperture rings are a nono for me with digital.
It has no right of existance. For analog mechanical lenses of the past it did. Now nothing happens if the camera is off!
Much quicker adjusted by a command dial.
I hate the fake EV dials on the Fuji’s and Sony’s as well, even on the Df Nikon it’s a gimmick. Not enough incremental steps and it doesn’t go to the outer ends of possible EV compensation.
So unless correctly implemented I’m no fan.
“r” in “Mr” is not in caps. Where is your commitment?
Hulk smash your positive comments! This thing does look dope (to use a word I used in 1987.) so I will get 15 megapixels in square format! Yay!
Wow. You must be Reeeally Old, if you think the word “Dope” isn’t still Relevant. In fact, there’s even a Relevant clothing brand, DOPE. Look it up.
I am soooo old lol. What does relevant have to do with anything? I liked your choice of descriptor. I don’t care about relevant, to thine self be true. Smash on!
Ok, Carry on…
It’s like Pen-F big Terminator-like biker brother. I have to say that I like it for first impression. So many knobs!
If this thing will cost that much, I have the idea Olympus will charge in access of 2000+ for the new E-M1 mark 2 when it is coming out…
I really hope no! I m waiting for that! With all they tried to profit re-selling the same sensor in hundreds different limited and futile bodies. They should have come back well from the expenditures… lol
Good to see we’ve moved on from discussing at least somewhat grounded rumors to complaining about comletely baseless idle speculation.
Another huge and ugly m4/3 🙁
I m not going to replace my small/non-treatening E-PL by this pricey stuff
We are!!!!! LOL!
My E-PL6 is getting sent out and converted to infrared B&W! Yeah.
I have just realised a grip is attached to it, hopefully it s more resonably sized than the gx8
I’ll never understand the criticism of the GX8’s size. It is basically the size of an E-M1, and both the E-M1 and the GX8 are top performers as far as ergonomics are concerned… unless you have toddler hands.
You even compare this with an E-PL??? Come on…
Do you even have any dial/button other than the shutter button and mode dial on your E-PL? If an E-PL is your main camera, then you definitely do not NEED this one.
I like it.
If you look at pics of the P5 with the 75 mounted, this new model appears to be about the same size. If so, it’s quite a feat to do that and incorporate the EVF and more controls. The built-in flash may have been sacrificed, but that’s no big loss if they throw in that new little bounce flash.
Not a big feat to exchange a flash for EVF. E-P5 had already plenty of controls.
Thanks god it wasn’t GX8 sized, the bulk of that camera killed any intention of upgrading my GX7, whereas this has me on full GAS-mode.
The E-M1 body was originally introduced at $1399 and sold out. I was part of the waiting list that year. This will likely be at that price point, too, with deals on the better lenses. The Pen F appears to have much more going for it, so why all the carping about the price?
Because it’s Euros not Dollars… and therefore it will cost more… Also times have changed, you need to also look at what the competition offers now a days… Full frame is getting cheaper, so m4/3 needs to adjust or live with the fact that people will switch to Sony…
The U.S. price in dollars is typically below the Euro price. The 300mm f/4 is selling in Europe at EUR 2599 and $2499 in the U.S. So, body only for this in the U.S. might be $1299 or $1399 with the kit zoom.
The A7 II really changed the game now. You can pick up that body for 1250.00 barely used. An A7 costs 700 or less slightly used. I do agree that cost is the issue here. I’m very excited, but from a marketing perspective- at 1499.00 it’s going to be a really tough sell.
EM1 now for about 650 all day. We shall see.
The A7 and A7 II are nice if you want to put up with a lot of compromises. Those compromises just happen to be slightly different ones than you make with M4/3. It’s a balance.
I specifically mention the A7 and A7 II, because the sensors are really underperformers. Like, only 1.25EV better than 3-year old M4/3.
The A7S and A7r bodies have dramatically better sensors, but they cost dramatically more. Funny how that works out…
Closer to 1.4EV, looking at the SNR graph.
BTW, A7r is $1220 new now. Refurbs with 90 day warranty go for less than $900. Tough market, not 2013 anymore.
Peevee, do you live in a world where literally everything costs half as much as it does for the rest of us?
B&H, Adorama, Amazon.com, basically any other retailer you can find are still selling the A7r for $1898 USD.
Just because you saw one eBay listing from a sketchy dealer that claims they had a “new” A7r for $1220 doesn’t make it so. The very cheapest “sold” listing on eBay for a used A7r was $850. Most used cameras are selling for $950-$1000.
What is sketchy about a dealer with 99.7% of positive feedback based on 4931 ratings?
Again, even refurbs are below $900 in sold listings.
Turbofrog
“I specifically mention the A7 and A7 II, because the sensors are really underperformers. Like, only 1.25EV better than 3-year old M4/3.”
As an owner of both an A7 and MFT please allow me to inform you that you’re either a mad fan boy or deluded, maybe both… Try an A7 and a late model MFT and the A7 will crush it for image quality.
Sorry but silly talk like yours on the net is one thing but looking at real world images is quite another and MFT just can’t live with A7 image quality.
What’s silly about it? I admitted that the A7 has a better sensor. But it’s nowhere near as good as “equivalence” would indicate. You can verify that anywhere. Look at DXOMark, look at DPReview’s comparator, look at Imaging Resource’s comparator, look at photonstophotos.net, look at literally any site that tries to objectively quantify image quality.
And since I prefer not to talk about charts but about images and the true quality of grain and image quality, let’s take a look at an image comparison shall we?
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/image-comparison?attr18=lowlight&attr13_0=sony_a6000&attr13_1=sony_dscrx100m4&attr13_2=oly_em1&attr13_3=sony_a7_ii&attr15_0=raw&attr15_1=raw&attr15_2=raw&attr15_3=raw&attr16_0=3200&attr16_1=1600&attr16_2=3200&attr16_3=6400&attr126_3=normal&attr171_1=off&attr171_3=off&normalization=compare&widget=1&x=-0.7089347700802808&y=1.0366269907307768
When downscaled to the same resolution (i.e. improving the noise characteristics of the higher res sensors), the A6000 looks the same as the E-M1 at ISO 3200, and the A7 looks barely 1 stop better.
Yes, the A7 has better dynamic range, primarily because it has a base ISO 1.5 stops lower than most M4/3 cameras. But once you’re shooting above base ISO, even the dynamic range benefit tapers off.
And yes, the A7 has more resolution, if you have $800+ for a lens that can actually take advantage of it.
I freely admit it has better image quality, but to say that it “crushes it” in many circumstances is just hyperbole. We aren’t comparing a Canon ELPH to a 1DX, here.
I’d like to know where you can pick up a new EM-1 for $650. Any one of the usual suspects is selling the body for $1000-$1100 US as of today.
I’m talking used. I rarely buy new. I did just buy a fisheye lens new though….but that’s the exception!
Used
Olympus lists all their cameras for the same price in euros as it does in dollars. If it’s €1500 in europe it will be $1500 in the US.
Also, not all competition is getting cheaper. X Pro 2 is rumored to be launching at $2000 and Nikon just announced a $2000 APS-C DSLR (body only). Sensor size is not the only thing that determines where a camera should be priced. If Pen-F has better hardware than any other M43 camera out now (as it seems it will), then $1500 kit (likely $1350 body only) is not that extreme for the launch MSRP.
As I said in another comment, anyone who expected Olympus to launch better hardware at the same or lower price than anything they currently offer is living in a dream world.
“people will switch to Sony…”
Only gearheads do that (changing systems all the time) others stick to one vendor. If you dont need a new body now you can buy it later (one or two year) for better price or even second handed.
New buyers don’t need to switch systems, and without them Olympus is dead in the water. Even among buyers with existing ILC, most (almost all) would only have some old 18-55 on their old DSLR, “switching system” costs nothing for them. Among m43 buyers, most probably have some 14-42 too, bought with their E-PM2 or E-PL5.
There is not a single person who only has a 14-42 and an entry-level body that is thinking about trading up to a $1000+ body and buying multiple $800-1500 lenses.
I absolutely agree. But, say, Canon users in this category buy 50/1.8 in droves in addition to their cheap zooms. Nikon users buy 35/1.8 and 50/1.8, both below $200 (and the 50 covering FF). Olympus, having lower costs, has nothing to offer in this category but 2 cheap slow zooms.
Of course Canon and Nikon users also have a nice selection of f/2.8 tele zooms for sports, from $750 or so. Oly’s is $1500, way above what a casual user will consider.
¨Canon users in this category buy 50/1.8 ¨ ¨Nikon users buy 35/1.8 and 50/1.8, both below $200¨ Those users are most definitively not the same users as ¨Canon and Nikon users also have a nice selection of f/2.8 tele zooms for sports, from $750 or so¨. Most canikon entry level users have probably moved to smartphone photography, people who enter mirrorless inherently have an understanding of the benefits of downsizing their camera bag and have already made the decision that the slightly higher price is worth it, otherwise they would stick with a DSLR.
Also, Olympus and Panasonic offerings in the nifty-fifty category are MUCH better, both in terms of convenience and IQ, and they’re not much worse price-wise
http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-25mm-f1-8-Interchangeable-Lens/dp/B00HWMP0XG
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-H-H025K-LUMIX-25mm-Black/dp/B014RD6RC0/ref=sr_1_4?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1452744810&sr=1-4&keywords=panasonic+25mm
As the saying goes, “you date your cameras, you marry your lenses.”
It is not 2013 when E-M1 was the only game with working OSPDAF in town. Prices for competition crashed (thanks to Sony AND YEN DEPRECIATION), and OSPDAF works for everybody except Pana. It is not 2013!
Wow.
Great appeal.
I don’t like the files quality produced by actual Olympus sensors. But I love the brand and still use a 35mm OM1 (with 28 2.8 and tri-x pushed to 3200…).
Fuji X70 is very interesting (and I love my X100s files) but, I must admit, this little PEN looks great.
If the new sensor will produce results that I like, and if the size is similar to the P series, well, I will grab one. Like a lot of people, I guess.
Great design. Compact, adult, “toolish”. Hope the Manual Focus aids will be great.
I’m just curious… what experience do you have shooting both Fuji and m43’s, and what perceived better IQ do you see with the Fuji? I have shot an XT-10 at up to 6400 ISO RAW and my E-M10 at 6400 ISO RAW and found very little difference between them in terms of noise performance.
If you are comparing iso 6400 files, the Fuji beats ANY M43 camera at that iso with Grain that resembles film cameras. The M43 at that iso is nothing but Noise, not even close to looking “film like”.
I shot this, hand-held, f/6.4, 1/60 with the 27mm
Honestly, at any iso, the Fuji beats any M43 IQ easily. If you say there’s very little difference, you’re in denial.
Since absolutely nothing is sharp in the photo (no fine detail to speak of), I have no idea how much NR has been applied. I like the mood of the photo and all, but a Mr. Blurrycam photo is not a good example of ISO performance. I’m going to go try that right now with my GX8 and see what I get.
“Since absolutely nothing is sharp in the photo ”
That makes my point even better. If it was sharper, the grain would be even Finer.
If I were you, I wouldn’t even try. Not even the 20mp sensor in the GX8 competes with the 16mp Fuji sensor. It just can’t. It’s not debatable.
Actually, since nothing is sharp, and the whole photo is lacking fine detail, its easier to make the grain finer/less distracting with some luminance noise reduction. Also, having the photo be in B&W helps alot too. Stay tuned… I took a few shots. One was in a dingy laboratory with crappy light. The other is sort of staged.
OK, here you go Mr. Caps. I’m not seeing ANY advantage to Fuji grain based on what you posted. Both images here are shot using ISO6400 with very minimal NR applied. I did play with the curves to give it a harsher contrast to more align with your photo example. GrainTest2 was shot in extremely poor light:
GrainTest 1
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1672/24364496485_a606ae9a72_o.jpg
GrainTest2
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1624/23736314834_0c162ff19d_o.jpg
So the GX8 clearly looks much better here, but high ISOs only look bad when there’s almost no light at all, like deep shadows at night.
For what it’s worth, I agree with you that Fuji high ISO isn’t that special.
Grain test 2 had some really bad light though. I would have shot a street scene at night but it was early afternoon here haha.
Not to mention, ISO 6400 on other cameras = approximately ISO 8000 on the Fuji in terms of real exposure sensitivity. This is well documented at this point. DPReview brings it up in every review of an X-Trans camera.
Are you Serious? Really? It’s not even the same pic, under the same conditions!!
What, do you really want me to take the same picture with my G6 and XE2, with the 27mm and 20mm respectively to prove my point? This is rediculous!
I know first hand M43 cannot compete with fuji in regards to IQ and noise performance. Please stop this nonsense.
Wow you are one defensive dude on the internet. Of course I didn’t take the same pic, I clearly wasn’t in your town at night to do this test. I found a spot in our lab with basically no light and took a quick, crappy photo of an engineer, and the other was just a few things on my desk with all the lights off in my office save for a flashlight. The trend is pretty clear though, and I don’t think the results will look drastically different unless I need to push shadows which clearly, you did not do in your photo anyway.
Hi. It’s not about noise. It’s about —how can I describe it?— the personality and the quality of the raw.
Talking about Jpeg, Fuji wins hands down.
I’m not saying Fuji is better: X100s AF is laughable.
we’re debating IQ. AF is superior with M43, I’ll agree.
I switched out my E-M5 for an X-T10 and I also shoot a Ricoh GR. The files coming out of both ASP-C cameras look a little richer, more lifelike and produce better grain at high ISO — the Fuji being the better of the two. The difference isn’t massive, but it is noticeable. It was more about Fuji’s controls that motivated my switch. The bump in IQ was a side benefit. I still say IBIS is an amazing feature and a good enough reason for anyone to stay with m43 over ASP-C.
Olympus GX8, let’s see which brother will be bigger or they be equal as twins ?
It’ll be like the child of the GX7 and Gx8.
FT5 really? That’s likely a fake picture
What would make you think it’s fake?
The lens does not look like the current 75/1.8. On the other hand, given the resolution, it looks like a blown up icon for some online store, concocted by somebody from a picture of the body and some other lens.
-First the lens
-The edges are either accentuated, or blurry or pixelated
-one dial is blurry, another shows a weird interruption
-strap connectors have a black outline and the one on the right has a incorrect perspective
Good catch
I wish the price is include the grip , if not it will be too expensive to look that cool
It even has the film rewind knob on the evf side! Front dial maybe for drive modes or af selector.
I hope that dial on the front is an AF selector. I really like that feature on my Fuji.
Many – actually most – Panasonic bodies have that feature, for what it’s worth.
Looks like Olympus is trying to become Fuji with regard to price and retro ergonomics. Might as well buy Fuji then and get the nicer sensor.
You know Olympus has been doing it this way for almost 3 full years longer than Fuji, right?
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/EP1/ZEP1WLENSES-LG.JPG
In fact, the retro E-M5 came out the same year that Fuji’s very first X-mount body came out…
These kids don’t even know what happened a mere 7 years ago.
Too busy sexting…
Um, That has no corner EVF, No Aperture ring and the XPRO 1 started the whole Retro Craze.
You mean, it couldn’t have been the Panasonic L1 in 2006 with a shutter speed dial, Leica lenses with aperture rings, a corner viewfinder, and a top-plate like a Leica M4?
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/images/pma06/3921-dmc-l1.jpg
The L1 was retro. The E-P1 was retro. The E-M5 was retro.
The Fuji X100 came out some time after the E-P1 and was really, really, really retro. But to say that other companies haven’t been riffing off it for a while, and for longer than Fuji, or that Fuji are even the ones that are most popular as a result, is just silly.
I have a L-1. Love it.
But let’s be Honest here.. No One was even checking for a Retro-styled Camera, UNTIL Fujifilm dropped the X100. That camera created the whole retro craze.
-Not the L-1
-Not the Pen
-Not the OMD
If the L-1 did, then why didn’t they follow suit with aperture dials with M43? Why didn’t they continue with the Shutter dial, and went with a mode dial instead? And no Corner EVF either. You can’t even count the EM5, as it dropped a year later!
Only until Fujifilm drop the X100 and then the XPRO 1 did other companies such as Olympus, Panasonic and even Nikon went Retro.
And for the record, the X100 came out February 2011. The E-M5 dropped one year later at February 2012. The XPRO 1 was announced January 2012.
We can argue that Fuji made retro more mainstream, but you cannot argue that the new retro movement was started by Fuji because it clearly wasn’t.
see previous comment above. I will no long debate this topic. Believe whatever you want. Olympus created retro, World is Flat, etc…
Olympus didn’t create retro either. Many, many other camera makers have been tapping into it. Heck, Leica never stopped making cameras that look the same as their film cameras. The Epson RD1 from 2004 is a digital rangefinder that looks like a classic rangefinder, and the Panasonic L1 from 2006 is a digital SLR that looks like a classic rangefinder.
The DNA has been used by lots of different companies for lots of different products.
well put bhima………the ep1 did start the retro craze …the earlier panny in 2006 was loved by a tiny minority in a cultish way (deservedly so)much like epsons first digital m mount camera ….the x100 made retro real past design cues by reviving shutter speed and aperture dial (they have my undying respect for this)
retro is a rather complicated history in modern cameras , so to oversimpilify it serves nothing
L1 was such a cool camera, and well ahead of its time.
Of course it had its weaknesses, but I think one of the biggest one was lack of prime lens at a 30-40mm focal length equivalent for the system. I wish I could use the 20mm f1.7 on this body.
It makes me wonder why Panasonic itself ditched the neat bounce flash feature. I still use my L1 for people photos because of the bounce flash.
What do you mean? Both the GF2, AND GX1 are able to bounce -Oh. You mean the 2-step flash position. Yeah, a neat trick. Possibly removed because the cameras got smaller.
“Looks like Olympus is trying to become Fuji with regard to price and retro ergonomics.”
They would need to start from redesigning almost all their lenses with aperture rings. Unlikely. Although that 75 in the pic looks like it has an additional ring close to the base (compared to the current 75).
Good point.
Looking even closely, it might be just sloppy Photoshop work, and the lens is the same.
Canonesque.
That camera at the top of the page is soooooo much cooler than anything the corporate giant of “blah” could ever design or produce. Their M is a joke. LOL!
Not disagreeing really but the classic Pen is not what comes to mind when looking at the rumored image.
No…it isn’t…I agree….this is MUCH more exciting!!!!!
Does have the front dial, just more macho.
OR…. it’s Olympus Pen-esque
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympus_Pen_F
It reminds me of the little great Minolta CLE.
One Word: FUGLY!
I’d like to see an example of your design and engineering capability.
No problem. I do architectural design in New York City. It isn’t exactly industrial design of consumer electronics, but I do have lots of experience dealing with extremely fussy clients. Maybe not as bad as the OCD nitpicker photo forum crowd, but pretty damn insufferable.
If you click on my name, there’s a link to my business web site. Lots of examples of my drawing, 3D modeling, design (the web site, too) and a few things I’ve actually built… yeah, I was a sculptor and finish carpenter for years before focusing on design.
Check it out. I’ve worked on some pretty cool stuff! ?
I agree completely. Ugly as sin. (I’m hoping it’s just the poor quality of the photo and that the actual thing looks a lot better).
They look worse in person. ?
One word: no.
About 4k support.
The sensor certainly supports 4k, even at 30p. On the other hand, even the old 16mpix sensor supported 4k at 24p. The problem is that Olympus does not have codec IP in their TruePic VII. But TruePic VIII is long overdue, and it would be just unbelievable if 2016 camera CPU does not have 4k codec in it.
BTW, such IP license would cost something on the order of $1 per implementation, you don’t need $1500 camera to have it. Depending on what OS Olympus uses internally, integration might be costly, because codec IP providers might not have drivers for it, so Olympus or their OS provider would need to write a driver based on some generic Linux driver for example.
OH MY GOD!!! IS THAT A NEW 75MM WITH AN APERTURE RING ON IT!!!! COULD IT BE…A PRO BUILT 75MM 1.8.
I’m about to fall over here.
I think that’s just the regular grip for mounting-unmounting. It just looks a little strange bcause the image seem to be ‘taken’ (rendered) with a unnaturally long focal length .. squashing the lens almost flat against the body.
Dang…I think it is just the base of the camera. The 75 has a grip like edge on the bottom of the barrel I forgot about. Although- that focusing ring doesn’t quite fit. Meh, probably my eyesight:) Oh well.
no
Admin…..can you confirm if this is a new 75mm 1.8!!!?!?!
no 🙁
Alrighty. One can wish:)
You can’t confirm, or you know it’s not?
I can’t confirm. I know there is a new f/1.2 lens line. But I am not sure what you see here is one of those new lenses.
Arigato goss!
O, boy what a beauty! I want one now!
For me doesn’t look like the 75mm 1.8. Could it be a new fast lens?
It looks exactly like the 75mm, and in fact if you look closely it says 75mm and 1:1.8
its not the 75mm. The 75 seems shorter and barrel smoother.
It is 75. Just digitally attached to the image of the body, so angles of body and lens mounts are slightly different, creating different impression.
totally wrong angle… of course it looks shorter like that…
It says 75mm on the lens, its just black.
“AHEM”…
Arca Swiss plate and all..
http://admiringlight.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/mhg_xe2.jpg
UGLY!
Looks good to me. Hand held hr mode and improved video and I will buy one.
…It looks very good. I see 4 dials on the top plate, like my Sony, whats really cool. I love this extra dial after using it for a while and miss it on my E-M5. This Kamera looks like the camera I wish for. Around 1400$ is some kinde of crazy, but if it delivers, than this is my replacement for the E-M5. I never liked the bumpy EVF on top, wich ends always in a smeary display.. .
Is Pen-L this all years expected digital G2 successor? Maybe it is 🙂 With also new primes with aperture? Hope so.
Hey…I used to have a whole G2 System…you know what…this new PEN looks like it does connect with that more than a PENN: visually and functionally. What a GREAT camera system the Contax was/is!!!!
Good observation.
I think it looks good. I left m43 to go with A7S. I miss m43 though, and the EVF on the A7 body is killing me, wrong place and humping hugly. Nice corner EVF would be wonderful. If this has Sony BSI sensor and a large / high rez EVF, I may be coming back, but would need video capabilities, personally, for me to justify.
It will not have BSI sensor, it will have Sony IMX269, which is FSI. At these pixel densities and current Sony technology (180nm) it does not matter anyway.
It will probably have high-resolution EVF, but not very large (in terms of optical magnification). It is hard to fit large EVF (similar to, say, Oly VF-4) into a small body, without a hump.
Almost all cameras have video capabilities since 10 years ago or so. 🙂 If you want 4k at 200mbps internally, it is not going to happen in the body this small, especially from Olympus. But hopefully it will have full-frame readout this time, without line-skipping, the sensor is faster. I would be very surprised if it does not have 4k at least in some form.
It does matter, even with pixels larger that that (e.g. a7rm2)
Man, i’d just take panny’s 28Mbps 1080p quality with oly’s IBIS.
Looks like the M.Zuiko 75mm f/1.8 and the OM 50mm f/1.4 had a baby.
A bit of a non event
Looks like a fake, unfortunately.
Look at the strap ring hole (what’s the english word?) on the right:
Maybe someone worked over the leaked image… If that’s the case, this thing will be beautiful.
Anyway: WHERE IS THE GOTHIC, ICONIC, “F”?
Yeah, the strap hole on the right has no skew to it even though the body does (wrong perspective).
good catch on the strap holder
The Gothic F didn’t last past the first Pen F, The improved Pen FT had a san serif F and the looks of this camera aren’t far off, though festooned with lots more buttons and dials.
By the way, I just noticed the textured body covering of the new camera, while different, is reminiscent of the Pen F line.
That gothic “F” made the Pen F with the (ugly and not that intuitive) external exposure meter cost more than the FT in the used marked.
That gothic “F” is more than what it seems. It is pure coolness.
I would love if Olympus would put the F back on the body, if only so the next model is called the PEN F U so I can point it towards spec trolls/gearheads any time I want.
ROTFLMFAO, you made my day.
Can we make fun of you guys when you are proven totally wrong? if someone was faking it they would have put the “F” right in our faces. No doubt.
No, i think you are wrong,
Look at the other (left) Strap LUG. Its turned forwards. Therefore both Lugs are angled forward towards the lens, hence why the perspective of the right lug appears “flat” from the angle the picture was taken.
This could be to help balance the camera with large lenses attached
You may be right. Turns out so far all OMD have fwd leaning strap holders, but the EP series (and EPL, EPM) have straight ones.
This may be the first Pen w bent holders.
LUG! Thank you!
Fake.
Just my 2 cents: I’ve seen quite a few camera image leaks, and whenever it was a clear product shot like this, it was always real. When it’s a fake it’s usually pretty easy to see – it’s either a rendering that’s n missing details and a certain “ruggedness”, or it’s another product shopped to look like a new product. This one is neither.
I agree, and product “images” usually dont look like photos of the actual product- they are more like illustrations. I’d trust this as something olympus would design.
Whereas the E-P5 could be categorized as somewhat stylish and more suited to taking to a concert, the PEN-F styling appears more purposeful and rugged, like something you’d take on expedition. Still like my E-P5 though. No plans to change it at this point even though I really like the EVF on the PEN F
You’ll just have to add this one to the stable.
Impressive design. Love it!
I don’t know much about the PEN line. How does this compare to the em5II? Will this one be better?
The E-P5 was basically an E-M5 without a viewfinder; I expect this to be an E-M5 II in a rangefinder styled body.
E-P5 is basically an EM1 without the ruggedness…not an EM5:)
E-P5 did not have a back OLED screen but that’s about it. With the VF4 it matches the EM1’s viewfinder while the EM5 was of lesser resolution. 1/8000th shutter speed as well.
More EM1 DNA then EM5.
Based on the rumored price (1500 with 14-42, 1800 w 18mm 1.7), it should pack everything the EM5 2 had, and more.
Hmmm…
What did you expect? Its a rangefinder style. Cant make it a triangle 😉
Except for the grip it looks remarkably like the GX8!
Love this design. Love that big front dial. Looks like a rangefinder you carry into the war zone.
I really like it, too…It’s very “German” looking to me…. and if it’s all that we think it may be it also is not overpriced for introduction.
I want!
Not bad PS job. The silver one seems less busy on the top. More appealing.
I wish they’d bring back the collar for shutter speed, even if they don’t want to add numbers to limit it.
Based on the look and its hefty price, I would guess it is positioned to be a top of line m43 flat body camera to be of the same tier with the next coming EM-1 II, and to compete with Lumix GX8, the future Sony A6100, and Fuji XPro-2.
In addition to the new 20 MP sensor, my guess of the spec is:
– 20 MP sensor
– Latest Epson EVF similar to Leica SL, 4.4 MP, 0.76X magnification
– Robust metal construction, full metal dials
– Weather sealed
– Latest IBIS
– Tilting touch screen
– New powerful processor
– E-shutter
– Fast PDAF in addition to CDAF
– Improved high-res mode and focus stacking
– Improved video mode and codec for great 1080P and slow motion
– 4K video or 4K photo mode
– ~400g
Can’t wait..
no pdaf,this will be next gen of AF.
http://thenewcamera.com/nikon-d500-vs-canon-7d-mark-ii/
Pen-F? The old Pen-F was sleek and nicely contoured, a very beautiful camera. This… thing is flat and full of dials and protruding bits. It’s more utilitarian than anything. It might be a great camera, but it has no resemblance to the Pen-F of old.
This is man-camera for Popeye…no girl-camera…. eat some spinach and look at it in the morning!
There are plenty of years between them to evolve into this new F. Some things changed, some things were removed, some things were added.
Ugh. That looks great.
look solid sexy,i hope they develop new AF tech to this camera.
It actually looks quite rugged and tough. I like this design better than the more elegant looking EP series. I hope it’s not too small, looks like great handling with the grip.
Interested if its small.
Looks a lot smaller than GX8 without the grip.
That for sure. GX8 is kinda big. I would love for it to be like a GM5 but looks a bit bigger than that.
Could it be that the 20mp sensor is square format, and using the front dial to switch portrait and vertical orientations without rotating the camera the Pen-F spits out 16mp cropped images, not unlike the LX100?
Might be reading into the image too much, but
1. Original Pen-F had a vertical finder -interesting to be able to switch the image orientation without rotating the camera for many reasons.
2. The image with the grip, big lens and add-on to the EVF seems to be showing the expanded configuration – but not the vertical grip. – Could it be that there is no need for a vertical grip because of the orientation feature?
We can kind of guess the dials on the left from other Oly models, but what is that mini-knob in front of the EVF? I’m assuming the round thing in front is a AF assist LED
All I ask for, personally, is an good EVF and weathersealing, so any other innovation is welcome by me.
WOW! That is quite an extensive fantasy you have going there…
Yeah, I’m having fun – its an exciting leak. I still use the original PEN F to shoot from the hip(vertically) and get horizontal 4:3 aspect images, so being able to do this digitally might be fun. In the end(reality) I expect a revamped EP-5 with EVF, and thats still great. Orientation switching would pose a challenge for sensor and EVF production.
I think this looks pretty cool – stands out from the crowd.
Wow. What to make of a picture and dearth of actual information? My votes: I do not think the picture is a fake. Although the lens question is tangential, I do NOT see a new lens, or any reason to indulge speculation at 75mm. It does appear that a thing lost is built-in flash. Our supposition that the camera may support PDAF on all lenses comes from the rumor of 30% AF speed increase, not from this picture. Some think it fugly, others alluring. 419 nineteen comments so far, from a picture that reveals very little is amazing. Are we THAT hungry?
*******——————————-******
As participant in Olympus global contest, I have just got an email from Olympus.
Here it goes:
——————————
> Thank you for participating in the Olympus Global Open
> Photo Contest 2015 and the Viewers’ Raffle.
> We are writing to inform you that the announcement of
> winners for both the photo contest and the Viewers’ Raffle
> has been pulled forward from February 2016 to
> January 27, 2016. Please visit the contest website again
> on that date to see the winning photos.
>However, you may want to visit the site before that, as a
> little bit more has been revealed about the Grand Prize…
And this little more about Grand Prize is…
A silhouette of Pen F, with clear picture of front dial (well half of it), which was subject of so much speculation in this tread.
On dial you can clearly read:
– ART
– COLOR
Thats it. Go and see it for yourself…
http://gopc.olympus-imaging.com/?lang=en_GB
Well, this picture is not on the screen all the time. it is one of several pics flashing the screen, when you open the page.
Regards Tropical Yeti
I was able to drag and drop from the slideshow.
Thanks.
OMG, they made the front dial an art style selector??? What a waste of space.
+100
Anyone has any idea if it will come with the same 20 mp sensor in GX8 or would it be different? Although higher resolution, GX8’s sensor is only a minimal improvement over the 16 mp sensor. I’d hope that the Pen F gets a significantly better sensor. There is much improvement on the FX and DX sensors for the latest Nikon and Sony. In comparison, GX8 seems to be a disappointment if all m4/3 cameras of the next two years will sport the same sensor.
It will be different (Sony), but I doubt it will be much of an improvement over the GX8.
There are only two ways, at present, to up the IQ on the FourThirds sensor. Go to BSI, as on A7R-II, or wait for the Fuji/Panasonic venture to deliver the organic, next generation sensor. BSI is not out of the realm of possibility, near term, for FourThirds and APS-C. Samsung already has it.
Think about it. The only huge news on IQ improvement in the past year was the 42.4 megapixel full frame sensor. Unlike the 50 megapixel Canon chip, the Sony sensor does not sacrifice on low-light capability, credit due largely to BSI. The results are from photo cells 20.4 microns square compared (1.5x) to the 16 megapixel cell of 14 microns square.
Everywhere else, (APS-C, FourThirds, and 1-inch) the IQ “improvements” are incremental, at best. Proof in the pudding, the prints are impossible to distinguish, except at very large print sizes, those well beyond what enthusiasts and semi-pros will attempt in this lifetime. It is easy to forget that the crop formats are ALL “enthusiast” level offerings that perform extraordinarily well in a great variety of photographic scenarios. Expecting or wishing for huge improvements is unrealistic because state of the art performance is at the end, or nearly so, of a long chain of improvements. In most respects market “competitiveness” in crop sensor land is an imagined quantity without tangible benefits. I would love to have a much higher resolution FourThirds sensor (for cropping flexibility), but not at the cost of losing current ISO performance. It would be great for pixel peepers but short on delivery for printed materials.
You can depend on one thing, the cries are not coming from folk who are out shooting every day. They are having great fun.
< applauds your closing paragraph! And in the back of my mind, I'm still thinking about all those people flocking to instant film… that's why a camera's Gestalt is so important.
I agree with everything you said except:
“Expecting or wishing for huge improvements is unrealistic because state of the art performance is at the end, or nearly so, of a long chain of improvements.”
I believe there will be another big jump in performance at some point. When that point is, who knows… could be 5-10 years. I would argue your statement stands only when being specific about CURRENT materials and concepts the manufacturers use. Even the difference between FSI and BSI in concept is clearly incremental.
We are nearing the end of capability with silicon and other conventional electronic materials. It is no different than what is happening in the CPU world. But there are many positive advances already, at least in scientific white papers and peer reviewed journals, that show potential to give much better performance.
Heck, there are engineers that are finding new ways of image interpolation that may lead to much greater performance without changing the manufacturing process dramatically (look up Quanta Image Sensor).
There are other scientists looking into using entirely new materials such as graphene that could lead to a new generation of imaging.
And, there is the camera called Light that has the potential to be very disruptive (likely not its first iteration) utilizing instead many small sensors with many lenses.
I think it does the field of science no favors by thinking this is as good as it gets. I mean, that’s what I used to think when I had a huge 386 computer. Now my phone is probably 100 times as powerful.
Surely this new PEN will have slightly better sensor than in the GX8 .
But don’t expect much better .
Yes , The 20MP sensor is a huge disappointment & due to the Organic Sensor still not
ready to launch , m43 will still rely on the similar sensor for it’s next products for 22 months or more till the GX9 make it’s appearance .
OMG! As a long time Olympus user, for over 40 years, I say this. This camera is so ugly!
Unless its 20MP sensor has a clear improvement, there does not seem anything special. Hope I’m wrong and that there is something worthwhile in it. Otherwise, it’s just another camera, though in a different shape. Hope it’s not just a GX8 clone sans DFD and sans the great video in the Panasonic cameras.
Anyone know what that round thing on the front of the camera is? On the side with the EVF. Looks kinda like a mobile phone camera…
ha…. my guess is its a focus assist light.
No build in flash. Might be also a LED light.
Which round thing? On the left looking at the front of the camera or on the right? The right is probably the focus assist. The left is a dial, discovered so far to have art and color engraved upon it.
Just something to make it look like an old camera. Check this out. The dial is just a shutter speed adjustment knob.
http://filmadvance.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC_9481.jpg
I don’t think the old F or PEN ever had surging like it though. Do this is just like a weird styling.
so far i love it ….ill buy it ….. sick of waiting for the fuji xe-3….gonna dust off my m 43 lenses and have a blast with this new puppy
i think it will look beautiful with a contax g lens like the 35mm or 45mm
so says cosinaphile
I think I might like a 35mm f1.2 mZuiko. Might have to save a while.
Same with me… sick of waiting for X-E3 and no X-Pro2 for me in DSRL size body, I have never thought I will switch from Fuji to 4/3 but with this new Pen-F I may really do it because Fuji gives so little in new cams for high money compared to all cometition and it uses old tech for a long time, I do not see future with Fuji any more. This Pen-L seems my way!
Fuji is titanic, huge but only as useful as M4/3 at most.
I think I will like the cam, the EVF looks really big, maybe it has the Leica SL level.
But something seems do be wrong with dimensions in this pic. Look at the size of the flash-connector and the lens (when it’s 75mm). Is the cams size more like the GX7 (what i find better) or GX8?
Anyway i think this is a marketing leak from Oly just before the Fuji announcement tomorrow! Not a very polite step in my eyes, but it seems that’s the way todays business is going.-(-
So after the original Pen-F, Pen-FT, Pen-FV, Shouldn’t it be called the Pen-FD? 🙂 Anyway, not hard to see its lineage, especially without the grip in the main pic, and could well be a very decent little camera. Seems a silly price though, compared to the other options out there at least but I do think it looks great, especially the silver mock up further down this page….
Size vise , judging from lens mount looks similar to GX1, have vented long for successor to it , but Panasonic went in big or small only direction, so may be Olympus is coming with answer, just the rumoured price seems crazy.
So… if two of the options on the dial are “art” and “color” – what are the others? Is this dial going to be used for different styles of JPEG processing – like the art filters? If so, I’m a bit nonplussed. I’d have rather it was a auto/manual focus adjustment or something I’d actually use I think.
The others – we will probably have to wait a day or two, for Olympus to show next picture with fully revealed knob. But you can guess other options will not be your auto/manual options, but some other “artistic / creative” settings…
check here ocasionally
http://gopc.olympus-imaging.com/
The left one is MONO, I can’t see what the right one is. Three letters, possibly starting with a C. Extracted from the teaser gif
Right one
Looks more industrial and less like a fashion accessory compared to previous Pens. I like it, especially all those dials! But the add-on grip is ugly as sin.
Small camera, big grip, big EVF.
Looks good to me
This new PenF looks like a badass camera, it’s Darth Vader amongst the pen-line. Maybe the F stands for Force 🙂 or even Full Frame?!? 🙂 It’s kinda ugly but at the same time it’s got style.
Just the small knob at the front makes me worry: If it’s just for the art-filters then shame on you Oly! But maybe it’s an advanced Filter mode dial: ‘color’? Does the camera shoot true monochrome Images where you also have a color option? We’ll find out soon!
My comment needs moderation?!? Come on!!
because you are boba fett!
And the force is not strong in me, i know 🙁