Here is a list of messages I got from different sources:
1) “The improved dynamic range is a result of the new sensor“. -> In response of my question if the higher dynamic range was a result of a software feature or new hardware design.
2) “The 3 inch LCD is a tilting touchscreen“.
3) “AF is not faster…it is MUCH faster than on the [shoplink 23568]Olympus E-P3[/shoplink]”
4) About the leaked picture: “The mode dial is on the other side. imagine the [shoplink 28231 ebay]OM4-TI (here on eBay)[/shoplink] – almost there in looks.”
5) “425 g is the weight with the Li-ion battery and a memory card, 373 g is without them“.
6) “The image processor is TruePic VI.”
7) “Price Body+kit lens = 1150 Euro.”
8.) “The cameras name is not OM-D (that’s just the new series name).”
One more thing: I am out now for a couple of hours. Will answer your mails in late afternoon (european time).
369 Responses
if all that is true – I can’t see if anything can dissuade me from buying it. Probably lack of wired shutter release, but it would be nonsense to ommit that in such a camera
it´s too expensiv for olympus gear.. in 6 months there will be a new model and this one will be sold for 600 euros.. after a year there will be 2 new models and this is sold for 400 euros.
olympus is rushing out new models too fast.
so i will maybe buy it in 1 year….
my 550 euro E-PL1 is worth 180 euro now.. after only 16 month.
So then I will buy one if it is cheaper. I’ll be happy for that to happen. 😉
>my 550 euro E-PL1 is worth 180 euro now.. after only 16 month.
So what? Its just like every other consumer electronic device. But what do I know, I’m still using my E-1.
“my 550 euro E-PL1 is worth 180 euro now.. after only 16 month”
So? Has it stopped working?
It’s annoying as hell tho. No matter how good it is. And you can’t deny that it’s insane. A Nikon D90 is still selling for what it’s worth even with its replacement halfway through its product cycle. And thus D90 owners don’t complaint, but seriously, how can you not complaint when your camera drops nearly 70% in ‘value’ after a already unacceptably short product cycle.
Higher-end products like this tho, it should hold value quite well. Especially if indeed it has a body built to last like the original OMs.
I bought for my girlfriend a GF1 at one third of the price I purchased mine one-and-a-half year ago. So I’m happy about the price decrease… 😉
But yeah… that’s consumer electronics for you.
On the other hand, I needed a smartphone and purchased a 3GS for Christmas at half the price of the 4s. And it is more than enough for me. Problem with cameras is that it’s probably – with computers – one of the most performance driven markets, and as technologies are evolving very fast, people feel compelled to purchase the latest models.
And all the way people complain about ‘bad old 12Mpix’ sensor. No wonder nobody wants a cam having this capable device. All this whining doesn’t help to keep value up..
Oly. Could have done something about it so we can stop whining
Ha ha ha, most of you would find something new to whine about. I seems to be a lifestyle for some people. Proffesional whiners.
Cameras ARE NOT an investment, neither are lenses (although lens don’t lose their value as fast).
Back in the day you would buy a Film Camera and expect to use it for 10-20 years. That was then, and this is now — cameras have become throw-away products like Styrofoam Cups.
You can’t compare the new mirror less market with the enthusiast or pro-market of DSLRS : the first is a very new technology and is evolving faster. The second is a mature technology, more or less. It takes ~ 4 years to Canon or Nikon to issue a new model, my 5D mk1 FF is still taking better pictures than all my mft cameras, including the newer ones which I got only a few months ago. Yet I bought the 5D in 2004. So you can easily understand why these cameras retain a better resale value.
I think maybe this camera will retain its value better (for m4/3), and I don’t think it’s another camera they will update in six months either. This seems like the first Olympus m4/3 of a new line that is more serious. Weather sealing, weight and direct controls, all say (to me anyway) that this is a user camera. The kind of user that takes their time to know a camera inside out. Sort of what the 7D and 5D are for Canon’s DSLR line.
Of course we’ll have to wait and see, but I guess this is a first indication that m4/3 is starting to mature.
I paid 585CAD for an E-PL1 2 years ago but sold it to a relative for half the price a year later to buy the E-PL2 (535CAD).
It was a win-win. The low price benefited my aunt who wanted better IQ than a P&S without spending 500+. With the E-PL2, I didn’t have to wait too long for the things I didn’t like about the E-PL1 (namely low-res LCD, no dial, slow to focus kit lens, etc.) to get fixed.
Though I don’t really care, the E-PL2 is holding its value better, loosing about 100 after 1 year (see Amazon, BestBuy, FutureShop, etc.) even with the availability of the E-PL3. The more recent models and this new camera will be better at retaining their value.
That said… you buy it to use it, not to invest.
E-Pl2 is not retaining value better (I have one), it is just people don’t want “upgrade” to any of the 3 series for a few hundreds more.
The kit lenses are not retaining value either, we’ve got three 14-42s and I hope 12-50 is an improvement. (It is definitely not faster)
I agree to some extent. However the users of high end DSLRs are not influenced by the “must have the newer bigger” that is on all the blogs and tend to be happy with a good tool that they can rely on. The sale of new mid range DSLRs and mirrorless cameras is driven by marketing and blog hype, their need for a new camera is not a requirement, the emotion for one is. Most of the buyers will never need a high ISO but now insist on one. Most will never use more than 10% of the cameras functionality. Most will show shots online and never print larger than 4 x 6 so why more MP all the time? When the market is in such a mode prices tumble all the time, except the ones that are not for sale and they are the work horses.
The price of keeping up with technological progress.
I much preferred it when the progress came chiefly in the form of new film emulsions. My F2 is still my favorite camera.
The nice thing about Film Cameras is that you can choose your technology. Tri-X works as well as BW400CN. Astia gives you a different look than Portra.
MY P&S is a Yashica T3, my SLR is a Nikon F100 and my 4×5 is a Toyo made in 1960. 🙂 🙂 🙂
What’s amazing is that so many of you film era dinosaurs have somehow been able to figure out that the internet is better than post cards and citizen band radios. . LOL
Apparently you have no idea for how long the internet has been around. 😉
“In 1982 the Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) was standardized and the concept of a world-wide network of fully interconnected TCP/IP networks called the Internet was introduced. Access to the ARPANET was expanded in 1981 when the National Science Foundation (NSF) developed the Computer Science Network (CSNET) and again in 1986 when NSFNET provided access to supercomputer sites in the United States from research and education organizations. Commercial internet service providers (ISPs) began to emerge in the late 1980s and 1990s. The ARPANET was decommissioned in 1990. The Internet was commercialized in 1995 when NSFNET was decommissioned, removing the last restrictions on the use of the Internet to carry commercial traffic.”
From Wikipedia which apparently you forgot has made all of us genius savant historians now.
If you had to look it up on the wikipedia to answer the question, you just proved what he said 🙂
How so? I’m in my sixties and sometimes need some help recalling what happened thirty years ago. Got a problem with that?
I forgive him. He’s so old he can’t remember anything and has to look it up. :p
And I forgive you for talking about the history of the internet without actually knowing anything about it.
That’s the point. We knew this already. You had to go to Wikipedia to find out the history of the Internet.
I bet you did not know it. I like tmrgrs am in my 60s and having spent most of my working life in IT management need to use wikipedia to remember and also find the answer in a language that people will understand. But tmrgrs I use a Bronica GS 6×7 as well as E30 and EP2.
How would anyone know here what it is that you actually know or don’t know? Me citing a source for what I already knew is hardly a capital offense unless you’re against anyone presenting factual proof that they have a valid point. Maybe you’d prefer that everyone here just posts whatever bullshit they can pull out of their ass and no one gets to respond except maybe with even more bullshit?
I’ve been on the ‘net since 1993. I was using a Mac pizza box on a dial-up connection (it may have been faster to send a postcard 🙂 ).
BTW I do own two DSLRs plus a NEX 5n. And have NO USE for RETRO cmaeras and cars — been there and done that.
not long ago everybody was complaining that Olympus is too slow to introduce new cameras, now they are rushing it too fast???
all other camera makers are introducing new cameras with incremental improvements fast, so why shouldn’t Olympus do it also?
only E-PL1 had it’s price lowered so much at once, other Pen cameras have their prices gradually reduced. this way you have something for everybody and at different prices that range from really affordable E-PL1 to E-P3 and this camera that will be at the top of the price range
Gee, the price dropped on a piece of electronic equipment? How could that be? It’s a conspiracy, I tell you!
Welcome to the world of consumer electronics and computing.
If the price is too high to justify, buy a cheaper camera, or wait to buy someone else’s used camera… Unless you don’t like sloppy seconds. 😉
For the E-PLs and E-4xx and E-5xx, this is true. But for E-3, E-5 and also for E-P1 and E-P2 the price is more stable.
did you really pay 550,-????
yes, they had a bad politic with new pen, but i think they could “coming home” with this new family.
“6 months there will be a new model and this one will be sold for 600 euros”
Then buy it in 6 months.
This new OM is ONE HOT TOPIC!!!!! DAMN. LOL
Hmmm … so the new camera is designed like OM-4 TI?
That camera looked like this:
http://shphoto.eu/bild/18867.jpg
Not a digital design excactly…
Does it have the internal flash?
Good question. Could be on the hump / prism. Since the mode dial is apparently on the right, there is not really space for a flash.
I really hope the flash is not on the (expected) hump, which means plastic parts. I wouldn’t mind if they left out the flash at all, one spot less to worry about being sealed against dust and moisture.
Admin wrote:
“5. packed with an gn10 flash.”
The E-PL3 too came with a flash packed. A separete flash.
Looking good, can’t wait 🙂
May leave my GH1 for the new OM-D. I hope it is a kick a$$ camera. If not, I will wait for the GH3…
How about a built-in flash that was reported earlier (10 m range)? If that would also be in place, this one would be GREAT! 🙂
The guide number was supposed to be 10, but probably in feet and not in meters.
Don’t forget that the guide number depends on base iso: 10@iso200 is 5@iso100
No, I am not forgetting that. Since the convention is to list the guide number for ISO 100, I presume the guide number referring to ISO 100.
Olympus nevertheless listed ISO200 guide numbers for the E-P3 and the Lite/Mini addon-flash, see here for example: http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/pen-camera_pen_21693_pen-camera_e-p3_-_specifications_24715.htm
Alright, let’s say the GN of the inbuilt strobe refers probably to the base ISO setting of the body.
That said the base ISO is a rather arbitrary value in digital cameras.
You are right, and I should add that my first post was intended as an answer to Olaf’s “this one would be GREAT”, and wrongly became a reply to your statement 😉
I would rather wireless flash than an in built flash that’s only good for triggering a flash unit. A powerful in-built flash is only going to drain the battery. In other words, I don’t think the specs of the built-in flash matter that much.
i must say i really do hope for a build in flash … saved me an awsome photo oppertunity last night while i did not had my add-on flash with me !
I’m not disagreeing with you, a built in flash is very useful in this situation but it doesn’t need to be anything special. So I don’t understand why people care about the flash specs.
What’s the point of having a powerful on-camera flash? That isn’t a very good lighting technique. And how are you going to change the flash settings – on the the touch screen? Buy a flash unit if you intend on doing flash photography – there is a bit of an art to it.
I agree. From the very beginning, I have hoped for an in-built EVF, even at the price of the in-built flash. But since they decided to target the P&S upgrader market, the flash became a must.
Built-in flash is great for fill light on a sunny day. Overpowering the Sun is so last year.
AF MUCH faster than in E-P3? WOW!!! I am glad that I saved some money last year! 😉
Agreed. This is shaping up to be the Oly I’ve been waiting for.
Thanks admin. Do you have any information on how the dynamic range compares to existing sensors at base ISO versus base ISO? For instance, will the new sensor beat a GH2? Will it beat a NEX-5? Thanks! I really hope base ISO is more reasonable, like ISO 100 or less.
Come on be reasonable : you will only know that once the camera has been tested by serious reviewers. Even if something was said about it now, you won’t know whether this is only marketing hype or what !
Well, I don’t like that fact about touch screen… Somehow it makes the camera pop cultural or hip. The tilting screen is also a big boooo from me too, since it’s not so useful ass my E-5 screen. I even use it for protecting it just flipping it around. I was bought by first rumors, but now it is getting a little bit darker with details. BUT, if we can use that new LCD while filming, it’s a good point and if that screen can be turned off without loosing any controls with your smartphone screen, I am back on track. Now, since it is aimed for enthusiasts, it’s not for professionals, so I still wait a little bit, for some more news what we can expect later, but if this is their E-5, I think after seeing it on February 8 in Birmingham, it will buy one
Whats more important, the quality of the cam, or that you don’t like it beeing “hip”? I see no problems with a touchscreen, if one doesn’t like it, don’t use it, it’s no worse than that.
The touch screen is much more than a gimmick on the ep3.I expect nothing less on this new omd.
Would have thought you’d be more interested if this new cam can take your 43rds lenses from your E5 system. There was some talk that it may…not likely and very sketchy but if true…
Don’t be an old poop. I’m an old-school Nikon shooter and when I first started using the Pany GH2, I was shocked to have an articulated LCD, touch-screen, and movie mode.
Guess what? These things come in handy and offer creative possibilities that you didn’t have before.
Ignore them if you don’t like them. It’s not like you can play Angry Birds or call your mom on this camera. Or can you?…
+100
Same here. Nikon all the way, until I got a GH2 and viewed it’s touch screen with suspicion. But, it actually adds quite a bit of utility. I use it mainly for touch focus, rather than twiddling buttons to shift he focus point.
In many ways I prefer a TiltyScreen to full articulation, because your shooting position is more contained and compact. I like vertically oriented shots and there full articulation is preferable.
> Ignore them if you don’t like them.
Problem is that marketroids won’t ignore it as just another feature but make it “Second coming of Jesus” feature.
And that leads to decrease of real direct controls and worsened ergonomy by making LCD way too large compared to body size.
GH2’s ergonomy could be maybe even mediocre if that LCD just were at least half inch smaller. Now it makes even Canon’s entry-level DSLRs feel good.
Olympus, the glory company that implemented great swivel-screens in their DSLRs now copies the less flexible Sony-Tilt-Screen and gives all the swivel-screen-glory to Panasonic. That is a little sad, but so far the only negative point about the new OM-D.
Could be my next camera, at least the anxiety for the Nex7 or Fuji X1 is gone at the moment.
my guess would be, that this cam is intended to be as small as possible for this range of features. And tiltable screens can be produced a lot smaller than fully articulated ones as the frame doesn’t have to be as sturdy. Basically I’d also love an swivel lcd but as long as it can be turned up and down, I’m satisfied for prob. >95% of my shots, which would be enough for me.
I guess this is also the reason, why we didn’t see a tiltable screen in the ep3 as they still wanted to have some features left for their “real” high end product
The tilt-screen is not very useful for portrait-format and in my mind, the Panasonic-G cameras are no giants despite the swivel-screen. Nevermind, we all know that no manufacturer wants to offer the perfect camera 😀
Tilt screens are much quicker to fold out when you just want to tilt it. I prefer it in a camera like this.
Also, as versatile as the articulating screen is (on my E30), it does hang out & become more vulnerable than a tilt screen in use (which I’ve experienced on my wife’s Fuji HS20) although I like the ability to face the screen into the body when not in use.
If this is an OLED screen, extra care must be taken with it. They are more vulnerable then LCDs (at least right now), especially with stuff like water.
Yepp absolute a point.
Agreed. They know how to bleed our wallet. Slowly.
> Basically I’d also love an swivel lcd but as long as it can be turned up and down, I’m satisfied for prob. >95% of my shots, which would be enough for me.
Best candies I have shot with my E-620, low-end yet swivel LCD equipped, were from my lap, camera turned to the side.
To shoot with camera turned to the side, you need the swivel. Tilt IMO is not sufficient, esp for high-end offering.
But many here hope for a “return to basics” camera, thus even tilt is an extra.
I massively prefer the tilt screen, as you can use in in waist-level finder style. So, it depends on what you plan to do with it. Never used the swivel screens of my E-30/G1/E-5 – but the tilted screen of my PL3 has replaced the EVF2 for more than 90 percent of my shots.
Yeah, I don’t like how swivel screens stick out to the side when they are tilted.
Me either, but you learn to adapt. Full articulation adds an array of shooting positions that aren’t possible with tilt alone. I use it at waist level for street and at 90 degrees for subway shooting… even with manual focus lenses.
They could make a similar bottom-hinge mechanism to the Nikon D5000. Best of both worlds.
Sony A77 style LCD would solve that sticking to side problem.
“Sony A77 style LCD would solve that sticking to side problem.”
—-
Yes indeed – that would be the perfect solution. But I don’t think that there is a way to realise this complicated mechanism compact enough and rugged enough at the same time.
You mean Olympus copied the tilting LCD that Sony copied from Olympus E-330 or C8080?
Or E-10 from year 2000.
They dont copy Sony. The tiltable lcd was allready present in the e-330
Olympus had a tilt-screen DSLR (the E-330) before Sony even had a DSLR.
The e-330 has a tilt screen, at least mine does. That was the first dslr with movable screen, and the “experts” pilloried Oly for putting one one an SLR (same with live view). So much for those experts. The use of a tilt screen is simple and effective I use the tilt screen more on my e-330 than the articulated screen on my e-30, I wish my EP-2 had one.
Olympus seems to be quite confident, for the first time since the E-P1. I’m expecting something revolutionary from this camera. Does it finally allow fast and accurate focusing of 4/3 lenses? Some clever technology for focus assist with manual lenses? A truly competitive DR? All of those?
“0 results found for Olympus OM-4T/Ti”
😉
Any news about E-7?
I only found a not working cameras at the links. The problem with the OM 4ti, is ether they are worn out, sell to high a price, or not for sell. The OM-3 (should of bought that one when it was new) near impossible to get in any form .
OM3 black and the seller just sold a very good condition 4-Ti:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/olympus-om/discuss/72157628078560479/
Try just with OM4T OR Ti,had the same problem,when I tried .
I found a lot of them try using ebay outside your own little space.
I don’t like the thick typography on the Olympus OM-4T/Ti as on all the vintage Olympus SLRs. Too thick. They can’t beat the superior elegance of the first Pentax SLRs.
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/pentax-film-slr-discussion/28531d1235010403-who-has-oldest-pentax-single-lens-reflex-k_071110_13k_wabcscx.jpg
Nice art deco style going on there but font choices was the last thing I’d think people would complain about.
LOL very like Olympus FTL.
if its more similar in looks to OM-4 instead of OM-1, then maybe the evf hump is quite big? I think the OM-1/OM-2 are the only models which were really good lookin
There is just no accounting for taste.
christ…
Help us Jesus, help us Mohammed, help us Manitou, help us Vishnu, help us Tom Cruise!
Help us Tim Tebow. Oops, a week too late…
Help us Tom Brady. 🙂 or is he evil?
Yes.
News about improved DR in RAW is great. That confirms that the sensor is really new.
AF speed? What matters now is CAF+tracking – for video too.
Tilt screen? The PL3 design shows that it is much sturdier than a flip out one, so well suited to a durable camera. It is also much better for street shooting.
Now the holy grail: the complex Hybrid VF-PDAF.
Are they related, as we saw in last December Oly patent?
“Tilt screen? The PL3 design shows that it is much sturdier than a flip out one, so well suited to a durable camera.”
The E-3 and E-5 seem very durable to me despite the swivel-screen 😉
+10
“The E-3 and E-5 seem very durable to me despite the swivel-screen”
and they are much bigger than what this camera will be. smaller camera, less space for swivel hinge and if they tried to put smaller hinge it would be more prone to breaking
The articulated screen works well on the GH2 and that’s certainly not a large camera. The E-5 is a beast.
I was a nostalgic of the fully articulated LCD of my first digital camera, the Canon G2. This is the main reason I got a Panasonic G1, but I found it more cumbersome than the little Canon G2 display.. Also, the neckstrap is always untangled in the open display. Nevertheless, I keep it open all the time because I like to frame a picture on the LCD. I’ve never had a tilt only LCD, so I can’t judge whether they would be better for me. But I’m really regretting that the E-P3 didn’t get the E- Pl3 tilting screen.
I personally prefer tilt than swivel-screen.
I prefer a fully-articulated LCD screen.
Actually, I’d prefer a _higher-res_ fully articulated LCD screen than the ones on past Olympus & Panasonic m43 cams!
(And I hope the EVF built-into all future “top end” O & P cams is as good or better than the one in the GH2!)
Actually the E3 screen was somewhat prone to splitting in half. Happened to mine and Oly replaced it way out of warranty. The E5 is better, but as it’s been noted, these are big cameras with room for bulk.
Hey Admin, keep feeding us! Any word yet on fast PDAF solution for 43 lenses? Taking the Cato the Elder approach, so will keep asking until Olympus delivers…
No word yet 🙁
Don’t worry, I’ll keep asking. Pretty sure that some Olympus people read what goes on here…
I’m not willing to pay for 43 compromises, they are waiting on the E7.
Real photographer has multiple systems.
Real photographer has the talent to use the camera he has in multiple ways!
The gifted craftsman with inferior tools will often produce better work than the mediocre craftsman with the best tools.
Tools do matter, but vision is more important.
Thats what I said. But in a little bit plain language! 😉
She sells sea shells by the sea shore.
LOL!
Are those shells weathersealed? If not, I am not interested..
Damn, you mean its not my camera its me!!!
yup. 😉
Carthago delenda est
Olympus renova est
Surely not renova ! May be renovanda or renovata ? Not sr what you want to say ?
“delenda est”… Future Passive Paraphrastic, according to the web. “Basically, it uses a verb to convey the meaning: we ought to do this!”
Btw: Phoenician Hannibal with the elephants was son of Hamilcar Barca, Carthagean leader. Barca = “thunderbolt” has given name to e.g Barack Obama, Ehud Barak (former Israelian PM), and Mubarak of Egypt. And the city of Barcelona. (Ok… no news in a while…)
I bet this new Oly camera can’t beat NEX in image quality , not even close to X Pro . If it beat GX , only by little margin .
Banking on GH3 looks better than this one . At least got global shutter technology .
Never thought of the gh3 and this cam competing directly. If your a video guy..wait for the gh3. Or is this OM-D thing going to be great at video?
>I bet this new Oly camera can’t beat NEX in image quality , not even close to X Pro
You hang out with your friends and compare penises too?
> I bet this new Oly camera can’t beat NEX in image quality, not even close to X Pro.
“Best IQ” is something generally more useful on the forums for boasting.
IRL (in real life) “good enough IQ” is generally more useful by having more alternatives and being more affordable.
Neither NEX or X Pro possess fast AF, which IMO in real life is much much more useful than extra 1-2 stops of ISO. (Also because one can compensate ISO with the flash – but you can’t compensate slow AF.)
> Banking on GH3 looks better than this one.
I’m too more interested in the GH3. But it’s poised to be announces on the Photokina which is many months away. And I’m pretty sure that it too would have the same super AF of OM-D.
In the same manner, Fastest AF could be as superficial as best IQ.
The ep3 and G3 AF is faster than Nex camera no doubt, but I dont find the NEX af to be slow. The difference is just milliseconds apart.
The recent announcements by camera manufacturers never fails to leave disappointment in certain aspects. The specs of the OM-D is promising, but the pricing is unfortunately on the steep.
Lets hope its not another attempt by camera maker to rip consumer off by putting a retro shell and pricing it sky high like Fuji.
Fast AF being more useful in real life depends. You can manual focus and get a better quality shot with higher ISO/DR than all the fastest AF in the world could get you.
I am sure the new Olympus will have nice image quality, but he has a point. Of course, the X Pro will cost more, accordingly, so should be no surprise it has better image quality.
Nobody knows if the GH3 will have global shutter. It was rumored for the GH2 before. And a global shutter does not guarantee you superior image quality in all cases.
A global shutter is quiet and fast in use without regard to other.
We know ZERO about the upcoming GH3. And of cour the OM-D and GH3 will be competitors. The GH-series aren’t just video cams, they’re excellent stills cameras.
Wait … you can take _stills_ with these things?! 😉
I don’t think so. Just another unconfirmed rumor… 😉
Exactly, Panasonic have invested a lot of R&D in global shutter tech but thus far it has proved unacceptable for consumer cameras… namely due to increased noise, decreased DR and colour response/saturation (whatever you call it).
I’d take fast sensor read-out over a compromised global shutter solution every day of the year! For now a mechanical shutter is still good enough.
Looking at the XPro pics on the Fuji site, I’d say even the E-PL3 is close enough at low ISOs. Even the higlights seem to be protected quite well (according to dpreview the E-PL3 is as good as e.g. the Canon 7D and a bit better than the Pentax K5 with DR extension set to off). The shadows are a bit noiser though, but that’s not a problem at low ISOs. High ISOs are a different story, though…
Repeat after me: sensor performance DOES NOT equal IQ! It is at best only half the equation – the other half is optics, and here NEX loses out to 4/3rds badly – this will make far more of a difference to the overall quality of more of your shots than the NEX’s DR and ISO advantage. You could also argue that image processing is a third part of the IQ equation, and here Olympus beats everybody! I am so sick to death of this sensor performance equals IQ BS you constantly see on photography web sites these days.
True! The gains in IQ of the NEX-7 sensor/processor is lost using second class lenses. The same applies for m43…..
I think the issue of moire is over stated, aliasing thanks to CFA genuine but the biggest contributor to resolution/IQ is the low-pass filter!
The X-Pro 1 could show significant gains in resolution but looking at the CFA… it could also introduce more chroma noise and the demosaicing algorithm will have to be nothing short of awesome otherwise images could get ugly.
Happily Oly manage to use very light filters thus resolving more detail than their 12 megapixel sensors would indicate.
What we need is a capable direct image sensor (RGB per pixel) with native resolution to print 12×9″ at 300DPI, 10-12 megapixels. That would beat all Bayer equipped crop sensors.
Well, but if you put legacy lenses on it with an adapter, then the crop factor diminishes and you get that better IQ.. I must confess that I have already been tempted to give my Zeiss Contax G lenses a new digital back ! And those lenses are small and light, the 45mm F2 is not much heavier than the Oly 45mm, nor much greater.
The NEX kit lenses seem inferior to some of Sony’s own point-and-shoots, and the only viable E-mount lenses are the 35mm Macro and Zeiss prime. I follow both m43 and NEX, but right now the only reason to switch to a NEX would be select Minolta G lenses (IMO, Sony has used the “G” designation on some Garbage lenses).
I’m not interested in APS-C format cameras: I want a small system (including lenses) that is easy to bring around, efficient in use, with the best possible sensor, and that I will actually use. I’m quite excited about this new camera, especially the improved DR (the DR is too limited on the EP-3). The price? If the new camera is €1150 with kit lens, I have no complaint: the E-P3 with kit was €865 + ca €225 for the EVF.
You will never be happy with any camera you own, you read and believe to much marketing and hype to be happy with anything.
The best camera is the one you can use and takes pictures you made on your own.
See http://www.stevehuffphoto.com for real camera reviews of cameras in use. Not in labs doing things you will never in 10 lifetimes do.
Ah, “new, unreleased camera #1 that nobody has used” > “new, unreleased camera #2 that nobody has used”.
Glad to see you have no preconceptions!
The sensor isn’t really new, it’s just new to Olympus. It’s the same sensor as in the G3 and GX1. Olympus m43rds only ever uses Panasonic sensors, and they only ever get Panasonic’s second-rate sensors.
You know this or you belive this? If you know, who is your source?
+1 🙁
Know or believe?
For a camera as small as the GX1 that has an extensive, small, fast, prime lens selection…and VERY fast focus…the sensor is more than adequate…better is good too…but this is the bird in hand. It chirps quite nicely. Improvements are welcome though…bring it on OLY.. 🙂
Indeedly. At least with RAW, tho Oly might even fix up the JPEGs too.
+1
Since you obviously know more than Admin knows, please elaborate on the OM-D details 🙂
Never let facts get in the way of wishful thinking or fantasy!
Keep expectations low. Disappointment avoided.
Exactly. There was a time when I followed Macintosh rumors fanatically. The same thing always happened. You’d expect a new Mac to be released with a plethora of new features, but only a handful would actually make it into the new machine.
So, the new machines were announced and everyone would tear their flesh, gnash their teeth and wail. BUT, they’d turn around, buy the new models and forget all about the promises of the rumor cycle and pronounce the second coming of sliced bread and the wheel.
The only difference here is that people threaten to sell all their M4/3 gear and buy something else. I can take all my Nikon, Pentax and Voigtländer lenses, buy adaptors and pretty much any camera I choose.
For Mac users there was, and remains, no viable alternative.
> For Mac users there was, and remains, no viable alternative.
Repeat after me: Hackintosh ;-).
Not worth the trouble if you ask me.
A good friend of mine has researched this very well… and build a hackintosh MacPro.
It was cheap compared to the original. And every part was HAND PICKED for optimum compatibility with OS X.
And still… he is having much more problems than with a genuine Mac. And every other update breaks something, which is why more often than not… he doesn’t update at all.
If you then consider the loss of value of PC-components and the relatively slow value-loss of Macs… I don’t think it is worth it at all. As I can still sell my 3 years old Mac… for about half (or even more) of what I paid in the first place.
But as with everything YMMV. If you got nothing against a little tinkering… more than fine with me 😀
I love my GF1 and don’t see any need to replace it but this looks like a nice potential camera.
> 3) “AF is not faster…it is MUCH faster than on the Olympus E-P3”
I wonder whether that covers the dim light or the tracking of moving objects. Or both.
> 7) “Price Body+kit lens = 1150 Euro.”
Bit cheaper than some past offer of E-30 + 14-54 kit. But if OM-D is weather-sealed, then price sounds reasonable.
Doesn’t anyone think at 1150 Euro with kit lens, it is really cheap? How did they manage that?
well it might be cheap Comparing it to fuji’s mirrorless cam… but campared it with mid DSLR camera its not….
Compare it with a mid range DSLR with weather sealing and magnesium body it is very cheap. Remember this is the List price. The actual selling price would be much lesser. The Pentax K5 has a list price of 1549 Euro which is what I would compare it to. I hope they have not done any cost cutting in terms of quality and durability. You get what you pay for.
Pentax k5 at amazon is now 893,00 euro with 18-55 WR kit lenses. Oly is newer, packed with equiv stuf in a smaller and lighter package, so it’s quite a cheap camera. I wonder if the kit lense is the 12-50 WR zoom?
Yes, thats what I said.
“The actual selling price would be much lesser.”
Well I wouldn’t say the K-5 and new Olympus model are packed with the same stuff. I still expect the K-5 to have better DR and iso noise by a notable margin, for example. (not saying I disagree the apparent price of the Olympus is fine).
The production cost of the K-5 is much higher than OM-D. 100% prism, 1/8000sec mirrorbox, PDAF sensor and the magnesium shell that holds everything inline aren’t cheap to make.
i think they have to price it that way so they can tip potential buyers that are on the fence, to Olympus side, to buy this camera.
One needs to see, handle, use and see actual results from a camera before making any judgements about quality and/or value.
+10
Any news on DR improvement ? How about info on the EVF/OVF are there any details on that yet?
True Pic vi – so the image processor stayed the same as in ep-3.
Swivel screen would have been nice indeed, but a tiltable one is better than nothing…
Note that the headline says TruePic VII and the text VI. I am pretty sure it is a new engine. (Otherwise, the better iq cannot come from the engine, if the sensor is 16MP Pana. And a new sensor without a new engine is not plausible)
Actually, I read in wrong in the text. But I still think Oly has either a new engine, or a new processor, or both.
Just saw your reply… i didn´t update my screen…
nevermind…
lets cross fingers you are right.. 🙂
Maybe I am blind, but on my screen I see true pic vi…
true pic vii would be awesome though..
@admin: is it true pic vi or vii
danke
Now really think about this. Why would anyone using zoom lenses want OVF? How would anyone using zoom lenses use OVF?
I have the 12-60 4/3 I do not use primes in that range, an OVF is impossible to use without very expensive framing gizmos for every zoom made for the camera. This is why the DSLR was invented, for framing as well as focussing.
7. kit price Eur 1149.
Is that with the old kit lens or the new 12-50mm? surely hope it’s the new kit lens… Eur 150 premium seems reasonable for this kit.
Or maybe a new weather sealed 25/2.0?
Want a 1.4 f 🙂
or 17mm f2
or 17mm f1.4
dont you think we aready have 25mm covered?
Well, what do you think you’ll get for the rumoured price?
Not weather sealed. and not by Olympus. But we do mFT users have some incremental 25 mm lens available to us.
Competition is good.
I’ll take that 17mm f/1.4
I think Sigma can make one for $300
How about the battery life? I really hope it’s 500+….
Is this a different Battery? The weight is different I think.
IMHO it will have a battery grip available, I think this, due to how the add on grip was described.
The weight is just 6 grams more than a BLS-1 + memory card so it could be a different battery. Maybe a more powerful one with the same form factor?
The E-P3 can also take add-on grips, they have nothing to do with batteries.
another wasted unit… sad to hear all this stuff… just like the EP3 last time… give us more hype rumors… ADMIN we want more….
LOL. What will it take to please the masses….. I think a lot of people who read this site want a Humvee that drives like a Porsche, for the price of a Camry.
Porsche ‘drives like a Humvee ‘be more like it ! This is m4/3 not SLR 😉
Another wasted comment.
+1
Sensor size is still an issue, but looks like I’m sold. Was an early adopter of the E-1 and EP-1 – but that OM-D line could bring me back into the Oly fold. Please get it right.
Sensor size is maybe not a problem after OM-D come out. 😉
(look on Nikon)
I agree…nikon V1, canon S100 pentax Q…all small sensors with good results….with improved tech a small sensor can be good…but the lack of rumors about where this sensor is coming from is something to be worried about…maybe panasonic? if so…hummmm. Then is all marketing hype…
Small sensor are good at low iso, and with heavy noise processing are quite good at high iso. The main problem is that with a small sensor you don’t have the same bokeh control than a aps-c. IQ is not really a problem now, whatever sensor size is.
I will not believe anything about the DR until the first REAL tests with RAWs from the camera. 😐
I still bet it’s the GX1/G3 sensor.
i am with you 😉
+10000000
All this wailing and rejoicing based on sketchy specs and a fragment of and image is ridiculous.
There’s only ONE guarantee where rumors are involved…
MASS disappointment after the actual announcement.
Reality can never compete with fantasy and myth.
unfortunately you are right 🙁
+100
@Admin
What about those rumors about video quality you said you was working on?
Thanks!
avc 2.0 please.
But expect video to be an extra only. Not like the Panny GH series.
With the heavy emphasis on the video capabilities of the new 12-50, I’d expect that the coming camera also is considerately updated wrt video.
Most interesting: “The improved dynamic range is a result of the new sensor” – I certainly hope this is true but have doubts….
The G3/GX1 has a little better DR compared to E P3, but the difference is so small that it is hardly noticable in real life photography.
If the sensor has same IQ like Nikon D7000 (which is the one I like best of current generation of APS-C sensors) it would be really good. There is a new generation of APS-C sensors coming (24mpix), but m43 cannot be expected, nor need to, be on that level.
Focus speed: Statements like that make me hesitate about seroiusness of the speaker
“There is a new generation of APS-C sensors coming (24mpix), but m43 cannot be expected, nor need to, be on that level.”
Really?
Pixel pitch:
GX1 (16 Mpx) 3.75µm
NEX-7 (24 Mpx) 3.9µm
Dynamic range:
GX1 10.6 EV
NEX-7 13.4EV
That’s almost three full stops for basically the same pixel pitch, and three stops is a LOT.
m4/3 sensors should be expected and should be on that level. Anything short of 13 stops of DR on the new sensor is going to be a failure in 2012.
+1
More DR is needed.
Amen
The sensor size of m43 is much smaller than APS-C, that is a fact that never can be denied. If GX1 “DR” is 10.6 and NEX-7 is 13.4, we cannot expect more than 12 on that scale.
Another thing: Those DR figures are bullshit. The Phase One IQ180 is, in real life at about 14 steps. Neither NEX-7 nor any other digital camera is near that.
You have an m4/3 and an APS-C sensor.
The m4/3 sensor has one sensel.
The APS-C sensor has one billion sensels.
Which one is going to have better dynamic range?
As for “bullshit”, download some RAW files made by Sony’s 16 and 24 Mpx sensors and play with them.
I am not sure what you’re saying. Are you saying that DR should be inherently lower for a smaller sensor? If yes, then that is not true. Any comparison must have proper preconditions to be meaningful. Just think, if you take the NEX-7 sensor and cut it in half (which would be already smaller than 4/3), you would have a sensor that has identical DR and ISO performance, only at half the resolution at 12M. If you consider the 4/3 Sensor size, 16M is roughly equivalent to the 24M on APS-C. and that means that if Olympus has access to the sensor technology similar to Sony’s, we’d have a 16M m43 sensor with identical DR and ISO performance to the NEX-7. If they do, I’d have zero complain about the sensor size of m43. Even 6M is enough for me. (Does anyone believe that my iPhone’s 8M camera can take a better picture than my old 4M Nikon D2HS? That’s not even funny. But I digress.)
But of course, the very problem is that Olympus has NOT had good access to sensor technology. That is its fundamental problem, not the sensor size. Despite all the interesting rumors, I don’t believe this is going to change with OM-D.
i like your wayin comparison of these data.
I wouldnt bet on that…if you can get at least D5000 performance, we can be very happy about it…..d7000? just a dream.
You are aware that the D5000 and D7000 have the same sensor ?
Actually, they dont…the d7000 uses the same esnsor as the D5100…the D5000 is an older 12mp model….
So maybe the big dial in the leaked image is shutter speed. Seems so old fashioned to me.
Admin, any news on the shutter and video modes? Or if there are any other new lenses?
I hope the big dial is NOT dedicated to shutter speed. I use aperture mode more than any other so a dedicated shutter speed dial would be a total waste of perfectly good control wheel.
That would be very un-OM. Shutter speed should be a ring around the lens mount.
I expect a ring around the lens to be more general than a dedicated shutter speed ring — more like the one on the XZ-1 (shutter speed in S mode, aperture in A mode,etc).
Kit lens might be a new prime.
The redesigned 43 25/2,8 for m43 or a new 17mm/2.0 (weather sealed ofcourse)
The latter would be cool which echoes the 35/2.0 Zuiko from yesteryear.
Don’t think it will be lauched with a zoom.
This is an interesting idea, especially if pancake and weathersealed.
To me it would make the kit more interesting not less.
Anyone noticed how by the lug scale the camera might be v. small?
Yes. I already drew attention to it when someone was stating the available photo showed most of the top. I pointed out that the scale of the strap lug meant the image was scarcely a third of the width, If not less.
What about the 12-50mm?
Yes, I would imagine that would be one of the kit lens options (or the main one) as well as the 14-42 R II & also possible primes or any other new lens they may decide to release with the body. It might be available as a kit with the 14-150 too perhaps. Have a look at the kit options with the PEN’s & that should give an indication to the sort of variations that might be available for this OM-D model too.
Since Olympus saidthey will focus on primes now, a new 17 could be an option. Makes sense as a kit lens too, compared to other focal lengths they have not covered so far (long primes, macro)
I expect the kit lens will be the 12-50 perhaps with some less expensive kits available with existing Olympus lenses.
Major Olympus product releases have been very reliably proceeded by rumors at least one month before the official introduction. If Olympus is not deliberately leaking the information they do not seem to be doing anything to stop them. If there was a new weather sealed prime coming with the new camera we would have probably heard about it by now.
a noob question, will vitaly.K hack on this toy? 😀
if the video options are great and there’s a market…hackers will come.
LOL. It amazes me how many people are disappointed with these specs. I’m starting to realize that many of the people who read these sites want something akin to a Humvee that drives like a Porsche for the price of a Camry!
that’s because we’ve got a camery that drives like a humvee for the price of a Porsche
LOL – you’re winner of Today’s Best Sarcastic Respose on Rumorus Site’s Award 🙂
LOL that was pretty good….
Guess i’d have to know american cars to get that one.
Gotta love good ol’ American cars like Camry and Porsche.
this OM-D has to be a hughe success otherwise bye bye OLY ;-/
I wish it will be my camera 🙂 (but it has to be in the same level like the nex 7 in features)
“AF is not faster…it is MUCH faster than on the Olympus E-P3”
AF is fast enough on EP-3, GH2 and the likes, however AF tracking has room for improvement.
Probably what they mean, where else would it improve ? From instant to inhumanly instant ? I would be happier if it actually focused on subjects instead of choosing the background in a hurry and distress.
One big problem is defintely the interpretation of “new” sensor. New for m43, or just new for Olympus, which means again sensor is from Panasonic. Also, same could be true for viewfinder. Olympus said they want to emphasize the viewfinder with their next camera – but that could just mean an in-built VF, since this would also be “new” for m43.
Well, we can still hope. Some specs and products are announced completely unrumoured, so this might happen here too (e.g. new Panasonic lens converters – exciting, I know).
Yeah, good point. I hope hey aren’t calling the same Panasonic sensor “new” just because it’s new to them. I guess we will know soon enough.
very true…i wonder why admin didnt ask all that for their sources
Everything that has been stated about the VF is that its nigh-miraculous. I’ll wait and see, although the VF-2 is, IMHO, better than any 4/3’s OVF, except maybe the E-{3,5}, and thus will make me want to shoot digital again.
Marketers will say anything. Believe them at your peril! 😉
I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s called OM-D1X 😀
I think D-ONE
Isn’t that one supposed to come later this year? 😉 😀
It comes when it’s D-ONE of course!
Ehehheheh.
I guess E-OM1
Mention of E-P1 from 2008/2009 is Pen-D1, so i guess on OM-D1 is E-OM1 i also.
Or simply OM-1 with a D behind it. But that would actually make sense so probably not.
I think this camera will hold it’s value much better than the other Olympus cameras- if all this is true it just has too much going for it. Also, the kit lens will of course be the new weather sealed lens won’t it? So the kit price will be around $1,300? For those who have the money it sounds like a pretty good price.
Yes but Olympus need more splash proof lens no also.
we need a “hackable” firmware :)and what is about “peaking mode” a la NEX…for manual focusing? would be so great…
ja and please stop thinking to much about speed an money..
I wished they talked not just about focus speed but about increased focus accuracy. (Marketing probably prefers speed as that can be measured and a figure published)
Lenses: An Olympus macro would be nice! The Panasonic is rather expensive and not excellent in performance. A 17mm, HQ as opposed th the existing one, would be considered by me.
We have a wonderful time waiting to see what this camera is about: Wishful thinking, negative thinking and many good arguments and ideas – all can be found on this site!
I wonder if the new “MUCH faster” focus has to do with the new 5-way IBIS? If the new directions are forward+back, and the IBIS motors were lightning quick, the IBIS could take over the last 10% (or whatever) of focusing. And it would probably be much finer tuned than lugging around the heavy glass to get focus. So perhaps the focusing will be not only “MUCH faster,” but more accurate. Fingers crossed.
Also, a new sensor will help with focusing. Every f-stop upgrade helps the electronics “see” what they have to focus on, I believe.
If the focusing is this good and with all the EVF hype, that EVF is going to have be darn good to outshine the faster focusing and a new sensor!
How much sensor movement is needed for focusing (a la the Contax of old)? I assume the IBIS system is based on piezoelectric actuators, which normally have a max stroke of 0.1 mm — but can go up to the 1 mm range. But I believe that such piezoelectric actuators use current when in a non-relaxed position (ok for noise reduction, but perhaps not for focusing?). Or will piezoelectric motors be used?
Thank you for the details. I don’t know the answers. Just optimistic speculation at this point… with fingers crossed for the best from Olympus and their new fast focusing.
Tilting touchscreen and 1150€ with kit lens.
A good news every single day. Just too good to be true or epoch making camera?
New zensor good news if true, the system needs it desperately. I have my finger on the pre- order button, this could become olympus biggest hit since the e500.
I’ll be interested if the sensor is the new GH3’s sensor.
Until now Oly has used Panasonic’s second-line sensors, BUT…maybe, pressed by financial woes, Oly has asked for the last sensor and puts on the table a product really good and competitive to overcome its bad times.
I share your hopes. However, even if it’s the gh2 sensor, there will still be a 1 stop improvement in DR over the EP-3.
What makes me think about something is the changed IS. So basically there is chance for a multi-aspect ratio sensor. Would be awesome!
I was thinkin about the EVF, wether or not “peaking” will be included, wouldn’t it be a good idea if Olympus included a preview option for the IBIS; this would be great for MF lenses, especially longer ones, as it would make the focusing much easier with a steady view in magnification mode. I remember the E-3 had this function.
Reading the rumors of new m4/3 from Oly make us like this…
What We Hope :
1. New Hi-Tech Revolutionary EVF…
2. New Hi-Tech Revolutionary m4/3 sensor with more DR
3. New Free Tiltable LCD Display
4. New Design of IS mechanism
5. Weather sealed body
6. More thumb dial, button, Fn, Custom direct etc…
7. New Hi-Grade Lens lineup
8. New AF system hybrid with PDAF+CDAF compatible
9. Easily firmware upgrade
10. More affordable accessories option
11. Good built-in flash
….
What Probably Oly give/ we get :
1. The old 1,44 Mdot EVF now integrated
2. Finally Panasonic give Oly to use their 16 Mp Sensor + Oly tweaks via True Pic VI, great OOC JPEG up the ISO base to 160, yet DXo Mark will give a score for DR just 0,3 or 0,5 improvement
3. Same Tiltable mechanism as EPL-3
4. Improved IS of EPL-3/EPM-1 now without blur in hi speed
5. Yes magnesium aloy weather shield body that already mastered since E-1
6. Reduce size of button same thumb dial, some control routed via touch screen
7. More lens kit now we widened the focal length a bit to 12-50 give it weather sealed and fancy macro button but there will be version II with MSC compatible and R for faster AF etc
8. The fastest AF m4/3 lens for now with new lens kit only
9. No the old upgrade procedure is adequate beside Oly don’t want you tinkering with it’s firmware…and we will create new version in about 8 month…:-)
10 There will be Macro and Tele Converter for Lens kit oh and replaceable grip…
11. Are you kidding we give you the hotshoe so you can buy our flash
….
But hey we will still buy it anyway since we love m4/3 and invested enough 4/3 and m4/3 lens…:-)
To be fair, the rumors never said anything about a revolutionary sensor, free tiltable screen, control layout, PDAF compability, easy firmware upgrade (?), accessories or or built-in flash.
If you base your expectations on your wishes, you will undoubtely be disappointed.
@admin: is the new engine TruePic VI or even better? Because TruePic VI is not new.
+7.5
wait just a few days and you will wonder…..
Probably st3v4nt is right – where should be the money for Oly for other improvements?
Whats the evening rumor? 😉
This camera will simultaneously destroy the G3, GX1 and GH3…Panasonic better come out with a pro camera, because nothing they have currently will even come close.
Don’t be so sure. Although OM-D (or whatever) seems to be a really good camera…
How can a camera rumor (“OM-D” or whatever) “destroy” a camera which hasn’t even been hinted-at by the manufacturer (the “GH3” or whatever)?
Fanbois say funny things sometimes …
hehe.. some ppl just want pocketable FF DSLRs..
anyway +1 to the comment above.. we need more “RUMORS”.. even if they’re just that. 🙂
Polaroid SX70 was foldable plus like six times bigger format than 35mm.
Touchscreen…. Arghh! Why??!!
No problem touch screen can be easily deactivated. Honestly who doesn’t know this by now?
This camera will have everything I need! Touchscreen confirmed that.
The only thing I will maybe miss from my D7000 is great and pretty usable iso even at 6400 and interesting and easily obtainable DOF effects, but that is a double edged sword.
Looks are always debatable, but I am ready for some retro stuff and a smaller kit, with more acurate AF than Nikons in low light.
The question is: what will be the kit lens they mentioned for that price reported?
Admin? 🙂
I am interested but it will depend on the actual price on this camera, body only if possible.
@ Admin, is there any words on the price of just the BODY ONLY? Thx
US$1100 dude
Where did you get that? I only see it’s 1150EURO for the body and the kit lens.
Europe always gets screwed, but US$1100 was mentioned in tips before ..
I’m sure m43 cams will get bigger and bigger with screens that tilt and swivel and lots of consumer features to the point I will wish I kept my DSLR. I invested in this system for the size and relative picture quality not for a tilting screen that adds complexity and bulk. As far as AF if find any MF to be adequate as I used to shoot with no AF. Soon the camera will compose the shot. Please give me the smallest body within reason with the best DR. I think the entire benefit of m43 is being lost. If you have a viewfinder why a screen, most of the time I don’t use either. I see m43 as a practical camera I can and will take with me but not if it becomes bulky now. Many pros like the m43 because it is SAMALL and has good IQ, it is a camera they can along instead of P&S. I bet all new models get bigger with more consumer BS attached. And why care about retro styling if it is full of bumps and humps of tilting screens. Please me a good small camera the size of a Gx1 with a fast small lens or it will just sit at home not in my jacket pocket. I though MiCRO meant small?
+1
Very well said!
We still don’t know exactly how big (small) it is of this camera. What makes you complain about its size already?
According to the @ admin, this Oly weights around 425g with battery and memory card, and it’s about 100g+/- heavier than a GX1 with battery and memory card (used my gx1 for reference). That’s like 0.3lbs difference.
Cheers!
I believe the GX1 also uses a magnesium alloy body but the OM-G adds not only the EVF but also IBIS which adds weight.
There will be different mFT bodies for different folks. So you will have options in not only configuration, but in optical stability type (in the body [Olympus body] or in the lens [Panasonic lens]. Olympus is not dropping the Pen line, neither is Panasonic dropping the GX line. The good news is they all will have good image quality; and share glass. Even the small G3 and PM-1.
I even expect we will see some expressly video line at reasonable prices soon. I also expect the new OM-D5 to be able to have add on battery handles with controls and even a bottom boot. The GH-3 I expect will also have that and maybe some special “video” grip with controls.
Exactly! That is what makes m4/3 so interesting. I didn’t like it two years ago, but now there is so much choice in terms of both bodies and lenses. It’s possible to have two bodies to fit different purposes and still use the same set of lenses.
I’ve become a believer. It’s a system that is great for enthusiasts of all kinds.
I believe a big advantage with m43 is versatility: If you want a smaller camera – buy one! They already exist! If I want something more advanced that suits my purposes – buy maybe the OM if it lives up to the hype.
What is your problem?
> it is a camera they can along instead of P&S
Exactly, m4/3 in its current form can’t touch serious DSLRs and get same place as only system.
Now do you really think it can retain its share of mirrorless market when big DSLR guys really bring their mirrorless products out?
Olympus and Panasonic can’t even match their marketing power.
NEX is selling quite well despite of very inbalanced system with mediocre optics which are too big for bodies and Nikon 1 shows everywhere.
M4/3 got headstart into mirrorless fully digital camera era three years ago but where’s that complete system?
Or are you admitting that after all 4/3 sensor really doesn’t have the size to belong to serious system but is only fit to small secondary camera?
If not then stop shackling it into that slot!
Just digging into hole below the slope isn’t good strategy to get to top of the hill to play with big guys.
Digital camera age has seen end of many camera brands (both old and new) because they either couldn’t or possibly didn’t want to make it big enough to stay competitive in product development and there’s still plenty of space for Olympus Imaging to join that group if it wants to stay only as maker of cheap low end bodies without complete system all the way to high end.
So much for getting a pocketable performer from Olympus — shame.
You want pocketable performance from Olympus? They have the XZ-1.
This camera is aimed to fill a gap. It’s for those who have (or would buy) a big DSLR, but want more compact performance and/or want to work with a lower budget. On paper this is everything I would need, and I will follow the reviews after its release to see if it’s the right step for me to trade in my 7D.
You can carry a PEN in any pocket you want.
Just carry the lens in different pocket.
😉
yup yup… i did at kylies concert hahaha… they said i cant bring a DSLR but as u can see my EPL-1 adding the 17mm is like a point and shoot… lol den all the other lens are in a side pockets and below the bag…
The e-p3 is 321g w/o battery & card + 32g for the EVF-2 = 353g. So the new OM camera will be ca 20g heavier. With about the same size.
That is M43 not this camera and it can have all the performance without the large size. I guess we will see micro 43 become macro 43. What is the point of reducing size form a DSLR and making a compromise on quality if it is not going to be very small. At least Panasonic made the GX1 based on all the feedback from users and not Best Buy consumers. Diminishing returns. I think this camera will reflect market pressure to have competing features from the big cameras and pro-like features to appease others, a compromise camera not an enthusiast camera. I went form excited to pass after the tilt screen and size. I’ll see what other commodities 2012 brings.
Every camera is a compromise, and every compromise suits a different person. I personally like what I have seen so far from this camera. On paper it is a very good compromise that would allow me to size down from my big bulky DSLR to something much more portable.
If the rumor of much faster AF is true then that most likely is referring to phase auto focus to track fast moving objects and that in turn implies a new sensor not the same as in GX1?
The reference of looking more like an OM4 with larger viewfinder versus smaller pymramid shaped OM1/2 also suggests that it will be more like the G3 only different higher end weathersealed magnesium alloy body and control wheels on both sides of EVF. Also suggests that the flash will be combined with the EVF so likely again like G3 only hope it does not protrude as much either forward or in back?
If it does in fact turn out to have essentially the same sensor as the GX1/G3 then why not get the G3 instead for 1/2 the price as it after all has a lightweight aluminum metal body and a fully articulated screen? Expect that Pany is countering with G3X with the compact Xlens and other software enhancements.
“If the rumor of much faster AF is true then that most likely is referring to phase auto focus to track fast moving objects and that in turn implies a new sensor not the same as in GX1?”
Wishful thinking. If Olympus had that, they’d be leaking it to rumor sites like crazy.
Most likely, the rumor of “much faster AF” just means the same thing it meant when Olympus claimed their AF would be faster than Panasonic’s. That turned out only to mean that they were able to devise a particular set of test conditions under which it was faster; in real-world performance, they were roughly at parity, which was still a huge improvement compared to their previous camera.
Based on that experience, I suspect this newest vaporclaim falls into the same category: they’ve invented one test scenario in which the new camera’s AF will be “much faster,” and the rest of the time it will simply be a moderate improvement.
Still, considering that current contrast AF systems already perform well for most kinds of picture-taking, a moderate improvement will further expand their usefulness.
Since the rumor is much faster than EP3 (and not necessarily any other m4/3 product) I think this may be referring its its ability to auto focus in poor light which is better with the GF3, G3, and GX1 compared to the latest Oly models? If a new sensor was used then I would think they would have to use an all new processor but existing one is stated?
I bet if you owned a GF1 or GX1 then considered this you may have a different opinion. Yes all cameras are a compromise but M43 was built around the objective of smaller size not growing back to a larger size. Would you take a DSLR that is 10% smaller but at a cost of IQ? Doubtfully but you may take one at half the size. Soon M43 will end up fat and bulky and irrelevant to what it was intended to be.
Who says any of the smaller models will be discontinued? So no worries for those who want really small. What you seem to have missed is that this OM-D is still pretty tiny with a width of 121mm (see earlier leaks). That is the same width as the E-P3. With all we know so far it is realistic to guess it will be similar in size to a G3 or maybe GH2, both of which are tiny cameras. So m4/3 is not getting any bigger, Olympus is simply releasing a competitor for the G3/GH2.
The online photographer’s Mike is guessing OM is full frame.
That justifies the ISO 25600 and high DR.
It will make a lot of sense: cheap full frame camera and access to cheap legacy glass.
Even with old full frame sensor (=cheap) camera will have better IQ than APS-C. I know my Canon 5D (mark I) has.
But I think is just a guess.
The alternative would be a full frame that also supports m43 lenses (croping picture and removing modular OM electronic mount).
greyhat
“The online photographer’s Mike is guessing OM is full frame.”
I wish I had some of whatever “Mike” is smoking.
Olympus does not have a lens lineup for a nostalgia-frame (aka “full frame” i.e. 36x24mm) camera. They do not have the financial resources to develop that lens line. They do not have an existing camera chassis on which to base it, so it would also require an all-new camera platform… which they also do not have the financial resources to develop, nor the manufacturing capacity to produce (unless they completely pull the plug on their Four Thirds cameras, which they have said they will not do.)
It also would require a complete reversal of their design philosophy. They have never produced a nostalgia-frame DSLR or even an APS-C DSLR. When they moved into digital system cameras, they threw their full weight behind the Four Thirds format and later Micro Four Thirds. They have a long record of stating the advantages of the Four Thirds size and their reasons for committing to it.
Would they now, with no advance preparation and little fanfare, announce in effect, “Oops, we were wrong — we now realize that 36mm x 24mm are mystic numbers endowed with magical properties, and henceforth we will produce only cameras that adhere to those numbers”? I think not. They couldn’t even admit to having made bad investments 30 years ago, instead undertaking decades of accounting fraud to cover their tracks.
He also says in that same entry that he knows NOTHING, is purely guessing, and hasn’t been frequenting any rumor sites. AKA he’s has no idea wtf he is talking about.
I think he is right about that.
Whichever we look at it,Olympus will sell many of these and I will own one :-)mpuW
I’m just not keen on putting a fake DSLR penta hump on it for looks.
Serious camera? Give me form follows function.
you mean like the GX1?
The “fake DSLR penta hump” will obviously house the internals of the new OVF/EVF…so it’s necessary, not just “retro”.
Can’t wait to see it!
Not to mention posible auto focus hardware.
+1000
I seriously see no reason nor need for there to be a hump on this camera, other than for looks, the evf could easily be accommodated within the frame(X100, X Pro1 and Nex 7 are fine examples), alignment is a matter of taste really. Sadly at this point it seems useless to rant about the prism-hump as it seems inevitable, I just hope it doesn’t protrude to either the back or front (as the G3 does)and that is subtle.
Agreed!
Hmmm, TruePic VI ??? So it´s the same as in the E-PL3?
Not bad considering the e-pl3 has the best mirrorless image processor.
Maybe. But what´s that good for, when iq isn´t better than the iq of the E-PL1???
ADMIN has got the hi res Full pic front and back!!!!!!!!
When will you show it?
no, I didn’t get them.
How are we supposed to understand this?
Well, we can wait. 🙂 Time’s moving too fast anyway.
I’m with those hoping olympus continue to produce small versions of their cams. An OM-D mini. Drop the viewfinder, keep a few extra buttons, small dials, but keep the internals.
and call it E-P4
True, GS. I wonder if the pen 4 series will include the PL4 and PM4. And I wonder when they may come along.
Let’s wait for the PMS. 😛
The bestest m4/3rds to date but why offer it with the kitzoom??
Not really “pro” is it? 😉
how do you know it will be a zoom?
And most dslr’s are offered with kit zoom lenses.
It will probably be offered with a few different options too, like all the other m43 cams…
The “pro” ones are not offered with the kitzooms.
If it isn’t the kitzoom, it could be worse! It could be the 17/2.8!!
However if it is offered with the 45/1.8, it is OK. Without a lens, the price has to be quite a bit lower.
Well I doubt it is supposed to be THAT pro ;D
But I agree, the 17/2.8 would be a joke.
And admin states the price of 1150€ as body & kit lens, so…
As for the 45/1.8, its a great lens, but as a kit? At 90mm (35mm equivalent) it would be an odd choice.
If I were Mr. Olympus, the kit lens would be a 25mm f1.8.
If the do that I will be on of the first to spend the 1150€.
It would make sens to offer a new prime with it and make it a weathersealed one too.
There’s already a fast 25mm. It’ll be better if Oly reworked the 17mm. Perhaps 17/1.8?
It will be exiting to see all the specs of new OM-D, we should know a lot more in few days. It looks like that will be my first m4/3 toy.
This camera will have everything I need! Touchscreen confirmed that.
The only thing I will maybe miss from my D7000 is great and pretty usable iso even at 6400 and interesting and easily obtainable DOF effects, but that is a double edged sword.
Looks are always debatable, but I am ready for some retro stuff and a smaller kit, with more accurate AF than Nikons in low light.
The question is: what will be the kit lens they mentioned for that price reported?
Admin? 🙂
If I have to buy a kit lens to get the body, I’m not interested in the body. It’s preposterous that one would be forced to buy any lens together with the body.
Why would you think that would be the case? Every Olympus M4/3 camera has been available body only and this one won’t be any different. Admin has been given a price with a lens so thats what he will quote but the new OM will be available body only and in various kits.
I said “if” in a conditional clause.
That said, all evidence points at camera makers wanting to sell you a body with a lens. Take a look at B+H, Adorama, and amazon.com and check how many Oly bodies you see offered that come without lens. Do you see any?
Yes, Camaman, that is the question. What will be the kit lens, or kit lenses available. Will there be an option of zoom or prime like with the early PENs? And what will be the roadmap for weathersealed primes?
I agree with you. I have seen enough camera specs to be interested. What I want to know about is lenses.
The next big question after the announcement will be: Is Panasonic going to release a New version of L1= 🙂 Maybe they agreed that Oly would bring back classic SLR look and keep the PEN line and Panasonic will introduce a rangefinder like body instead of small fake look DSLR of G3… 🙂
That lineup with bodies currently on sale would cover most of the wants in the looks department by a single system of lenses… 🙂
1150€, wasn’t Fuji X1 Pro rumored to be around this price before officially launch at $1700? (I am converting Euro and $ directly)
Yes, but they do things differently on Mt Fuji then Mt Olympus. The price will be released before or when the OM-D5 is shown.
Yes, and we will have the camera in our hands a lot faster as well.
Lack of a swivel screen is a deal breaker for me. I already have the E-P3 with the VF2, and the E-PL3, so between those two cameras it seems that I already have everything the new camera has to offer except for the new sensor. The new sensor would be nice, but not worth over $1000 US for me whenI already have two Olympus bodies less than 1 year old.
This news is very disappointing to me. I am really getting tired of the way Olympus keeps holding things back. I suppose the next bit of news in three months is an OMDL with a swivel screen, 460k non-OLED, non-touch screen?
So, the only reason Olympus isn’t making the LCD fully articulate instead of just tiltable is because they are holding back? Nothing to do with ruggedness, or size, or anything else.
What else is Olympus holding back that warrants you being sooo upset with them?
FYI, top of the line Nex, which is more money than this, is “only” tilt too and doesnt even have touch. Were Sony holding back?
Anyway, can’t say swivel is better as some prefer tilt over swivel. Also, as some have said, the simpler tilting mechanism can be more compact and easier to weather seal.
I guess a swivel screen is good for mid range but it doesn’t feel right to me in a top range model. Tilt is good, though.
If they build a GH-2 “me too” cam, it probably would cause me to abandon the 4/3 mount. Luckily, that does not appear to be the case!
Oh wait, the EPL3 has a moveable screen. Since that’s “mid-range” I guess that’s that idea came from, eh?
It’s actually a great feature. Try one some time.
hmm… do we ever seen comment exceeds 500 or 1000. (if not admin pls do not post new detail) 😀 lol… those talkative people so addicted to reply
Who is addicted here?
We just need a rumor.. just a tiny little bit of tasty rumor.. now..
Oh come on, mr.Admin, give us our daily FIX! Please, we need it badly.. 😉
ADMIN:
Two questions, which would be simple without having sourced give too much away
1) Will it have SD or CF cards and will it be dual slot?
2) Will it have a focus lamp for low light — something Olympus seems to put in and take away from time to time that many of us want
A simple solution to the loss of value thing is to wear your camera out and to stop hankering after new ones. If you wear the camera out it’s not worth a great deal anyway. I never did upgrade my OM1N and OM2N to an OM4 or OM3, because they were still going strong. Mind you with film it would have taken a lot of money to wear the shutter out.
If one makes the fair bet that Olympus is abandoning the mirror in DSLR and going mirrorless for all its future cameras (yes, the E-series as we know it would be dead), it has the opportunity to field two versions of the new OM-D line of cameras … one for MFT and another for the legacy 43 community. Thinking out loud: a version of the OM-D with a built in mount that makes allowance for the flange back distance for 43 lenses and supports PDAF. This would sustain the market for the excellent Olympus 43 glass as well as differentiate between the photographers who want MFT for its diminutive size and weight and others who prefer the 43 form factor with its larger, heavier, faster, and more expensive lenses.
+1
Olympus would be foolish not to make a 4/3 version of the OM-D. As you said, just extend the flange distance to make room for the mirror/PDAF, replace the EVF with OVF and extend the grip, then call it a day. Sure it’ll be a bit bigger, but it’ll be slightly smaller than the K-5, good size IMHO. Since the OM-D is already weather sealed, it lends itself well to be paired with the awesome HG/SHG 4/3 lenses. Considering the OM-D is 1100, they can sell this for around the same price as the D7000 and K-5 when they came out. That would be great.
The units would be very small consider the price and I cannot imagine Olympus has that much engineering capacity to modify OM-D when they have to update E-P as well. An adapter is the best thing you have right now.
Great idea, as I hate to sacrifice my 4/3 glass for lower quality/slower m4/3, and to use lagacy primes on the OMD,just like in film days..Now thats the Future
Page 2 …… new rumor, please!!! 😀
Wow, quite the debate going on here. Do you all take decent photos?
No. That’s why we are so hung up in technicalities :-).
This site is awesome! #justhadtosay
Sawasdee!
Admin would you please to go your good source on the IQ even your post on Dynamic range extension to higher by sensor itself, not by software or engine. As you know that the good source never mentioned that on the IQ with noise level how much it will be improved or better even any competitor camera Also build Flash whether is included/come with body or not. Please you work on this, I would say thanks very muchr on your work.
I asked many times. Still nto definitive answer yet…
I would like to know too krub
Hi Admin,
Any improvement or enhancement on manual-focus system? I have some Nikon AIS lens and few Voigtlander M-mount lens. It would be nice to have something similar to NEX (peak mode?) that assists the manual focus efficiently.
hmmm OM-4. That’s nice, but the -4 is decidedly less stylish than the -1 or -2. Looks slightly more dated than classic. But now I’m nit-picking. Can’t wait to see it.
Sensor made by Sony??
http://www.quesabesde.com/noticias/olympus-om-d-rumores-filtraciones,1_8416
Reuters:
Sony, Fujifilm top rivals for Olympus tie: sources
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/23/us-olympus-sony-idUSTRE80M04P20120123?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=56505