P:S: Thanks for sharing news and links!
[poll id=”11″]
PREORDERS:
Amazon (Click here)
You can now preorder the Olympus E-5 at BHphoto (Click here)
INTERESTING NOTES:
– 12Megapixels, new Truepic V+ engine, faster AF, price 1700 Euro, availability in October
– Same [shoplink 14830]PEN[/shoplink] sensor but lighter AA filter and a new, professionally-tuned TruPic V+ processor.
– By Olympus: “A new algorithm to give more detail and sharpness by exhaustively processing each pixel, meaning the real performance of ZUIKO DIGITAL SHG lenses can be seen.”
– Pocket Lint: “The output that you get from the pro-standard lens is the best sharpest of any 12-megapixel camera on the market” and “If you take the two biggest competitors in this segment and say they’re using APS sensors, then edge-to-edge, the sharpness is better.”
– Amateur Photographer: “We will continue to do these [Four Thirds cameras] until micro cameras can do what other products can,” said Olympus UK’s Consumer Products marketing manager Mark Thackara. “All cameras will be mirrorless in the future.”
– Olympus Europe spokeswoman Franziska Jorke cited the autofocus and burst rate of DSLRs as still being superior to Micro Four Thirds models, along with the optical viewfinders.
PREVIEW:
Olympus E-5, Toma de contacto (DSLRmagazine)
Japanese preview at DC.watch
Olympus E-5 Quick Hands-on Preview at DPreview
Olympus E-5: Flagship DSLR with HD video previewed at Imaging Resource
PHOTOS: Olympus E-5 hands on at Pocket Lint
YOUTUBE VIDEOS:
Via noisycamera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRFNEHue4m4&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI3EjMQ7t4I&feature=player_embedded
IMAGE SAMPLES:
Olympus Japan: http://olympus-imaging.jp/product/dslr/e5/sample/index.html
DSLRmagazine (Click and scroll down)
Photoreview Australia (Click and scroll down)
PRESS RELEASE:
Olympus E-5, 12 Mpix, video 720p, viseur 100%, LCD sur rotule : 1700 € (Focus Numerique)
Olympus E-5 : si attendu…Forum Olympus France
Olympus E-5 at Photograpbhyblog
Olympus E-5 – Ny proffsmodell för fotografering i svåra förhållanden (MyNewsDesk)
Olympus Unveils E-5 DSLR at Photoreview Australia
Olympus E-5: Das E-Flaggschiff für professionelle Ansprüche (Fotointern.ch)
Olympus-Flaggschiff E-5 (Photoscala.de)
Olympus E-5 at Fotopolis.pl
Olympus Announces E-5 DSLR (Photoxels)
La Olympus E-5 da el relevo a la veterana E-3 con 12 megapíxeles y vídeo HD (Quesabesde)
Olympus Announces New Flagship E-5 DSLR (ThePhoBlographer)
Olympus E-5: The last Four Thirds DSLR camera? (Amateur Photographer)
Olympus gets a video dSLR at last: hello E-5 (CNET)
Olympus Spain: http://www.olympus.es/consumer/dslr_23432.htm
Olympus Japan: http://olympus-imaging.jp/product/dslr/e5/index.html
Olympus Global: http://www.olympus-global.com/en/news/2010b/nr100914e5e.html
106 Responses
Disappointing. I love my Zuiko glass and my E-3 but I will stick to using that, thank you.
from DPR:
“Dig a little deeper, however, and you realize that the E-5 is a perfectly sensible upgrade that takes an excellent camera and addresses nearly all the complaints and offers, according to the marketing blurb, the best image quality ever seen in an Olympus DSLR. It also throws in a nice sprinkling of 2010 must-have features (such as movie mode).”
“the best image quality ever seen in an Olympus DSLR” — nice touch. Wonder if that was DPR or Olympus themselves.
that has yet to be seen. no sample images yet
So it was all true. One era in photographing comes to an extremely sad end. Goodbye Olympus – it was fun while it lasted…
Worst professional Camerea release in the last 2-3 years easily, unless they cut the price by half, I just don’t think there’s over 10k people buying this.
I can’t stop lolling at 720p@30fps and mono sound. They should have left that out entirely.
if you havent read the press release yet, the focus is all on the image quality
Exactly, it’s the best Olympus have ever achieved!
Only, Canikon achieved the same quality 4 years ago. LOL
calxn, ruthless but true. 🙁
I do feel for you guys. There’s nothing that can be said to lessen the pain. Atleast you all know that Olympus is now focused on u43. Their problem is still the same. They have one sensor source, Panasonic. Panasonic has no interest left in 43, no interest in a niche market. Best thing to do is to switch brands. Panasonic isn’t going to devote resources into another 43 sensor for olympus.
yeah that’s the tricky part. Olympus solved the E-3 quirks, but the question is, will the E-3 users be willing to shell out the same dough for these fixes? but i do think some users would be happy to (but not all)
I have of course, but why to add such a ridiculous feature at all. Noone (except blind fanboy) can deny that this is a pathetic release in Q3 of 2010. This should have been done in 2008 ffs!
E-3s not E-5
:))) in a few days will see d300s update, who’s gone blow E5 on another galaxy. funny how much strugle for a few things. the price is high for the futures. will see how will the image quality, but i think people who own best lenses will go to canikon area.
Shall we wait until the image quality has been tested? Would that not make sense?
Old PEN sensor -> it can’t be better than CaNikon no matter if the processor is new. This isn’t a faith thing, this is true and sad. People were hoping clean 3200 or 6400 ISO and what we get is a 6400 max ISO. What the F is going on. 🙁
So I say – the people you just do not know what you need! If anyone and have the video, buy a pro-camcorder or GH1. When the Nikon D300 to replace my D300s … No one screamed about the death of Nikon))) Canon 60D released and what? The next evolution with the increase in megapixels. Please try again. You are under the influence of marketing Canon & Nikon! Your soul will never rest))
Lots of people want proper video in thier DSLR. I love the function. Its a need for a lot of people. It has nothing to do with your paranoya about nikon and canon marketing.
> You are under the influence of marketing Canon & Nikon!
This is actually funny. I have seen people buying only Canon EF glass for 1000D because they were thinking about future FF upgrade. All that while using cameras in A mode and shooting JPG.
The marketing really works and Oly could have learned few things from them. They have to keep customers interested, keep customers following them.
At least they put a weak AA filter for supreme sharpness. I am interested to see the real reviews. It probably wont be too bad, just annoying that it is likely the swan song.
Rob, depends how the development of m4/3 goes. Personally that’s the way forward. Hopefully the right steps are taken.
Olympus will probably not make a lot and that is the reason why it cost so much.
Well, I sure hope they don’t make lots of them, when they should’ve made none! Hehe. 🙁 :'(
The highest Image quality available from any of our cameras, made possible by a 12.3-megapixel High-Speed Live MOS Sensor that maximizes the superior imaging potential of ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses together with the “TruePic V+” image processing engine with new “Fine-Detail Processing” technology.
Tested and proven in the E-30 as well as in the PEN series, the 12.3-megapixel High-Speed Live MOS sensor renders images with extraordinary fidelity to detail, high resolution, rich gradations and bright, natural colour reproduction.
To further enhance those images — especially the sense of resolution, the E-5 features newly developed optical filters and the new “TruePic V+” image processing engine with “Fine-Detail Processing” technology. While previous attempts to improve the resolution of fine subjects often led to problems such as pseudo-colours and moiré, Olympus’s new “Fine-Detail Processing” technology uses sophisticated algorithms to enhance the sense of resolution and to reduce pseudo-colours and moiré. The resulting images give the impression of having higher resolution than images with the same number of pixels shot on previous cameras.
TruePic V+ image processing engine bring out the full potential of the ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses, whose excellent imaging capability has already been widely recognized by the public and the press. As a result, the new E-5 is able to offer the highest picture quality ever achieved by an Olympus SLR camera.
Until the last minute I had quite high hopes.
It’s good to see they have rethinked the buttom placements. I hope the buttons are more tactile too. E-3 buttons don’t “click”. The feel is like there’s spilled soda stuck under the buttons. Bad thing for a camera that should be used with gloves or cold and numb fingers.
I hope the DR is better.
E-5 as it is should have been released at least a year back. Just dissapointing. Knowing Olympus, the price will be high. Nobody buys the camera and soon they have to cut expenses even more and…
I still have my E-3. Seems like I will have it for a few years more.
Sample images near the bottom: http://www.photoreview.com.au/news/productnews/olympus-unveils-e5-dslr.aspx
It’s okay, not worth buying in my opinion.
Thanks!
So there is not much revolutionary features from Olympus in E5 then.
However, if you love the Zuiko lens (like me), I still think E5 sounds appealing to Olympus users, except for the high price. E5 has pretty much what basic improvements I could ask Olympus for. At least we should wait for some sample images taken by E5 to compare with older TruPic sensor and others. Is it that image quality was why most of us choose Olympus at the beginning? 🙂
More E-5 Samples: http://olympus-imaging.jp/product/dslr/e5/sample/index.html
Look good to me. Saw the improvement on AA filter 🙂
image quality looks really good 😀
Total bullshit. I find it hard to swallow that Oly couldn’t even do something to make this camera worth trading up for. I’m sorry but I own an e-3 and I’m not going to buy a whole new lump of metal for “increased sharpness” and 720p video. Bullshit. Why the hell would the only do 720p! Just take a look at the new sony’s for f’s sake. They’re cheaper and offer way more for the money… barf.
If they could offer second to none low-light performance and this ridiculous sharpness then maybe. Fuck.
Time to jump ship. Anyone want an E-3 and a bunch of great lenses?
I could use a 35-100mm. Don’t ask too high price though, you are now selling dead system! 😉
Sharpness is ok, but intrusive noise come even at ISO 400 xD
http://olympus-imaging.jp/product/dslr/e5/sample/images/index_image02_l.jpg
Hey and what is this>>>
http://olympus-imaging.jp/product/dslr/e5/sample/images/index_image01_l.jpg
lol picture says ISO 200 which must be some mistake :] looks like 7D on ISO 3200
And at picture which says end it says ISO 200
http://olympus-imaging.jp/product/dslr/e5/sample/images/index_image04_l.jpg
@Nigel. No Thank You:)
Last Oly user i have known has changed to Nikon D700 2 years ago…
But the noise has a film-like quality to it….it’s almost as good as Nikon or Canon….
@ Eugene
I don’t want two systems. I just want and need one system that does both stills and video well. I didn’t buy a GH1 because that would mean more batteries, chargers, cables, etc. not to mention the loss of IBIS and RC flash control. Right now I’m wondering if I should’ve picked up a GH1 before May…
@ Dan #2
Waiting for some proper test results is definietly the thing to do.
@ Everyone else
I’m seeing a lot of claims that sharpness from the E-5 will best any 12 MP APS-C DSLR, which sounds nice, but which Cannikon DSLRs are 12 MP? The Rebel Xti? Is Oly boasting that they can outresolve an old 30/40D?
No claims on improved DR. Also, it seems that ISO selection jumps from 3200 to 6400 without any 1/3 EV steps in between. I assume this means 6400 is the dreaded “in case of emergency only” setting that we all expected anyway.
I’m glad to see the AE braketing expanded to 7 frames from 3 on the E-3, though in the dpreview image it shows the menu topping out at 7 frames at 0.7 EV, not the 7 frames at 1 EV I’d expect.
Also, it would seem that the E-5 uses a new BLM-5 battery, though it still uses the HLD-4 grip? Not sure what’s with that… Changing the battery again seems like a final finger to us all (yet another set of batteries and charger to travel with), but the physical dimensions would have to be very close to allow the use of the HLD-4. I took it for granted the E-5 would use either the BLS-1 or BLM-1, and was really hoping for a setup that would accept either to accommodate users of any E-System or PEN camera. Too bad I’m not in charge at Oly…
Jimson, The BLM-5 battery is just a higher current (1,620 mAh capacity) version of the BLM-1 (1,500 mAh capacity) with common connections to power the larger display & keep the usage time up. This battery is quite likely usable in our existing cameras (E30) too & should get improved performance with it (for a price).
Just increase the video to 720@60FPS and drop the price to around to less than 1,200USD, and I would buy it.
@ Jimson
I believe the Nikon D3 and D3s are still 12mp…
e-5 on olympus uk
http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/dslr_23432.htm#/home/
the engine, the processor has to be important here. the e-p1, e-p2, e-pl1 all have the same chip, but the e-pl1 is known for giving the best out of camera jpgs (the engine).
E-3 to E-5 … 10 to 12 mega, but its a modern chip, add movie if you want it.
I’d struggle to class the e-5 as a pro body, so you cannot and should not compare it to the FF/FX bodies like the 5D, D700, D3 etc., Not even canon can approach Nikon for high iso.
But if you compare the e-5 with the 7D and the d300s … look at the sealing, the potential into f2 zoom lenses, start looking at Canon L zoom or Nikon f2.8 zoom prices! E-5 has that rotating LCD, Canon/Nikon at this level of toughness do not give you that. Macro and I guess movie at ground level with that screen is gonna make for a better experience for the photographer.
Oh, and ignore the price. that is suggested price, has anyone in here (even early adopters) ever paid RRP for a camera or lens? No idea on UK price yet, but if its 1700 in Europe, then it won’t be long before its 1400. And you can never just convert to the US$ price, its more likely to be 1700$ at launch, and drop to 1300-1400$ in a few months.
Comparing to the Nikon D300s & Canon 7D … as an overall package, you have to have some lenses. Try finding a 50-200/2.8-3.5 equivalent, and look at the price of the 35mm (70mm) image stabilized macro. This could be our 7D/D300s.
If you want full frame, then why are you in Oly, go buy a 5DII or D700, but think hard about the lens costs. Total package with 14-54/2.8-3.5, 50-200/2.8-3.5 are a dream pair of lenses in Canon/Nikon at this price point.
Interesting it is, still not enough to stop me using my E-30. And I think the E-30 will stand out as a great deal for those who don’t need the weather thing.
I want to see high ISO pics.
Who cares about JPEGs? This is a camera aimed at the advanced market, and nobody in it shoots lossless.
(no new lenses … boo)
Cool. I can sell my E3 and buy the E5 without my wife noticing that spend money on new equipment.
Good point lol.
@ Mike
Thanks for the sample links and info on the 12MP competitors. I guess I’ve been too much of an Oly loyalist (or too busy shooting) to keep up with my research.
I’m viewing on my iPhone so I can’t really pixel peep, but I find obvious improvement in some of the sample images, especially in the 240 sec @ ISO 400 long exposure. My E-3 would give me nothing but noise under those conditions, even with NR turned on, and the 620 ain’t too much better. Then again it does look freezing cold where the image was shot so that might be reducing noise =)
I do find it telling that there are no sample images shot above ISO 400 though =(
@ Intruder
Yeah, 720 @ 60 fps for around $1K and I’d consider it…
Great News! That means next year I can get an E-5 an (Top-)Pro Glasses for a few hundred euros 😉
most interesting things to me
100% viewfinder
up to 5 stops of IS
AF at -2EV
dual card slot
… pretty darned good, you have to consider camera and lenses when looking at 7D and D300s
(system badly needs an f1.4 lens)
25mm 1.4 Leica exists, there are also Sigma lenses (30mm 1.4, 50mm 1.4) available…
And did you see the specs of the internal flash (from dpreview)?
• Guide no. 18
That’s not bad if it is true
yup, but Leica 25/1.4 is a silly price
Sig 30/1.4 is designed for APS-C chip, we need a real 43 lens
Sig 50/1.4 is designed for a FX/FF chip, wonderful reputation too, but not convinced it would resolve well enough on our chip
… we need a sensibly priced f1.4 43 lens, made to measure, not with a 43 mount popped on as an after thought 🙂
(go native)
“The E-5 camera achieves the highest image quality of any Olympus camera. Engine that boasts new “Fine Detail Processing” technology for greater detail in the photograph. Optimized to maximize the performance of the Zuiko® Digital Lenses, Fine Detail Processing takes digital photography to the next level.”
If this new cam lives up the expectation of the written text above, I will be very happy with the offer from Olympus.
Forget all the spec’s and figures, let us look at and judge the final images before giving our verdict on this new cam.
would of thought it would have a built in intervalometer and 21:9 aspect ratio
Wanna toss Olympus?
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=158115930866556
Yawn! Nice camera, but nothing of interest to me.
@ DCap
You’re right about the non-existence of the perfect camera system, and I have yet to find any lenses that compete with the 12-60 & 50-200 SWD combo at anywhere near the same price.
It does seem to be intended to compete with the 7D (minus that fancy viewfinder overlay thingy). The disconcerting thing is that this may easily be all we have to look forward to for the next 2 or 3 years…
Good call on the pricing. I’ve never paid MSRP for any of my gear, though some have been close.
I’d also like to see some high ISO samples. Time will tell I suppose…
mind you, its still a bit of a steep price to pay for the body huh!
I might pick up the E-5 once the price lowers. I shoot the Leica 25mm 1.4 about 95% of the time with my E-620. I know the Leica is capable of more – I hope the E-5 could bring the full potential out of this lens.
Mike, probably a new E-720 using the E-620 body and the introduced E-5 features would be a dream camera, isn’t it?
check this out by Ken
http://zone-10.com/cmsm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=540&Itemid=1
Bye Bye Olympus…not spending any single cent more on you..
Hello LX-5
Canon shoved swivel screen and turned 550D 60D. No reason not talking about evolution, that the death of Canon is not far off …)) Olympus makes a perfect lens as a pro-class, and for the amateur segment. Canon & Nikon can not provide (in the segment of the amateur and semi-pro) competing with Olympus lenses. I talk with users of Canon & Nikon, be sure, all is not well with them. E-5 a great camera, but if you can not create good pictures, you could not work it out with Nikon, and Canon))
Oh, the view Ken Norton – is the ultimate truth! Canon, perhaps paying him (and his ilk), so that the consumer had no thoughts other than “I want to buy a Canon”!
Same here lkm51. Bye bye Olympus, hello 7D.
I consider this good news since it makes the decision to switch to Canon so easy. The e-5 is really an e-3 refresh and the 43 lens line is dead ended both by Olympus and Sigma.
I feel cheated by Oly. My renewed interest in photography a few years ago yielded an e-520. For the next year 43 looked promising (e- 30, 600, 620) until Oly slammed the brakes on 43 and went to m43. Now my desire to upgrade from entry level will have to be Canon or Nikon because they continue their dslr development and they have a more complete lens line and third party lenses.
Is the joke over yet, Seriously? There is nothing new except a maybe improved AF (though by reports no where nearly as good as C or N midline, slight resoultion improvement, aparently simulated HDR effect in camera, & I will guess improved processing engine (which really dose nothing for pro shooters). Though I will stll hold onto my pro line & midline oly gear because I am a die hard oly lens fan, let’s just say disappointed really dose not begin to describe the let down even though prepped for it though this site. I may buy this camera when it hits $1k us.
They will sell about four.
The samples from the dslrmagazine look promising, significant better DR and noise.
Much better than the ones shown at Olympus Japan
Cheers,
Chris
The philosophy that Olympus has is striking compared to that of canikon and Sony. Oly seems to take a all or nothing approach. 43 seems to be dead to them. U43 is the way now. The other three view the market as all segment co-existing. Nikon even said it as such. Oly is taking a big risk. A gamble that their only sensor maker will be there for them. With aps-c, there will always be enough demand to guarantee supply and r&d. It’s strange that with such a rich tradition in photography, they would put themselves in a similar position as Sigma. Even pentax, leica, and newcomer samsung aligned themselves with aps-c.
@ Admin
Good work on the E-5 rumors! Spot on, just like the EPL-1 leak!
Thanks!!!
Gonna use my E-1 and 12-60 til it dies as my general purpose setup.
Switching over to Pentax for a semi-pro spec setup. Pentax – a company who ends up as the butt of all jokes but has continued to strive for progressive improvement and is always willing to show their loyal fanbase respect in terms of quality, equipment and pricing amongst other things. I’m tired of Olympus jerking me around and showing absoloutely no faith in a system that they implemented and sought to change the face of digital photography all those years ago.
guys calm down
it’s a nice upgrade path for fellow E-3 users particularly PRO’s
think of a step up nikon did from the D200 to the D300s,(actually it was two steps with the D300 in between..) this is more or less it..
GREAT STUFF
AF Fine tuning Calibration (finally)
The very very nice display (finally)
Aspect ratios
HDMI out
LV focusing improved (good + makes sense with such a diplay, finally..)
Lighter AA filter, processing etc. ( IF TRUE..)
Copyright info in Exif (Artist name /Copyright name) (GREAT)
Dual CF/SD card support (yes the XD is finally, but finally DEAD!)
Battery door Issue was addressed (new rugged slide-out solution) was one of the only ‘weak’ links of the E-3
No learning curve for E-3 users
What I don’t care for:
Video
Art filters
You forgot to add the $1700 price. To me, the E-5 is perfectly acceptable at $1100. But I am not paying 700 for weather seals.
http://www.letsgodigital.org/nl/27118/olympus-e5-review/
Conclusion:
The Olympus E-5 is a solid and dependable DSLR camera. A camera that can be used under all circumstances; a workhorse if you will. Build quality is very high and the Olympus E-5 radiates robustness. However, it’s doubtful if that will be enough to attract a new group of photographers. Owners of an Olympus Four Thirds system DSLR camera (E-1, E-3 and E-30) will be able to upgrade. But those who like trendy new features, professional HD video quality, high resolutions or shooting at the highest ISO values will probably be more enamored with the competition.
Olympus E5 review
Hoewel we de DSLR camera op zijn beeldkwaliteit nog niet kunnen beoordelen vanwege de pre-productie status van deze Olympus E-5 sample, is onze verwachting dat de Olympus E-5 qua beeld in ieder geval aan alle professionele eisen voldoet.
thx admin!
The problem I see is ….
will olympus continue to upgrade thayer AF senzor and other DSLR specific parts? If I don’t see a good progress in E-5 AF to E-3 AF (mainly in C-AF) than olympus DSLR are death line to me….
So I will leave with my e-3 until it will die… than if there is no progress to olympus DSLR AF I will switch to some other system… m4/3 is a choese too if the AF is significant improved. But atm I realy like the idea of Sony A33/A55 :). C/N somehow aren’t doing any inovative stuff too.
From the E-5 website: “In the C-AF mode, both the focusing rate and the number of successively recordable frames have been significantly increased compared to the E-3.*2” and “*2 Firmware updating is required with some lenses. The release of the firmware is scheduled to coincide with the official launch of the E-5”
So I’m looking forward to improved AF. Interesting the note about lens firmwares…
i am curious if Olympus solved the noise isue, when shooting in higher Iso. Are there any reviews / experiences?
There seems to be a lot of doomsday sayers, but I would like to see proper images & reviews before throwing my hands in the air & crying out “not good enough”.
BTW has anybody noticed the sensor under the viewer eyepiece? Would that be there to turn off the display when using the OVF (as I suggested some time back in one of the forums) as the display having to turn off before an exposure adds a slight delay before the shutter is released (that can be avoided in most of the other models if the display is turned off)?
I will stick with my E3. This is a sad day…
I hope all of the people who think that the E5 is a good thing realizes…
-This is the last 4/3 camera that will ever be made…EVER
-The fantastic lenses that you have will continue to provide great pictures, but no additional advancement will be made toward improving image quality… this is it…
-The fantastic lenses that you all have will NEVER live up to it’s potential because until the end (and yes, this is the end of 43rds) Olympus has never taken the high noise issue and low light performance issues seriously…
-If you were one of the many who thought it would be nice to have an olympus-branded group of fast prime lenses, it is not gonna happen EVER…
Yes, the Olympus E5 is a step up for E3 users, but it’s a step that is too small, and too final…43rds will live on for a few more years, but it’s us who will be keeping it alive, not Olympus or Panasonic. If any of us plan to be shooting semi-professionally 3 years from now and beyond, the only choice that we have is to switch manufacturers.
And for those who say that we all have m43rds to look forward to, that is not a replacement for the DSLR format. It is a completely different family of camera as far as I am concerned. The lenses selection is a JOKE. Poor quality, slow. I have the EP2. Its a cool point and shoot with interchangable lenses, but that’s all… I wouldn’t be caught dead using it as my only professional outfit, especially with the poor choice of lenses. But even if Olympus did make better lenses for the m43rds, I couldn’t affort them, cause I’ve spent all of my money on the 43rds 35-100, 14-35, 12-60, etc etc. Nearly 5k worth of glass, with no advanced camera to look forward to in the future…
Why should any of us feel good about this?
I’d like to see the ISO outputs in RAW at 1600 and up compared with 300s and 7d. The E5 still beats both those cameras when it comes to weather sealing.
The hype machine fails us again. Where is the revolutionary camera? This isn’t even evolutionary. 2yr old sensor, 3 yr old body. I’ll wait for the example photos, but from the one on OLY Japan’s site, with the motorboat, dynamic range isn’t vastly improved. There is very little shadow detail in that shot. Personally, I would have exposed that one +.3 to allow the highlights to blow out a tiny bit farther and actually expose the image.
Yes Rocky, it does in terms of weather-sealing. The question is though, how many times in your shooting life do you go out and shoot in conditions where the E5’s superior weather sealing is an advantage over the others? In light to moderate conditions, the D300/s and 7D works well with no probs.
So….How come this took so long? This just doesn’t seem like the kind of thing that would be delayed by so much time!
Showing me example shots at ISO100-400 is not gonna impress me. Show me the 1600 shots. The E-3 is already impressive at ISO 200 with good lighting like the example photos. Then again, so is a sixty dollar Kodak point and shoot.
My E-520 can do just as well. I’m planning to upgrade, but I only have 2 pro grade lenses, so I can just as well move to any other system. 7D looking very nice at the moment. Oh, and the 7D is similar in price and just completely outclasses the E-5. Or, I could get the 35-100 F2 instead to augment my 14-54 II. Olympus still has me fully enamored on the lens front, that’s the only thing holding me to the system. (OIS mechanisms and fast glass don’t mix well except at EXTREME prices)…
Gotta have in-body image stabilization, not gonna pay over and over for the same feature in three lenses. I only buy ONE wide angle/fish, one normal to telephoto and one portrait lens. However, I still don’t like buying OIS each time, and I don’t like that manual lenses are just completely without assistance on a CaNikon body. IBIS raises the keeper rate, and with portraits, that’s a big deal.
We’ll see how RAWs look at ISO 800+.
kman who said that this is he last 4/3 cam ever? It is 100% confirmed now that 4/3 will live one, and they
will continue to develop camera bodys (!with or without mirror box!) but the line continues, at least until the mirrorless systems w digital finders are on par, or surpass them (weigh up the whole package optical viewfinder autofocus speed etc..) the day will come where one body might handle
both lensmounts, but the lenses will stay.
the day this happens, you can slap your 35-100 on any fourthirds mirrorless system, having the same speed and quality like on your E-5 today, this can take 1 year, or even 5 years, but it will definitely happen.
I gotta say I’m happy with the E-5 announcement, not because it ticks all the boxes (GH2/7D) but it ADRESSES the main niggles we had with an already great E-3.. (ok, they could have chaged the eyepiece…) most importantly it’s a NO BULLSHIT photographic tool, kind of the opposite of the Panasonics who try to be all in one but at the end aren’t bought neither by pro photographers, nor by pro videographers… think about that.. The GH is mainly bought
By prosumers coming from compacts.. trying to be ALL but at the end nothing serious…
In this respect I also like a lot sony’s A900/A850, this is probably the ‘less bullshit’ fullframe cam on the market today.
Just a serious cam, serious viewfinder, no video, serious built quality, paired with zeiss lenses it’s all you ever need…
Think of your favourite film camera, just digital. I see the E-5 is pretty much in the same league philosophy wise just for The cropped sensor market.
Justin said…”Think of your favourite film camera, just digital. I see the E-5 is pretty much in the same league philosophy wise just for The cropped sensor market.” I agree with you on your assessment of the E-5 as compared to my favorite film camera, but that’s what scares me… My favorite film camera was the Contax RTSIII… Same scenarion as with olympus… world class optics, astounding build quality. Then they came out with the contax AF range, which allowed you to “continue to use you to “slap” a MF Contax lenses on it. But, after a year or so, it was clear that the company had lost interest in continuing supporting the older lenses…
Excuse me for sounding like an alarmist, but I’ve read this book before, with a different title. I am just warning people to be synical when it comes to moving forward with the 43rds line of cameras and lenses. Being excited about the E5 is fine, but olympus owes you more than just an empty promise to not forget that we exist.
Sorry for jumping the gun without proofreading. Please excuse the jumbled thought process… I meant to say…
“Same scenario as with olympus… world class optics, astounding build quality. Then they came out with the contax AF range, which allowed you to “slap” a MF Contax lenses on it. But, after a year or so, it was clear that the company had lost interest in continuing supporting the older lenses…
hope that makes more sense
I see this camera appealing to only a very small segment: photographers who have purchased the higher end olympus glass, and who need weather sealing. If the first doesn’t apply, then other manufacturers look more appealing. If the latter doesn’t apply, then the E-30 is the natural choice.
@ Ross
Thanks for the info on the BLM-5. Given the negligible increase in capacity I’d prefer the option to use my stack of BLM-1s (which I guess will still be possible via the HLD-4). I wonder if the battery slot in the camera is keyed to prevent the usage of a BLM-1? That wouldn’t suprise me at all…
@ Justin
I’ve never had a problem with the card or battery doors on the E-3, and would prefer the locking card door over the slide out. On one of my old cameras (think it was either the 420 or 510) the card door used to pop open pretty often due to the way I carried it. This would result in a loss of data if the camera happened to be writing at the time.
Copyright data in exif is nice, but not much of a selling point for me. I just use exiftool to add that data and remove camera settings prior to burning DVDs for clients or uploading to the web.
I have no desire to crop to aspect ratio in-camera, especially if the viewfinder can’t mask the image to preview the crop. I think that’s easily and best done in PP.
I do want solid video capability, and I think that’s where the E-5 falls shortest. Time will tell though…
official statement from the OLYMPUS GLOBAL WESITE
The Li-ion battery BLM-1 currently in the market can be used with
the E-5 but the new BLM-5 is recommended. The BLM-5 is also used
with Olympus E-system cameras such as the E-3 and E-30.
Please note, however, that the BLM-5 is only compatible with the
BCM-5 and the BLM-1 is compatible with either the BCM-1 or the
BCM-2.
Meh.
I concur with kman.
Too little, too late.
The sensor from the GH1 IMHO was the only one which could compete with the 7d: I’m awaiting to see samples but I’ve seen EP-2 pics and that ain’t gonna cut it.
It beats me why Olympus would think I would spend $1600 on a E-5, even after sticking with 4thurds since E-1.
What worries me the most is that after 3 years and many loyal customers clamoring for a 7D killer this is all they could come up with. REALLY?
@ Justin
Good to know. At least they’re not trying force us into buying more $40 batteries. Glad the BCM-2/5 will charge both BLM-1 & BLM-5, that’s one less charger to travel with…
The fact here is that this confirms that most of the innovative time and work at Oly went into developing the EP PEN series for the consumer market.
Other than adding video as a working photog I cold have done without and a larger LCD (nice to have, but doesn’t take the picture) plus a catch-up to E-30 features (honestly, Art Filters are more consumer marketing than pro features. Any thing like that is post-processing in the pro world).
This is a fix (E-3 Mk II) to the list of nits and problems that service had collected for 3 years, such as poor C-AF performance (needed to fix for the video to work but will be great to have for action sports), barely acceptable XD card speed and size.
If in fact it is a better match for my SHG glass (like the sluggish focus with a 14-35mm) that will be great but marketing hype is just that, hyperbole.
I appreciate them addressing the fixes but: 1) I’m re-buying the E-3 but with video, and 2) I needed better ISO performance … which may be there and remains to be seen.
We’ll have to get some time with it to sort this all out.
First off, congrats Admin, you had this spot-on!
I’m interested to see what the noise and dynamic range performance is going to turn out to be. I’m confident it will be the best yet for 4/3, but that isn’t necessarily saying a ton either. But in all I think the impulse to stay at 12mp is a good one. We’ll just have to see how much they’ve gotten out of that 12mp.
It’s pretty clear that they didn’t put a full effort into this. The plan is to go to m4/3 (which I think in the long run is the right plan), but until they get the auto-focus sorted on m4/3, they wanted to give current users something to upgrade to. I don’t think they really even expect to bring new customers into an Olympus. This is a camera for existing users, and they’ve pretty well said as much. The only exception is that they are clearly touting the ruggedness as the unique selling point, so they may hope to lure in some people on that.
As for me, there’s no way I’ll pay $1700 for this. But at the same time, I’d don’t need a camera today either. The price on this will fall. I’d bet that within a year this will be between $1000 and $1250. At that price, especially if the image quality is a sufficient improvement on my E-600 (and I think it’s a fair bet that it will be), then it might be a good buy.
In the long run, Oly sees micro 4/3 as their winner, and they put this out there out there to give existing users an option. Fair enough. I think the price is a bit ridiculous, but I’m betting that will change.
Thanks Dan!
Are new sales of expensive 4/3 lenses dead?
Maybe I am wrong, but it seems like the purchasers of the E-5 will be photographers with an existing closet of HG and SHG 4/3 lenses.
I can’t see photographers from other systems switching to 4/3 with this camera. Amateur photographers moving up will go from point-and-shoot to Pens, but this product is not for them.
For someone that has a 4/3 camera and equipment, why should we invest now in brand new 4/3 HG or SHG lenses?
I just do not see Pens as currently configured to be well-matched to long-telephoto zoom lenses.
Unless the price drops precipitously, does it make sense to buy any new HG or SHG lenses for my E-30? Or would money spent on a new system from another manufacturer make more sense?
Maybe picking up some used HG or SHG lenses on eBay makes sense. Of course, secondary market purchases really don’t help Oly. That is one of the reasons I have a hard time understanding Oly’s business justification for seemingly killing off a segment of loyal customers.
I was hoping for a high end final D-SLR (if indeed this is to be the last D-SLR) from Oly with top shelf video. I have no problems with Oly moving to mirrorless, but I just do not see the performance in Pens yet. I thought a new E-5 with top shelf video could hold me over for a few years until Oly perfected the same performance level in mirrorless designs.
However, I just do not see that now, and I have a real hard time justifying continuing to invest in new Oly gear (such as HG or SHG lenses) that may not even work optimally with new camera designs.
After years of only using Oly products and not testing any other brands, I am now at the stage of either standing pat from cold turkey stopping purchases of any new Oly gear or going to another manufacturer’s systems. Honestly, someone convince me why doing otherwise is rational.
I think that picking up used HG and SHG Zuikos on eBay makes a lot of sense. At least that’s what I’ll be doing.
Much better then getting a 7D/D300s and sticking some half-hearted EF-S/DX lenses on it. 😉
Sorry, but Olympus does not want to grow the market. Can not she just have made such improvements in its high-end camera. I have the E-3 and a bunch of lenses. But I also have the Canon 1d MarkIIN, and really think seriously about migrating fully to the Canon. I sell everything and buy Olympus Canon 5D MarkII. And sadly it does not make a decent upgrade their equipment. 5 fps, 11 Points of Focus and ISO 6400 gets to be hilarious.! Poor Olympus, always running behind …
Just ordered mine on-line at Henry’s (Canada) for 1699$ and then I will see for myself the progress made over the E-3. I will sell my E-3 and E-620 to fund my new E-5 so my real cost won’t be as much. I will keep my EPL-1 as I can carry it with me all the time. What really matters to me is IQ, DR, and High ISO (1600 is fine for me). I was expecting more from Olympus but from a rational point of view we rarely use more than 50% of all the capabilities of a DSLR in real world usage. What concerns me most is the lack of new prime lens. I think we should spend more time shooting and less time computing and reading negative stuff on the internet. Camera doesn’t really matters and this is so true. Go out and get some great pictures. I don’t really care about the 7D, the D300s or the E5, I care about my pictures. Happy shooting!
Any word on when the reviews will start to show up? I will buy it if it has usable 1600 iso images.
Scott, my sources tell me the E-5 has very clean ISO1600. Will see.
Talk about half empty and not half full people., I for one will buy it as soon as released. I have had e10, e20, e1, and e3.
As a pro, am I happy with how Olympus has handled it’s marketing and product launches over the last 5 years? No not at all and at times been ‘tempted’ to look elsewhere. But the image quality has always been superior and zuiko glass a standout ( I only shoot raw).
People love venting about shortfalls of their equip ( nikon and canon included )
The e5 is an upgrade of the e3, that’s fine and is I think a bridge to something bigger down the track from oly .
Would I liked to have seen more in the e5? Of course but still happy with what it is and what it will do.
Go oly.
Ps., I am wonder thou if my battery grip from the e3 will fit. :).
What else does your sources tell you? 🙂
@sambob
don’t worry your hld-4 battery grip from the e-3 will work also on the E-5, so will the BLM-1 battery, the BLM-5 is just a higher capacity BLM-1, maybe because video demands a little more ‘juice’
cannot wait for the first reviews, i’ll get the E-5 as soon as it hits the market anyway, i have the feeling it’s going to rock. have some important assignments going on this november, so I should be in time. I’ll use the E-5 and the E-3 as backup body, my (still kicking) E-1 will see some more legacy glass use in the future on the weekends.
as many pointed out, the E-5 is meant to be a rugged professional workhorse camera, if you want the latest and greatest in features (and confusing camera updates every 4-6 months) look elsewhere..
@ Justin , thanks for great to know .
And I agree, the camera will rock!!
I have an e20, e1, e3 and several lenses. I have always been pleased with the image quality. The larger prints from my pro printer people look real good from my jpeg files. Feel I’ve gotten good value for dollars spent on Olympus equipment. Feel I would have spent much more for equivalent capability with other brands. I have never had to clean the sensors. Will probably buy an e5. Jim