Tomorrow (August 28) at 6am London time Olympus will announce the new E-Pl7. I have been told the 40-150mm PRO lens and the Silver E-M1 will be announced right before Photokina and not tomorrow. And here are some more images of the E-Pl7
via Photorumors.
Previsouly leaked images:
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125 Responses
“I have been told the 40-150mm PRO lens and the Silver E-M1 will be announced right before Photokina and not tomorrow.”
Could this mean the firmware update won’t come till then either?
The screen goes DOWN for selfies?! Not going to work if you set it on a table or have it on a tripod (have a pocket tripod for such situations). Still a great camera but it should be a rule to camera companies NOT to have self portrait lcd open downward =/.
When it comes to articulated screens, I have found that Sony has best one and Panasonic liking is in one way one of the worst. It looks so silly that people have display on side.
When you want display to be front (there are situations for that, like in macro photography) you can get it so, but most important is that you can get display further from body while tilted up (90-degrees) so the EVF isn’t blocking view, and then you can rotate display almost 90 degree left/right so you can keep camera vertically on tripod but still see display from above.
The bad side is that hinge system is large, compared to Panasonic one.
I don’t find so much problems from LCD seeing front. It makes nice addition to video journals and similar where you are not talking to lens but you can see how you look and especially if you hold something in your hands you can see is it foused, is it in frame etc.
One point of self portraits (I am not going to use word s*f) is that you really don’t see what you get when you take them with friend or so on. It is surprise then later to see it.
“- you don’t lose magnify mode when you focus, same with peaking,”
I don’t get that? I have not lost magnifying mode when I have focused.
Sometimes I shoot macro stills and videos with 60mm and I love how I can keep magnifying 14x and use autofocus or manual focus to get subject sharp.
Of course this might mean that we now get magnifying to stay when shooting VIDEO?
Because digital cameras are also OPTICAL products. Do never forget that ‘camera’ always means an OPTICAL stuff.
Most of genuine rear TCs of Nikon or Canon have limitations of lens range because of its image quality and performance – optical and physical reasons. Moreover, using a rear TCs on wideangle/standard lenses is never a resonable thinking.
But the inability to use it with the Panasonic 35-100 f2.8 – by all accounts an optically stellar lens – is just going to infuriate half their customer base.
Agreed. However, for it’s rear element design and relative short backfocal distance, I can say that Pany 35-100/2.8 has never designed for any of rear TCs and that’s why 35-100/2.8 is so small and attractive optics. And if the TC is usable on 35-100/2.8 anyway, it become 49-140/4, still usable range of focal length and aperture however we have many alternatives in this case.
Stellar? The price is stellar…
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
another ‘nothing’ inbetween camera……more high end stuff ffs!
So what’s the big deal about this camera? It’s the same camera from 5 years ago….
Olympus has really dropped the ball at Photokina this year. I guess they don’t plan their product portfolio around trade shows, but it really looks like they aren’t even trying. At all. Especially when there’s supposed to be exciting stuff coming out from the Big 3 (Canikon and Sony).
Not likely to happen :
“Tomorrow (August 18) at 6am London time Olympus”
Tomorrow is August 28th !
OH NO…The curse of the ugly tan grip on the white camera is back!
How come the white camera at the top of the page has a black grip and thumb pad?
Sad that there is no new tech here. Olympus, I am disappointed.
Always the PL series showed no new technology. Main target of E-PLs will never want them either.
I guess that’s she silver one?
If the Panasonic GM2 rumors are even partially true, Olympus is going to have trouble selling the E-PL7 to anyone paying attention. The GM2 should be as small or smaller, even with the built in EVF. And it probably won’t ship in tan. 🙂
Pretty sure the E-PL7 will be cheaper than the Panasonic GM2.
And pretty sure the PL7 is more balanced when using external Flash and even with the built-in 3 axis IS.
But radio triggers will balance equally well on both cameras for off camera flash. 😉
Yeah, there aren’t many situations where I would want an on-camera flash where I wouldn’t prefer to just handhold the flash with a cable (even more lo-fi than a radio trigger). On-camera flashes are just bulky and unless you’re using a giant flash bracket, still don’t even look great. Unless you’re using a huge bounce flash and diffuser, in an environment where you can actually use those.
The wired flash approach lets you get your Bill Cunningham on! 🙂
Yes, mid level vs premium. Probably US$599 vs $999. But Panasonic could get aggressive and go for the kill. At US$699 or $799, this would be pretty disruptive.
With the GH4 and GM1 it seems Panasonic finally has cured themselves of their usual ‘strategy’ of releasing a camera at a ridiculous premium and then cutting its price down to half over the course of 6-7 months…
I think taking a sort of “loss leader” approach to the GM2 would get a lot of people into M43.
If they could deliver the rumored EVF, tilt screen, 4K, weather sealing and better controls, and sell it for $699 and not lose money, it would be the camera of the year, even with the existing IQ and sensor, which is pretty darned good.
Is weather sealing rumoured? Even just adding the EVF would be a big step towards more directly competing with the RX100 M3 that everyone is going gaga about.
I agree. Even though the GM2 is an ILC and the RX100iii and Fuji X30 are fixed lens compacts, I see them as competitors in that they are all premium, enthusiast, tiny cameras. Fuji and Sony missed out by not ruggedizing them, even though these are selling to travelers, street shooters and owners of bigger systems looking for a “carry everywhere/anytime” camera. And that includes rain and snow. Hopefully, Panasonic gets it and builds us a little, affordable, modern Leica for M43.
If they could put together a GM2 + 15mm/1.7 kit for $1199 I imagine it would turn a lot of heads.
Aperture rings make so much sense on tiny cameras with space constraints for buttons and dials. I wish Panasonic and Olympus would put them on every lens
Price it close to the new Fuji X100T with that kit and yeah… it likely would!
Agreed, though I sort of hope they make the GM2 a bit bigger as the GM1 is so dang tiny it’s kind of a pain to shoot with imo.
The 3-axis IBIS would be a big selling point for the EPL, though.
Still, I think if it’s not $499 to compete with the larger-sensor A5100, Olympus is out to lunch on the pricing.
The EPL and EPMs seem to occupy to an uncomfortable middle zone where they’re not small enough to be pocketable (a la the GM1) nor large enough to have decent ergonomics (a la the GX7 or EM5). Even the EM10 is a bit on the small side, or maybe it’s just the button placements didn’t jibe with me.
Agreed about Oly IBIS being a draw. But the GM2 is rumored to have IBIS too, although the GX7’s fell short of Oly’s.
RE: button placement: ABSOLUTELY! They should standardize on the dual wheel configuration of the EP5 and OMs.
Actually I was thinking about it. While the E-PL6 is quite cheap, the GM1 here isn’t that far behind. I can get the latter new for US$600 now. The difference is slightly over US$100 here.
Hurray, looking at this pictures I see that my E-p2 still has a modern look!!! Thanks Oly.
Yeah, it looks as fashionable as the PEN F from 1960s and 70s!
If this can AF classic 43 lenses fast enough, I’ll get one just for that fun of it 😀
Looks nice but in my opinion m43 in the midst of a spike and downward fall. This half sensor is just fighting physics and now with Sony coming out with the a5100, Samsung and Fuji coming out with their smaller APS and m43 being priced fairly high …just not worth it …unless the price drops a lot.
I think the size of MFT is soooooo much smaller than any of the above when you take into account MFT designed lenses, on the body. There really is no contest there, especially with the smaller MFT bodies, like my E-P5 (which handles incredibly). The image quality and (more importantly) the performance is VERY good and although I think MFT is in a “sensor lull” right now…when we have another significant upgrade, I will not care if APS and FF improve. The situation will be the way I look at medium format now compared to my FF Canon..I don’t need that. (I don’t need a D810 either..it is overkill for me). My MFT kit will be all the camera that I need for all of my photographic needs. It already is for 75% of them. I think this system is the one. I am hoping that this long delay for an new sensor means that when it comes it will be a big improvement in low light performance and DR. Like I said, for a camera this size, it is already damn good!!!!
So true.
MFT still has the most complete system out there of any mirrorless. The lenses aren’t just small, many of the primes are excellent and even the expensive ones are very reasonable when compared to the full frame versions. I love the quality that I’m getting from my E-M1 and GH3 which won’t change even if Sony releases a camera that can shoot pics in absolute darkness.
While I agree that the m4/3 has the most complete lens system, the size issue is almost non existing.
I have compared your E-P5 with a Sony a6000, both with similar lenses
(50mm equv. f/1.8).
The EP-5 weighs with lens 556 grams and a6000 498 grams.
The size difference is negligible and you get a viewfinder with the Sony.
Have a look.
http://camerasize.com/compact/#535.410,459.411,ha,t
what about 35mm equv. then?
http://camerasize.com/compact/#535.85,459.383,ha,t
As well as in ~90 ~100mm equv.
http://camerasize.com/compact/#535.87,459.93,ha,t
Plus for many lenses you can’t find the counter part in E mount.
Hej Jan
As I said earlier. m4/3 has the most complete lens system. (read my post)
Even with the Zeiss lens (they tend to be bigger by design) the Sony will weigh 569 gram and E-P5 is 540 gram.
That is less than my example above. For those 29 grams you get a viewfinder, good video, significantly larger sensor and a new good AF tracking system. (previous weakness of NEX series)
That being said, I love Olympus lenses.
They are sharp, fast, expensive and well built.
I own the 12, 25, 45 and 75.
I just have not find the body for them that I like.
Besides stills, I shoot significant amount of video.
The Panasonic cams are not compatible with the Olympus mic system (SEMA-1) and the GX7 has no mic input nor any stabilization in video, rendering Olympus lenses unusable.
Putna telezoom oens on both and feel the difference, the sonys are HUGE
You mean like this.
The Sony is 55 – 210 (82.5 – 315 eqv.)
The E-P5 is 40 – 150 ( 80 – 300 eqv.)
close enough.
http://camerasize.com/compact/#535.90,459.95,ha,t
not a big difference.
http://camerasize.com/compare/#459,493
Well, my XE2 isn’t as large, is lighter and has a built in EVF. Sooooooo much smaller, I think not. And Fuji image Quality is Much better, especially at higher iso’s. It’s crazy the amount of Noise in the M43, even in the daytime after comparing pics with a APS-C or FF sensor. It’s why my M43 cameras have dropped to being my secondary camera, when it used to be primary.
Let’s put lenses on then compare..wait, I find it hard to find counterpart lenses in X mount to compare…
You apparently know that in order to take a photograph you need lenses, and as such, only to compare bodies does not make sense, and even then the Fuji X-E2 is bigger.
The Achilles heel of the whole X-System is its lackluster speed: AF, operation, everything. Also the lack of IBIS isn’t really a plus. To me except some advantages in image quality (not that large though), m4/3 wins hands down in all aspects.
yes…if you know what you are doing taking pic (lens, highlights, ISO etc), and post processing the pic.
You can pull excellent photos out of a MFT camera. I have them hanging in galleries..but why would you and I listen to Mr. All Craps..he probably doesn’t have a camera and if he does he puts it on auto and shoots jpegs of he cat!!!! You know its true!
I doubt anyone in this forum actually takes pics. Even if, you can also take great pictures with mobiles, so what? That does not make m43 interesting at all.
The Fuji lenses have typically faster equivalent apertures .The size advantage of mFT lenses when compared to lenses from otehr systems with the same equivalent aperture have at best minimal size advantages . Though not surprisingly there are many denialists here who are very reluctant to do that, the problem is finding lenses slow enough in other systems to match
f1.8 vs f1.4. If a user really want shallow DOF, then maybe go to medium format. M4/3, Apsc both lose here. Are you comparing the weather sealed Oly 12-40 f2.8 with the Fuji 18-55 f2.8 — f4, errr, for size or for aperture?
Why not both? I’m sure the 18-55mm coupled with the XT1 would still best the EM1 with the 12-40mm, even though it has a constant aperture. And look at the size…
Wow…
MAHLER, care to reply? Can you see the pic? Seriously, where is the M43 advantage? Ibis? Lol!!
Smaller..yeah…something is smaller here…but it is NOT your camera.
Check it out!
http://camerasize.com/compare/#493,459
Depends, we see two conflicting trends – one of them being larger sensor cameras getting cheaper and the other being smaller sensors getting better. As soon as there’s organic sensor in M43 bodies I don’t care about the rest anymore. Until then it’s perfectly valid to consider other cameras, although I think the differences between M43 and APS-C bodies tend to be exaggerated, one side claiming too much portability advantage and the other claiming too much quality advantage.
Agreed. The body size advantage of M43 is less and less apparent. To me, the M43 advantage is in the small primes. The high quality zooms seem to be about the same size as Fuji’s. An M43 organic sensor packing camera is my holy grail too. It will be interesting to see how these lenses hold up to that kind of resolution and DR.
Yep, I consider lens portability an advantage for my style of shooting although one could make an argument about DoF equivalent lenses being roughly similar in size. But people tend to do these one-dimensional comparisons without considering other qualities such as AF speed or overall ergonomics which in real life might be even more important and frankly, most of my images end up on the web down-sampled to five to eight times lower resolution. It’s just not worth being paranoid.
You also have to remember, FUJI is Panasonic’s Partner in the Organic Sensor. So however the 43 Sensor turns out to be, The Fuji APS-C sensor will be Better.
Plus Fuji’s Lens selection is getting better and I’d gladly pit it’s primes against any M43 Prime, Especially the ones I use most, 40mm and 50mm.
Indeed, APSC will still be bigger. The current M43 and APSC cameras deliver plenty of quality. But with organic, it promises to be so over the top that I don’t think the distance between the two will matter. The lenses, however, will be the test, as you say. Assuming, of course, that the organic sensor ever ships, it will be a contest to see which format can exploit all of that resolution and DR with the best glass (and handling, and focus speed, and size). 🙂
I would and have gladly pick a Fuji X prime lens over any M43 lens, aside from the Nocticron(?) any day.
The build Quality to the X Series is top notch. the 18-55mm alone shouldn’t even be called a “Kit” lens. it’s far from kit lens quality!
Fuji’s aperture rings, style, build quality and optics all have great appeal. M43’s focus speed, prime size and overall quality have kept me in the system. It’s a great balance. And having Panasonic and Olympus continually leapfrogging one another with great products keeps it all interesting.
Fuji is officially a supporting company of M4/3 (the group is getting bigger). Maybe not a Fuji M4/3 camera, but a Fuji lens for M4/3 in the future, possible? http://www.four-thirds.org/en/contact/group.html
That seems unlikely. 🙂 But hopefully, their organic sensor partnership with Panasonic will produce sensors for both systems.
Agreed Douglas. I really like how Fuji cameras look. That new X30 just looks like a comfy camera to use. Too bad they didn’t seal the deal with a nice 1″ sensor on it.
The community over at FujiRumors.com seems pretty down on the camera. I think Fuji may have miscalculated this time. I just hope that the LX8 delivers similar handling…
The IQ I see from my Olympus 75mm, Panasonic 25mm and even the Olympus 45mm has been very satisfying. Even the Olympus 17mm, which gets some knocks, has been great. I like it just fine.
That Fuji “kit” lens you reference gets rave reviews. It sounds really special, and Fuji’s OIS sounds amazing. Fuji is fighting on two fronts: they’re punching above their weight class in taking on FF offerings from Canikon at high ISO, while challenging small. light M43 systems on portability and IQ.
I like the commitment to existing customers that Fuji shows with aggressive firmware updates, even for very old models. But they also have a history of releasing products with lots of flaws that require these updates.
Panasonic’s offerings seem better baked at release. But even Olympus addressed their shutter shock issues in firmware (although EM5 owners may be less satisfied.).
Competition is good. There are lots of options in the small camera, high quality space. I’m hoping that the GM2 finds Panasonic exploiting its ties to Leica for user experience inspiration. Fuji already already gets it.
Fuji primes are great, but M4/3 has very capable lenses as well, and to me they’re “good enough” to merit consideration based on price point alone. It costs a small fortune to fill out a lineup of Fuji AF lenses.
Most of the Fuji X lenses have a faster equivalent aperture, but you pay for it in weight and $$$. The 56mm f1.2 is the only more affordable option.
m4/3 lenses aren’t that far from X-lenses as you claim, and the X-Trans sensors do not have only benefits. The X-lenses are huge compared to m4/3 lenses and rather expensive and AF slowish. Fuji can’t deny the fact that in order get a smaller camera system one has to shrink the sensor. For lightweight and small camera systems, Fuji is no alternative. One might better stick to its APS-C DSLR than moving to Fuji.
You’re Joking…Right?
http://camerasize.com/compare/#459,493
http://camerasize.com/compare/#482,493
http://camerasize.com/compare/#482,520
Ehm, would exactly did you want to prove? We. know that the E-M1 is about as big as some Fuji bodies, but I was talking about lenses. The lenses are the main size factor.
And where is exactly the Fuji X body, which is as small as a GM1?
Yawwwwwn… thanks for showing cameras with bodies only. If you want to do that, you might as well put the A7 in there to show us all how small Sony can make a camera body. Here… why not put on a fast zoom lens on those cameras (not some small prime) and see where it takes you.
The 18-55mm is a good lens… it is not better than the Oly 12-40 in either build quality or optics. Then again, you could have gotten an XE-1 with that lens for like $600 when they were blowing out the XE-1’s.
Sure. But so far, M4/3 is the only mirrorless format to offer in-body image stabilization. Even if it’s only worth 1 stop, that claws back the APS-C advantage in low-light quite easily. And if you look at the E-M1, where the IBIS can achieve up to 4 stops, then you’ve got a clear advantage. The resolution war will obviously go to the larger sensor, assuming you’ve got the lenses to handle it.
For still photographers It claws back in low light static shots when you cannot use any external camera support in focal lengths where there are no IS/vr lenses available for the other system. In every other scenario IS is of little value. IBIS is a niche advantage in very specific situations.
For video it has more utility though Olympus video is so weak compared to Panasonic that it is a bit of a bummer. I shoot exclusively Panasonic with the 7-14 { IS is hardly of value this wide } I have the 12-35 and 35-100 with OIS , there is an OIS macro, an OIS uber fast 1.2 prime, and for length there is the 100-300mm with OIS, there are multiple standard kit zooms with OIS and even the 10x zoom with OIS.
Even Sony with its weaker lens choices has from 10mm-200mm covered with OSS lenses a FF equiv 15-300mm focal range they also have a couple of fast primes with OSS. I think IBIS is a small advantage in certain scenarios but hugely exaggerated
My interest in it is perhaps particularly niche because I like using legacy lenses, but being able to take a $50 300mm f5.6 lens and be able to all of a sudden use it hand-held instead of being tripod bound (and still at the mercy of every tiny vibration while focusing) is something very appealing to me.
Ditto my 90mm f2.8 macro lens, or my 50mm f1.4 for low-light portraits. Even being comfortably able to use 1/60s or 1/30s with those lenses represents 2-3 stops improvement, and is really quite valuable.
A stabilized body lets me save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on lenses that are otherwise still very decent optically.
Pure speculation. You have no idea, when the famous organic sensor will available in which sizes and which resolution. You have no idea, which specific characteristics it will have in the final products.
It seems safe to assume that since Fuji and Panasonic are working on it, it would come in both M43 and APSC sizes. Less predictable is if it really will ship! Or if by the time it does, will it still matter? Sony and Canon and Sigma are all working on new sensor technologies as well. 😉
Well, if the organic sensor actually pans out in reality what they say it will, the difference between an m43’s and APS-C version will be purely academic in terms of practical IQ gain. The DR that is being rumored from these types of sensors are stratospheric.
Yo loudmouth…you say your camera is smaller? Simply not true.
We are on the EPL7 page, which will be smaller that the E-PL6. How can you say your camera is smaller???
http://camerasize.com/compare/#460,459
..and if we put a system lens on each camera your plight gets much worse. Why do you spread this ridiculous nonsense?
Are you kidding? 35mm sensors are teeny weeny compared to my 8×10 200 megapixel $800,000 monstrosity. Full frame? More like 1/50th frame.
Thank you, sir!
My monocle fell into the caviar when I read this post.
if 35mm is teeny weeny what is mFT with a sensor with just over a quarter of the area ? itsy bitsy ? or perhaps as a reflection the fanboys who use it ” tiny whiny “
The new fujifilm underwelms considerably
m43 is a pretty nice format IMO, any size up increase mathematically the lens size and with prime we have more than enough shallow depth of field ( more (as FF) can be quite annoying as i already often struggle to get everyone sharp (when I shoot open, which is often).I love the small but fantastic prime like 45/1.8.
The PL5/7 looks so innocent/unintrusive/friendly but still produces great shots.Anything larger would not be as “people friendly “.
It is not a half sensor, it is a quarter sensor. Would be OK if priced low, but it is priced higher than the real stuff. Corporate greed.
If you remove the gray rubber cover above the display you’ll discover a useful EVF. After all, what sense would it have to put a connector socket which only a very few people could find any meaningful use of while a lot would be really happy to have an EVF there.
Olympus is not stupid!
For street photography a EVF-4 is great as it lowers the camera down to allow free both eyes open -framing and then as well allows to tilt EVF so you look down when taking a photo and people around you doesn’t get so scared about you then.
Same time you can easily just swap it off when not needed to other camera. Later you can even upgrade the EVF without upgrading the camera.
And I can believe that most PEN owners doesn’t use EVF but just rear LCD.
Another thing I like about the PEN cameras is you can put an OVF on top without making the camera look ridiculous. I use OVFs (hunted on eBay) for the prime lenses with FL smaller than 30mm. With AF zone set to centre and backlit of screen off, for daylight shooting it’s fast and fun. I know a lot of people would rant about the “parallax error” thing, the “OVF don’t show information” thing, but try it yourself and see. I do use VF3 for manual lenses and night shooting.
I’ve often considered using an OVF (particularly the KMZ turret finders look quite appealing to me), but then I realize that most of the glass I’d want to use with it is manual focus, making a non-coupled OVF entirely useless. I only own 1 autofocus prime, and it’s a focal length that the turret finders wouldn’t even cover (40mm eq.).
Seems like a fun idea, but I’ll save my $100 and put it towards a camera with an EVF…
Haha, the turret finder is bad ass. I bought most of the finders at prices lower than 30$, of course they don’t show up everyday and one need some luck. There is a kind of Albada finder (the ones show bright frame line when you see into it, like the Oly VF1) has a ~40mm (eq.) frameline. I have one but I don’t have the 40mm (eq.) lens , I bought it because I thought it has 35mm instead, but no.. Check this post here: http://poppelyang.tumblr.com/post/94720038153/m4-3-alternative-accessories-optical-viewfinders-ovf
Haha, the turret finder is cool. I got most of the finders at prices lower than 30$, of course they don’t show up everyday and one need some luck. There is a kind of Albada finder (the ones show bright frame line when you see into it, like the Oly VF1) has a ~40mm (eq.) frameline. I have one but I don’t have the 40mm (eq.) lens, I bought it because I thought it has 35mm frameline, but no.. The painful thing is sellers don’t know the focus length of the finders and they don’t measure before put it on sale. Check this post here: http://poppelyang.tumblr.com/post/94720038153/m4-3-alternative-accessories-optical-viewfinders-ovf
It’s an EM10 with a PEN body. As a EP5 owner I would just advise to get the EM10.
Also has fewer dials…
As I’ve said, unless Olympus is very aggressive with pricing this – as they need to be – it’s just going to sit on the shelves along with the other recent PENs. Basically no unique selling proposition whatsoever to boost it above the comparably priced competition.
Agreed. I love the EP5 and I own the VF-4 and a thumb grip. Thing is though, I’ve shot the EM10 and know I’m heading in that direction. You may want the smaller sleeker style- but functionality wins hands down everytime. For that the OMD’s are simply better suited.
How are the OMDs more functional, apart from the artificial distinction created by having an integrated EVF vs an accessory EVF on the Pens?
I own Olympus cameras of both form factors and don’t see the distinction.
For one, the add on VF-4 isn’t exactly the pinnacle of design execution. Can’t use the hotshoe for flash when using it- which you’ll want to soon enough. Grip? Don’t come over here to PEN land….unless you plan on using the thumb grip and taking up that all mighty hotshoe again. No interchangeable grip in the front either which is a bummer. Form as function- the OMD’s excel in this regard. Minor differences add up.
🙂 I think we’re in agreement, mostly. My point is that if the Pen had an integrated, left side EVF, it could be functionally equivalent to the OMs, and smaller than the EM1.
Simple: a second control wheel. That makes ergonomically a huge difference.
My EP5 has two, just like my EM1. Olympus should standardize their controls, with this configuration.
Because one requires you to spend about $200 to get that EVF… the other one comes with it, and is more streamlined (takes up less vertical space overall than a PEN with the VF-4.
What thumb grip? I’m looking for something like an addon-grip for a better hold.
I adore my E-P5 for the variability of being a “full” camera on par with the Olympus top ones when VF-4 is attached, but in the same time having a small and compact everyday cam for some “tourist action”.
5 bucks on ebay. Screws right on the top hotshoe mount. And let me just say, it’s fantastic. I don’t even think I would have kept the EP5 if not for it. That’s just me, but for 5 bucks you can’t go wrong. I rarely use the VF-4 which is why I bought the EP5- but it’s nice to have. Overall, I’m liking the grip on the EM10 a bit more. That’s just me though. I’ll have to have them both.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DZZHU0U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It’s a Fotodiox unit. Make sure you get the longer grip like this one. Works well on my GX7 too although you have to back it off a fraction to let the flash pop and access the manual switch.
As an E-M10 owner, I could still reasons for getting the E-PL7, if the price is low enough and if it comes with the power zoom/pancake 14-42 it would be a good option for people looking for very small, high quality cameras. Tomorrow we’ll find out the price and configuration options and we’ll all see if it’s worth it.
While I hear this type of point alot, I gotta wonder… is the EPL7 really that much smaller than an EM-10? It’s not GM1 pocket sized, so it still needs to be in either its own dedicated bag or a purse/messenger. Oly’s price on this camera is easily $100 too much.
I see that they’ve stuck the ultra-high quality 14-42 lens on it.
That would be nice if the PZ 14-42 came with the E-PL7. It would be even better if they price it aggressively as a combo (say $650-700 for both, including that unique lens cover.
The one feature of the EPL models I have admired is the selfie mode LCD. I see they have ruined that by rotating the screen downwards, instead of above the camera. How are you supposed to use it on a tripod now? It seems like such a good idea for a one man reportage camera, but now it’s only a useful feature for handheld. meh.
micro 4/3 doesn’t mean only ‘compact’. It’s the most versatile system mirroless. Many choice of lens, small, light, fast, zooms, etc…
I had the choice between Sony, Fuji and Panasonic. Not Olympus because they doesn’t care about videomakers, It’s true and sad because i really love the E-p5.
And i choosen GX7 with only one lens, the Voigtlander 17.5mm. i’m 100% manual and the 35mm is my favorite focal lenght.
This combo is very balanced, very fast and have DoF FF. What else?
I hope Panasonic will decreasing size of GH lines, like they did with the GH2 before. GH3&GH4 are a little ‘bulky’. WHy i didn’t choose an second hand GH2? because the tiltable EVF of GX7 is so great, i use it the most of time when i record, and i added an official eyecup for the GX7 EVF.
I got before many lens, Samyang 7.5mm, Olympus 12mm, 45mm, 75mm and Panasonic 14mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm, 14-45mm, 14-42mm. I sold them, my last lens was the 15mm, 20mm and 45mm. I bought the Voigtlander 17.5mm because i didn’t like rings focus by wire.
I really hope the next GX (or GM..), Panasonic will adding an mic input, and they will keeping the great EVF tiltable.
Considering how much prices of older mFT models fall and with many from the E-M5 onwards you will get all but identical image quality to this .Why would anyone buy it when in all likelihood you will be able to get more features for your money buy simply buying one of the “older” models
many other subjetive reasons for many potential buyers I think. Imo I did not not gain lots in IQ from older mft or even FT models(ok the step from E-1 is huge in megapixels) to my last one which was an E-M5 (I am not a pixelpeeper or dpreview fan which might explain my lack of critical analysis). I dont belive much in progress of a next sensor generation.Maybe I would buy just because its cool to have a new one(some functions work smoother or more fast, after all, these are computers too) Yoou might buy one when sensorgeneration X appears(with or without realising if it really is visible in a resized pic or 300dpi photoprint)
Imo one of the best potential advantages are that of better low light performance (with ISO 3200 and 6400). Any advance in that area is always welcomed, which is why I like to look at the studio comparison tool in DPR. I like to see which has cleaner noise @ 3200-6400 ISO, and also which has better detail @ those ISOs in low light.
So what??? No viewfinder, no can do. Why wanna buy camera and shoot like iPhone? Olympus E-PL is useful as cockroach dung. My monies buy Panasonic GX7. Real man no shoot iPhone style.
As an outsider to olympus, I view the E-PL sort of an entry-way to their system. OM-Ds might be perfect for those who already have some 4/3 glass, but for those invested in other glass might prefer the small size of a pen line-up. Besides, there are many times when I wish I could tilt the LCD of my D800 when taking pictures of cars in a car gathering/event , to work from different angles. Looking through a viewfinder certainly is fun, and it feels like the “right way” to compose certain shots, but I wouldn’t dismiss the Live View , as it gets heavy use in certain types of photography (such as landscape).
If the PL7 is capable of producing image quality close to that of E-M1, or even better, then it should be pretty good deal.
honestly I dont care about viewfinder anymore, i find them awkward now that I m so used to use an Iphone.People are more used to seeing picture taken at arm length, they are more relax IMO than with someone hiding behind a camera.
And I much prefer focusing on touch screen, better accuracy.
GX-7 has a touchscreen and the rangefinder style covers hardly any of your face vs, say, an EM-10 or even a pen with an optional (center mounted) VF. I agree that people feel comfortable with pictures taken, as you say, at arms length… I would merely the ergonomics of putting a camera to your eye mean you get a lot of stability when you shoot.
Talkin’ like 2008, like a DSLR troll criticizing first CSCs. This is CSC so you will never get an ‘real viewfinder’ forever. Mainstream or cashcows of CSC market are always simple brick-like stuffs, and without EVF. E-PL7 is also targeting entry market, not enthusiasts, semi-professionals or even, YOU. Stop poking innocent entry stuff and buy anything with viewfinder.
Hey Loonie, what 2008? What DSLR? I talk mirrorless. And mirrorless GX7 got that viewfinder. The GH1 got no viewfinder but that’s ok because it so damn small. EPL7 not small, same size as GX7 so what the heck no viewfinder? Ya, it does selfie. Good for you.
Ok, I see many iPhone shooters here so alright. You no want viewfinder you buy this EPL7. As famous Englishman say “To each his horse”.
I prefer it without the viewfinder, gives it a smaller body profile! It’ll be good backup body to the E-M10. Hopefully it’ll use the same battery as well. Can’t wait for it to be announced 😀
The PL5 uses the same battery as the M10 and is running $200+ less than the PL7. Why not get that as a back up?
Overall looks great except for the cheap looking rear dial. I like the selfie enabled screen. Actually think some of the other higher end models should flip in a similar way.
This is an attractive camera, but still it leaves me cold. I have found coming from point and shoot cameras that I need an EVF to frame more effectively. The Pens seem like much of a muchness – all the same in other words. How does one succeed in the camera business these days – not an easy challenge. I may be completely wrong, but this camera does not have enough to differentiate it from every other non-EVF camera on the market, including Olympus.
If Sony can put a EVF in RX100 why cant Olympus put one in this.