We have seen many Olympus manager being interviewed during the last days. I thought it would be nice to collect the questions you have. I will put them together and send an email to Olympus. Let’s see if they will answer us 🙂
Write a comment to this post and add your questions!
91 Responses
Same thing for Panasonic, please!
They won’t give straight answers to my questions anyway 🙁
I want to know if there is going to be a replacement for the E620 or E30? If so, when? I’m trying to decide if I should wait or change systems.
Will Olympus develop a competitor to Pana’s GH1?
E-5 this year or next year ?
Hi
Question for Olympus (in my approximative english):
Will the new M.ZUIKO 40-150 lens be sold separatly (not only in kit with the E-PL1 and 14-42) ? And if it is, what will be its price?
(Or the answer already exists but I missed it?)
The four things I would really appreciate for further Olympus DSLR cams:
– Less Anti-Aliasing for sharper pictures
– Less noise at ISO 800 and 1600 making these settings really useful.
– Native 3:2 aspect ratio or a sensor that allows you to change the aspect ratio without just cropping the borders of the 4:3 image
– What I really would love to see would be an image stabilizer that deserves to be called so. When I use the IS of my E-620 with a shutter speed that usually does not require stabilization it will result in significantly less sharp results than without using the IS. A common problem that I have read more than once in different forums. If it is not possible to get really sharp results using the IS when it is not really necessary than Olympus should deactivate it if the shutter speed is fast enough for a sharp result without the IS. Important to me is that I don’t have to decide for every photo I take if I have to turn the IS on or off. It should be on by default and result in sharp images!
That would be all. Apart from these issues I love the E-620 with the ZUIKO lenses!
The MFT has been around for a while now and since the beginning Panasonic’s cameras have had excellent focus speed, while after releasing three models to the market Olympus still cannot match that. As a potential MFT user I am looking to get a near DSLR experience in a small package. The superb image quality of the E-P1/P2/PL1 almost gets me there but these cameras are still lacking a real fast contrast focus. Why?
Please note that I am not asking for the impossible. The fast contrast autofocus is a fact for 2 years now and even the new Samsung NX10 has it.
When will we see
14-45/2.8 or 12-55/4
12/2.8
25/1.8
50/2.0
m43 with built in EVF?
Would you please give us an approximate time table for new 43 products and approximately what we can expect from each?
I would like to modify my E-620 to have the same image quality as the E-PL1 Since they both use the same processor, and the E-PL1 has a later data processing methodology, True Pic V instead of True Pic III, can’t the Master 2 software be modified to do the extra processing on my computer? If the problem is the anti aliasing hardware, can it be removed?
I love the size and functions of my E-620, I just want to be able to have the latest image quality. I don’t care to have it all on the camera, post processing is an adequate solution.
Hi,
The number one question I have for Olympus is:
I have a lot of great Oly lens – when will the E-5 come out – specifically. And what are the improvements? Better high ISO performance I hope, better resolution (we got the great lenses, now give us a great sensor (I secretly pray for a Fuji high dynamic range one!) and a smaller body (and don’t loose the weather seals!)
Thanks for all your work!
When we have a camera built for those that want to change their camera settings frequently and quickly?
I’ve been a long time user of Olympus photographic equipment right back to my OM’s. When i made the move to digital I waited for Olympus to release the E1 and was very happy with the system as it grew. I use the E3 now for all work but am finding it lacking in image quality at higher iso. Most other digital systems not offer far superior quality and flexibility in respect to sensors. Please Olympus working pro’s need the E5 more than you think.
When you will bring a kind of rangefinder highendcamera with good digital or normal viewfinder included?
> When I use the IS of my E-620 with a shutter speed that usually does not require stabilization it will result in significantly less sharp results than without using the IS.
Could you please post an example of this? I have also read this several times but I have been using the E-510 and now (for 6 months) the E-620 and have never once had any problems with unsharp images due to IS. So I would really love to see an example (1:1 comparison).
-Dirk
Will Olympus consider widening the range of 4/3 zuiko lenses or will they do updates of existing models ie. implementation of SWD to 35-100mm f2 lens
Hello,
i’m an e-p1 user and love this little cam.
1. your (oly) main target for mft are people from p&s, right? (i am such a guy)
2. why is the price for such equipment so high? it’s very close by semi-pro equipment…
3. swd for mft objectives?
4. large aperture objectives (2.0 or more) for mft planed?
5. what’s up with companys like sigma or tamron, will they join mft?
best regards
chris
Olympus:
1. Will the E3 Successor and new HDSLR’s have backwards compatability to except M4/3 lenses, perhaps with a “reducer” adapter? I think this would be a major breakthrough if possible and here’s why: I currently shoot a Nikon D300, do not have much invested in lenses as I am waiting to see what this new E? will bring and will possibly make the system switch. Recently struggled with the decision to choose either the PEN or the Pany GF1, in the end I went with the Pany. I love the small form factor with DSLR qualities. I want to invest in either Oly or Pany M4/3 lenses, but do not want to turn around and have to spend additional investments on standard 4/3 lenses if I make the switch to Oly’s E? Successor. I could see the possobility of Oly or 3rd party companies producing a “reducer” adapter similar to how Pentax has the M42 adapter to K mount. This would aid photographers who have already invested in standard 4/3 lenses as well as add new customers who have recently purchased a new “System” cam (PEN, GF1, etc.) looking to also step up to a beefer pro-level HDSLR and still be able to use the lenses bought for the M4/3 camera. Yes I understand that you can use the standard 4/3 lenses on M4/3 bodies with aid of the adapters out there; simply put, if you can go one way, why not the other as well? If Oly would do this, I’d drop my Nikon gear tomorrow, start investing in my M4/3 lenses and purchase the new E? Successor when and if it comes out.
I have some firmware improvements to suggest to olympus for the EP1, what is the best way to get my feedback to the people who will take it into consideration?
1. Will there be an E-5, if so, is it going to be an EVF DSLR (mFT or FT?)?
2. (this is crucial especially if OVF is not going to be there) Is Olympus going to upgrade its LCD monitor to higher resolution one? 230k is not enough to check manual focus!
3. Is there going to be a new sensor type? What’s the ISO performance and is the dynamic range going to be improved?
4. New lenses? 25mm? (I don’t want to pay $1000 for the Panny/Leica 25mm, despite it’s a good lens). Are they going to upgrade 11-22mm? (or any ultra-wide angle lens with larger aperture?)
5. Any new mFT camera with swivel screen in development?
To Alfons. I’ve read many of your posts and I share your opinions often! But please be positive. Sometimes we can get some answers, despite it’s through an indirect statement. Any product in development is really company secret. It’s up to the corporation to decide whether to disclose it or not. They may get more hype by releasing a little, but competitor might copycat them….
To Stephan. Unless using a tripod, I have trouble getting good images with IS turned off. Remember this rule, a well- focused picture is ALWAYS better. If you turned off IS to get lower noise, but the entire picture was shaken, no software can save that! Noise…, there is always Lightroom and other software for noise reduction (just shoot RAW) to some degree. When use a tripod with IS off, please remember to turn mirror lock up/antishake on for the best quality.
4/3 cannot have native 3:2 ratio…. Four thirds means 4:3…. (I think you mean perspective shooting, like Panasonic’s) For now, crop it in software instead. If you printed your photos and mat them (for show), you’d know some of the edges will be cropped by mat… (which makes 98% OVF coverage more favorable than 100% in some way), so it’s a good practice to shoot a little more for future cropping. So yeah, overshoot and you can decide to crop into 2:3 (or other format) and or for matting.
Are there any plans for a compact style m4/3 camera with a flip LCD screen, even if it only flips vertically?
Para cuando la E-5? este año, espero… mas tiempo no!
strait forward, when comes the e-5?
no answer, i will change to nikon, for good – so simple !!
Can we expect real ISO bracketing: camera would take 3 or 5 pictures with different ISO but correct exposure.
If one has A mode then it’d result in different shutter speeds – a way to try to balance between ISO noise and target movement blur. a VERY important possibility.
In S ode it’d give different apertures – different depths of field. In P mode we’d have the way to balance ISo noise, shutter speed and depth of field.
In menu the delete raw/jpeg should be substituted by “different name to jpeg & raw files”.
in delete situation if one has raw & jpeg it should have buttons: delete both, d. raw, d. jpeg, cancel.
Don’t make super panel attractive looking with just few things to adjust – better have plenty of settings available. IS should be there, too (as in E-P1).
1. Has Olympus realized that with m4/3 they can take the market of street and art photograpy from Leica? It would require: Snappy autofocus, Built-in EVF with excellent resolution and the right kit of lenses: small. some prime some zoom, but HQ optical-wise. Given the cost of the “out-of -date focusing technique” Leica, Olympus can build a camera that is a modern interpretation of the old Leica concept – at a fraction of the Leica cost.
Hey,
I really would like to know which objectives are planed for the next two years.
Thanks and best wishes from Germany,
Markus
Dare we hope for an Olympus competitor to the Lumix G2 – i.e same/similar feature set as G2, or else same/similar feature set to the E620 (but m43 configuration) ?
Alternatively, dare we hope for an update to the E-620 ?
same as gbc02:
what about the much needed e-p1 firmware improvements; can we hope for some in the near future?
after all, we were the ones who believed in olympus’ first m4/3 format, so it’s not all that great to have been kind of left in the cold with the immidiate update towards the e-p2…
I am also E-P1 user and I like it.
But I have some question or suggestion of improovement which would help me.
1. why generated ISO settings is not displayed when AUTO is selected?
I noticed there is displayed only aperture (which in my case is still the lowest one) and time is app. 1/30 sec with the pancake (so both info’s are useless), but ISO varies from 200 to 1600 which makes big difference in the final picture!
2. Ps mode is changing aperture, not exposition time .. should it be called Pa and allow real Ps?
I would like “real Ps” mode, which will change exp. time from 1/30s to 1/50 or 1/15 if I want and according to this setting to generate ISO
3. there is no CA correction in Olympus master, it is not corrected in the firmware as it is with Panasonic
Should it be incorporated (via firmware {possibly not}, or in new version of OM)?
4. should be added “DR noise reduction” option, which will decrease DR in shadow areas for better noise performance?
Currently most of the signal in ISO 6400 is noise, black is not black .. but I noticed DR in DPREVIEW tests is bigger as the competition (and I know decreasing DR will decrease noise also), so it should be realizable
5. should be decreased refresh rate (as an option) of “liveview magnifier” (in new E-P1 firmware) during night shot composition for better image during MF?
6. why braceting is so deep in the menu?
In my Sony H20 it is as an option with sequential shooting
.What will be the first replacement, e5 or e50?
.In this life or in the next one, when everyone has already sold the lenses and other equipment?
.will be the next e5/50 able to capture video?
.In the future, if the 4/3 system, become mirrorless, can we use legacy 4/3 glass directly without an adapter?
Hi here are my questions to olympus.
1.Can the ISO performance of your cameras be greatly increased while still maintaining the 4/3 standard? from what i understand (i could be wrong) is that ISO performance has a direct relation to sensor size. If this is true since the 4/3 sensor is so small , is there anything that you guys can do to increase low light performance? Or is the performance increase only going to be minimal?
2. Are there plans to make more weatherproof bodies and lenses? if so are they going to be more consumer freindly as far as price goes?
My question is:
Is Olympus paying attention to the “much needed” improvements and other wished firmware upgrades going around in “micro four thirds” forums like “ep-1.net” (and others)? Things like: improved AEB bracketing (1 point is just not enough), AF Speed, that DAM pesky green light on the e-P1, e-p1 filters like those on the e-p2, etc etc..
I wish Olympus listened to their costumers and addressed their needs and pay attention to web forums.
Thanx
>Could you please post an example of this? I have also read this several times but I have been using the E-510 and now (for 6 months) the E-620 and have never once had any problems
Of course:
With IS: http://www.abload.de/img/p3182960_croppr7l.jpg
Without IS: http://www.abload.de/img/p3182961_cropiqnf.jpg
Both are 100% crops. The pictures were shot with RAW and converted to JPEG with Lightroom.
E-620 with Zuiko Digital 1260 SWD
f/5.0, 49mm focal length, ISO 200, one is 1/125s and the other 1/100s which doesnt really matter. I have made 5 pictures with activated IS and 5 pictures with deactivated IS. All had 1/125s or 1/100s shutter speed. None of the pictures taken WITH IS had the sharpness of the pictures WITHOUT IS.
I have read about this issue in some forums and other people with that problem already contacted Olympus and they said that the IS should be switched off when it is not needed. As if it was a feature and not a bug… The thing is that I don’t want to check for every single picture if I will need the IS or not. It should be turned on by default and produce sharp images.
I will try to get Olympus to change my camera and see if it will be better with a new one. I hope so…
If all that I have just written is too offtopic for this thread I apologize. 😉
Hi,
1.Why not an APS-C sensor? in M4/3?
8x a compacta sensor is great, but APS-C is better, isn’t it?
2. Like G10, put more external controls (out of menu…) like olds SLR: as
EV, ISO, f:, Shutter, etc etc
3. Last but not least, a EVF on body, with same quality of the attached one…
please tell them, that they are on the right way…
thanks Rumors…
Olympus E3 user would like their cameras to shoot bracketed images in stopped down to opened aperture; not mid/ +/-/+/-, to simplify HDR use. Also allow for more exposures (I personally could use a 20 exposure option).
Ok, I try:
Is there an enthusiastic body and according lenses comming to the m4/3 lineup in the next couple of years?
Damn I’d love that weather sealed body build around old school A-priority mode. Simple spot / center weighted light metering and AEL. Good viewfinder. No gizmos, no compromises. Perfection.
Maybe we have to wait for Ricoh, Epson or some other smaller brand to take that daring step…
Regarding micro4/3, are you planning pancake lenses (I’m hoping for EFL 24mm or at least 28mm, and something like 85mm) so that these cameras can be pocketable with something other than a 34mm f2.8?
R U ever going 2 take the E-X line & pro lenses serious again? If not every one I know that owns pro Olympus gear would really like 2 know so we can cut our 10,000+ losses & split. We have heard so many “interviews” saying “just around the corner X will be here”. Quit making promises that U don’t keep! Either put up or shutup! 8-D sorry been drinking & just trierd of the I’ll keept word!
It’s pointless asking if & when the E-5 or any other camera for that matter is coming out they just won’t tell ya.
Olympus like to keep thing very close to their chest.
They already said they are committed to 4/3 still but atm all resources are being
put into m4/3.
What happened to the new glass? Is it m43 only? I want some 4/3 glass:
1) Super Tele in the HG range (i.e. 200-400mm f3.5-5.6 SWD)?
2) 70mm f1.4 SWD in the SHG?
3) 10mm f2.8 SWD in the HG?
4) 90 f2 Macro SWD in the SHG?
5) OK, ask this one anyway, E-5? I know, I know.
6) Weather sealed plastic body E-3x and E-6xx?
Honestly, Oly are really missing an opportunity to fully exploit the 2 areas that they have a true advantage IMO (i.e. weather sealing, compact long lenses). They could make a killer birding system.
I really like my e-30, but I do have reservations about the noise at high ISO (800+).
* are there going to be substantial improvements with noise at high ISO (800+)?
* is there something I can do, now, to minimize the amount of noise at high ISO?
I already have the noise filter set to high, and did find the gradation setting playing a huge role in reducing noise when it is not set to auto (I use low, high, normal as needed), but I am wondering if there is anything else that can be done in the meantime without resorting to post process noise reduction software.
I have a pl-1 and would like to be able to use an external flash when the evf is used.
1. How hard is it to add an on-screen focus scale option with DOF markers around the focus distance? Given that no MFT lens has a focus scale built on the lens (unlike say 4/3 14-54), this will be a very usable option, and the information is definitely already there.
2. Will we ever get one as a firmware update, for all or any PEN body?
3. Will we ever get one on a new camera body?
What new lenses can we expect for M4/3?
What about a 25mm 1.8 (or faster) with sharp image to edges? Something like my old OM system 50mm 1.8. I could really see myself buying an ep2 (even at current price) if it came with a lens like that.
will olympus, panasonic or sigma offer a 500mm prime in 4/3 mount in the near future
Any nifty fifty lenses anytime soon.
Will m43 be only a consumer based system or will they release pro lenses and bodies..
I like SP-590 UZ but the senson is very small 1/2.33 ” (6.13 x 4.60 mm, 0.28 cm²).
Can you make the Olympus SP series with m4/3 sensor?
1.GH1 targets much wider audience and users then current olympus cameras because of video function, is olympus planing to offer better video support in the future?m like video-AF and AVCHD compression? (and later maybe FHD)
Will Olympus enable the use of the popup flash of the E-PL1 as an autofocus assist lamp via a firmware update? (this would greatly help with the focus in dimly lit conditions.)
Can a guy get a one or two compact primes (say, 12-18 mm f/2) for 4/3? Puhleeese? I could *really* use such a lens about now…
LOL, I will answer all of your questions, dear customers!
1. Will m43 be only a consumer based system or will they release pro lenses and bodies..? 2012
2. Any nifty fifty lenses anytime soon? NOPE!
3. will olympus, panasonic or sigma offer a 500mm prime in 4/3 mount in the near future? NOPE! Maybe it will 510mm, 520mm, but no 500mm certainly
4. What new lenses can we expect for M4/3? Small lenses of course!
5. What about a 25mm 1.8 (or faster) with sharp image to edges? Well give us funds for research and we will deliver that!
6. How hard is it to add an on-screen focus scale option with DOF markers around the focus distance? Given that no MFT lens has a focus scale built on the lens (unlike say 4/3 14-54), this will be a very usable option, and the information is definitely already there? VERY HARD! You wouldn’t want to know!
7. Will we ever get one as a firmware update, for all or any PEN body? Are you stupid? A camera do not need different junk file for other camera!
8. Will we ever get one on a new camera body? HELL YES! But the question is when 😀
9. I really like my e-30, but I do have reservations about the noise at high ISO (800+). * are there going to be substantial improvements with noise at high ISO (800+)? “NO!” * is there something I can do, now, to minimize the amount of noise at high ISO? “Use noise Ninja FTW!!”
10. What happened to the new glass? “Well our lens designers got accident recently so lens development will be slower 3 years :D”
11. I have a pl-1 and would like to be able to use an external flash when the evf is used? “WTH We dont have PL-1 camera, what we have is E-PL1 and you already can use external flash when EVF is used so RTFM!”
12. Regarding micro4/3, are you planning pancake lenses (I’m hoping for EFL 24mm or at least 28mm, and something like 85mm) so that these cameras can be pocketable with something other than a 34mm f2.8? “No but we will certainly make our cameras more pickpocketable :D”
13. 1.Why not an APS-C sensor? in M4/3? “Don’t know, ask our head engineer. You really think are smarter than our boss, don’t you?” 2. Like G10, put more external controls (out of menu…) like olds SLR: “We already did that, go buy E-30” 3. Last but not least, a EVF on body, with same quality of the attached one… “Wait for E-PL2 :D”
14. Hey, I really would like to know which objectives are planed for the next two years? WHO ARE YOU THINKING WE WILL LEAK OUR PRECIOUS SENSITIVE PLAN TO YOU??!!! Are you Panasonic???
15. strait forward, when comes the e-5? no answer, i will change to nikon, for good – so simple !! E-5 is being working on, then go jump to nikon! less moaners is always good! We need only faithfuls!
The questions are funny really!!!
Cheers,
Olympus PR Team @Japan
“I can understand the price of the m4/3 cameras, but I really don’t like the price of accessories. Why does the Olympus MMF-1 adapter cost 160$ ? It is just an adapter, and considering how few m4/3 lenses available it is almost a must have for m4/3 owners. This is the main thing that keeps me away from buying m4/3 camera (already own 4/3 camera) – the total cost of the system is too high, and seem to me unfair.”
Why not market the ep2 body only + viewfinder?
My Questions to Olympus would be:
4/3:
E-X related:
– Willy Olympus go after the market they targeted with the release of the E1 again?
– Will the next E-X be made in Japan again?
– Will Olympus take into account what made the E1 so special (i.e shutter sound, build quality, look and feel, ergonomics..)?
– Will they redesign the Battery Grip?
– Are they taking into account the “comments” made by the Professionals or more the “comments” made by the forum users/trolls..?
Optics
– Will there ever be a 300mm F4?
– When do we get the SHG SWD range?
– Is there a possibility of a TS?
– Is there a possibility of a 42mm F1,4?
– Will there be successor of the 11-22, i.e. 10-25mmF2,8-3,5 SWD
m4/3
– Will there ever be a “leica-type” Oly m4/3 with those much needed fast primes?
That’s for me…
B
We all need much more pancake primes, a 40mm f/1.2 portrait lens with pro optical glass would be fantastic, if it’s 40mm f/2.8, I’m not interested, the primes got to be FAST! Zooms? Not interested.
Not really an m4/3 question… but….
Why why WHY keep increasing the megapixels on the compact camera range? I know marketing comes into play, but really… image quality is suffering!
How about a digital update for the XA range?
Small, large-ish sensor (no more than 10mp) fixed focal length… push image quality, image quality, image quality!!!
Will you bring a camera with swivel lcd some time this year? (It is the single most important feature on a digital camera.)
Will ever Olympus release the essential lens for E-System – Zuiko Digital HG 25mm (or 21mm) F1.8 (F2.0) SWD? I chose F1.8 (F2.0) because it is more realistic to develop this kind of lens, outstandingly sharp and contrasty even wide open that stands out among the best “standard” lenses.
@Olympus PR Team @Japan:
the answer given, makes me believe the PR team is nothing less than a “kindergarden”, not knowing how to value customers !
Dear Olympus,
1) A 12-60 mm lens will be really fine to have–it covers nearly all needs in one lens. The 4/3 version is highly regarded. A micro 4/3 version could be smaller (using software to correct distortion).
2) I need decent cases/bags to protect the camera! A simple old-fashioned type for the camera itself, big enough to cover the EVF too, would be a good start. It’s really difficult to store the camera in small bags which can’t give adequate protection for the awkwardly protruding EVF.
3) I would like a upgraded 14-42mm (better still, 14-50mm) with larger apertures, plus the latest improvements of faster and quieter focus.
Congratulations in developing a revolution in digital photography!
CAN YOU WITH THE M 4/3? DOUBLE THE RESOLUTION ( pixels or dynamic or iso ) SINCE IT IS CLOSER FROM THE SENSOR ?
or DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE SENSOR ,?????
with 4/3 lens ? ? ? ?.
Any chance of a DSLR with Movie..E630 perhaps?
Olympus, can you introduce a m4/3 model that has an electronic shutter over a mechanical one? There are times when stealth really matters and noisy shutter clicks gives you away & some times it just draws too much attention.
After all m4/3 is a mirror-less system and discrete shooting would be a boon for many genres in photography namely candid-street-wild life shooting where as stealth as possible is a must so as to beat noisy shutter clicks which attracts attention; hence ruining the candid moment.
EP-3 with a high-resolution built in EVF, body PC-Sinc, In Built IS, electronic shutter, tilt and swivel 2.7 inch high resolution LCD would be a killer combo, and compared to DSLRS, the silent shooting made by the electronic shutter would make a big difference especially when silence is a must & that alone will add appeal against competitors.
Also with the electronic shutter, the flash sync will no longer be limited to 1/250 when using external flashes (mechanical shutter limitation) and this will really help those that love to shoot with big apertures while having faster shutter speeds in order to get shallow backgrounds while having enough fill light for their subjects to be seen clearly.
Point and Shoots along side Bridge cameras have been using this technology and the high speed flash sync along side the silent shooting have made a tremendous difference compared to DSLRS when used in the field. I hope you can see the potential in this existing technology and use it to elevate your m4/3 line up even further.
Many here would appreciate the silent shooting as well, not to mention the unique selling proposition your company (Olympus) can benefit from in the long run of “Brand Ingenuity”.
Best Regards
Jaime Cumagun
When will you have a model with totally no Anti-Alias Filter like Leica M9 ? I heard a rumor that Panasonic is coming out with one, but I still love the IBIS of Olympus, so hope you can have this feature too.
Fast AF will obviously never be possible on m4/3 in the early future. Doesn’t matter, Canon is there for this when needed. Can you give us 2x the resolution of the current EVF, and built-in ?
That’s all I want for Xmas 🙂
P.S. Keep on improving the ISO handling, getting better with every model …
@arthur agree with you. The Olympus PR team@Japan sounds a bit too stuck up towards their customers questions in their replies!
People commenting on the Olympus PR response, this clearly was a joke by someone playing off our sense they’re not exactly considerate of customer. I’ve seen a glimmer of light on their desire to change this with recent interviews by Olympus Japan tech folks likely in response to the furor over Olympus USA hacks saying things like all future DSLR’s will use EVF’s and their silence on the future of the E-3.
Back to what I’d like to see:
1) An E-640 with E-PL1 sensor/JPEG engine, 3″ medium or hi-res flip LCD, a joy-to-use large and bright OVF instead of the current tunnel (maybe graft on thre E-30’s pentaprism), use SD memory cards. Keep the same small/light body along with its great features like lens correction, backlit buttons, small grip.
2) E-7xx: Same as above but weathersealed and with new Panny 14 MP sensor. Many, many Olympus users going back to OM’s prize small and light but very ruggedly built bodies. Do not lose sight of this fundamental feature that separates Olympus from the rest.
3) E-40 bringing in featureset to match the Pentax K-7 (weathersealed, HD video, hi-res 3″ LCD, 14 MP sensor, the list goes on). This was a blunder at its launch not to do so in the first place. We’re tired of Olympus lagging the pack in DSLR technology instead of leading as they did at the launch of 4/3’s.
4) E-5 as the Olympus technology leader. Scale back the size and weight of Miss Piggy while you’re in the process to somewhere between the current E-30 and E-3.
5) Primes, primes and more primes: 12mm, 20mm, 100mm, all f 1.8 to 2.
All of the above in the coming 6 months: hey, they’re all now drastically overdue, stop cutting slack and lead.
Will there ever be an Olympus fixed lens compact with a 4/3 sensor? Possibly something like the Leica X1? Back in the Pen film camera days, there were fixed and interchangeable models. It would be great if Olympus offered both in the Pen digital line! Thanks a lot!
1. The Achilles’ heel of four third system is the poor low light AF and erractic subject movement tracking (e.g. 3D tracking in nikon cam). Is olympus addressing this issues? if so, how?
hope to see:
-ultra sensitive F2.0 centre AF
-in-body AF assist illuminator
2. Any new four third lens in the road map ahead?
hope to see:
-faster primes or zoom lens. .e.g 100mm F2, 14-54 mk III (F1.4-2.0), 12-60mm mk II (F2) SWD
Does olympus plan for a firmware uodate to manually activate the mf-assistant magnifying mode on the e-p1? Possibly assignable to the function button?
And will there be a zooming optical viewfinder using the hotshoe fical length information,
finally, what about a magnifying hood for the lcd?
No questions, just wishes…
E-500 sized E-30 replacement (or an E-5xx w the goodies on the current E-30)
I do expect the next generation to have some knock my socks off feature. Will Oly diliver?
Keep improving DR & noise
Coming out w some (any) standard 4/3 product (lens/body) will quiet down the doom & gloomers who are driving away potential buyers. That ~100mm macro would be a start…
Howabout the promised FW update to the 12-60 for CD-AF compatability… I don’t care if it’s fast, just want to utilize those LV focusing points sometimes.
Any lens over 300mm… for me, the ideal would be 200-400mm, about the size of the 70-300 but a stop faster… Sure there’s the 90-250 plus EC-20, but I’d prefer something that could fit in a large pocket and doesn’t require a mortgage.
I´d like to see(yes I know-as lot e-3 users)usable high iso shots up to 3200;
as the same important I see improved Flash control,like we see in Nikons system
cheers
William
– Is there a plan to allow the external WB sensor of the E3/E30 (or future models) be used for Custom WB (like an external color-meter)?
– Is there any plan to link the mirror-lock-up to the 2″ self timer? It would be much easier to use than a seperate “Anti-shock” setting buried in the menu.
– Do you plan to develop an inexpensive portrait lens to rival competitors 50/1.8 (75~80mm equiv. one APS-C)?
– Will the E330 (and E300) form-factor return in future models? What about Live-View Mode A? What about the E1 red-pattern AF Assist lamp and focus mode lever? and what about the Focus Bracketing feature (E500/E330)?
– Will there be non-SWD lenses with mechanically linked focusing ring (rather than fly-by-wire)?
– Why does contrast-detection AF require specific lenses? It doesn’t in some other brands.
– Why does Live-View require the mirror to flip at all? It doesn’t in some other brands.
– Can you explain the reasoning behind using a stronger AA filter than Panasonic? Their cameras don’t frequently suffer from excessive moire, so what problem does Olympus attempt to solve here?
– Can you provide some details on what scenarios one could expect the E3 image-stabilization to provide the claimed 5-stop advantage?
– Why do some Olympus DSLR’s have the viewfinder display on the right while some other models have it at the bottom?
Prog.
No new cameras, but NEW lenses !! Olympus 4/3 People is waiting for ZD Pro 100mm macro ! People need fixes Pro lenses such as 300mm f:4,5 or 400mm f: 5,6, 17mm f:2 or 2,8; or Pro zoom such as 100-400. How much may we wait for ?!?
Do you plan to integrate a GPS photo tagging system into future Pen cameras?
This a function I’m highly waiting for.
is olympus still interessted in pros? if so, they should shorten the cycle for new camera-bodys. no way to keep pros with a cycle of 3 to 4 years for a prof.-body.
olympus got great lenses but the bodys…… the sensor they have is not to compare with competitors like nikon d700 or canon mark2 d5. also that some olympus manager say that 10mp are enough is wrong. at least 14 to 16 mp is normaly the minimum a pro needs.
so olympus make your homework if you want to keep the pros, or say clearly that this is not the market you are interessted in.
josef
Please make a PEN model with full HD video 1920 x 1080 possibilities!
I’m waiting for a high end Olympus m43 camera, think GH1 + IBIS, in order to use my legacy OM primes. And I’m waiting for high grade zooms as well, to accompany that camera. How long will I have to wait?
1) Are you going to launch more colors for the EP2? I want to buy a white EP2!
2) Are you going to sell EP2 body only? (not as a kit)
3) Are you going to launch “special editions” of your cameras (like the pink GF1 of Panasonic)
4) We would like more fixed lens! (maybe a 25 mm and a 40 mm)
I’m a professional.
We need new professional 43 camera:
– improvement AF
– Improvement resolution
– improvement high ISO noise balance….
:(((((
please don’t make me change for another brand…..
1. new prime lenses for m4/3?
25mm f/1.4 or wider aperture
2. firmware update for e-p1
e-p1 lacking features comparing to e-pl1
3. any update to increase focus speed.
4. exposure meters are confusing a bit.
especially, spot metering. hope to have some interface to indicate how it calculates exposure.
5. new 4/3 flagship camera? using a fujifilm sensor?
1.firmware update for e-510!!
Have you considered a hotshoe AF-assist lamp accessory?
Dear all,
here are my questions to Olympus:
Will the “E-4″,”E-5”, “EM-1” will be the long awaited mirrorless camera for the 3/4 and the MFT-Standard (flexible integrated adapter system – super flexible camera design?)
Will it have the size, weight and ergonomic quality of the Olympus E-620?
Phase detection and contrast autofocus-ability?
Fastest autofocus for Zuiko and M.Zuiko lenses
Full HD-Video 1920 x 1080 progessive, 50/60fps, H264, AVCHD?
No time limitation for Full-HD-Videos – 4 hours AVCHD on a 32 GB SDHC-Card?
Double memory slot for SDHC-, CF-, SDXC-Cards ..?
GPS-Modul?, Geotags (Google Earth, Microsoft Maps)?
Professional M.Zuiko 12-75 mm/F2.5-3,3 like Panasonic or even faster with motor zoom for video – zoom-controller on the “E-5” (for example like the Olympus C 8080 Widezoom?)
Dynamic autofocus for HD-Video
Superior LCD-resolution?
A second wireless Telecontrol-LCD with shutter release (simultanous mobile phone, mp3-player, voice recorder, picture viewer (slot fpr SDHC-, SDXC-cards), mobil-TV … perhaps in cooperation with Pansonic – one product for Olympus and Panasonic cameras?)
Bluetooth compatibilty 3.0 and wireless-lan photo transfer to windows mobile, apple ipod, blackberry, symbian, android and palm os for instant image transfer by mobile phone/WIFI?
special olympus software for camera and video controll, which runs on all that operating systems and on windows, apple and linux platforms?
Highspeed USB 3.0? (upwards compatility)
15 MP Sensor (or more) ?
Better low-light sensivity?
Superior image stabilization ?
Superior live view?
Sequential shooting speed approx. 5 – 8 frames/sec.?
Wireless flash controll via integrated flash?
Splash Proof?
Dust Proof?
External microphone input for HD-Video (perhaps even for bluetooth microphones)?
Earphone output?
HDMI-Output?
Will there be a clear roadmap for future camera and lenses for one integrated Olympus-System (3/4 and MFT in one system?)
Till now there is no real and believable investment protection perspective for Olympus consumers, but much confusing information about the future of Four Thirds – which in my opinion leads to market share losses to Panasonic, Samsung NX, Sony, Canon and Nikon
By the way: Art filters are not a must and no substitution for better image quality!
Best Regards
Paulus
Why not a Foveon sensor? 🙂
My Olympus wish list 🙂
E-P3:
—–
Fast auto focus
Built-in flash
Multi-aspect ratio sensor (1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9)
Hello, I have several questions for Olympus.
Lenses
1. Do they have plans to revise the 17mm and 14-42? Both are adequate designs but fall short due to their focusing system which hampers more rapid focusing. Do they plan to make a design more in line with their more recent releases, the 9-18 and the 14-150?
2. What are their plans on producing lenses in the vein of their high grade lenses in 4/3.
3. What are their plans regarding fast (<f2.0) wide to normal focal length lenses? I feel that if they produce these lenses in conjunction with a robust camera with built in EVF, this would truly be a poor man's Leica. I don't know how they feel about this moniker tho.
4. What are their plans regarding development of dedicated tilt shift lenses for m4/3? I have been using a tilt adapter with a shift lens and have been able to get very interesting results. I wonder if they can even be more innovative and develop a system that mimics the movements of a view camera.
5. Do they plan to design lenses that would be able to use more of the real estate of the sensor when doing multi-aspect format? Let's say a 1:1 which uses a more pixels than the 4/3 aspect ratio.
Cameras:
1. I'm sure they will not reveal this, but what is their thoughts regarding the use of sensors from other makers? Are they married at the hip to Panasonic? I would love to see cameras with sensors from Kodak, Fuji and even Foveon.
2. What is the likelihood of them developing or adopting a system similar to the focusing on the recent fuji EXR's.
3. In terms of incorporating a flash, for the higher end cameras, would a system using LED's like those on the iPhone 4 be developed so that they are able to control remote flashes? If yes, could they just use 2 of these LED's instead of the traditional flash in future models since they will take up less real estate in the camera? The photographs from the iPhone 4 are quite decent and a flash on one of these cameras are used when really just in a pinch.
4. What is their marketing department telling them in terms of the way they should tier their m4/3 and 4/3 cameras? Are they going to make them a continuum? Or are they going to develop cameras that would mimic rangefinders? So they would have a consumer grade for both then they can develop DSLR and rangefinder lines as both diverging and converging systems. That would truly be interesting.
5. do they ever plan to develop or design and ultimately produce their own sensors like Nikon? I feel that their Achilles heel has always been their sensors.
Thanks and that is it for now.
I’ve got my E-M5 with 12-50mm on order. I’m doing a major photo/video shoot in China this fall.
1. When are extra batteries and chargers going to be available? Shooting 1080i with 5-axis IS turned on is going to chew through batteries pretty fast. Nobody (including Olympus) is offering them yet!
2. I’m DESPERATE for a Sony-style short-shotgun mic which plugs directly into the hot shoe and accessory port simultaneously. Using your SEMA-1 adaptor is stupid, because it occupies the hot shoe, requiring an external L-bracket with cold shoe accessory and connecting cable. The SEMA-1 is a messy, inelegant solution…and the “bud mics” it comes with are so close to the lens, lens noise is going to be picked up. Not to mention the non-directional (non-frontal) sound they’re going to pick up.
3. I’d much prefer a faster-focusing 12-60mm constant f2.8 lens for this camera, with motorized zoom. The current 12-60mm 43-mount lens requires an adapter, and adapters inevitably lessen resolution. No one has perfect manufacturing tolerances, and two devices in the lens assembly doubles the chance for errors.