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The image on top shows the GH2 which “is” and soon we can say “was” the mirrorless camera with the fastes AF. Olympus new PEN cameras will be faster!
The biggest new feature of the upcoming new PEN cameras is the completely new and almost revolutionary autofocus system! The new AF system focuses almost instantly, it’s faster than the actually very fast [shoplink 16254 ebay]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink] focus (which focuses in 0.1 second with the [shoplink 14802 ebay]Panasonic 14-140mm[/shoplink]). Sources told me that the improvement is huge and you can feel it for REAL (they had the famous “Wow” reaction)! The new AF is even faster than the phase detection autofocus of most of the current Canon DSLR cameras (faster than the [shoplink 16254 ebay]Canon 5D[/shoplink] for example! Olympus made this possible by combining a new optimized sensor and engine plus the new autofocus system inside the new Micro Four Thirds lenses. I repeat, the AF is incredibly fast only when using the upcoming new Olympus lenses (like the 12mm f/2.0 lens). By the way, the AF is not only fast, it’s also very accurate (according to my sources). Genrally the real good news here is that Olympus remade the whole sensor-processor engine-af workflow. I guess and hope this will also positively affect the image quality! Well done Olympus!!!
That’s a very good news if you do consider that fast autofocus is usually one of the advantages of DSRL cameras over Mirorrless cameras!
P.S.: I will have more news about the sensor and lenses soon. I am still having some troubles about the sensor rumor I received. If you have “rumors” to share feel free to contact me using the anonymous contact form on the right sidebar Thanks!
IMPORTANT: Unregistered user will have long waiting time an error message when publishing the comment. But the comment will get stored! it doesn’t get lost. I am working to fix it. This happens because I moved on a new server and there are things that still need to be fixed. You will not have any problems if you are a registered user (see sidebar on the right to register or login).
259 Responses
by this time next year DSLR’s will have no advantages over mirrorless and in some respects will be lagging behind…
“by this time next year DSLR’s will have no advantages over mirrorless and in some respects will be lagging behind…”
A bit premature I think specially when you try out the Nikon D7000 at ISO 100 as well as at ISO 6400. The DR, color and noise of the sensors in the dSLR such as the D7000 will continue to be significantly better unless the m4/3 sensor dials up on pixel density.
The availability of fast zooms and fast primes is still another.
m4/3 makers should capitalize on the smaller size, weight and mirrorless design and continued improvement in video and EVF to differentiate their products from dSLRs.
Clarification:
Dial up on pixel density by reducing the sensor resolutione.g., the GH2 sensor could have been much better if Panasonic chose to keep 12mp and concentrated on improving DR, color, noise, etc.
Until a rugged m4/3 body and matching lenses become available, the dSLR will also still have an advantage here.
LGO, Agreed.
After taking 32,000 shots with GH1 i find its images lack in color/dr/depth – the gh2/g3 sensor is perhaps tad better at high ISO’S but i couldnt care less for ISO.
I’m myself eyeing the upcoming samsung NX20 – hoping they will introduce better-then-nex sensor plus the NX has a good lens selection/roadmap
@LGO
Panasonic have hinted that they will be reducing the the pixel count on the GH3, they increased the pixel count on the GH2 for marketing reasons (mainly to entice Canon/Nikon owners (and potential owners) which seems to to have worked), fast primes have been announced with more fast zooms and primes likely to be announced shortly.
Colour on Panasonic is fine and can easily be customised in camera to taste
Noise and dynamic range is good enough for me but Panasonic have also said they are working on these two areas…
DSLR owners could learn a thing or two from mirrorless camera owners 😀
And what has the sensor got to do with the fact that’s it’s a DSLR? The sensor has nothing to do with the mirror box and prism. YDDY is comparing DSLR to mirrorless. You could stick that D7000 sensor in a mirrorless body and the only “advantage” for the DSLR would be OVF.
Focus speed is one of the things that stops people going mirrorless. They say that PSAF will always be faster.
That reason just went out the window.
TheVoice, the talk about “dslrs” is because of their sensors…
even thou NEX-5/D7000 have essentially almost identical sensors, the latter still has better performance according to DXO(and real life photos)
This is comparing selective case to case to draw a general rule.
Not a proper methodology I am afraid, let alone with such small sample.
Jules, are you referring to the rules of physics?
I think he means there are many many more factors involved separating DSLRs from Mirrorless systems than just dxo results or even sensors at all. And i’d very much agree. It’s not that black n white. Both usage and results will always differ enough to live alongside each other even if ‘quality’ would be the same, or worse.
I see… but the samsung NX is not a DSLR
Exactly my point.
Sensor is but one variable.
On top of my head, AA filter, optics, IS, inbody electronics & firmwares all play a role.
If we had hundreds of mirrorless and SLRs sharing the same sensor, it would be more tempting to draw a conclusion, even when everything else is not equal.
as far as i know the A55,A580 and D7000 have the same sensor, which is NOT the NEX-5 sensor.. the Nex-C3 has the D7000 sensor, the Nex-5 sensor is one generation older
+1 I remember with fondness all the fools who said that CDAF would never catch up. Never, EVER, say never.
Why by all, so thalk about fast CDAF, out mirror on 4/3 lens. 😀
DSLRs will have a huge advantage: established systems. When you have equivalents of 70-200/2.8, when you have vertical control grips and extensive flash systems, then maybe you can start to talk about “no advantages”. All the technology in the world only helps if you offer what photographers need.
Vertical grip is bullshit – with a square sensor you would’t even need to rotate the camera!
Of course, A DSLR cannot afford a square sensor as the size mirror box/pentaprism would increase a lot. But this limitation is no longer needed on mirrorless system.
So i keep my fingers crossed to have the first square-sensored mirrorless camera released…
Excellent! Let’s hope you can select a much smaller AF-area than on the current Pens too.
Thanks Admin.
Very interesting if this comes true. Do you have any info on how well the new Oly bodies will AF existing 4/3 lenses? The other day you hinted at some new tech which will enable fast AF of 4/3 lenses – is it on sensor phase detection or something like that?
Any news of improved auto focus speed on existing Olympus MSC and Panasonic lenses? I hope we existing users will benefit as well…
BTW, I get “404 Not Found” error whenever I post. The comment is visible though. Must be something to do with the comment editing function.
Me too. I get that error every time I post and have to close that tab. ALso I cant edit a comment like we used to be able to do.
Same for me as well.
Really? damn…
Forgot: browser Seamonkey 2.0.14, Windows XP SP3
me2! I get 404 after each time i reply as well, but the posts still end up posted
EDIT: Firefox4, i can edit comments without problem
EDIT2: I’m a registered user
Yes i also 😉
+1 Here. What about 4/3 lenses?
And what about manual lenses? Will it make my fingers move faster? 😉
If this faster AF system only works on specific, optimized lenses, then it’s not much of an advantage. If it works with ANY native M$/3 auto-focus lens THEN we’re talking!
… me to: AF with old lenses (and with new 50mm)???
That is very good news. However, what I, as an owner of a 14-54 mkI lens, am concerned about is if and when they will provide a solution to use this lens on a PEN. Only then can they truly say that they’ve replaced mid-level DSLRs with PENs.
I realise that they should not hold back development of the new system. But I guess that there are quite a few E-520, E-620, E-3 and E-30 users who have bought into the HG lenses and are looking for upgrades to their cameras. The E-5 is way too expensive for most of these people. Some kind of PDAF-enabling adapter could work?
Maybe Olympus could allow a third party to make and market this if they don’t want to take on the risk. But I’m sure that it would be a positive boost to the system if such a thing were available.
If Oly managed to add auto in lens PD-AF there may be a chance we get a FT->MFT adapter containing the same logic.
The in lens system could work like
– cam activates auto PD-AF mode
– cam does CD-AF measuring. On AF lock or shutter press the system is shifted to CD-AF again
Admin, good rumour like this, without the whine, would not get you 300+ comments
I can’t understand your positive reactions. AF is fast if you buy the upcoming Olympus lenses. Which basically means that they are creating a subsystem within the m43 system. Great, like isolating themselves even more is the solution. What the f+%&! Who cares about that new AF if it makes no difference when using a Panasonic 20 1.7 or Leica 25 1.4?
Who said it will make NO difference? I suppose it’s like the launch of the E3 and SWD lenses all over again. New tech is needed to make large advances in speed, there is no getting away from that.
I think the old m.zuiko lenses are even faster with an optimized sensor and motor.
So amazing that you can still find something to whine about. I mean, they have lightning fast AF with new lenses, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have G3 fast AF with all old lenses and Panasonic lenses.
Because that will allow you to build pro lenses ( a la SHG D.Zuikos but even faster). before, that was impossible even if you build a lens that is physically capable of such performance, the PD-AF technology wouldn’t allow you to reach that level. Now maybe we will be proved that PD-AF could match CD-AF. and that’s very important.
insert CD-AF where you find PD-AF and vice-versa. sorry
insert CD-AF where you find PD-AF and vice-versa. sorry
This makes no sense. You work out a way to make the world’s fastest focus but you shouldn’t do it because it won’t work with your old lenses? If you think that way we would never have had autofocus in the first place because it doesn’t work with manual lenses.
Ridiculous.
All lenses focus at different speeds already. Why is this different?
Furthermore, I’ll be very surprised if it doesn’t make the old lenses faster than they were, even if they can’t go quite as fast as the new ones.
They make a world beating advance and somehow that makes you miserable?
Some people are just never happy.
Funny how even positive news can be spun to negatives. See above for refutals of your point(less)s.
Is this WOW enough for everyone? Hello Oly, back from the grave so soon?
I get the 404 error too…
It is WOW, but I have a small whine: first we’ve got relatively slow focusing kit and pancake lens, then fast focusing MSC lenses, now ultra fast focusing ones. It’s nice of Oly to implement faster readout speed from the sensor and put dual core processor in camera, but I would feel kinda stupid ( or almost like 4/3 lens owners 😉 ) if I have to buy different versions of my m4/3 lenses to get faster AF every year and a half. Panasonic is improving AF speed with every other new body, but the lens it is measured on stays the same: 14-140.
P.S. I hope they put to good use that fast processor for some other things in camera besides AF.
Yup, this is my point…
True, but this tyoe of camera is still in developement. And we want fast AF now don’t we?
I guess the old lenses work perfectly only not with the speed of the new breed of lenses.
For me that ‘s no problem, I got by with the old lenses until now.
> True, but this type of camera is still in development.
A breakthrough like this is “unexpected development.” Olympus knew that the old contrast AF methods weren’t going to fly for long even before they launched the first Pen (if they didn’t, then we have other problems). What “new lens required” says to me is that Olympus probably went into the new system not knowing exactly how they’d break through slow contrast AF. The good news is that they appear to have figured it out, the good/bad news is that it introduces “must upgrade” to both body and lenses. That latter is good news for Olympus, as it means artificially high sales (user base upgrading). It’s bad news for users because we’re not getting everything we wanted at our upgrade cycle. And it makes all those m4/3 lenses already out a little less interesting.
> A breakthrough like this is “unexpected development.”
Oh man, it sounds like any positive words about Oly can only escape your mouth with the use of pliers! What a grudging way of putting it! A ‘tedious, merely iterative Japanese’ company revolutionises something– and without the involvement of Steve Jobs, to boot! Fancy that! ;-D
And as for you never finding your Pen’s focusing speed a problem (just below), may I remind you of your Jun 2 2010 article about how you’ve sometimes been forced to adopt manual, preselected zone focusing on your PENs? Brighten up, Eeyore!
And what exactly gives you the impression that old lenses won’t benefit from the new AF? I bet they do, just not as much as the new lenses.
Whine whine whine.
Agreed that a faster sensor refresh and optimized algorithms should give better focus speed to existing lenses. I’m pretty sure that we all expected that. It’s actually a bit overdue.
But frankly, focusing speed has never been a real problem for me on the Pens. With practice, knowledge, and a few tricks it does well enough for me, even in low light. More focus speed is absolutely welcome, of course, but it’s not the thing most of us are looking for to improve. That thing would be DR (which implies better high ISO). m4/3 needs to get off the 55 line in DxOMark. THAT’S what we’re all waiting for.
You’re an exception in that respect as far as camera reviewers/commenters go. Almost every review I read about the E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1 noted ‘slow AF’ as a major con of these cameras. The internet forums were buzzing with this lagging performance.
It’s logical that Olympus has been putting much effort into taking this perception away (even now, people call the E-PL2 slow, despite it haing caught up with most of the others).
But I agree that Olympus should now focus attention to other matters.
Focus Accuracy is one that that needs improvement — especially where the subject is offset from the background. Often I find my pen catching the background for focus rather than the foreground.
Few month ago a friend had a party. He’s pro (Canon) and Oly send him a EP1 when the system was new. Since then he uses the EP1 for family stuff. I took my G1 with the 20mm so gets some pictures. We were talking while I was taking a picture using the LCD. Sudden surprise: Did the AF followed him (the guy I was shooting)?
See how even the G1 AF system can surprise a PEN user?
Fully agreed. But I jumped to digital with Canon 30D as that was the first affordable camera with good IQ. E-PL1 has almost as good an IQ where it matters to me – so the next generation is bound to be even better unless they pull a Panasonic.
“what exactly gives you the impression that old lenses won’t benefit from the new AF?”
Our admin says so: “AF is incredibly fast ONLY when using the upcoming new Olympus lenses”
Thats a weird interpitation, that old lenses won’t be as lightning fast as new ones in no way indicates that the new camera won’t be faster on old lenses too.
yes, and for me that means that the ‘INCREDIBLE’ speed is achieved by the new bodies with the new lenses, that doesn’t imply that older lenses wouldn’t get their bit of better performance, faster AF on new bodies than on the old ones, but not as fast as the new lenses on the new bodies.
Maybe we have been a bit hard on Olympus. They dont have the budgets of Panasonic. Maybe they have been concentrating on getting all their technologies improved before they go for the high end enthusiast/dSLR market. So they have been just getting the micro 4/3 system going with alot of entry level models (ok they are not well differentiated).
Perhaps they have been working on major AF improvements and also on the sensor design and IQ, possibly with a view to getting these spot on before they put all features together in a more pro model that also includes:
– a built-in EVF
– fast AF
– improved sensor performance (that we dont know yet for sure)
– and the ability to focus existing 4/3 lenses better.
Any ideas out there?
Admin – are there any new HG kit zoom lenses coming with the improved AF components? Imagine a M4/3 version of 12-60 or 14-54 4/3 lenses with really quick AF.
Yes, this is what I have been suspecting all along. They had to get the new sensor done, as all the other new tech hinges on it. And before that was in place there was no point in releasing more advanced bodies and expensive HG lenses.
it’s evident from the E-5 that Oly has moved from “innovation” to “refinement”. i’m glad to see them improving those we raised as vital issues like high ISO noise, slow AF, etc. the EVF, tilt LCD, etc are more like preferences but the prime issues usually are addressed.
although, a part of us is still expecting Oly to come up with something huge. whether or not it will come, we just have to wait and see
Will post something about that soon!
Thanks admin. So there is more coming than just the rumored 50mm lens? A high quality zoom from Oly would be fantastic.
Maybe we few two semi pro camera one M4/3 and one 4/3.
Great news!
Admin, have you heard anything about an upcoming cheaper non-articulated EVF?
yes.
a new vf? i was hoping if it would be an improved vf-2 version (lockable)…i would miss the tilt option.
Not if you can put a flash on top of it.
i understand the importance of the flash option for many, but its not 1st priority to me..and now with the e-p3, wireless slave is possible.
so..while other people like articulating lcd, i appreciate the tiltable vf alot.
Why would you but a flash on an EVF???
An EVF is usually necessary when bright light makes the LCD hard to see, and a flash is for those situations when light is lacking. Seems like complementary situations to me…
Why would you put a flash on a DSLR? For the same reason you wou would use a flash on a PEN. The optical view finder (on a DSLR) also gives that extra steadiness when against the head, likewise, the EVF would still be favoured by many for the same reason & also to be able to use a flash too. That’s why I would want to be able to use the hot shoe as well as an EVF & since it has to be fitted into the cameras hot shoe, it would be desirable to extend that to the top of an EVF. There are flash extension cables for DSLRs that have the doubling hotshoe on top of the connecting block, why not for this aplication (EVF) for the PENs?
No, both are useful for challenging light conditions: flash in bright sunlight for lighting the shadows; EVF in the dark for stabilizing the camera.
Hot shoe VF with hot shoe on top that doesn’t stick out from the camera, similar to that bluetooth addon – that would be very nice. Add to that a small addon flash that can bounce for E-PL3 and I’ll buy it.
This is great news for me. The hinge is completely unnecessary IMO when you have an LCD on the rear to compose with. So the hinge just adds needless complexity and bulk to the design. Make an aluminum EVF with a hot shoe on top of it similar to the interchangeable prisms on the Pentax LX and I’ll no longer beg for a rangefinder PEN body.
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/pentaxlx/viewfinders/index.htm
Eric, so you compose a scene with the lcd when you have the vf-2 on your camera??
Btw the tilted position is used by me for shooting from low angle
Yes, exactly. I use the EVF for eye-level shooting (90% of the time), then when I need really odd angles such as ground level shots I simply compose using the LCD. I don’t need to have my face stuck in an EVF for weird angle shots…especially if the camera has a rotating LCD.
He heard it now, why did you tell him? 🙂
Good news. Faster AF will appeal to many “football parents” who buy entry level DSLRs just to record their young children moving about. However, as fast and as accurate as it may be I doubt if any photojournalist will be convinced to even try a PEN. Many of them won’t be seen dead with a m4/3.
Will the new AF technology speed up the focusing of my Nokton? I’m not sure 😉
>>(like the 12mm f/2.0 lens)
Have I missed the news that this lens is in production?
Its going to be announced on the 30th this month
is it going to be ridiculous fast also with the actual kit lenses?
or do we have to wait and expect also a new lens kit?
I know you KNOW that the picture is Panasonic GH2 but wouldnt be nicer towards Olympus to atleast have a picture of thier camera showing? Its like showing the 2nd best player in a team and with a line of text telling people that this dude was beaten by :).
I get why you have it there i just think Olympus should ;/. Even when Olympus makes something great Panasonic is being showed.
exciting news!
Well, this poses a new question. Is this “superfast” CDAF able to fastfocus existing 4/3 SWD lenses?
If it is, than this is the solution, mentioned by Oly people about 4/3 and m4/3 merging into one beautiful system.
If so, I would expect also a new 4/3 body shortly, which might have EVF instead of OVF (and was also hinted by Oly people). And would probably be much smaller than existing 4/3 bodies, since OVF and mirror are gone.
Yes that is the question. How will it be able to focus existing 4/3 lenses? If there is a solution for that – thats great news.
I would think that there need to be two higher spec VF bodies:
1. A Micro 4/3 body which is as small as possible with EVF (not sure how they will style the body). For those that want a M4/3 body and M4/3 lenses and to be able to fast focus 4/3 SWD lenses with adapter.
2. A FT SLR body to replace E-30. But should this be a modular camera? As you say could it just have an EVF instead of OVF with 4/3 mount – depends on what 43 owners prefer. But does it need a modular mount to be able to take Micro 4/3 lenses as well? Or is that not a big issue for 43 owners.
>2. A FT SLR body to replace E-30. But should this be a modular camera? As you say could it just have an EVF instead of OVF with 4/3 mount…
If they have a way to have fast and accurate focus with old lenses without all that old mirror stuff etc then you’ll make it Micro Four Thirds body (but with real DSLR level ergonomy and not too small entry level junk) for ability to natively use smaller less retrofocal m4/3 wide angles and users simply use available existing adapter for mounting 4/3 lenses, period.
No reason to make things more complex than necessary…
M4/3 have two pin more so 4/3, the is for give info to camera body why focus is in lens, camera need control optical by mirror for safe and right AF.
A patent Olympus have, is use mirror only for AF, for use EVF by combe PDAF and CDAF on 4/3 lens.
Look to Sony so use PDAF and EVF on, A33, A55, and new A35, A77.
Of course not. You’ll have to buy all your lenses again at a premium and deal with the overpriced slow consumer trash first. Thats the M43 way. To screw loyal 4/3 users. Fool me once.
lol, at a first glance i thought that is the new olympus model.
LOL if the is right, we talk by 3000+ comments 😀
I think Olympus already have all the improvement that they need to put PEN at the same level with Mid DSLR, remember the report when Olympus say the Mega Pixel race is over? If you read that article again you will notice that Olympus already mention that CDAF will be far more superior compared to PDAF in the future. I bet when they said that, they already done the research and test the AF speed and confidence with the result. Now the research will be applied first to EP-3. I also quite sure that when Oly say they done with Mega Pixel race they already conducting the way to improve noise in the 4/3 sensor without adding more pixel. Due to the manufacturing process and selling price point not all the latest improvement can be implemented at once in new camera. Remember Oly need Panasonic facility to produce new sensor. Oly like other traditional camera producer still are not electronic company and may not have the facility to produce new sensor and processor that made modern camera today. Even Nikon still using sensor made by Sony.
Yes, it’s all beginning to add up now. The two major limitations of EVIL compared to the DSLR are focus speed (including continuous focus) and EVF refresh rate/resolution. We have seen much progress in both areas in the past two years. You are also right about the long-term vision of Olympus. The “12MP are enough” interview in late 2008 is key to understanding where Olympus is heading. Unlike many who think that it has lost its way, I can see the master plan quite clearly even if the short-term product development doesn’t always make sense.
Fastest af? Only with 12mm ? What a Marketing hoax. At 12mm you don’t Even Need af at all.
With all new lenses in the future!
Only with new lenses. There will be more than just the 12mm!
If only they could also make it works with the older 4/3 lenses… I could start stocking up on them 🙂
Maybe 12mm F2 lens have SWD motor, and 50mm also.
Maybe this is the real problem for Olympus. They might have made some missteps in the original versions of micro43 not realizing that it would be the Golden Path. Now they’ve rethought it all but need new tech to make it work. In truth, I’d rather they do this so I can buy it eventually than struggle trying to make improvements to a “weaker” system.
Thanks for the good news, Admin!
Do you know if it is a hybrid PD + CD AF system? Or CD only?
I knew Oly had to be doing something over the past two years. They probably got tired of all the “slow AF” complaints in the reviews, especially in contrast to Panny’s accolades.
Most likely “old” lenses wil AF faster, just not Super fast.
Pure CDAF!
I believe that CDAF can be made predictive. All it takes is measuring the way that contrast changes as the lens racks and saving previous measurements.
I’ve been shouting this around over the dpreview forums for over an year now, perhaps someone was listening after all.. 🙂
They were likely taking into account the change rate of the contrast already, as this is standard control system stuff. In fact, they will probably use the change rate (when it is equal or close to zero, which corresponds to a maximum in contrast) to determine when to stop focusing, because they cannot know the absolute contrast value that can be achieved for each particular scene.
Not exactly. Even at 120 fps off the sensor you’d still be lagging what a PD system can do, and your assumption really only works best for continuous, uniform motion. Throw in erratic motion and CD data streams can get quite deceptive. You end up putting hysteresis algorithms in to keep it from twitching on focus.
I’ll remind everyone that focus is about a lot of things, not just one:
* Speed of acquisition
* Assessment of subject (which is why Face AF works)
* Accuracy of acquisition
* Accuracy of tracking (which involves angular calculations)
* Movement of mass
* Accuracy of motor, mass movement
Well put out!
But if you leave out sports, then AF is almost a trivial matter and most of the Pens were doing a terrible job at it, constantly racking around the focus point as if they couldn’t even implement a simple binary search, and because of poor algorithms they compromised those first 4 factors you mentioned.
Tracking accurately is more important than most people think because otherwise you can’t accurately compare 2 contrast measures, but that’s where chroma information and processing speed come to the rescue.
Shutter release delay matters a lot when photographing humans, and CD without pre-focus (or even MF) simply does not cut it.
Look how the basic PD-AF works
* Detect mismatch
* Move lens to or close to expected focus point
* Detect remaining mismatch
* Final lens move
* Shoot
CD-AF has to
* read (part of) sensor
* calculate contrast data
* apply AF logic
* move lens a bit
…repeat above multiple time…
* Approximate focus point
* Move lens close to focus point
* …repeat initial steps multiple time
* Detect beyond focus point
* move / scan backwards
* shoot
If some of the logic is moved into the lens it could work like
* Approximate movement direction to focus point
* Start lens movement
* On lens event readout sensor
* calculate contrast data
* apply focus logic
* speedup / slowdown / stop command to lens
Lens keeps moving and could move even faster to focus point then a PD-AF lens, there’s (almost) no readjust needed in this system.
Tracking AF would just adjust the stepping frequency of lens to keep readout at maximum focus.
This scheme may not be working but all available information (new lens required, pure CD-AF) points to something the lens has to do on it’s own.
And of course Oly would have known this is possible before getting tom CD-AF systems. Simply their first generation lenses and processors didn’t allow to implement it.
Yes, many µ4/3 reviews back in 2008-2009 hinted that CDAF had the potential to surpass PD in a few years. Many were skeptical, but the tech just needed time to develop.
This post won’t break yesterday’s “comments” record…not enough to complain about! 🙂
I should add some fake bad news. Like AF is fast, but it focuses always on the wrong point 🙂
just like my Canon 🙂
+1 sometimes, hahahaha
I have a nice beautiful 7d which i love, but AF with the 15-85 lens (which is supposedly its “matching” kit lens) sometimes is just…all over the place…
But EOS-7D is not a little jewel, so i will steal go round in street and park by the.
But i like also scare up troll in to the wood, by my E-5. 😀
Not steal, but still. 😉
Very good news, it might be tempted to upgrade the E-PL1 for the new camera with new lens 😀
+1
typical marketing blah blah….. i believe it when i see it myself.
I will be waiting to see the AF speed on lenses which are not 12mm UWA
HAWT! Go Olympus. I can’t wait to see this. Let alone get my grubby hands on a 12mm 2.0! :O
hopefully this is not a prank rumour admin! 😛
i’d like to get excited about Olympus again!
First of all let’s verify if it’s true and if it’s true in all conditions. Olympus AF always struggled in poor light conditions.
Second, AF will be ok… but sensor? Still same sensor we saw in all recent Olympus cameras? For me it’s ok but I would like to see some improvement. Third, what I think everyone really expected was the EVF integrated in camera or to do like Panasonic with 2 lines, GH and GF and more FPS.
Yesterday all bitching and whining. Today mostly excitement and praise.
What a difference a day makes…
Hope I can give you mre good news soon….
How soon is SOON?
Relax, let the man eat, sleep, live his life, etc.
Too much pressuring, and the next thing you know, he’ll be making love to his girlfriend, and he’ll say “Oh, Olympus!” And she’ll get furious, then no more 43rumors. So be patient.
+1 😀
All rumors is bad babys 😀
Uh, in case you didn’t know, the Canon 5D is absolutely HORRIBLE at focusing. to beat that camera really isn’t hard.
And in other words, in several years all the 4/3 glass can be thrown away because nobody will want it and there won’t be a body to fit it on.
If this thing doesn’t have Auto-focus assist lamps, I ain’t buying.
Actually wait, I already said I wasn’t when they decided to omit the VF…
The EVF is there, detachable which is even more flexible than always attached 😉
As for AF assist light pull out your old FL36. Maybe they’ll put that in the EP-3 box.
By even more flexible, I assume you mean the flexibility to choose whether to use the hot shoe for photographic functions like flash sync, or to use it for functions like shooting photos without flash.
That explains why they waited so long to launch the high grade lenses. They have been working hard with the new lens/AF system..
As somebody who has several thousand US $ in classic 4/3rds lenses and nearly a thousand US $ in micro 4/3rds lenses, if it doesn’t focus the current classic and micro 4/3rds lenses as fast as the E-P2 (and preferably somewhat faster) it means I have to replace my lens system. That means it is loosens the ties to stay with Olympus when it comes to upgrade, since I will eventually have to replace the lenses.
Now, granted the space of people like me is small, compared to the many users Olympus hopes to sell to. But as a consumer, if a manufacturer pulls non-upgradable lens upgrade multiple times, I would anticipate that they would do it again in the future, and it may be time to widen my search.
I hope it is like the E-3, where the existing lenses also got a focus speed improvement.
However, the E-3 focusing at times is not as accurate as the old E-1 slow focusing was, and you eventually had to have the E-30 focus adjustment to be able to get the camera to focus some lenses without front or back focus. I hope Olympus doesn’t have that happen to the new focus system (or if they need to manually adjust the lenses, they backport the fixes to the first generation of camera with the new focusing, unlike the E-3 once again).
What? You actually think it’s gonna be SLOWER than the E-P2? Talk about pessimistic.
Also, this is a CDAF system. It’s intrinsically more accurate than the PDAF used on DSLRs.
Yes, I worry that my existing classic 4/3rds lenses will focus slower (14-54mm mark 1, 11-22mm, 50mm, Sigma 30mm are the lenses I use on the E-P2, none of which have contrast detect auto focus). I would imagine that the micro 4/3rds lenses will be a little bit faster, but obviously not as fast as the new lenses, which would be like the bump I got in going to the E-3.
CD-AF is in general supposed to be more accurate than PD-AF, but I find in practice, the E-P2’s focus area is so large, that often times the camera will focus on the wrong thing within the focus square. With the E-3 having a smaller focus area (and an option to make the focus area even smaller), I can have the camera focus point centered on what I want to focus on, and not have to readjust the camera or use manual focus as I sometimes need to do on the E-P2.
why don’t buy a panasonic with touch screen where you can exactly place the point to focus…
I’m worried about AF speed too with my 14-54 mark I
I don’t want to sell it. if oly can make it work with the new camera good, otherwise I will not be buying oly lens and camera anymore.
please olympus surprise me!
Kralin:
In general I dislike Panasonic’s out of camera JPGs, their policy of chipping batteries to prevent 3rd party batteries from being used (and also changing batteries every camera generation).
Touchscreens are useless if you want to use an eye level viewfinder like the VF-2. I also often shoot one handed, with my left hand holding things, and having to use a touch screen would be tiresome.
In the past, when I held previous generations of Panasonics, I hated, hated, the feel of the camera in my hand.
Now that I have a remote flash with my E-3, I want my next camera to support the wireless flash interface. Since Panasonic does not license the Olympus wireless support, it becomes less interesting (and ditto for the new Olympus model that has a tilting lcd screen, but no flash).
I can think of only two things that Panasonic has that I wish Olympus had: 1) Builtin evf, and 2) decent video support.
of course the touch is not going to be the main shooting way, but it can be very useful in some situation. I cannot buy in 2011 a camera that has the same menu of the reflex i bought 4 year ago!
I also like an olympus with builtin EVF, decent video support, decent support for ITS 43 lenses (that I already own) and possibly a touchscreen.
but I think I’m dreaming, and I’ll finish with switching to panny this time.
This is exactly why I have been so hesitant to buy Olympus lenses. Panasonic has been able to figure out faster AF through new software. When Olympus redesigned the collapsable kit lens in such a short time, it left a bad taste in my mouth. I have no problem with advances, but lenses have to be done right the first time. Considering that 4/3 lenses only saw a refresh about every 3 or 4 years, it seems Olympus still doesn’t have it right. Maybe they do now?
You can’t speed up the first generation 14-42 and 17mm AF system I guess, but lets hope later internal focus lenses can be upgraded to interact with new focus system.
Dear Admin – Since the GH2 has been mentioned here…
Does the E-P3 have tilt/swivel screen, like GH2, or tilt-only, like NEX? Thanks.
The E-PL3 has tilt screen while the E-P3 has NOT!
Thanks, that what I meant, E-PL3. Gets confusing. So tilt only, no swivel 🙁 I’ll still give it a look, but may wait for next GF before purchasing.
I would be open to an Oly but no EVF and no tilt screen means there isn’t a body for me. I don’t want an add on EVF. So it appears I’ll be staying with Panasonic for the time being. On top of that, I don’t plan to add any new lenses unless there is a fast mid range zoom added. I am well covered so the increased AF won’t add anything much for me (and I use a number of well loved MF lenses in addition to my 5 native 4/3 lenses).
Diane
I agree that lack of EVF is holding back alot of people from buying Oly and they either end up with Panasonic or in another system. Hopefully such a model is coming and hopefully there is a quality/fast zoom on the way as well.
Why by E-50 and EVF, focus like fast so the say E-P3 do.
But this super fast AF will not work with some of the best m43 lenses, right? Like the 20/1.7 and (presumably) the 25/1.4? Also, I love my 14-150 — do I have to rebuy that? Or the 9-18?
One of the reasons I have not let go of my DSLR is indeed focus accuracy and speed. Actually, it’s almost more about accuracy — any subject at a distance can often be overlooked, as the camera locks on the contrast of the background. My DSLR rarely does that. If they can fix that, that removes about 1/3 of my issues with m43.
Why should it be slower than GH2 / G3?
It’s just processing power and readout frequency…
404 and looks like server isn’t responding until 404 occurs
For us specialty shooters, can you find out if underwater housings will also be announced for these new cameras?
Also, will release be in July?
I am glad for those people who value fast auto focus, but it is not a big deal for me. I would be more excited to hear that they have developed an innovative new focus assist or focus confirm function for manual focus.
that would definitely be a big plus!
sounds cool. any info regarding video controls, resolution, framerate, codec, video IS (same zoomed image?) and also swivel with higher res? thx 🙂
100 comments already! This high-speed AF better live up to the hype.
I bet Samsung is working on similar tech.
Sorry but already the E-3 Olympus was marketing as world’s fastest AF. And only when used with the 12-60 SWD. Still, wasn’t world’s fastest. Expect another marketing gimmick.
TR, I agree.
A better manual focus assist would be my most wanted feature as well.
I’d like to see a mf assist that:
– shows the enlarged image in a smaller area while keeping the “big picture” in view
– adds a touch sensor to the display for selecting the focus area
– jumps back to full view when the shutter is half-pressed. Sometimes you just need to re-compose and there is no time to re-focus, as well
– shows color hints à la Sony Nex
Get a G3, it does most of what you are asking…
Admin, pls post the spec of the second lens, is it SHG, 1.8 or 1.4, pancake perphaps, lower the FT tag if needed but post it NOW,please 😉
The Sensor-AF is only about 20% of the overall AF-Performance. That means 80% of the time takes the lens. So it is highly important to have a fast AF-lense.
So if the lens can scan fast by itself and the body will measure contrast synchronized lot of time could be saved. Weren’t the two additional pins in MFT for high speed body – lens communication?
Things just became interesting, though a shame the speed may not be realised on the previous MFT lenses…
Why this is a shame?
Its a new technology, so its not present in the old lenses.
Interesting development. I’ve been quite happy with the AF speeds, but an improvement is always welcome, especially if that improvement is also on the upcoming portrait lens – I could really use super fast AF to capture those fleeting glimpses of friends.
Now admin, just tell us we’re getting a 50mm f1.4(ish) lens and a new sensor in the Olympus EP-3 that matches the G-3 high ISO ability and I’ll be singing praises for Olympus.
+1 Michael.
Thats what I am waiting for admin to reveal. The new portrait lens specs (plus any other lenses that are coming) and the new sensor performance are the missing bits of information.
Disturbing news… at least for someone who doesn’t want to go micro… since once they match DSLR performance, we’ll see no more DSLRs from Oly
Well, If they come out w a mirrorless body I can actually hold, that lets my current lenses focus w/o too much trouble, otherwise…
> we’ll see no more DSLRs from Oly
They they would spend probably next 5 years remaking the 43 HG/SHG lenses for the m43. IOW, m43 might get interesting in 3-5 years.
> […] Well, If they come out w a mirrorless body I can actually hold, […]
One could have thought: a minor nag, piece of $1 plastic (sold for $25) can easily address. Yet no, IMO you waste your time waiting for it.
Lens construction will have to be very different. I imagine that everything will have to be internal focus to minimize moving mass. All fo the current 4/3’s lenses are moving barrel.
Now could you explain how those 4/3 SWD lenses designed to work with PDAF focus so quickly (basically jump to focus) if there’s supposedly big mass preventing fast focusing?
Larger lens – more room for mechanicals. PD makes one movement and stops, so there’s less vibration. CD needs to make many small movements. The vibration from starting and stopping the moving elements could be a problem. Since the 14-42 MSC is already IF, I expect the new lenses will also be IF.
That’s a very good news if you do consider that fast autofocus is usually one of the advantages of DSRL cameras over Mirorrless cameras!
Ironically, DSLRs now win in the ergonomics department: grip, VF and swivel LCD.
m43 cameras have: poor grip, fast AF, may be EVF and may be swivel LCD.
DSLRs have: good grip, fast AF, good/very good OVF and swivel LCD.
🙁
> DSLRs have: good grip, fast AF, good/very good OVF and swivel LCD.
What, that’s not true for most of DSLR out there. Most entry/mid level systems lack all the points above.
NEWSFLASH! Company says its future product will be ‘way better than competitor’s current product! Vapor at 11!
Where has olympus stated this publically? Its not like this is from a comercial or something, its a rumour. Not some tactic from olympus to hype its product.
Things are surely stepping up in the Olympus camp… Cant wait to see all the improvements coming oue way… One very excited m4/3 user here…
Goodonya Len. 😉
Fast AF ONLY on coming lenses?
Actually cool.
Never miss the current Olympus M4/3 lenses.
…9-18 maybe?
but AF speed is not a big deal for her.
It was obvious Olympus had something to say with the new cameras. With a two day event to introduce them and a tease line-up of cameras, they are confident they have us by the b@lls.
And still hoping for good high ISO and EP3 price under $1000. I’ll be ordering one of them as soon as they go on preorder….
what now oly haters? 😀
hope it works as well when a 4/3 lens is mounted, or else im gona go back to complaining about oly mode lol.
This makes a whole lot of sense and kind of clarifies their strategy. I think they plan to replace the old Four Thirds HG/SHG lenses with µ4/3 equivalents using the new focus system. None of the Oly µ4/3 lenses up to now have been in the HG or SHG league, so the fact that they won’t take advantage of this system is no surprise – the higher end 12mm is a perfect time to introduce it!
I guess Olympus was waiting on their high end lenses so that they could use the new focusing technology the whole time; kind of a long wait, but maybe it’s all worth it! And maybe it means we’ll see a lot of new glass released quickly!
I think the future of µ4/3 is looking up; by the time the PEN Pro gets here, it should have a set of native µ4/3 lenses that can do it justice. Now let’s see what this new sensor is like!
Absolute the is not reason for Olympus use 4/3 HG lens if M4/3 is better, so we will look M4/3 and 4/3 camera body side by side, and sam IQ.
Great news for Olympus. Does this mean that we will have to postpone the funeral that everyone was planning?
Awesome! Now make some bright pancakes with that superfast focus tech, sell the cameras as kits with one or multiple of those and get everyone to buy your stuff as it’s going to be the killer deal. I’d buy a mini.
Ok so the Oly lens roadmap suddenly takes on a new meaning. Especially with sporty lenses like long primes.
Admin, didn’t you say that there were a few “wow” rumors? Is this only one of more to come?
Yes, a well-fitting and tightly-attached plastic or rubber prosthesis that fits around the flat brick Pens would be a big plus for those of us that care ergonomics. It would be better to have active camera capabilities in a more ergonomic form factor than the brick Pens. However, an Oly or third-party body supplement add-on around a core Pen brick camera would be better than nothing and significantly help some of us.
there are grip add-ons for the PEN, i use one for my E-P2, it improves handling with big lenses greatly
Where did you bought your handgrip? Surching one for my epl2?
Sorry for of topic.
Jep, I got this one via Ebay when i bought an E-P2,
called the Style Grip (SG-EP1)
the grip was included with the auction, I asked the seller where he got it from.It’s a product from dicain.com Here the link:
http://blog.danawa.com/prod/?prod_c=986826&cate_c1=842&cate_c2=16142&cate_c3=16185&cate_c4=16851
mine is slightly different:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1760078954664&set=a.1935548781300.109837.1019755864&type=1&theater
Well, I use my old Pentax auto110 lenses on my PEN E-P1 – they are so pocketable ,-)
18mm – 24mm – 50mm – 70mm all primes and they all come with f/2.8
The biggest is the 70mm which is about 7cm long and 3cm in diameter. I can carry the whole equipment in the tiniest of my bags.
Beat that!
And you know what is the best about it? It takes time to take a good picture ,-)
No aperture control. F2.8 Fixed.
Thanks alot, but i dont understand chines or japanes. 🙁 Surching goes on…
This makes perfect sense as to why we haven’t seen any pro lenses pop up from Olympus. They were probably waiting for this new technology to work itself out before introducing any other pricey lens models.
I don’t know if any of you remember this but FYI all m4/3 lenses can be updated via Firmware, so they could be optimized for this new AF technology. I’m sure in some cases this will be useless just because of the AF motor design (14-42MkI & MkII for instance) but if this depends on the sensor/processor then it might very possibly benefit all lenses
So Olympus m43 = IBIS plus in-lens AF improvements
Panasonic m43 = OIS on some lenses
Improvements are appreciated, but as m43 becomes less “standard” I think Panasonic and Olympus risk making their system a little less compelling.
WFT??? faster than DSLR ? 😀
I’ll better suspend all buying and selling actions (owning a GH2, G1 and several prime lenses) until Olympus has it’s new high grade/AF-lens roadmap online 😮
T.
Does Oly or 3rd parties make the grip add-ons? If it is a 3rd party, what is the brand?
Ulli, waar vind je een grip voor E-P2?
If the new bodies incorporate a simple PC connection it will solve halve the EVF/hotshoe problem.
How difficult is it to add 2c of material and drill a hole. At least give the user some options. Really hope Oly ads this.
Om-4, check mijn reply op Jep een paar comments terug 🙂
I agree with the suggested pc flash connection. that would already be
enough for me.
I am laughing my arsx off reading down every comment of this thread.
I think its can be said without fear of contradiction that Olympus is indeed KING OF HATRED.
A positive piece of news like this can end up being so crappy.
I bow to you all!
For as long as there’s no E-3-sized body in mirrorless form and for as long as there’s no grip to stabilize the body (and improve focus and battery life) with bigger lenses and/or a flash, I’m not interested 😀
We’re still talking little pocket toys here, let’s keep that in mind.
Fast AF is nice but the specs of the three new Olympuses are still no temptation for me.
I do hope that the fast AF is on all of the cameras, and not just the P3. Having great AF across the line would be a great help vs. Panasonic & Sony, although personally I’m only interested in the P3.
And we’ll see what the specs are. 12MP with a 4:3 aspect ratio is extremely printable at reasonable sizes, and for online display resolution is immaterial. Lets see if Olympus has worked some magic with noise.
Yay! Once again Olympus screws it’s early adopters by releasing a camera that isn’t backwards compatible!
Hey – here’s the E-P1! (then, 6 months later) Hey – here’s the E-P2 and it has a viewfinder. Guess what? You can’t use it with your E-P1 because we didn’t include a port! (Then, a few months later) Hey – here’s the E-PL1, it’s cheaper and has a built in flash! A built it flash sure would have been a cool feature the the more expensive E-P1 and E-P2 wouldn’t it? (Then, a few months later…) Here comes the E-PL2 with a bunch of new accessories you can plug into the port. But guess what? You can’t use those new accessories on the previous cameras because the port isn’t compatible! Oh, and there’s new lens accessories, but they only work for with the newer versions of the lenses. The lenses you bought 18 months ago won’t work!
And finally, we have this “fast focus” that will only work with even newer lenses.
Please – I’m done with being Olympus’ guinea pig. Why don’t they just make the camera right the first time instead of screwing their customers by introducing camera after camera with these small, incremental updates?
You just described every single camera maker.
Amen. When people get upset at m4/3 for incremental updates, I have to wonder what company doesn’t do this?
Especially considering that the product in question is electronics??? If we were talking about garden tools, then yes, you might fairly expect that Olympus it right the first time without any future improvement.
But electronics? You just need to wrap your head around the fact that there WILL be constant improvements. That’s like saying, I want Dell to build me a computer that does everything right so they don’t have to release an updated model in 6 months or a year’s time.
I don’t want another 12 mp sensor! Panny has improved resolution by 33% to 16 mp which is great for those of us looking for professional print quality at large sizes AND Panny managed to make ISO 400 the “new” ISO 100. If Oly can take that sensor and improve the AF then count me in for life!
Hope they announce an UW housing as well. This would be an UW photographer’s dream camera. Pany does not support UW like OLY does and I am eagerly waiting for a housing announcement.
Really? I’ve been printing 17×22’s from 12MP files and no pixilation is noticeable with an Epson 3880. The prints look gorgeous.
Maybe if you crop alot it’s a factor. I’d MUCH rather have better than G3 DR and ISO performance over Megapixels.
If you like the performance/megapixels of the G3, then that’s your camera.
A jump from 12mp to 16mp is not 33% more.
One from 9mp to 16mp is.
And? If you choose to look at it in terms of area, it’s still an 18% increase, which is good, and infinitely better than 0% more pixels.
You won’t see more than 12mpix with oly, because of refresh rate, AF, maybe electronic shutter and so on.
There have been lots of assumptions lately that higher resolution automatically means compromise on DR, ISO and IQ in general.
This is not necessarily a trolling bait, but it may draw similar answers, I am afraid.
Componse, componse and componse before shoot,
and maybe you need not loss a pixel. 😉
Wow. You spelt “compose” wrong three times in a row. What are the chances!
12mp is plenty. We have 44x60s hanging in our studio shot with 10mp and they are amazing. More mp is not the answer. The more mp you add the small the pixels and the smaller the pixels the more noise and less dynamic range.
Whenever I read the comments here I always find myself thinking of this comedian’s remarks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk&feature=related
At the very least it is worth watching.
– Chad
So true… another point is that even modern P&S cameras exceed most crowd’s photography skills by BIG margin. But they still keep complaining that their bad pictures are the camera’s fault..
Hey, buddy. Let’s not go there. 😉
@Fish … funny clip!
I used a hand held light meter, then had to set the exposure myself, while juggling the meter and the camera!
That is so apt for the whingers & is so true.
Thanks mate. 😀
Congratulations to the Olympus engineering team!
Conclusion: Olympus has developed the industry leading contrast autofocus system for mirror less cameras in combination with the new professional M.Zuiko lenses (autofocus speed and accuracy).
That is certainly one of the most important improvements for the professional and semi-professional user and will create the basis for the final creative destruction of the archaic DSLR-technology.
Add
– Weather sealing
– Built in EVF
– Swivel LCD
– GPS, Bluetooth and Wireless LAN
– Fast professional M.Zuiko lenses
– And a MFT-successor of the famous 12-60mm/f 2.8-4 HG Zuiko
… perhaps a fast 12-75mm …
Olympus, Do it all and do it at once!
Paulus, know you people so have test E-P3/prior E-P3, and maybe yourself?
Dear Inge-M,
Admin will be the first who will let you know … FT5
Don’t need GPS, don’t need bluetooth, need fast autofocus and fast glass.
Wireless networking would be VERY interesting for studio purposes.
12-60? Heck, I would settle for a successor to the 14-54 II which I love.
I’ll take my superwide on the side, in the form of the 7-14. Or even 9-18.
What I really want is a standard zoom 1 to 1.5 stops faster than the crappy kitty lens. Just like the 14-54 II.
Creative destruction? Someone must read Schumpeter.
Technology disruption from innovative inventions always is a gale of creative destruction.
Dear BS Artiste,
I would suggest reading A. J Schumpeter, F. A. v. Hayek and Israel M. Kirzner simultaneously.
I’ve got enough headaches already, thank you.
Dear Archer Sully,
Change your Avatar – perhaps this is a first step in curing your headaches.
If we saw yesterday topic Olympus engineering team was below par, today they are genius. I doubt either option is 100% right.
Consider the second option (the half full glass): they took care of one issue at a time, but had to release a camera on every technological step or market change:
1. classic looks: E-P1
2. EVF: E-P2
3. nice price and features for mass market (flash): E-PL1
4. ergonomics/features for mass market enthusiasts (accessories/adapters): E-PL2
5.(tbc) size and simplicity for P&S up-graders: E-PM1
6.(tbc) ergonomics+1 for mass market enthusiasts: E-PL3
7.(tbc) pro lenses support for enthusiasts and pros’ 2nd system: E-P3
It looks good but it isn’t: too many cameras and complex naming probably they need money for every next development business case. Apple also did this, lots of launches with something new to make money and be able to
The issue is that customers get annoyed for having a thing that gets “old” too soon. But it’s the definition of electronic stuff nowadays
What I don’t understand is why E-PL3 lost some E-PL2 functionality. This prevents sales because customer don’t see that move as an upgrade but has a compromise and puzzles customer (Apple don’t do this). Compromises is for a new product line, new naming (just see comments on Panasonic GF2 and GF3 on this site and reviewers everywhere).
I think Olympus is focusing on Pro heritage and needs (desperately) money for that and all forum readers are paying the development, each step.
If Olympus half full glass option is remotely right Olympus will have “soon” high grade lenses converted from 43 success stories and a “pro” body with all included (tilt screen and EVF built-in). Lenses will smile at pros for a carry anywhere light system. Pros will write on blogs about the system and magic happens: sales from every market segment.
Let us all (all camera makers fans included) hope glass is close to half full. It is better to the industry: quest for quality and perfection always drove science on the right path.
+ 1
People think the is leftovers, from the two/three last year by Pen, but maybe the sam so happen by Olympus E-5, spec tell only about water pro E-30.
Olympus is not the only manufacturer producing a model that is less than the previous. Canon followed the 50D alloy body with the 60D plastic body with less of the advanced features, but they thought enough of the art filters & articulating screen of the Oly E30 to include that on theirs. 😉
This is the cleverest post in a long time and it truly looks the explanation of what has been happening, considering that since the 2009 downturn sales have been decreasing for Oly and in the camera world.
Oly needs a bottom up approach, it needs to prospect new (Asian) markets, and new young customers, it it wants to finance the dream camera that enthusiasts want. Meanwhile it increments IQ and AF, pushes a few HG lenses, and the system develops organically.
I expect this to be in cooperation/competition with Panny. From the consumer POV, which is *not* the only one, just skip two or three models and you’ll get all you want. One cannot act as a spoiled kid and get everything at once. As good as it looks the X100 is a fixed lens camera and nobody knows how they’ll get into ILS.
As a system m4/3 now looks very good, with a choice of HG lenses improving its prospect drastically.
Admin, since yesterday after posting always get “404 not found” on this webpage http://www.43rumors.com/wp-comments-post.php but comment is successfully posted.
I have a link DSLR people.
http://www.spiderholster.com//dual-camera-system.html
Man, but those are big guns!
What Oly does with m43 is what they did with 43.
At launch of the E-3 it had the worlds fastes autofocus with the 12-60SWD lens.
No the body didn’t make older lenses faster nor did the SWD lens make older bodies focus faster.
It was the specific combo that made things faster.
Same story again with m43.
Fine by me. Now let’s see some SHG glass with the new SWD for m43.
By the time we get to E-P7 hopefully E-P5 that body will be fully compatible with classic 43 glass. Waste of customers and glass if they can’t get that right when classic 43 gets axed in due time.
Thats not true. The 12-60 on the e1 is faster than the 14-54 on the e1 and the 14-54 is faster on the e3 and e5 than on the e1. The focusing speed and accuracy(more on accuracy) with the e5 on all lenses is faster than the e3
Paulus,
I’ve read a great deal of Hayek’s and Mises’s works. As a patent attorney, I’ll have to pick up some of Kirzner’s works on innovation and entrepreneurship.
Dear BS Artiste,
Thank you very much for your positive acknowledgment!
Perhaps we should ask Admin if we could get a column “43rumors from the attorneys and the economist point of view”.
Best regards
Would love to see the new sensor/ processor generation in the next DSLR from Olympus!!
Sigh – it would be too sad to see this excellent technology going down the drain.
So far I have a GF1 and one lens. I will not be buying anything else as the lenses are crap, panasonic are a joke and olympus have turned to marketing over quality. I quit four thirds after having 3 E3’s which refused to focus. I could have put up with the heavy clunky E3 if it offered more than my excellent E500. What I won’t put up with is anything which does not give me optimum image quality.
Why are the micro cameras so noisy if they use the same sensor as the big boys? What’s with the cheap glass? I used to buy olympus because their kit was excellent. Without the excellence they are nothing.
So far I have a GF1 and one lens. I will not be buying anything else as the lenses are crap, panasonic are a joke and olympus have turned to marketing over quality. I quit four thirds after having 3 E3’s which refused to focus. I could have put up with the heavy clunky E3 if it offered more than my excellent E500. What I won’t put up with is anything which does not give me optimum image quality.
Why are the micro cameras so noisy if they use the same sensor as the big boys? What’s with the cheap glass? I used to buy olympus because their kit was excellent. Without the excellence they are nothing.
On first sight this looks really nice. … how about the customers who already own a bunch of zuiko’s. Olympus reinvented their focus system several times, (12-60SWD is also the world’s fastest lens with E3 and E5) but how about backwards compatibility with older lenses?
I am waiting on the micro cam that can focus my 35-100 and 150/2.0 without compromise, reliable and fast.
Getting new customers is very important, but keeping old customers your customer is even more important!
The 35-100mm and the 150mm f2 huh? That is a couple of sweet lenses!
News Flash from the Future: “Olympus Releases E-PLSMFT101”
This new body is incrementally smaller than the E-PLWTF100 which came before it and introduces a new 12 MP noise-free “super sensor” with TrueBluePic CXVII processor, a flip and fold-out 12″ OLED along with a true break-through: Olympus’ first built-in EVF. Cost: $799. Optional power switch: $1,000.
A bit cynical, but these guys truly have me scratching my head over what they’re thinking. Maybe their business plan is to have us buy all three new models in order to have a full featurset?
Nice
Hopefully they’ll also put an AF illuminator in the damn things.
What has this to do with AF?
You should probably try some other brand instead of dissing forever Olympus, if you don’t understand anymore its cameras.
Those are three tiered comsumer cameras, with *some* advanced features. If you need a Leica get it, instead of pestering users, about what you are not getting.
Err, OK. It’s a pretty basic, cheap, simple feature. I’m not dissing anyone, and it’s not an advanced feature.
“What has this to do with AF?”
You are right, what could an AF illuminator, designed to help with auto-focus in low light, possibly have to do with auto-focus. They have one on the XZ-1, and other Olympus compacts, Panasonic m43 offerings have it, but Olympus stubbornly leave it out on the PENs.
I wonder if a 12MP file can print beautifully on a poster size 5ft x 8ft. If not, I’ll buy a 16MP camera.
argghhh 404 error again.
But what exactly “AF” is?
I can’t find it on my C-Mount SOM Berthiot Cinor 50mm f2…
…
@admin
what about the orientation sensor?
No orientation sensor.
Hey admin
I was thinking about the E-PM1 and E-PL3 and that they both don’t have flashes. Do they have hotshoes or is Olympus planning on some accessory like the Sony flash attachment for the Nex-C3? Either way Oly should include a little flash ‘cube’ type thing for people to use (whether it be in the hotshoe or another type attachment).
They have hot shoes!
Thanks for that admin. Great work.
I reckon that they need a very small flash (smaller than FL-14) which they can either give with the camera or sell at a very low price. Alot of people who buy the Pen Mini or Pen Lite would be expecting flash capability without having to spend a couple of hundred for something like the FL-14.
Thanks for all the good news admin. Do you know if the new bodies will focus faster also with 43 lenses (like the 12-60 or the 50-200)? I remember you writing about a rumor that the new models will have a dual core processor (which might improve focus speed), that’s why I ask.
Any word on the sensor?
> Any word on the sensor?
Oh yes! : ‘Panasonic’
😀