The E-5 will be official in a few hours but a french magazine already leaked the press release. The Olympus E-5 costs 1.699 Euro! THe E-5 will be official on 7am London time!
Photobusiness.fr: images and presentation (google english translation)
UPDATE: They just removed the article. This is the google english translation from the french text:
“If the differences between the E5 and its predecessor Olympus E3 seem pretty small, it is the most important elements of the apparatus which have undergone a change. Indeed, the E5 adopts a new sensor, a new processor and a new screen. It also offers the HD video and also artistic filters borrowed from another by Olympus.
The sensor of 12.3 million pixels of the E5 offers a reasonable definition that Olympus did not want to increase focus and good management of noise at high sensitivities. As the E3 and most SLR brand, the Live MOS sensor 4 / 3 is equipped with dust filter SSWF. The latter has proven itself, it avoids any accumulation of dust on the sensor surface. To reduce vibration at the onset and Live View mode, the E5 has the renowned mechanical stabilization system controlled by supersonic waves from Olympus.
This is a new image processor TruePic V+ which is incorporated into the E5 for better performance and improved noise management. In burst mode, the pace of E5 is 5 frames per second in high resolution and sensitivity rises to 6400. The autofocus module with 11 points on the cross of E3 is itself stored on the E5.
Also new, the LCD offers a fully articulated 3-inch diagonal but above definition record of 960 000 pixels. These features allow for enjoyable viewing of images including Live View mode.
The E5 inherits the superb production of its predecessor with a magnesium alloy case, light, tropical and ultra-resistant. The housing is resistant to water splashes, dust and multiple pressure constraints. Its interface is well designed and the menus are simplified in the manner of a PEN. Moreover, the mark embedded in E5 several artistic filters to obtain images of original artistic renderings without editing. We find the effects Pop-Art, Soft Focus, Pinhole and a new filter that offers HDR rendering dramatic.
The novelty of this case lies in the possibility of making videos. Indeed, the E5 is capable of recording 720p HD motion sequences (1280 x 720 pixels) at 30 frames per second. In video mode, the exposure can be managed automatically or manually with a complete management of the aperture. Autofocus operates continuously throughout the sequence.
The Olympus will be available in October 2010 suggested retail price of 1699 euros body only.”
P:S: We leaked the Samsung NX100 on mirrorlessrumors (Click here)!
169 Responses
are we to assume the specs haven’t changed?
the special features of the camera are yet to be announced
lets hear from olympus on what the camera can do
Is that body only price?
I know some didn’t want it but i am glad they kept the onboard flash
is the flash different ?
it looks longer to me , to account for the 12-60mm
Hi Neville,
They still need the on board flash at least for remote (wireless) flash control. They couldn’t abandon the FL50R wireless (by flash) system & if they did then they’d have to produce another flash unit to do do true wireless (radio) control. They needed to keep compatibility for this camera.
For myself, I just need the assurance of another (better) body to follow my E30 should it die before I spend money on more 4/3 lenses. I wish I had the option to replace my own body as it gets older :), but then again…. :/
I wonder what the UI will look like now on a high res LCD. This is the first time Olympus has ever used one of the 921k displays right? The Olympus UI has always been usable, but it’s never been much to look at. Anyway, looks like a fine camera if you like big DSLR’s, but I personally don’t see the purpose of a DSLR that big with a sensor that small. I wish the OM-like DSLR rumor would have been true.
the om rumor is connected to the modular camera rumor
thats the body of the supposed modular camera which would be awesome
Site is down.
yeah seems like someone from olympus is closely monitoring this site. same as with the japanese magazine in amazon.co.jp, its gone.
It would have been good in 2009! What a waste of time. At least it makes the move away from Olympus an easy decision.
Wow, 1.699 Euro for a professional E-P2? That sounds like a LOT! That’s about $2,000 USD. Surely that can’t be body only, right?
Why is this official? Official is an announcement by Olympus. This is an article on some random French site. For all we know this article could be referencing 43rumors.com!
It’s 100% official with Olympus press release!
Admin: You said FT5 it was the 2 year old Pen sensor. This article says it’s a new sensor.
FT5 means it’s a done deal, right?
What gives.
AT this price and with this specs a Nikon 300s or Canon 7d locks better!!
Aaaaaaand I’m shopping other manufacturers.
We’ll reading the translation, OM aren’t getting my money on this one, unless the reviews come in hot
Well, that describes the sensor as “new,” though that could be new as compared to the E-3 sensor. In any case, I’ll be curious to see how this camera tests out.
so long Olympus…it was fun, but Canon is now calling my name 🙁
I guess it all depends on the image quality of the new sensor. If the image quality is extraordinary, the rest of the features just help to make it a well-balanced camera. If not, people start to look for their revolution among the rest of the features and are prone to be disappointed.
I am 100% satisfied with my E-620. I am not in the market for an E-5, but, if this is real I am extremely disappointed because I worry that this seemingly non-innovative “upgrade” may threaten the future of a system I have invested a ton in. I really expected more from you Olympus…
all crap years waited for a CRAP unit
Crap unit? Get real.
It’s a very solid unit and it will have image quality on par with a 7D and D300s.
It’s weathersealed, 920k resolution on the screen, fast autofocus.
And you get to use Zuikos on it.
Exactly why is this crap?
920k resolution on the screen doesn’t help you take better pictures, it’s just a pretty UI. My E-3 is already weather sealed. The AF is already fast on SWD lenses. What is the advantage of this E-5 over the E-3? Video + art filters?
I was excited for an E-3 upgrade but there is no reason to switch from my E-3, especially as I already have an E-P1 for when I want video.
the camera isnt really crappy, just not a good enough upgrade for anyone to buy. And no one outside of the olympus users will buy this camera, no one. You can sell zuiko quality all you want but for 1699 euros? why would anyone in thier right mind buy this camera over at that price with the prospect of non new lenses….ever?
We still haven’t seen what it is capable of. Let’s see some samples before we make the call.
I know if you look at the comparometer at Imaging Resource the E-Pl1 is comparable and even beats the Nikon and Canon high end models.
The image quality in this will be even better. I would say a couple of times better due to better electronics.
I would say a camera that can shoot 7D/D300s quality pictures is pretty darn good and would be able to make saleable images.
My E3 is 3 years old and needs an update. This one can make it’s money back I’m sure.
All that being said, if I were starting from scratch it would be a tougher call. But I’m willing to see what it actually does before I jump off the cliff like some around here.
y its crap u dont need to upgrade our unit with a e5… im using a ep1 and epl1… if u them there no need to upgrade i rather used my e3…
Art filters? ART FILTERS?! OK, the HDR thing might be interesting. But ART FILTERS?
ARF filters–it was a type. It filters out dogs.
“Too late, too late will be the cry when the hackable GH1s have passed you by”. =(
Dear Mr. Kiselev, feel like optimizing the E-5 for us?
$2K for an E-3 MK II? Dreaming!! I’d pay $850-900.
+1 on the art filters! On a pro camera? WTF?! Thanks for showing up!
Prior to this article on E5, there was so much talk on this website about Oly releasing one more high-end dslr and then discontinuing the line, and focusing on micro 4/3 instead. I see half of this rumour has now come true – the release of the E5 as the (Last?) high-end dslr. I am still not convinced Oly is committed to keep the normal 4/3 line going for the long term.
I own a E520, and was shopping last weekend for the remote release cable RM-UC1. I went to the most reputable camera retailer chain in my country and they told me Oly no longer produces the RM-UC1 because the new micro 4/3 does not use this cable. I also notice that the Olympus on-line store does not sell this cable, and worse yet – I also noticed that the Oly on-line store only sells adaptors for normal 4/3 lenses and OM lenses to be used on micro 4/3 bodies! That is.. they do not even sell adaptors for OM lenses to be used on normal 4/3 bodies anymore! Are my observations about the dearth of the RM-UC1 and adaptors for normal 4/3 bodies signs that Oly is really planning to end the normal 4/3 dslr line with the E5?
They still make the OM-4/3 adapters. I just bought one in a brick and mortar store not 2 or 3 months ago.
720p fail – 30fps fail – aperture control only fail
it says in the release you can control both exposure and aperture
so ya , fail
If I waited years for these specs, then so long Olympus, hello Canon!
If this is true what a major dissappointment.
I was really expecting some innovation with the image sensor technology.
Almost certain it was going to be a Panasonic 3 layer RGB or a HDR Kodak Sensor.
So after three years of waiting we get a Pen in an E-3 body with art filters.
What about the features that are supposed to make the competition look up and notice?
Maybe in 2007/2008 this would have been that camera.
From what I have seen of the Pentax K-5, it looks much more promising and more like the specs Olympus should have implemented in an E-3 upgrade.
Guess what has two thumbs and is going to buy a d-700
If I were to upgrade today, I would be eyeing the D700 too. cheers
D700 is good, then do not object to what … And if in 2011, Canon will release something that is much better than D700 does this mean that you’ll be screaming: “Nikon, you did not live up my expectations, I’m going to Canon!”? If you’re a wedding photographer or a pro, then the D700 will be a step forward compared with the E-3 (E-5). If you’re just an amateur, then why these hand-wringing?
I like it. And since I have always liked the Oly SLR, it looks like a good bit of kit for me. I would like a comparison to the E30.
If these are in fact the final specs of this camera and the sensor is indeed that from the pen series this is a major disappointment, Short of stellar image quality review I see no reason to upgrade from my E-3 and to find a camera capable of better quality I will be looking elsewhere, looking forward to gh2 announcement.
the GH2 wont shoot 1080p video either
Considering that the GH1 already shoots 1080p, I’d say it’s a foregone conclusion the GH2 will as well. Not sure where you got your information on the GH2 not shooting 1080p.
panasonic has now made it impossible to use the 1080p out of the camera
and the GH2 will have 1080i at most
and the difference between the two are huge
Seriously, what are you talking about? The GH1 does 1080p factory stock. The hack simply increases the rate at which you can record. Here’s a quote from Panasonic’s LUMIX website:
“With the DMC-GH1, shooting incredible photos is only part of the fun. You can also shoot beautiful, richly detailed movies in full-HD (high definition) at 1080/24p, or smooth HD movies at 720/60p in AVCHD format (MPEG-4/H.264)*1 with a Continuous AF/AE function*2.”
Panasonic’s new firmware locked out the hack, but the camera is still more than capable of delivering full HD video on its own. The GH2 will be better. No reason to believe the GH2 will be less capable than the GH1, hack notwithstanding. Are you confusing the GH1 with the G2 by chance?
Wait for the real deal!
I think that the file “container” Got you confused abit,
Pana GH1 does shoot 1080p 24p/25p(depends on the video system), but it saves the video file under 50/60i, so it makes 50/60i=24/25p
Olympus is like an abusive lover…makes you think things are going to change for the better and then when you start to believe it you get a big Oly-slap across the face…This better be a marketing ploy by Olympus to throw people off or my loyalty is lost.
Oh, and FYI, let’s just WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE IMAGE QUALITY IS! Ok, boyos?
See, part if the problem is that rumors sites, like this one, kind of affect your expectations, RIGHT?
Is that all what they been working on since releasing E-3!?!?! It is E-30 in the alloy body. What a shame! It is time to switch… Olympus is dying… slowly, but surely!
olympus is at the top of the sales charts in japan , they are not going anywhere
jeff: “olympus is at the top of the sales charts in japan”
They are one of the top Japanese companies to be sure, and the Pen series is doing very well indeed (you see them everywhere), but they are in no way on top of the DLSR charts in Japan. I shoot sports for fun and among the many serious shooters at my stadium I am the only one who shoots Oly.
What I want to know, and what I’m hoping that reviews of this will answer, is “what is this camera better at than the competition in it’s price range?” It could be the sealing, but that was already the case on the E-3. It won’t be resolution, and that’s okay for me. But what is it? What is going to be Olys argument to me or anyone else buying a camera. The answer is not yet apparent. Maybe in camera HDR? Is that enough?
Well, lets see, the only advantage I can think of for the E-5 over the now aging and soon to be replaced Pentax K7 is articulating LCD and possibly faster AF. The K7 is built and weather sealed every bit as well and it also has a larger and higher resolution sensor. So I can’t really make a case for the E-5 over the K7, what exactly will the selling point be over the upcoming K5? Pay more for a bulkier DSLR with smaller view finder and sensor? I really don’t get what Olympus is thinking here or why it took them so long to release this very minor upgrade over the E-3.
It feels like the death of the OM system all over again. It’s becoming more and more apparent that all Olympus cares about is the entry level m4/3’s market.
You guys keep on complaining….And make sure your gear goes up on Ebay..Please sell your gear…I know I’ll be glad to help you switch systems by buying. Looking forward to all the people moving glass and bodies onto Ebay!
How many of you have gotten to a point in your photography where you have exceeded your equipments capabilities? And for those who chime in and say they have….Can we see some links to your work?
Thnx. 😉
I don’t think thats the point. Olympus needs people to think that they have exceeded the capabilities of thier camera so they will buy this camera. If I had an E3, I wouldnt be buying this camera.
So this camera appeals to mostly E500/10/20,E410/20 users and clearly does not appeal to E3 owners or any outsiders. That’s a death pill for 43.
I cant wait for everyone to put on a new compact m43 14-300 mm f5.6 to f11 on thier awesome new body.
You are right Jamie. Very good photography you have in your website. I’m surprised you are one of the very, very few here that has a link to real photography and not word. I’m not professional but have a link to flickr where most of the pictures there were grabbed with an E1 and an E3.
Regards.
Seems really expensive to me.
Jamie
no problem , you can see the link
It is not so much the camera that is outdated , but I now I can work with a much better sensor than this
I just have to look at ..well EVERY other brand of dslr ( ok , not sigma but everyone else)
Harold
Well, as much as I really hope this is just a marketing ploy from Oly to keep the real specs till tomorrow, and as much as I love my zuiko lenses. If these are the real specs for the new body, it looks like I will be going to the 7d. At least I’ll be able to borrow lenses from profs, like the 400mm 2.8.
I just can not imagine how to use the 35-100mm f / 2 on the E-P2 (or something similar) for a long time! If the series DSLR 4 / 3 at the end of E-5, what will return? In the case of such lenses as the 35-100 or 150 mm size of the chamber is important, in my opinion. Perhaps sleduyushy machine series “E” will not have mirrors, but the complete cessation of this series it would be unwise to Olympus. So I hope that next year we will see a new product that will meet all the desires of users of the system 4 / 3. Otherwise … do not even want to think about it yet))
I apologize for bad English, I use a translator.
that’s my question… I want to invest in the 35-100mm lens but I can only justify it as an investment if there is a future ahead of it with the option of placing it on improved digital bodies for years to come.
Suddenly the E-X look so yesterday. They were a big promise. Luckily I sold all my E-gear last year. Looks like Sony gets my loyalty.
Art filters and video and getting the same lcD than the competition has had for 2 years
Ok , this is now official ; This is the last hurrah of Olympus DSLR line …
without a doubt , the most ridiculous NEW product of this Photokina
Harold
The trouble with people who use camera equipment because they like camera equipment more than photography is that we end up bearing the burden of reading nonsensical feedback and listening to drone that makes no sense at all. There are attributes in the E-5 that will be worth a closer study; a level of study, which a leaked information about its release will never reveal.
Boys, try to grow up. It’s 2011. You’re not a kid wetting your pants. I presume you’re all adults. Please write like you behave like one. Its purile to read kiddie behaviour — one little piece of info and you display typical kneejerk reaction. Sorry — either you’re stupid enough to make decisions with too little info or you’re so into camera equipment that you forget that you CAN TAKE IMAGES with it.
Stupid. What a waste of time reading the feedback. Short of 1 or 2 here, most of you are nongs of the highest order.
everyone can currently take pictures with thier current cameras, yes. So why upgrade to an E5?
your comment is right and true, and it is exaclty why no one will buy the E5 and Olympus will die a fast death.
It’s actually 2010 dude, who’s stupid now.
Hey Khen, we are all entitled to our opinion. I make decent money and can buy what I please. Unfortunately, I won’t be buying the follow-up to my E-500 -> E-510 -> E-3.
You need to back the f off and quit telling people what to think or how to behave. We are not you, and thank goodness for that.
I am maxed out on my E-3. Landscape details are mush with the AA filter. Forget sunrise or sunsets with a huge white circle where the sun should be. Please forgive me for the red stripes (banding) slicing through shadowed areas on my low-light photos, or the unmanageable noise from shooting indoors without a flash with even a PL25mm F1.4 wide open at ISO 800-1600. Oh sure, I can crank up Define, Denoise, and Imagenomic (I’ve bought all three to try to fix the damn noise issue) and have nice mushy photos to print.
Olympus has limited my photography, and I and many others have invested heavily in glass, assuming they would continue to upgrade the sensor technology.
So, Khen, stuff it! Seriously, bend over and stuff it.
Good job confirming everything about your character that the top poster implied. Do you even read what you type before you hit “Submit Comment”? Such venom.
HEY YOU GUYS, I’M TIRED TO SAY IT. HOW MANY OF YOU DO PRINTS LARGER THAN 12×16″?. I DO PRINTS FOR MY FRIENDS AND CLIENTS AND ME WITH AN EPSON 7600. THEY HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF CAMERAS, CANON 50D, D7, 5D MKII, NIKON D3, D300, D700, D3X, SONY 900, 850, EVEN A GUY WITH A MEDIUM FORMAT PHASE ONE P 65 BACK etc. AT THAT SIZE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE PRINTS BETWEEN ALL THE CAMERAS, AISDE FROM A LITLE BIT OF COLOR, IS ZILCH, NONE, ZERO, NOTHING, NIENTE, NADA, RIEN, NICHTS, NIC, INGENTING, etc. AT 15×20″ YOU JUST STAR SEEING SOME LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENCE, BUT JUST A TYNI BIT, AND YOU KNOW WHAT, USUALLY THE ONES COMMING FROM MY E3 AT THIS SIZE ARE THE SHARPEST, YOU KNOW WHAY, BECAUSE I’M LESS SLOPPY THAT THEM WHEN I TAKE THE PICTURE ANT I HAVE IMAGE STABILIZATION JUST RIGHT IN MY CAMERA. WHY DON’T YOU STOP CRYING AND WAIT TO SEE THE IMAGE QUALITY THE E5 WILL OFFER. I’M PRETTY SHURE IT WILL BE MUCH MORE THAN YOU NEED.
SORRY TO SHOUT BUT I’M TIRED TO HEARING SO MANY CRIES
BEST REGARDS
+ 10
i really think its sad how conned everyone is in the megapixel race
You are the one cooned in to the MP race thinking more MP makes a camera pro and this 4/3 cant compete because its smaller
Its not about competing with Fullframe cameras, it about competing with “pro” cameras
A full frame does not make a camera PRO.
only people who think MP’s make a camera a pro conclude that
“FF’s are pro and thus 4/3 cant compete with pros because its small”
4/3 CANNOT compete with High MP pros fine… BUT it can compete with low MP pros.
MORE MP DOESNT MAKE A PRO
look at the:
now old GH1 12 mp 4/3 sensor vs
the Can500D LARGER aps-c 15MP sensor in IQ
Its the same situation with the Nikon D5000’s larger sensor
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcgh1/page24.asp
MORE MP AND LARGERS SENSOR DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN BETTER IQ
its not all about sensor size JEFF
Do research before you assume the presumptions logic that “bigger frame = more MP = pro = better pictures” is correct.
that is P&S logic
4/3 HAS POTENTIAL TO COMPETE IN THE PRO MARKET
If MP is not the issue then why cant oly compete in pro market Jeff???
your statements don’t make sense
I understand that some of you are actually satisfied and happy with the update…once more, let people say what they think or want…you dont need to shout…different people, different needs…actually you dont know and do not have to judge people by your priorities…you dont know what people need..stop guessing…
lol the only people hating this are the ones confused by the admins fake rumors that promised huge leaps in sensor design
if people wanted High res and great ISO performance they shouldnt be on olympus anyway
great IQ & ISO performance is possible with 4/3 just a lower MP
that’s why oly said 12MP Is ENOUGH!!!
MP is irrelevant!
then why are you crying? this camera fits perfectly with those ideals
Jeff
This camera could have been released years ago
plus the they could have chosen a better sensor like GH1 to get better results
The video could have easily been better.
Also the better performance they squeeze out of this old pen sensor will not be a large leap.
This is not worth putting a E3 to rest for, and thats what I need from oly. It has been long enough. E3 needed a replacement not a facelift
E3 still does a fine job, but I still need a upgrade as market demands rise, but this is not worth 1700 of my hard earned dollars
Again you do not read what people are telling…many do not want more MP…just better DR and noise control…be a little more objective and less defensive and read what people are saying (check dpreview forums)…and of course do not tell people to shut up…thats just childish…
You currently know essentially NOTHING about this sensor, beyond the fact that it’s 12 Mpix and has a weaker AA filter. Zilch. Nada. You haven’t seen pictures. You haven’t seen SNR measurements. You have no idea what its dynamic range is, or what it’s JPEG output looks like. You haven’t the slightest clue what kind of MTF numbers it will deliver with, say, the 50/2 or 150/2.
Until you have, your opinions mean *nothing*.
If the E3 is so good why would anyone buy an E5?
a select few will buy it but not enough to salvage 43.
better question is why wouldnt they
$2000 for a minor improvement in IQ and video?
the better question is still why, not why not.
were you really expecting anything else than a minor improvement though?
After so many years of-course we would. Do you know how old the E3 is. I had faith the delay between the E3 and the next flag would not be a repeat of the E1 to the E3
I was wrong
at least the E3 was a decent upgrade from the E1
It is not logical to think this E5 is to the same degree a decent upgrade from the E3
no where near!
If all the specs are true, Oly is at least 2000 late…
History seemed to have predicted more than just a minor improvement. Even the price suggests more than just a minor improvement.
Well, Just leave Olympus and go for the big guys. What are you doing here?
Be happy and don’t waste your time with Olympus. If you think your photographic skills are diminished by Olympus cameras, then sell them and don’t return.
I own $4K plus in Olympus 4/3 glass. Does my camera still work? Yes it does. It still blows highlights. All the time. It still sucks in anything but flash or good daylight. The sensor is so noisy, I fear leaving ISO 100. And forget about landscapes. Where there should be trees and grass, I have nice mushy green colors. Love the glass. Always have. But the sensors have sucked, and this “new” upgrade is a slap in the face to those who have stood by waiting for an upgrade opportunity with this company.
If I could walk away from Olympus today, right now, I would. Unfortunately I have too much invested. Needless to say, I won’t be “investing” anything more on this lost proposition. Time to “cash in my chips”. By the way, I am in the majority here so don’t preach to me. Or my checkbook.
Marcelo you need to lay off the coffee brother. By the tone of your posts I would have to guess that either:
A) this is your rumor site and you don’t want anyone else posting but you.
B) you are the owner of Olympus and don’t want anyone asking questions about your cameras.
C) You are an only child and never learned to get along with others.
As a recap,
jeff: civil and well thought out question about why someone would have expected more than a minor improvement
me: an equally civil and well thought out case for why it would be reasonable to expect more innovation.
you: bark, bark, leave and don’t come back. bark, there’s no reason to upgrade a camera unless you have surpassed its capabilities, bark, bark, bark
And what its hard to realize is that the vast majortity is NOT happy with the update…yet they do not respect what other people need or want…it seems that the site became theirs (@jeff and Marcelo- in a less degree)…
Fish, I’m sorry I din’t inteded to be so rude. I appologize for that. But truly, I dont like people being so devastated for something that is yet unknown. How do you know the quality of the images of the E5 will not be on par with cameras like the 7D or 50D or D300s if I’m seeing it today from prints I do for different photographers and myself with an E3, and I’m shure that the e5 will be better than the e3. My E-PL1 is it regarding base iso image quality. Of course you cannot compare with FF cameras. 4/3 will never be comparable to FF in large prints. I mean large, over twentysomethingXthirtysomething size. But you do prints that size regularly?
Regards,
The native ISO of the E-3 and later is 160 or 200. But then, you already knew that. Right? You didn’t? Then it would appear that you don’t know how to get optimal performance out of the camera(s) that you already have, Mr. forum troll.
I need a camera that produces a clean image at iso 2500 so I can produce the same quality image a nikon or canon user can. That’s it. I want to not have banding at iso 800. This is how I make a living. I need a good camera. I’m not whining. I’m just done. I know what that sensor will do. Not enough
They should have taken the GH1 sensor at least and done work around that one instead
agree
exactly
just go full frame
FF is not the answers for everything when it comes to the world of photography
it really isnt
4/3 users know what 4/3 is capable of and what real 4/3 users are asking for is not impossible, it has been clearly demonstrated in other 4/3 and M43 cameras.
all the pieces are there, just put them together oly
This camera should have been released long ago, and the real replacement should have been coming out now
I think oly problem is it oly plays to safe..
like the guy who thinks too much about what to say to the girl and by the time he has it all set in his mind some else walks up and takes her ways
That type of strategy does not work in life
If this is how you make a living, why do you care about brand? Get the tool that does the job, regardless of brand.
Because much money has been invested in glass
And many people gave oly there money because oly said they would not do what they are doing right now.
Then you should be shooting FF. No current 4/3 or APS-C camera will deliver what you want.
Marcelo, first off, I print up to 16×24. But at that size, 12mp is enough. My question isn’t if the camera can take good photos, I’m sure it can. The question is why anyone would buy this when (seemingly) more capable alternatives exist. What’s the unique selling point? Maybe it’s there and we’ll find that out. But it isn’t apparent now. So while it may be true that the photographer makes the camera, it’s also true that the market for inferior cameras (if that’s what this is within its price range) is very small. There has to be a reason for buyers of all abilities to choose this over its rivals, and that reason is not yet apparent.
+1 Correct
This comment sums up the issue better than any I have read so far.
In fact, only a fanboy or a large FT lens owner could be interested in buying this.
At this turn I’m ever more curious to see the new Pentax K5, cheaper and much more contemporary product.
Dan, What do you mean for capable?. First of all I think the photographer has to be capable, much more than the camera. Assuming that the camera offers you the Image quality that you want, you like the lenses more than those from the other makers, the camera is weather sealed, it feels comfortable in your hands, it has in body IS etc. Then, why you want a more capable camera? I have a very good friend that has a Canon 5D MKII. He lent me the camera for a week with the 24-105mm f4 and the 70-200mm f4 trying to convince me to switch to Canon. In fact I was thinking to leave Olympus last year. But you know what, I didn’t like it, I didn’t feel comfortable with it, and first of all the images at 12×16 were not better than the ones from the E3. In fact, the quality of the image corners from the wide angle zoom was poor, period, very far from the quality you get with the E3 and the 14-35mm f2. So why get a more capable camera if you don’t see a difference.
Regards
@DAn–very well said. 100% agreed.
@Marcelo–you’re sounding like Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky debacle–debating the use of the word “the”, etc. He was cornered, so is Olympus.
I am more interested in the term ‘CMOS’ written on the French website – IS IT CMOS or LIVEMOS?
http://www.photobusiness.fr/Olympus-Olympus-E-5-Produit-Photobusiness,1202.html
SIGMA SD15’s for everyone! WHOOOHOOO!
If the E-5 is here with those specs, then I am disappointed. I really wanted to invest $2K USD in a new Oly body that was the next generation of technology from my E-30. I am not a photography expert or artist by any means, but I have enjoyed my E-30 and wanted to work on improving my skills and investing in HG and SHG lenses. However, I don’t think I can justify that now that it seems there is limited commitment to 4/3 technology advacement. I just can’t now see dropping $5K to $6K USD over the next 3 to 4 years on Oly 4/3 lenses as I had been planning. I will keep and use my E-30 until it quits while beginning down another path. Price is not so much an issue as a willingness of the company to keep pushing the envelope while retaining some level of backward compatibility with investment of previous systems.
Speaking of backwards compatability, I asked this in another post, but what functions are lost using Oly and Sigma 4/3 lenses on Panasonic bodies?
Expecting, no. Wishing, yes.
It should be noted that we never catch up for the best parameters of the new cameras. These best options as a carrot in front of a donkey. And consumers, he runs to where the carrots sweeter. But the consumer will never be a perfect camera, because manufacturers are not interested in this. Producers, so we always buy, upgrade, chasing megapixels.
Actually, this is nearly exactly what most of us wanted… about a year ago (truepic 5, EPL1 sensor, high rez screen).
Though, it’s kind of an embarassing E5… maybe they should have went for E4, or better yet E3 mkII.
I sure hope the E6 is coming soon!
Angry Olympus owner. Exactly! What you said is me to a T.
If the E-5 is here with those specs, then I am disappointed. I really wanted to invest $2K USD in a new Oly body that was the next generation of technology from my E-30. I am not a photography expert or artist by any means, but I have enjoyed my E-30 and wanted to work on improving my skills and investing in HG and SHG lenses. However, I don’t think I can justify that now that it seems there is limited commitment to 4/3 technology advacement. I just can’t now see dropping $5K to $6K USD over the next 3 to 4 years on Oly 4/3 lenses as I had been planning. I will keep and use my E-30 until it quits while beginning down another path. Price is not so much an issue as a willingness of the company to keep pushing the envelope while retaining some level of backward compatibility with investment of previous systems.
Speaking of backwards compatability, I asked this in another post, but what functions are lost using Oly and Sigma 4/3 lenses on Panasonic bodies?
The good news is, the performance of the sensor will likely be slightly better than the EPL1, since the supporting electronics (ADC’s etc..) can be of higher specifications. This is due to the higher price point. Also this was true of the e-510 vs the E3, the E3 was less noisy despite using the same sensor.
Hopefully this turns out to be true!
Sorry for any duplicate posts. I am posting from a new cell phone. Admin please delete duplicates.
about 1.5yrs ago…
=============
LAS VEGAS–Olympus has declared an end to the megapixel race.
“Twelve megapixels is, I think, enough for covering most applications most customers need,” said Akira Watanabe, manager of Olympus Imaging’s SLR planning department, in an interview here at the Photo Marketing Association (PMA). “We have no intention to compete in the megapixel wars for E-System,” Olympus’ line of SLR cameras, he said.
Instead, Olympus will focus on other characteristics such as dynamic range, color reproduction, and a better ISO range for low-light shooting, he said.
=============
its really been 1.5 years….
wow
Exactly. I have 6000 in glass that is worth more in tax deductions for depreciation than I can sell it for
Lucky you that is not Sigma gear…sold for almost half of price something 2500 usd spent….i fell your pain
this is the camera i wanted when the pen’s came out….only it should sell for about $1000.
Sorry, i cant help it…i really laughed a lot:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1022&thread=36311971
According to the specs, E-5 is a perfect camera, it has many improvements of the E-3. I will buy one if it is in the range of $1500.
We have been given a large weather sealed PEN with ZERO!!! additional features over the current PENs! What a slap in the face! Why even bother waiting a year when it is a parts bin camera with zero soul or innovation!
Well, I guess it is over. The oly faithfull who have waited so long and have hoped for something special are now lost. I too have an E-30 and I will happily keep it until it no longer works, but instead of spending money on SHG glass, I will be moving on to a different system. It is a sad day. I hope Oly marches on and makes u4/3 users happy but for me, this era is over. Maybe it was the correct business decision and hopefully it is. I have been looking at the Nikon catalog and like many others, it is time to move on. I will see what Nikon has in store with the D400 series of camera’s.
Even as a goodbye camera, this is surely a joke!
Not upgrading unless you have surpassed your camera’s capabilities is a terrible sales pitch for a camera company. Besides being condescending towards customers, that view discourages them from spending money on your latest products.
MegaPixel … poor video … blah blah blah! Not enough ISO? So use lighting equipment! Or Canon & Nikon-users do not use additional lighting? To little DR, then buy medium format! By the way, 35 FF, compared with medium format sucks))) People, what do you want? You do not know what you want, your desire to no longer yours actually. You zombie marketing from Canon & Nikon.)))
we wanted this years ago and the specs show that is was very possible years ago.
i would have bought it 1.5 years ago.
so 1700 euros is about 2000 usd correct?
@ BS Artiste
Downside of using 4/3 lenses on Pany m4/3 bodies is slower CDAF and the loss of IBIS (compared to an Oly body). The ergonomics will probably be a bit funky with faster lenses too. Other than that you should be ok.
@ Harold
Nice work man! It’s good to see other working photogs shooting 4/3. I’ve always felt like we’re a select few, and unfortunatly I think our ranks will be diminishing further =(
@ Josh
You’re right, a crappy photog blames his equipment, a good photog asks “what could I have done better?”. I often shoot lava on the Big Island of Hawai‘i, and always encounter tourists with $2K+ cameras trying to shoot a 2-3 sec. exposure at 300mm handheld. Of course the complaint is “my camera sucks!” when it should be “I don’t know WTF I’m doing”. When people ask me for help I tell them to set the camera on a backpack, then set the self timer. All the sudden their shots are vastly improved, just like magic!
That being said, I’ve always felt that the strength of the Oly 4/3 system was their innovation and the value for the money, and nothing I’ve seen in this announcement suggests either. I’m very happy with the ergonomics of the E-3, and have no problem with them reusing that body, but after three years I was hoping for more. Namely I wanted to see the video capabilities of the GH1, touch-screen focus pulling from the G2/10 (whichever one it was), and any possible improvements in IQ, DR, and usable high ISO. If Oly had pulled that off I would happily drop $2K, but so far that doesn’t seem to be the case.
I’ll take the prudent approach and wait and see, but thus far I’m not impressed, and I don’t think that bodes well for Oly or the 4/3 system as a whole…
so true
AGREE 100%
If they did all that I would pay 3000, just for the gh1’s video with zuiko
Here is a chart that shows what oly lenses work with panny bodies, not all have working AF
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/connect/g1.html
sadly the 35-100mm is one of them,
which is why I didn’t buy a GH1 and why I waited on oly, and after this many years 720@30fps@mjpg.AVI is upsetting
@ CRB
That’s frigging funny man! I like InOmaha’s breakdown of the technical deficiencies of the photo and chuckielpn’s response that it was shot with the E-5 at ISO 6400!
I almost died laughing.
In the French spec. it says Truepic 5+ image processor, so it’s newer than the one in the PEN cameras.
this camera comes one year late.
so disappointing … the heart of a new semipro body having a already “known” old sensor …
what a letdown …
It just occurred to me that we have yet to see the elusive “never before seen in a DSLR” feature… A 960k pixel articulating LCD? Is that it?
smokescreen?
It dosnt matter how many times you will say that e-3 is an excellent camera, its an insult for 4/3 users to upgrade the e-3 with a 920k LCD and call it a new camera, what where they thinking?
this is a combination of 2 features (920K + articulation, together on the same camera for the 1st time), not really a new feature.
oops I think the Canon 60D was actually the 1st time, E5 will be 2nd.
You are forgetting the “art” filters! That should be plenty of reasons to upgrade.
If they gave it the GH1 sensor with 720@60fps and maybe 1080@30 and multi-aspect sensor, with AF for all zuiko lens, and kept IQ at least as good as GH1…..
upto 2000+ of my money I would give
no problem at all
I hope it’s not going to be more than $1500. If it is, I’ll stick to my E-620 for the time being. I was really hoping the E-5 would be ground-breaking – something worth attaching my Leica 25mm lens to.
On 10 May 2010 Olympus announced its 100th Anniversary Vision and new Five Year / Medium Term Plan…
http://www.olympus-global.com/en/news/2010a/nr100512visione.html
Under the category of Imaging Systems this is the proposed vision / plan:
“In our digital SLR camera business, we aim to establish a foundation for the Micro Four Thirds standard and to achieve high growth in this important product segment. To achieve these goals, we will concentrate our investment in technology and product development based on the Micro Four Thirds standard, with a view to achieve a 20% market share within the five years of the 2010 CSP period”.
This statement spells out the end of 4/3rds.
I can understand that many of us are disappointed by the minor upgrade to the E-3, but we should not be surprised.
Olympus almost released it back in December 2009. But they hung on to it this long probably to include a video function and ensure no further 4/3rds D-SLRs are required to be released.
And I doubt there will be many firmware upgrades for the E-5 either for that matter. So Olympus should at least release an open source SDK for users.
If you have a substantial investment in either Olympus HG and SHG glass (as I do) then it may be worth getting an E-5.
Although I feel that Olympus should at least subsides the price for existing E-3 owners who are willing to trade up.
In regard to Olympus 4/3 lenses. There won’t be any revisions to the SHG. I.e. No SWD motor drive versions… I was told this by Olympus Japan when I visited their office and repair centre in Osaka Japan about three weeks ago.
They also mentioned the E-5 was likely to be a revision to the E-3, not a complete redesign.
Micro 4/3rds is the future for Olympus.
but they must plan to some how incorporate the SHG and HG glass with m43 right?
I mean it cant just be left there. A GH1 style body from oly would be fine, offer a vertical grip that boosts fps and give it GH1 features and I will be happy
But I don’t see them just abandoning the 43 glass, they must have some way to bring it to m43.
Dear I say a “pro” m43 body, does not even pro just something like the GH1 with vertical grip, AF on all zuiko and 4+fps and im happy
Knowing nothing about the innards of this camera. That there is worth $1,000 when its up against the 7D, 60D, the new Sony Alphas and Nikons ~ cameras that have more features, and better video.
I was expecting at least 60fps at 720.
Sounds more like an E-30 upgrade.
I don’t know why I bother to get my hopes up that Oly will finally realize its potential.
FAIL!
Oly makes me sad. This is why I stopped following Oly news and Oly forums. I’m tired of being disappointed.
Sigh.
@ Mark
Wow, interesting info! Wish I had known that sooner, though it would’ve been too late to do me any good anyway. I’m a heavily invested Oly shooter and wish I had that good of a connection to the source…
I agree with your subsidy plan for E-3 owners. That’s probably what it would take to get me to buy an E-3 MK II. Being able to shoot video with my existing lenses is worth about $850 to me. For $2K I’ll probably shop elsewhere.
@ Catastrophile
In marketing terms combining 2 existing is close enough. In fact anything that can’t be proven as false advertising is close enough.
Nikon claimed the world’s smallest DSLR, until you noticed the fine print that read “amongst APS-C based DSLRs”, Oly claimed “the world’s fastest AF” based upon their testing conditions protocols (ie. whatever conditions that allowed their product to come out on top). Such is marketing…
@ Intruder
I was also expecting at least 720 @ 60 fps.
It’s weather-sealed so therefore an E-3 upgrade not an E-30 upgrade…
Although I agree that good photographs are the responsibility of the photographer, however the expectation is that the people we are paying money to is that they will keep up with the competition.
Olympus are not gaining, it looks like they are now losing ground. I agree that resolution, tripods etc are very important, but I am constantly getting stuck at not being able to use above 800ISO with my E620, and even then I am losing detail. Grated playing with my wife’s EPL1 shows some improvement, I was expecting alot more from their “flagship” semi-pro camera when I was able to buy her camera nearly a year ago.
@ Jimson,
Another working Olympus photographer here. Currently using the E-620 due to it’s size, ease of use and articulated screen. The E-3’s have taken a sideline position to it actually. There are not many of us around but it’s not a bad thing.
@ printing stuff
I have 4 24 by 18 (I think) prints from an E-3 which come out great. Heck, 4.1mp’s can do that. It really just boils down to knowing what your doing. That’s from start to finish. No offense to anyone here, it’s just the way it is.
@ Jamie
Funny you mention outgrowing your camera. I still have and occasionally use slew older than me. On the other hand i have outgrown a couple of cameras. Although it was purely because they were beaten to pulp through rigorous use.
I look forward to test driving this camera. Despite my prayers having been missed. Which were a Foveon type or Fuji EXR sensor. M4/3 is the way forward. Eventually a pro body will appear with prime lenses and wireless flash etc but time will tell. It is a route which I would like to pursue. A Leica esque Oly Om m4/3 would be fantasic.
On a side note, you gotta have something up your sleeve or big balls announcing an “outdated” camera in this commercially capitalist driven world so thumbs up for that. Nice to see a company walking it’s own path for once.
Peace.
Where’s the ignore button?
To the poster(Neville) above who said they can’t shoot above ISO800 w/ their 620…Isn’t the E-620 sensor design newer than the E-3’s? And yet I can quite easily shoot at ISO1250 on my E-3 and get great shots.
Maybe it isn’t the camera. And don’t take that as insult..take it as room for technique improvement.
example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sl33stak/4984118071/
The color version is just as good….
they dont shoot above ISO800 because dpreview said so hehehe
I dont see a problem too, for me it looks great. Similar to what i get from Ilford Delta 400.
“I think oly problem is it oly plays to safe..
like the guy who thinks too much about what to say to the girl and by the time he has it all set in his mind some else walks up and takes her ways”
Quoted for truth. I have an E-30 with a good chunk of HG and SHG lenses. This is not what I expected. I hope it’s guts are much better this time around. We have yet to see what kind of dynamic range, ISO, and auto focus improvement this new camera has. It could be amazing. I won’t be switching systems, I may buy an E-5 when my E-30 dies. I have invested in a system that even with it’s faults, has delivered to my clients and myself time and time again. I love my lenses and menu system far more than what I have used from other camera brands. I use to work for a Ritz Camera Ultra Store and have lots of time to play with every vendors equipment. Still the best bang for my buck. I don’t need this camera to be a Holy Grail, just be as capable as the competition in basic camera parameters.
Here it comes
http://asia.olympus-imaging.com/products/dslr/e5/
using art filters in all photo and video modes looks like the only good addition, everything else is already around so nothing ground breaking…
@ Dan #2
Love the handle BTW! I agree with you on the 620. It’s a great camera, especially for the price! I shot my last wedding with a pair of ’em because my E-3 was stolen and I hadn’t replaced it yet. I find the 620 a lot more fun to shoot with than the E-3, though I believe it was intentionally hobbled to keep it from eating into the E-3/E-30 market. My biggest beef is the lack of a second control wheel on the body and the lack of an EV comp button on the battery grip.
Using the E-3 somehow always feels like work to me, but I love that I can easily adjust all my important settings without looking at the LCD or even taking the camera away from my eye. I think that’s the way a camera should be layed out.
One good thing about the E-5 is that I suspect we’ll finally see the convergence of the two. Improved software UI from the 620 combined with the pro design of the E-3. (Hopefully backlit buttons will make it too, but that doesn’t look likely.) The problem is that alone isn’t worth $2K to me, and I doubt it’s worth it to many other 4/3 photogs…
I’ve lost assignments entirely based on my choice of camera which is a bad thing. Brightroom has a large number of assignments in my area, but won’t employ anyone shooting 4/3 (though they will accept a 20D?). That’s a bummer because I’d enjoy shooting some of their events, but they don’t pay enough to make me want run out and buy into another system.
@ Printing Stuff
I’ve sold a number of large (18×24″ up to 30×40″) wall-mounted prints through galleries using 10-12 MP files with little to no post processing. I find that the pixel count isn’t nearly as important as nailing the exposure, focus, and sharpness (ie. keeping the camera steady) while in the field. Hence I’m totally over the MP race. I just want DR, and higher usable ISOs. And kick ass video capability…
@Angry Olympus Owner
I agree about offering a m4/3rds interface for the HG and SHG glass but it probably won’t be unti next year… An Olympus Pen is about deriving higher image quality from a compact system with P&S operation…
They will probably offer an adaptor via a C-AF interface. The rumoured specs from the E-5 indicate a higher resolution VGA screen and an 11 point C-AF system could well feature in a future m4/3rd PEN model.
@Jimson
I’m living in Japan. Sometimes it helps when you are geographically closer to the source. The staff and management at Olympus Osaka (in Honmachi) are nice people. Professional, efficient and very helpful. They fixed a problem with the back housing of the LCD screen on my E-3 for free!
Meeting face to face and being able to speak a little Japanese certainly helped and I think they were curious to learn about a foreigner’s experiences using their flagship products for professional applications in Japan.
I talked to the CRM and we covered many topics regarding Olympus camera’s.
BTW, the Olympus Head Office is in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The Honmachi centre in Osaka is the main office for the Kansai area only. The display of HG and SHG lenses is awesome. They pretty much had them all to play with. You can try them out with any of the Olympus D-SLRs too.
What happened to the makes no sound rumor? I thought this was supposed to be near silent? Absolutely NOTHING new. Sigh.
E-5 also has a new “underwater” white balance, maybe it’s white balance is improved across the camera…
Congratulations Admin, 43rumors do it again, you have good sources
EPL-1 inside E-3 body, bad times for Oly, i think
@ Mark
I’m in Hawaii which is geographically closeish, but we’ve got zero local support from Oly out here. In fact it’s almost impossible to buy an Oly body, lens, charger, or battery locally which is a real shame.
I’d love to have that kind of access to the Oly source. I had to buy all my gear on faith because I wasn’t able to test any of it locally (with the exception of my first E-510 kit at Best Buy and the E-3 body I tested at an “Olympus Live Drive” event).
I will say that I’ve also had good experiences with Oly customer service & repair based out of California. Both of my E-3s developed the LCD split, and they took care of me right away for free (though both were still covered under warranty). They also covered UPS 2nd day shipping in both cases. Same when my 50-200 SWD suddenly stopped focusing a week before my first wedding gig. They immediately shipped me a new one no questions asked.
I’ve also gotten good support from them on my waterproof Stylus cameras.
I like the products they offer, and the customer service I’ve gotten, we’ll just have to see if the E-5 is good enough to keep them competitive…
Gods but a lot of you sound like conservative Teapublicans. Will the camera take good pic? That’s the only thing that matters. The price is good. It’s weather-sealed. The lenses are terrific.
Right now there are rumors that Sony will quit making FF cameras. Leicas are still way expensive. Canon glass sucks and makes you look like you have a giant phallus fetish. Nikon ergonomics leave me cold. The Sony NEX or NEXT or whatever the hell it is is dumbed down. Video on most DSLRs is clunky.
In other words, everyone has their own issues.
GET OVER YOURSELVES AND GI SHOOT PIX!
I have been using Olympus cameras for over 34 years. Compact 35mm,om2n,point and shoot digitals, e300 and my latest purchase, 2 e30s. I consider myself an advanced amateur but I do get paid for a good amount of my work so I guess I can’t be all that bad. Get past the brand name hype. Olympus works for me.