Surprise! Olympus announced the E-PL1s! It is a slightly tweaked version of the existing [shoplink 14832]E-PL1[/shoplink] (it now shoots at 6.400 ISO and it also comes in red). It uses the new BLS-5 battery instead of the BLS-1 (To meet the new safety standards for lithium-ion rechargeable Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law). But the most interesting news is the new version of the current [shoplink 14816]14-42mm kit lens[/shoplink]…the M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm II 1:3.5-5.6 kit lens! It has MSC (Movie and Stills Compatible) designation and it is smaller and lighter (112g= 25$ lighter) than the current version. The new kit should be released in Japan by December the 4th. The price of the lens only is 36,750 yen (US$440). There is no info about the possible release date in Europe and US/Canada. I was told the new lens will be available worldwide very soon. But there is no plan to release the E-PL1s in non-japanese countries.
More info:
Dpreview
Akhabaranews
DC.watch.impress
Olympus Japan
E-PL1.net forum
65 Responses
Well nothing too major but an extra stop is always welcome. I wonder if it actually manages to shoot usable images above ISO 1600.
With such minimal incremental feature added, and given how people bash E-5 for it, no wonder Olympus doesn’t plan on release it outside of Japan. Good job guys.
Olympus needed to tackle the source of the AF-problem it was being bashed for: the lens. They have done that now and can move on to other improvements and new products.
E-5 is interesting: it got a lot of flack upon release; but once the first user reports and test photos started showing up, the mood around that camera has completely changed
Whaouh ! 64k Iso !!! Ithink it just 6400.
LOL…corrected!
buuuuu! No AF assistlamp on this either! 🙁
+10
Was it so hard to go to P&S R&D department and take the 5 USD lamp mechanism from a 90 USD camera? Ah well, new lens is good news. Seems they did the reverse of what Panasonic did: they made better and smaller 3x zoom kit lens.
A 12-42mm lens whould have been realy cool… but it’s probably just a mistake – is it?
12-42? Admin… 🙂
I am so in hurry that I made two typos 🙁
Thanks guys for your help. I really need your help today. I am so busy that I have to write posts in almost impossible situations (right now I am on the montain for a fotoshooting and it is snowing!).
P.S.: Olympus should tell me in advance at what time they make new product announcements so that I can manage my tasks 🙂
This shows that this site is indeed independent ( for now :)), unlike some other ***rumors.com websites.
Keep up the good work!
Oh Thanks!
Full 100% independent! No company pays me, no sponsor pays for my articles. You are my boss 😉
36750 yen is the price of the lens
http://olympus-imaging.jp/product/dslr/mlens/14-42_35-56_2/index.html
That’s 325 EUR, not bad for start …
Lol I envy u admin – on a mountain!! U need the e-5!!!
It’s just program the ROM using TruePic V+ instead of TruePic V engine during manufacturing process, a very minor update (or maybe replace the AA low pass filter as well, will see).
Anyway, people have ZD 14-54mm II may want this instead of E-5 (same sensor and same image processing engine but much lighter/smaller).
I wouldn’t knock it. Incremental improvements with no downsides are helpful. Less weight really makes it a no brainer between this and something like a canon g12. Similar weight. Much better quality pics. Greater creative options/bokeh. Lens options. Canons only strength is it’s slightly smaller size.
the 14-42 is a nice little lens and it is worth an upgrade, therefore i welcome olympus’ move to release it.
any side by side comparisons with the old lens?
At least you have a couple of new sources out of this eh Admin? And it seems they know stuff the old sources don’t. Yay!
Yes the japanese source is very good. I should have trust him. I will do it in future. To be honest…very honest also a trusted source told me that something would be announced by mid-November. But He didn’t tell me what. Anyway guys, I am already working on very very very good rumors. Early 2011 we will see some ncie new stuff!
Will we see the stuff early 2011 or will we see your rumours early 2011? 😉
Rumor are coming soon. I need some time to double check the rumor with other sources. I was ready to write the first rumor today but there is that E-PL1s announcement. I will post the rumor in a few hours.
Bye
I really hope your new rumor is on a PEN with integrated EVF (2011) and a new range of high grade lenses (2011 & 2012) …
japanese strategists: who undertands them?
Drink a lot, and you will. 🙂
Yes please, something from Olly or I’ll have to go for Nex5
Very interesting… Im eagerly waiting.
I doubt the higher ISO rating will come in handy. ISO 1600 is at the edge of being usable for serious photography. With natural light, ISO 1600 is still usable to some degree. ISO 3200 is clearly out of the game. ISO 6400 is probably just a marketing buzzword.
It’s pretty clear actually that they needed to do something about the kit lens before Christmas. It’s too slow to focus and noisy in video mode. It’s the weakest link of the E-PL1 which will be Olympus most important camera for the Christmas season. They didn’t really have a choice there.
Well, it could be of some use if you try to stack several low light images in some stacking software and try to clean remaining noise afterwards. But then again, you can save yourself time and buy a fast lens, 20mm F1.7 for example.
I am increasingly clueless about Olympus’ product strategy. After the black edition with the “F-cap” another incremental product release. Aren’t they getting it? Still the best IQ and performance of the PEN system in the worst and cheapest body concept.
Except some “vapor” announcments still no visible product strategy for the future. Sad.
Olympus is known for very small updates, that’s why I believed the FT2 rumor from the start. Compare EP1 -> E-P2, E-410 -> E-420 -> E450, E-620 -> E-600 updates and you’ll see they are doing the usual stuff.
Given the wait and relative feature improvements, I’d say the E-5 is also a small update.
There’s a strange paradox here. If it’s so dark that I need ISO6400, often the camera won’t focus. Go figure.
Assist lamp please Oly. Next time huh?
Is the lens really smaller? When compared to the old one, it seems longer, as the barrel doesn’t collapse completely into the shell. It will accept a lens hood though. That’s new.
The lens is longer when collapsed (50mm compared with 43.5mm of the V1 lens), but smaller in diameter, lighter in weight, more silent in operation and higher resolution at the edge of lens.
Too bad, as the length is really the critical dimension for pocketability etc.
It has their new “Movie and Stills Compatible” designation, which would ideally imply that they did something in either the lens or the camera to improve autofocus, but, more realistically, probably only means the lens will be more silent while it slowly hunts for a subject.
If so, WTG, Oly.
And if the release is indeed Japan-only, another tick in the “win” column.
From dpreview.com: “…the lens is a completely new design, featuring internal focus for faster, quieter autofocusing.” As such the Mark II lens, which is expected to become available worldwide in the near future…”
WTG El Cabong. Another tick in the “Win” column for you.
Thanks for the kind words, rik. I forgot that Olympus press release = dpreview performance test. Silly me.
It would’ve been nice to see Oly spend their time on something other than their kit lens, as much as people bashed its first incarnation. I understand the need to build their consumer base, but I don’t see why they couldn’t have also released another prime instead of simply adding another lens to the saturated m4/3 14-whatever range. Hopefully us enthusiasts will get our treats early in the new year.
The Japan-only release for the E-PL1s is a baffling strategy.
admin..i truly hope the 12mm prime will be one of the early 2011 stuffs !
At least two new cameras and at least 3 new lenses (confirmed!).
(went to change his underwear)
I assume that the two new cameras referred to are Olympus upgrades of EP2 and a EP3. Hopefully these will be more than just the EPL1s window dressings.
Certainly Oly badly needed a faster AF and silent zoom lens to go with the Pens but they need to make that std kit on all the PENs ASAP. Although the new lens is reportedly a new none extending type it still uses the less sturdy collapsing design with possible problematic loose lens elements and is 1/4″ longer.
Oly probably making the EPL1s available in Japan only because that is where the EPL1 has been the most popular worldwide and commanded the highest prices even more than GF1 w 20/1.7 in cost and would be harder to sell at a higher premium here in US or Europe.
wow,any extra info avqailable on the confirmed lenses (type/brand etc)?
I am double checking the rumors. As soon as I can I will post that.
The cameras are alot more interesting! ;D
Nothing too exciting if you look at the roadmap:
Olympus 8mm F4(?) fisheye
Olympus 12mm F2.8
Olympus 50mm F2 macro
I’m putting more hope on ones that are not on it :), such as this one.
Miroslav,
I think any m43 prime release would be a small sensation, considering the majority being zooms. If the 50 mm f2 would be available already, i prob didn’t buy the CV 50 1.1 (which is a fantastic lens), and a 12mm lens would be a great addition for allround purpose(and compact also i hope…you did mention the 12 being 2.8…but i thought there was no info yet on the speed)
Olympus 50mm F2.0 is not exciting because there’s already a Panasonic Leica 45mm F2.8, while 12mm F2.8 is too slow. F1.8 would be nicer, as frosti7 said, but 12mm F1.4 would be even nicer :). Fisheye is a complete duplicate of Panasonic …
The speed of the 12mm is mentioned here: http://www.43rumors.com/ft3-update-the-4-new-olympus-mft-lenses-patent/ .
12mm 2.8 is pretty nice, although f1.8 would be nicer
Admin,
If both the ep2 and epl1s were put to market on 4/12 can we extrapolate that ep3 will be on 5/3 5th march to coincide with epl1 release???
Just dreaming – dunno whether shd get this new one or ep3 for the wife. Meanwhile I want e5 which is going for 12980 hkd with the vertical grip in hk
well, 80% of time ultra-wide lenses are used closed up to f8 for maximum DOF of the scene, so I would call f2.8 more than sufficient for the 12mm
This system is not known for DOF ( and that’s a plus for me ), a m4/3 F1.8 lens has DOF equal to F3.6 full frame lens. Anyway, both Canon and Nikon have 24mm F1.4 full frame lenses, so why not have the m4/3 equivalent?
Use? Available light photography, night street and architecture, churches, indoors, family gatherings, parties, … Stop down a bit for subject + background in focus, but it’s nice to have a choice of large aperture when/if it is needed.
Olympus is getting so confusing for the customer.
They have like 4 camera, which looks alot the same just differe a little bit in there names. They have the same lens more than once.
It seems like they are still testing the devices and selling just prototyps.
I luved the old 43 lineup. It was clear, it was good and it seemed reliable
So you’d rather they didn’t improve little things like, oh, the lens? Just so it not confusing for you? I’d prefer better photos …
I guess the new lens is still a duo cam design? Aside from f/5.6 on the long end the duo cam is what I really hated about the old lens. It was just far too wobbly. I prefer single cams, they feel more solid. Also, any word on the mount; is it still metal?
as a strong hater of the old 14-42 zuiko, im really curious about the new version.
What is a non-japanese country? Are there countries outside of Japan designated as Japanese that I am not aware of?
Electronic markets in general are split into regions depending on the camera company.
Other countries outside of Japan are designated as part of the Japanese market even though they may physically not be in Japan. For example, if a company doesn’t have a dedicated Hong Kong branch, they might include Hong Kong as part of the “Japanese countries” when they release a product.
Hong Kong is definitely not part of the Japanese market, because the models to be imported / sold are decided also by the (official) local dealers (Of course, there are other products sold in Hong Kong that are parallel imported by unofficial agents from worldwide due to zero import tax in Hong Kong).
Mmmm, I was expecting a more consistent price drop of the “old” E-PL1, but instead it hasn’t happened. Yesterday’s price drop lasted just a couple of hours.
Admin… and those promised rumours about the new cams? Continue with the good work btw!!!! Great site!
Hk has it’s own office. Pretty bad marketing as some of the most common and popular photo-enthusiast shops are just not selling oly 4/3 gear. Period. It’s seemed to have to do with unfair retail price marking wig some of the smaller shops.
Their service seems v good though as I had my 36r fixed within a week of putting it down.
Still poor marketing hurt them here.
Mr Admin, do you have any info on the Olympus enthusiast compact?