Sources are now reporting us that according to Olympus own words the E-M5 should have the “fastest autofocus of any interchangeable lens camera (including D-SLR cameras)“. So while the sensor is apparently the same as the GX1 the whole circuitry around it and the processor engine are more powerful. That could explain why Olympus can afford to make such statements like “fastest AF ever” or “extended dynamic range” and put the highest ISO at 25600.
UPDATE: It has also “3D tracking for improved moving object tracking performance”
Stay tuned! More rumors coming soon!
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IMPORTANT UPDATE:
I just learned a couple of things with the upcoming Olympus release. While the rumors I reported here are almost any time correct the perception and meaning of the used words are sometimes very different:
1) Olympus marketing words:
I talked with my sources and it looks like Olympus marketing uses big words when describing the new camera performance but de facto they compare the E-M5 with their own current Olympus cameras. So when they say the sensor has an “extended dynamic range” we have to keep in mind that Olympus has a different idea than we have when using those words. We tend to imagine much more than what Olympus is really delivering to us. It’s like when Steve Jobs said “this is our best product ever”. An Android phone can have better specs but for Apple the newest iPhone is always the best.
2) The way to present rumors:
There is a discrepancy between what I write and the perception of many readers. Example: When I got the rumor about the sensor having an “extended dynamic range” I started to talk about possible sensor and technology scenarios. As you know I always said I don’t know how image quality improvement has been archived or what sensor is used (a part that it has 16 megapixels). The thing is that I didn’t “calculate” that this would increase the “emotional” side of the story and lead you to an eventual disappointment. In summary to much guesses and fantasy discussions tend to discredited me even if I made it clear that this are just discussions based on no-facts.
So I learned from this and I will now 100 times make you clear that one thing is Olympus marketing statements and rumors, another story is reality.
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256 Responses
If is faster than my ep3 DAMN GREAT , ‘cuz my ep3 is faster than my canon 5d MII ^^
I today April 1st? 🙂
CDAF only?
yep
Damn! I really wish they would get the PDAF sorted on a m43 camera….
Really, we are seeing the advances in micro-processing speed here, in terms of AF and video output. AF speed is almost irrelevant anyway, cos the E-P3 is already so fast: I don’t find my E-PL1 too slow to start with!
Still, it all helps capture the image a bit better, and will save us PP time as well.
Really looking forward to hearing about the new lenses, hoping for that 60/1.8 macro!
a 60mm 1.8 macro is coming?
has that leaked?
Someone claimed this a few days back; a 75mm/2.0 was also mentioned (none of this by admin). I repeated this RUMOR later on. I haven’t seen more than this mentioning. Also, admin has previously said that Olympus will not announce lenses on Feb 8. So we can still do WILD SPECULATION for some time :-).
“Damn! I really wish they would get the PDAF sorted on a m43 camera….”
I used to feel that way, too, but don’t so much any more. Earlier this year I had the chance to shoot two occurrences of the same event (two dress rehearsals of the same dance performance.) For one I used my DSLR (Nikon D300), which has PDAF, and for the other I used my Lumix GH2, which of course has CDAF. As normal, I went through the shots in Lightroom and flagged those which had poor focus or other problems.
The GH2 pictures had vastly better focus performance than the D300 pictures! About 1/3 of the D300 pictures had focus errors; the GH2 had only three or four!
As someone else notes below, tracking of fast-moving objects is still a challenge for CDAF (this isn’t so much an issue with a dance performance but might be in outdoor sports or auto racing.) But for many kinds of motion I now feel CDAF performs better: among other reasons, it can focus anywhere in the field of view, it doesn’t care what aperture the lens has, and it doesn’t need to be “calibrated” for individual lenses.
@Ranger 9
have known this for a long time 😀 (since the L10)
Damngood like it ^^
Beyond a point having faster AF makes little difference in my opinion, it’s servo tracking that’s lousy with CDAF.
I liked it better when we knew nothing but imagined everything.
I never imagined much more than a GX1 sensor in an EP3-like body with built in viewfinder. Everything else is bonus.
+1! I’m not going to throw away my D3S when this camera comes out, but it seems to address all of the small complaints I have about my E-P3. The GX1 sensor seems to have slightly better performance than the current 12mp Oly sensor. If Olympus can squeeze even more dynamic range out of it with a new processor, give me a bit more resolution, and build in a VF2 I’m a happy camper
🙂
I knew it pretty early.
All the speculations were going into the direction of: m43 + PDAF => 100% 43 lens compatible => defacto new 43 camera.
And I knew that since new 43 camera is a dream, it will not be allowed to exist.
Sad but true.
Are they talking about S-AF only? And what about C-AF? Any info?
No, like the E-3 & E-5 they’re talking in their fevered dreams. This is a claim that Oly has made before, most notably with the E-3/12-60 SWD, and not delivered. The E-3 proved to have AF that wasn’t even best in class (the D300 beat it at everything except on the centre-point only and the A700 beat it at that).
It’s quite possible that Oly will deliver best in class AF, the bar remains relatively low for that and Oly has been the class leader for a while, but it’s not going to rival a 1DmIV or D3s, let alone the 1DX or D4 in S-AF, let alone C-AF.
is that all? Admin, you said you’ll give us some more good news today.. is that it? Is there a last “big bomb” left to be disclosed before the official launch next week? Maybe more than one?? I just love this! 🙂
Big news coming. But I have to check out everything…otherwise you would say I am “hyping” you 🙂
New primes?
yes
🙂 🙂 🙂
then please “Hype us”.. we LOVE TO BE HYPED 😀
+2
I’m getting really hyper, waiting for this……
Let me guess: A new 25mm f1.8 will be a kit lens for the E-M5.
Whoohaaahh!!!
I would like a macro and a telephoto prime please! 60/2.0, 300/2.8?
It would be a while before I would buy either, but they would sure help m43 stay in the game…..
A weather sealed 17/1.8?
I’m certain that the 17 pancake is merely a place holder.
Oh, and the long promised 50/2 macro, of course.
I’m with you on this one sneye! a weather sealed 17/1.8 would make sense for a number of reasons.
I guess we’ll soon see..
17mm f1.8 is too close to the 20mm 1.7.
A weather sealed 17mm f1.4 would make more sense.
cant wait toot me admin haha give as the HYPE
You are the best ‘hyper’. I have seldom been hyped so well.
the new E-M5 is a hyper-camera 😉
Doing a good job admin! Don’t change a thing.
Aaah, what a joy, following this rollercoaster 😀
Exactly, I don’t care if Admin is 100% right, this site has super entertainment value.
Whenever I have to wait on the computer (PP) I check it out.
People are making themselves upset over nothing.
This site is and remains a RUMORS site, and I think the best one at that!!!! AAHND DOHON’T YOU FERGIT IT!!!!
@ admin Do you realise that many other websites are using this as a source of info? You could have a lot of fun and make up a rumor and watch it spread – that would be hilarious.
Lol
I hate fast autofocus.
loltroll
The Focus was already quite fast on E-P3. I hope they improved on tracking as well as accuracy, especially for fast moving subjects. I still prefer PDAF for its ability to “Guess” the right subject in the scene.
Wasn’t one of the first rumors improved 3D tracking?
yes!
Thus it is a G3 with more Processing-Power, plus all the usual nice Oly-Features. Faster FPS, AF and may be some realtime HDR. We know that allready from Casio or Sony.
They will find their market.
But soon there will come a GH3 in a similar pricerange, assumed to be smaler and with better processing power and an improved sensor.
So again a difficult position for Oly.
Not to mention much more usable and friendly menu system.
Sorry but I do not agree.
I have the G2 but the Oly’s have far simpeler setting adjustment possibilities due to the SCP (Super Control Panel).
I wish Pan had SCP iso having to scroll around the LCD top-Rside-down-Lside and back again.
Come off it. No-one but an Oly fanboi would say that the Olympus menu system is better than the Panasonic!
SCP for ISO? –> WHAT?
The G1, G2, G3, GF1, GX1 all have a dedicated ISO button on the back panel, why would you hide something like that in a submenu?
Suggest you get your eyes tested.
Why would you want to manually change ISO…? That’s what Auto ISO is for.
wha….??? You must be a troll….tell me, what is it like, being bullied by some goats?
+1000!!!
Don’t forget that amazingly awful how-did-my-settings-change dial!
Let’s hope Olympus loses that!
even if panasonic announces the GH3, the Olympus E-M6 will probably be announced and shipping before Panasonic delivers the first pre-orders 🙂
HaHa! Very funny, But i’m not sure.
The e-m5 will be a couple of pieces of each panasonic.
So Pana is and will always be a step ahead, and Oly will always improve a bit a little later!
HaHa! Very funny, But i’m not sure.
The e-m5 will be a couple of pieces of each panasonic.
So Pana is and will always be a step ahead, and Oly will always improve a bit, a little later!
Except the OM-6 will still use the GX1 sensor while the GH3 when it ships uses a clearly better sensor 🙂
I am very grateful to Olympus for making such wonderful cameras, but its a bit shallow to just say fastest AF ever made when we don’t know what AF they are talking about.
Not directed you Admin. You are doing a great job. It would just save a lot of angst if your source could be clear about which AF they are rumor mongering about…
You should save yourself the ANGST, I mean fastest ever, it can mean one thing fast as hell!!! 😉
Come on use your “sane” imagination, but don’t get derailed.
The Canon 5DMkII has quite slow AF, Anynomus, not at all a good benchmark.
Just wonders: Faster AF than Nikon D3s, D4? Same accuracy? Will pro’s in sports and journalism now leave CaNikon and go for The magic E-M5? This is very much marketing dreams from Oly!
There is nothing wrong with the speed of the AF on the 5D II, and your statement makes me wonder if you have actually used one. A 5D II with a USM lens is very quick to attain focus.
Not saying 5D AF performance is stellar in general: the outer AF points are notoriously inaccurate in low light/contrast situations, and the points are too closely clustered around the center. AF tracking is pretty decent if you stick to the center point with the hidden AF assist points enabled, but nothing to write home about.
I did try one, and I also talked to a 5DMkII owner who said the weak point of that camera is slow and inprecise AF.
Fasteest focus is just a gimmick. They said the same about the E3. It was fast but not in focus. The problem with all olympus cameras is a lack of horsepower.
Fast (and correct) focus is not a gimmick! When I used p&s cameras some 5 years ago, about 50% of pictures were out of focus because I didn’t have the patiente to wait. With the D80 and D300, perhaps 90% were in focus, mainly due to faster AF. A German photo magazine compared AF for a number of cameras, and found the winners to be GH2 (or was it GH1), followed by the E-P3 — in terms of highest fraction of pictures in focus. Unless you take “still life” pictures, AF is very important to 95-99% of the customers. My “current” problem with the E-P3 is that I tend to use center spot focusing, and quite often the object of interest has moved before I have recompose the picture. So fast AF *and* tracking *is* important — at least to me.
Faster AF isn’t worth anything if it is for single shot AF only.
You may have it improved from 0.01sec to 0.001 sec, so it’s ten times as fast, but that doesn’t make a difference on a single image.
It’s the continuous AF that needs improvement, but I doubt that is improved a lot if it’s still CD AF only 🙁
Sorry I don’t agree with you very fast SAF is usefull too.
Even more so if CAF is not stellar. You CAN press a button multiple times now can you? So yeah if it AF’s in 0.0001sec with no shutterlag is sure as hell is useful!
But Admin just states fastes ever, which he heard, so nothing is fact not even if it’s SAF or CAF or whatever.
It is very apparent that reading comprehension is lacking with some people. I have seen people take things that Admin clearly states to be rumor or opinion, and get twisted around incorrectly as if it were fact with added venom.
Please stop appologizing to these idiots, Admin. You are doing everything right!! Thank you for the hard work you put into this site!
+1000000
Well said.
Absolute yes.
+1, Bravo Berneck, my sympathy.
Complete agreement here!!! 🙂
+1
I also am of the opinion that you do a fantastic job, admin. Just keep on letting the rumours coming. I really appreciate your effort.
+1000
“fastest autofocus of any interchangeable lens camera (including D-SLR cameras)”.
Those are big words. Any D-SLR, means faster than D3S for example.
Faster in low-light too ?
Faster when tracking a moving subject too ?
+1
http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-first-olympus-om-d-leaked-image/
had
> – FAST AF and 3D tracking
Let’s hope this means tracking…
I’m sure the new camera will be great. Just hold your horses for a few more days. If its not what you want then go to Sony and cry about the fact that they have only one good lens and its a $1000.00 USD.
Have they any new art filters?
hehe… good one!
You realize that m43 isn’t a newbie in the camera world anymore when you think “Oh no, not again, that’s relly the oldest m43 joke”.
Admin,
please don’t care for the criticism in the last hours. You’ve always made very clear that this is a rumor site and that some of the specs may be marketing blabla. So it’s not you who caused all the hype – it’s us ;-).
Thanks for the rumors. I like to read them, whether they prove right or wrong.
Cheers
Frank
Don’t worry, we get it. This is a rumor site and you provide us with all the available information and relevant “caveats”.
Olympus marketing is quite the hype machine, is it not? Good thing the products are awesome!
Keep the rumors coming.
We want primes!
Im still hoping Oly goes bankrupt so I can get 4/3 bodies replacements dirt cheap for the next 10 years.
This is the consolation since everyone is upset with no real breakthrough sensor offer by Olympus . It looks like we have to divert our attention to Pana to offer something amazing .
If I have to choose between speed focusing or image quality , I’ll definitely go for Image quality means X Pro fill my bill . Afterall a camera is about Image Quality .
But what use is the best image quality if the image is misfocused or you miss the decisive moment?
Agree, a camera is all about TOTAL quality.
I don’t care if a camera can do stellar clean ISO 25600 if there’s less detail.
I mean it’s the total sum of things that can make a great camera.
The E-P(L)3 is that allready, very good files, fast operation very fast focus, light weight and plenty of customisability options, great lens choice (Pana + Oly + 3rd party)
Good photographers don’t. Today many rely on technology not skill and talent. Look at the finished work of many “pros” tons of photoshop and need for fully auto cameras and work that lacks substance, it’s gimmicky. One of my friends has some of the best work I have seen and he shoots major sports, fashion and other work and some of his best work was shot with fully manual cameras. Too many people crave more features because they can’t shoot well without them and many have never shot with a fully manual camera which really can reveal the skill of a photographer. Everyone is a “pro” today selling terrible pictures but I suppose there are plenty that will buy them as well. Soon we will generate an image in out head and be able to print it and then call it art:)
@ admin
You don’t have to explain how these things work for nth time to anyone. Just ignore the negative comments. There will always be someone who will be disappointed and/or troll on the forums. You’re not Olympus / Panasonic customer service, so don’t feel offended in any way by criticism targeted at them. Those who want pure facts can read dpreview, and they’ll know all the specs of any new camera the day it is released.
This means that it is possible to be faster than my D700. Gosshhh. E-M5…see you soon !!!
I’m not sure the Olympus marketing department is making a great job with the E-M5 announcement. Creating overhyped expectations that collapse when the real product arrives will not at all help to increase sales figures. Just saying…
So where are the official statements from Oly marketing, as many of you blame them for this hype? I looked at Olys page, and not a word about OM-D or EM-5.
It’s rather ridiculous that you blame Olympus for hype people, over here, create themselves.
The only thing going is some unofficial info from probably field testers of Olympus preproduction or proto type cameras released to the Admin of this site.
The info should be interpreted as — there is a new better camera coming —
Yep, Olympus is not careful enough managing expectations (Fuji was bold, but they seemed to be backed by a revolutionary product), admin tends to get excited easily, but we are also guilty. whatever admin says, there will always be someone who will come and say “Global shutter” 🙂
Actually, the GX1 sensor is very good, let alone if they improved it. Not the same as the PRO X 1? Then go and pay the $1600 for the body only
Yep I was excited. And probably that excitement I should have kept for myself because it can be interprated as “if he gets excited than this should be true because he knows it better”.
your excitement works like a virus to us 🙂
Hej Admin, don’t make excuses to these imbecils, that can’t gather this is a rumors site and take every written word for fact.
I think you do great, without you we wouldn’t know of anything coming.
High level entertainment this site. I love it.
I think that is part of it. Maybe if you left your own speculation out of a rumor it would help because the thought that you know more than your telling gives your speculation more merit. Add that to the totally out of left field fantasy speculation of posters and it’s a frenzy of insanity. I would say if you never speculated it maybe a new sensor it wouldn’t have gotten as frenzied. I do realize that could take the fun out of it for you and for me it’s not a problem as I always separate your speculation from the pure rumor just feel some don’t have that ability.
You are doing GREAT as it is, just ignore the “imbecils”. It’s that simple. You can’t please them all, especially on Internet. The risk is that this forum will become overly “politically correct” and that will be a pity!
Probably nobody will read this (too late :-), but just to clarify, I meant “get excited” in the good sense. My point was that there is nothing wrong with all the fuss, to which we the readers participate a lot. It is all that disappointment when our dreams are not realized that I consider not always fair with some really nice products
Hey Admin
Dont beat yourself up about this.
This was Olympus marketing.
You only reported.
And as a fan of cameras as the rest of us you hoped & speculated … nothing wrong with that.
You doing a damn fine job.
Do Oly even have a marketing departement? When was the last time you saw an Oly commercial on TV?
I tidied up the mock-ups of the E-M5 using admin’s images:
http://www.londonstreetphoto.org/olympus-e-m5/
Whatever the details of the specs, this camera is exciting for the street photography community. It will allow for a more considered type of street photography using the viewfinder.
Nice, but rotate the E-M5 text.
It’s not E-M5! It’s obviously SW-3! 😉 😛
🙂
A good one!
I shoot mostly in the streets and find the size of the GF1 to be the biggest benefit. I don’t use a viewfinder nor a screen. I hod the SMALL camera in my hand so it is unseen and I shoot with a high level of success. People do not notice me shooting because the camera is not in my face and because it is small i can carry it in my coat or grab it with one hand. These are important factors for me in a “street” camera. Not tilting screens and fat bodies, etc. I shoot in many areas including very sketch parts of town at night, the last thing I want is may camera in my face of some bug bulky body. Once m43 gets larger I will loose my love affair.
Nice link, but tidied up mock-up! LOL
Will a weak anti-alias filter mean you’ll get moire patterns when you photograph things like fabric?
there is a chance yes, but it depends on the fabric structure….in practice aliasing is not a problem anyomore since the sensors have high very high resolution…if compared with the early sensors (2-6mp)
Possibly but they could control it in processing they do work wonders. Just look at what they have done for CD focusing it gets better and better that’s the future crack that nut patent it and let the others try to catch up.
Thank you Ulli and Scot. I’ll wait awhile and see how it performs in real world situations- see if this ends up being a problem.
Overall AF-Performance of a camerasystem is about 20% Body=Sensor/Processor and 80% lensmovementpower. What the Oly-Marketing states is improvement in Body-AF. The effekt on the hole system is positiv but relativ smaller in practice.
I expected all along that it would have the same sensor as the G3. That’s not a bad sensor at all- it’s good enough for most people. I think Olympus will be able to get a little more out of it than Panasonic.
Every new Oly camera has world’s fastest AF…
+1 hahaha. you are right. They said that about E-5, E-P3 and now E-M5!!
The nikon1 system have the fastest AF at the moment, and in some situation it even focuses faster than the D3s…
But It uses a hybrid AF…
And it came out several months after the E-P3.
Just wanted you to know that I think you’re doing a great job with this site and handling rumours. I assume from your post that you are taking a lot of criticism for not being 100% accurate. That’s crazy. This is a rumour site and like any other rumour site readers have to know it can’t be 100% accurate. Anyone criticising your accuracy needs to stop reading rumour sites altogether! It’s their problem, not yours. You have been 100% clear in conveying uncertain nature of the rumours to your readers.
Also bear in mind that you will always receive a lot more criticism than praise; it’s the internet way! So don’t get down hearted. For every negative critic there are dozens more of us who appreciate your hard work, and have the maturity to understand that rumours are rumours, not facts.
Admin, it’s not your fault if some people have hard time to make difference between rumors and news…
For some whiners, it’s worth to remember (learn?) the definition of rumor!
RUMOR : a statement or report current without known authority for its truth
Oh, and thanks for your work, Admin 🙂
+1 Pixnat
I love the rumors, and I love my 620s.
Make my day and give me an m/43 620 and maybe I will buy.
Well said, I’m in exactly the same boat.
Cheers
Admin, you are sure that this is “most exciting rumor since the m43 introduction.” ?
i’m have some doubts
From AF, video quality and body quality poitn of view…yes!
We are the suckers.
Camera companies know they can release just little changes & rake in the $$$$
Yeah, what you think. 😀
it´s time to leak the Panasonic GH3 specs,
Olympus is losing its chance always depending on the previous generation of Panasonic sensors
Dreams and Reality:
Admin- You are doing a swell job! Hope this site will be alive and healthy. 🙂
With so much competition in the mirrorless area, there are real progresses and innovations.
Only, it is not possible to stick to one brand or even a format.
Many choices and real improvements- all good!
More time ought to be spent (note to self) on photography. 🙂
The improved speed for focus and VI engine must come from the fact that Olympus is the first to utilise a quad core processor.
Next year or thereafter they will claim fastest with an octo core.
The higher ISO will be needed if it comes bundled with the 12-50. f6.3 at the long end, come on.
I hope it comes with a new 17/2.0 or 1.8 ish. To go with that a new 25mm that is cheaper/little slower than the PanaLeica version.
I would rather wish for both 17 as well as 25 to be super fast. May be 17mm f1.4 and 25mm f1.2. Other wise they will be just redundant with the existing lenses.
I would LOVE if they did what MP is suggesting. I also think they need to come out with a portrait lens that is around 1.2. Something in the neighborhood of 60 to 65mm. The 45mm is good but not good enough. I really wish they would stop with all the zooms. There are enough zooms.
Yeah, they really need to come out with a new version of the 17mm. That is such a popular focal length but f2.8 for a micro four thirds prime is an absolute joke. Needs to be 1.8 at worst.
Why not buy the Panny 20/1.7? If a new 17-25/1.x comes around, it needs to be top quality, weather sealed + being faster then 1.4 to be of interest, and possibly pancake design.
I don’t want the 20mm 1.7 because that’s not the focal length I want. 35mm was a favorite focal length for photographers for decades for a reason. 40mm is a big difference. If someone wants a 24mm lens I wouldn’t suggest a 28mm lens. Okay, so the 17mm is 34mm- but it is close enough. I’m willing to make that compromise. But f2.8 for a micro four thirds prime? That is ridiculous. If you don’t think it’s ridiculous fine. But I do. And I want a f1.8 17mm.
@OM-4…E-M5 will be runing on quadcore ??
sweeeettt…E-P3 use dualcore and i’m already in love… 🙂
@admin…any rumor about in camera processing power ?
some info for fast zoom lens also appreciated
Fast focus. 3D tracking. Improved sensor. Better resolution AND high ISO. Weather sealed. Manual controls. Tilt screen. Built-in finder. Lightweight.Looks cool.
And still people whine like cats in heat.
Abraham Lincoln had a point.
Ah, yes, I was 90% correct. I thought it was GH2 sensor, turned out to be worse.
http://www.43rumors.com/place-your-bet-who-made-the-olympus-om-d-sensor/#comments
So M5 video cannot be any better than GH2 then.
Yes it can be better! The G3 sensor is just an analog device. Video quality depends on the power of the digital parts, which will be all different in the Olympus camera as opposed to the Panasonic G3 and GX1.
Rumors being disappointing is normal, even more with m43 lately.
I just hope that these reactions from the readers don’t make you hold the rumors until they are 100% sure, otherwise it would make no sense, since it’s a rumor and some things are implied by just that.
Because from what I’ve learned people will always create expectations and they will always complain.
So keep the good work Admin!
slomo, don’t forget its not just the sensor when it comes to video quality (important as that is) but it’s also the processing – and the codec and the bit rate and the optics and the way the camera is used
spong, you almost quoted me there. Here’s my post in the link that I posted:
=========================
“Tweaked GH2 sensor. Panasonic lets Olympus have GH2 sensor because by this time Panasonic GH3 sensor and processor are already developed.
That’s why it is rumored to be ‘better’ in video than GH2 because the sensor is ‘tweaked’. But whether the camera as a whole is really better in video than a hacked GH2 remains to be seen. Can Olympus tweak the sensor to work better with Truepic than Panasonic’s Venus Engine in GH2? My feeling is: it is not going to be better, Panasonic has a lot of experience in video and motion picture and Olympus has little experience compared to Panasonic. A sensor alone does not make a video camera.”
Usually olympus makes you use a specific lens to get the fastest focus speed. The e5 with the 12-60video is still a very very fast system compared to others
Thanks slomo, you are right. I’ve got great hopes for this camera from a video point of view. Maybe I will be disappointed, but the cominbation of features we’ve heard about so far is appealing. I’m sort of waiting for more info about the Panasonic GH3 -wonder if it will be weathersealed?
Thanks spong. Yes, I am also waiting for what GH3 will bring, although if it is not announced soon, I would probably get a GH2, as I need video most likely before the end of 2012. From the interviews I deduced GH3 to have better low light and better colour. Colour is important for video more than photography because it is hard to get it right if it was not, cannot just adjust the WB of video if it was not right the first time as there is no raw format in video. I also like Panasonic attitude of learning from the firmware hacked GH1 and GH2 to try to find their customers needs. Truly, there is no need for hacks if the hardware is tuned to use its maximum potential for the benefits of their customers.
I am not sure if GH3 will be weathersealed, my feeling is it is probably not. This is based on the subject was not mentioned in interviews, and Panasonic history with weathersealed product. With Olympus it is the other way around. It has many offering in the under water photography, so Olympus has the expertise in this.
See these links for the interview:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2012/01/15/panasonic-learning-from-the-fringe-taking-small-steps
http://www.eoshd.com/content/6810/panasonic-talk-gh2-hack-committed-to-video-on-gh3
The GH3 might actually be weather sealed. Why else would they be launching the weather sealed X lenses?
Thanks slomo. I will look at those links
Admin:
Any news on features like HDR or a sweep panorama mode like the NEX?
–
A request to Admin:
I appreciate the effort and thought that you put into your site. Please allow me to make a suggestion moving forward. I would recommend reserving FT5 rumors for information that are both RELIABLE and VERIFIABLE. For example, you recently posted an FT5 stating that the new camera would have 9 frames/second. That is a great example of an FT5 rumor… it is a solid and verifiable fact that can be confirmed or disputed later! On the other hand, the prior FT5 claims of “Fastest AF” and “High Dynamic Range” do not rise to the level of an FT5 and are red flags for subjective marketing hype. While I very much like hearing about these teasers from your sources, I would prefer if they were not relayed as FT5 rumors.
Your latest post (which is incorrectly labeled an FT5), suggests that you still have more to learn about hype psychology: [FT5] E-M5 has worlds fastest AF of all interchangeable lens cameras (and what I learned about the hype psychology)
I think the real lesson to be learned is to label “hype” appropriately on your website… FT3 at best! Save the FT5 for RELIABLE and VERIFIABLE information. Like it or not, when you post an FT5 rumor (the highest possible) your credibility is on the line. Regards from a loyal reader.
I agree.
Rumor rating on this site is decided upon according to the quality of the source. Recent rumors seem to be extracted directly from the Olympus press release text, which is the very hardcore of sources. I think that stressing the usual caveats will do.
Maybe it’s the sources that should be re-labeled then. Now we have trusted and untrusted sources. Maybe a third category named “marketing guys” should be in place. And words coming from them should have a max of FT4 (same as rumor from untrusted source has a max of FT3).
A trusted source should be one that has “proved” to give reliable information that’s independent and verifiable. In the meantime, marketing guys should be the ones who take the words from Olympus marketing guys. It is really not the same if an independent source who has tested the camera says that IQ is much better than if Olympus marketing says that IQ is much better.
This confusion happened with the E-P3 and GX1 already, so not only with Oly. Pana marketing guys also do their things…
Agree to a point…
I’d be fine with a post reading:
(FT5) OM-5 marketing campaign claims fastest AF and best HD video
The devil is in the details…
AF is fast and HD video is the best. It’s not just marketing.
Sounds like hands-on report… :-).
But you have admitted yourself that some things could just be marketing after all (about sensor and IQ). We will see in the end. But it would be useful, for example, to specify if the claimed improvement in dynamic range comes from an independent source that’s proven to be right about it in the past or if it’s a claim done by Olympus itself (or someone close to them).
About video quality, the same. Let’s wait for example to EOSHD to test the camera and see if it’s really better than GH2. If it is, the source that sent you that info can remain a “trusted source”. If in the end it turns out to be marketing hype, then that source should be downgraded to “marketing guy” (no offense intended to anyone, but it’s just fair).
I don’t knwo the sources. That’s why it is so difficult!
But again, how do you know for sure?
From dictionary.com:
Rumor
1.
a story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts: a rumor of war.
2.
gossip; hearsay: Don’t listen to rumor.
3.
Archaic . a continuous, confused noise; clamor; din.
verb (used with object)
4.
to circulate, report, or assert by a rumor: It is rumored that the king is dead.
So I hear what you’re saying here, but I think it’s important to remember that a rumor has very little or nothing at all to do with the truth. The site is called 43 Rumors. It’s not admin’s job to make sure we’re getting the eventual reality in what he reports. I personally think he does an admirable job at least attempting to wade through the stuff that is probably total crap and the stuff that is more likely to be true. But he doesn’t have to do that for us. He could simply post every rumor he gets from any source and be done with it, and never be doing anything wrong at all, or be losing any sort of ‘journalistic integrity’. And it’s up to him what he deems close enough to the truth to list as FT5. He can do it for anything he wants, really, even just to make us read what he’s writing, which is fine with me.
If you want the facts and don’t want to be potentially misled, what are you doing on a rumors site?
Thank you for pasting the definition or rumor /sarcasm/
I am simply offering advice to the Admin… of course he can take it or leave it as he sees fit. It is HIS site after all.
My point remains the same… Admin decided to rank the rumors on a scale that he has defined. When he ranks a rumor at the highest end of the scale (FT5), it is not unreasonable for people on the site to expect it to be RELIABLE and VERIFIABLE. Will an FT5 rumor always be true? Of course not. Should it be true the vast majority of the time? YES… assuming that the Admin wants us to believe that future FT5 rumors are credible.
Which FT5 rumor wasn’t credible? Make me an example! I saw no recent FT5 that got wrong.
Well, we don’t know yet 🙂
We will have to wait until the release and likely the reviews before some of the “recent” FT5 rumors will be proven ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.
My point is that the following FT5 rumors
“High Dynamic Range”
“Fastest AF of all interchangable lens cameras”
“Video quality better than GH2”
will NEVER be ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. The headlines use very subjective terms and at the end of the day are opinions (likely from marketing guys at Olympus).
I will be very surprised if the new OM-D camera is viewed as having the fastest AF by the photography community after its release. I will also be very surprised if videographers choose the new Olympus over the GH series for its better video quality. In the end, I suspect these rumors will end up being wrong… but we will have to wait and see.
To clarify, I am certainly not questioning your personal credibility. I appreciate everything you do and will continue to be a loyal follower of your site. I just happen to think that reserving FT5 rumors for RELIABLE and VERIFIABLE information would make everyone’s (including yours) experience here better.
1) “High dynamic range sensor” statement form Olympus is correct. I wrote inside that rumor that this is the suffix of the sensor presentation! It’s how Olympus will present us the new camera. Never said that sources tested the camera or that I saw some image sample sconfirming this. Thus, it’s correct that Olympus defines the sensor in that way, but how MUCH this is REALLY to see on a final image that’s unkown.
2) Fastest AF is correct
3) Video quality better than GH2 is also correct
Really, you should carefully read every line of a rumor. Not just the part you want 🙂
Well, it’s quite encouraging if Olympus uses “high dynamic range sensor” as a bold title. Perhaps we are underestimating the “tweak”?
perhaps! Let’s hope
Hope springs eternal doesn’t it? I wouldn’t think it’s happening.
Subjective vs. Objective… I’m not sure what else to say. Have a good day, I will continue to visit your site regularly.
Admin, this what you wrote on this page:
http://www.43rumors.com/page/5/
“Sensor troubles: If the sources are telling me all the time that the image quality has been improved, that it has a greater dynamic range, that it has better video quality than the GH2…than I am really having BIG troubles that the 16 megapixel sensor is the same of the Panasonic GX1.”
Nothing about Olympus marketing materials claims there.
http://www.43rumors.com/page/6/
“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.”
Again, nothing about it being just Olympus marketing materials there, but your sources.
http://www.43rumors.com/page/9/
“(FT5) Sensor has “High Dynamic Range” and ISO up to 25.800. (The OM-D Logo …”
In this entry you say:
” I have been told by top sources that the sensor has 16 megapixel and actually has been designed for a “High Dynamic Range“. I don’t know yet is how you get this dynamic range increase. Is there a software trick or is the sensor really a newly designed Olympus sensor rather than the same GX1 sensor? The ISO goes up to 25.800 which on paper beats every current Micro Four Thirds camera!”
Zero mention of a marketing statement or material.
I like your work admin but sometimes, the over hype I think it’s made by how you present things. I say this with respect for your hard work.
PS: You still keep saying it has better video quality than the GH2. I say you don’t know that yet!
Hehe, you cannot just pickup pieces of the whole picture! So you will be always right. Read what I wrote here:
1) http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-om-d-shots-nine-frames-per-second/
“we still have to remain with our feet o earth. I haven’t seen any image sample yet and I have no info about who made the Olympus sensor and how the supposed image quality increase has been achieved.”
2) http://www.43rumors.com/ft3-om-d-two-stop-improvement-over-the-e-p3/
“the 12800 ISO performance looks similar to the E-P3′s 3200 ISO”! Please take that rumor with a grain of salt because this is a subjective impression that needs to be verified with a real test.
Bt on one thing you are right. I completely forgot to post that it’s Olympus calling that sensor a “sensor with extended dynamic range”. My fault!
Admin with all due respect to your hard work, no, I am not missing the whole story hen providing the links to support what I am saying.
Someone who may ome here in a break of their day may read one post as the news you are saying for that day and move on. They don’t have to, nor can be expected to go through all of them from past days Would be a bit like expecting a news paper to just post what’s current on something and expect everyone to tread back through the Monday and Tuesday editions Of the newspaper when it’s already Friday to get a clue what the news paper meant that Friday.
Also if you say before something of a qualifier that this is to be taken with a grain of salt a much newer post particularly next to an ft5 rating, will easily come across as if you now have new information that makes the doubt go away. Particularly when followed by !!!!!’s 😉
Please take this constructively. I think the issue is not the news that you have but how they are being delivered, then you wonder why many get dissapointed.
I appreciate all your hard work.
A good example: you are writing you are like 500% sure te video of this camera will be better than the gh2’s… How can you be so sure? The sensor alone would suggest the gh2 should still do better at least in some situations. And that’s not een counting the gh2 hacks…
Will learn the leasosn for sure 🙂
Regarding video: The video quality has been tested by trusted sources.
I think Admin has made it clear by defining what FT1- FT5 mean. FT5 means 81-99% chance the rumour is correct which, on the other hand, means 1-19% chance of incorrect rumour. We live in the world of uncertainty, so we must accept it! LOL!
BTW, If Admin posts everything with FT3, I guess I should toil the coin instead .. 50% probability that the rumour is true.
Disagree with NativeFloridian. I respect the value of the standard that you represent, but you have a wrong perspective here.
There are essential differences among these three things:
(1) a lab test report;
(2) a news report; and
(3) a rumor.
I don’t think one should apply a standard for a news report on a rumor, and what you are suggesting is even beyond that. You would like to impose a standard for a lab test report (objective truth) on a rumor. That is very strange, to say the least.
Even a news report, much less a rumor, is not about the truth behind is reported, but only a report about what is happening. And when it comes to a rumor, it is only about a PREDICTION of what is going to happen. Here, “what is happening” or “what is going to happen” is a product and accompanying statements made by a company, not the truth behind it.
Let’s say that sometime this week Olympus comes out to announce the E-M5 with all the hyped statements like “fastest AF in the world”, do you then write to news reporter to ask him/her not to report as such because the statement is subjective? Of course not. News reporter reports what the company is saying, and is not responsible for whether what the company saying is true.
Likewise, here a FT5 rumor only means that it is nearly certain that the rumored product and the accompanying statements will be announced as news. Being a rumor, it cannot even possibly guarantee the announcement will be made (otherwise it would be news, not rumor), how can it possibly guarantee its objectivity?
Again, I agree with the value of your standard, but I don’t think it is applicable here.
See above… the devil is in the details.
Bad FT5 rumor titles (IMHO):
(FT5) Video quality better than GH2
(FT5) Fastest autofocus of all interchangeable cameras
(FT5) High dynamic range
— compared to what?
— any examples?
— how is this achieved?
— can it EVER be confirmed?
Improved rumor titles (IMHO):
(FT4) Video may be better than GH2… awaiting details
(FT5) VERY fast autofocus, better than dSLRs?
(FT5) OM-D with improved low-light performance and DR
Possible future FT5 rumors (all speculative of course):
(FT5) Olympus uses higher bitrate video than GH2
(FT5) Dramatic improvement in tracking AF
(FT5) Improved dynamic range in JPEGs compared to GX1
Notice that I don’t believe that all FT5s have to be purely objective (e.g. lab reports)… I just believe they should be less subjective and avoid terms like ‘Fastest’ and ‘Best’. Even after a camera is released, those terms are rather meaningless. My 2 cents.
+1,000,000 (n/t)
Keep doing what you’ve been doing Admin. You do a great job. Don’t start holding things close to the vest because some people get carried away. A lot of us have expected all along that this would have the G3 sensor. I’m not disappointed in the least. I understand there is a certain amount of hype in the rumors you are fed. Anyway, I think this will be an amazing camera. I just hope Olympus can come up with some FAST primes.
yeah finally a nex killer! with a sane concept camera, no those scrap plastic cameras
If the AF with ZD 50 will be fast I will buy it as fast as possible.
Well, it appears Olympus did it to us again … lead us to believe the camera contained an entirely new sensor and reality is that it is just a reworked Panasonic. Maybe that’s not bad but why can’t they just be honest? I realize this is a rumor site and not a fact site, but the information is being spread I presume by Olympus insiders.
For those that want phase detect auto focus, do you also want to return to the days of possible front or back focus irregularities? I don’t. These focusing problems are alleviated by contrast detect and I prefer this method of focusing. Hope that doesn’t change.
It is an entirely new sensor to Olympus.
Show me where Olympus said that. You “presume” that the info comes from Olympus, and what if you presume wrong?
The only and most important question not yet answered is:
Which one to get?!
The black+silver one, or the all-black one.
😀
I didn’t know the G3 came in black and silver!
Seriously though, why not just buy a G3 for a fraction of the price. It includes the same sensor and has a good EVF with good ergonomics. Granted, it isn’t weather sealed… so if you’re worried about a drop of water ruining your camera, maybe you should just buy two G3s.
unless you want Art filters ofcourse! 😉
Or better jpegs or IBIS or a quality metal body vs a cheap feeling plastic one.
Using art filters is somewhat risky unless you are absolutely sure about the result.
I mean it’s much-much easier to apply art filters on a high quality JPEG later (don’t speaking about RAW) than fixing an already “art filtered” picture if the filter haven’t given exactly the thing you wanted.
I know. I have never used Art filters and JPEG. That was a sarcastic comment!
It doesn’t actually matter that your intent was sarcasm. There are many of us who are serious photographers and who occasionally use art filters and who also choose to shoot jpegs only at least some of the time. As for the G3, it has lousy jpegs and no art filters and in addition, no IBIS and an EasyShare super-zoom style plastic body so there’s not much to compare IMO.
Exactly. I don;t care what features it has and if they are the best in class and it is metal and fully sealed. Pro camera and art filters do not go together.
AFAIK,
You can shoot RAW with M/S/A/P then apply in-camera Art Filter later, it will be art-filtered JPEG OOC.
Shoot RAW plus JPEG.
Wait a minute… maybe we’ll get video at full speed *with the art filters* :-).
Well the G3 NEVER was an alternative.
The GH3 might be one. I really like the control dials of the GH2 for things like metering and single/burst etc..
But… I really need (read: want) a weather-sealed camera and IBIS. I use legacy glass a LOT and it really comes in handy.
Your reasoning, though, is still very sound. If you don’t need weather-sealing or IBIS and shoot Raw only anyway… the G3 may be a tempting alternative.
The G3 is great. Just great.
Well, I can sit here with my 8 mo. old G3 and be happy. I can slip it into a plastic bag as I did my 5D for years in inclement weather. (My L lenses never improved the weatheryness of it). I can also relax about any upgrades and let things settle before making any decisions (though if Panasonic gets itself in gear I may have to decide yay or nay about 12-35 or another lens or decide if I’m sticking with m4/3 or switching systems).
Diane B
“Seriously though, why not just buy a G3 for a fraction of the price.”
IBIS
The really good MFT primes (pana 20, pana 25, oly 12, oly 45) doesn’t actually need stabilisation. The rest (especially the zoom lenses) all have OIS.
no true, there are a number of times that I wish I had IBIS with 25mm and 14mm
I can shoot up to 1/8s with my E-PL1 and 20mm F1.7 without tripod. I doubt you can do that without IBIS.
It’s funny, isn’t it, that the G3 has so little appeal for such a nice camera. Logically I should have gone for a G3 already and spent the rest on one or two extra lenses. Yet I’m still much more interested in the E-M5.
Of course, I will consider it all more seriously when the E-M5 is officially announced, but for now it seems a bit like comparing a Canon 600D to my 7D. Same sensor, different camera.
I agree… I still think Panny made a mistake by not designing the G3 more like a rangefinder.
All I heard was about the resemblance to a DSLR and the hump and yet the OM certainly has a ‘hump’. IBIS maybe but it doesn’t matter to me with the native lenses I own nor the legacy lenses since none of mine that I use regularly are longer than 50—-and I’m a long long time Canon shooter with lots of lenses without IS, even my TS MF so maybe I don’t know better LOL.
I have a small collection of old cams and yesterday I looked at the quite old Mamiya Sekor and AE1 I have with that same pyramidal ‘hump’ and thought to myself I don’t want old boxy designs, I want comfortable in hand bodies that look a bit newer and have ‘curves’ where it makes sense. Of course, I’m WAY in the minority.
The only people who should still be talking about PDAF are the people with 4/3 glass. They have a reason to complain.
A year ago people here were saying CDAF would NEVER be as fast in any situation. Well now whiners, PDAF is the slow coach in many situations.
What makes you suppose that CDAF can’t ever do fast tracking? PDAF has its own problems. It will disappear in the future. Stop clinging to old tech like old men and accept that new solutions will arise.
But if you have 4/3 glass, I feel your pain.
4/3 users are a relatively small portion of the potential user base for m4/3 even though you’d never know it when you come here. I like the way DPR has most of them segregated into their own forum.
From the point of view of 4/3 lens owners, being an m4/3 body owner is the only option they have to use their present lens. They simply don’t have any other option if they want to use their present lens. If they have to re-buy m4/3 lens, then the path to jump ship to other platform is easier for them, since they have to buy new lens anyway.
What remains to be seen is how many 4/3 lens owners left without an m4/3 body, and waiting either to buy an m4/3 body or jump ship to other systems.
For pro videographers where autofocus and size are not that important, and fast aperture and image quality are the overiding concerns, HG 4/3 lenses are excellent options. I guess that there are HG and SHG 4/3 lens sales to videographers new to the m4/3 body. These are the new users of HG and SHG 4/3 lenses.
Conversely, 4/3 photographers needing fast AF and comfortable with the 4/3 lens size, would probably need to jump ship and disappear from Oly and Pana future sales.
Well, I have some lovely 4/3 glass but it’s not the point. HG and SHG 4/3 lenses are all weather sealed and should fit the slightly larger and heavier E-M5 like a glove. I don’t expect Olympus or anybody else to replicate lenses such as the 11-22 or 50-200 for the m4/3 mount anytime soon. That said, the rumored weather sealed adapter could be more than merely an adapting ring with contacts. It could have a mirror inside.
Well, there is so much top quality 43 glass that also those who are really depending on top quality would gain from faster 43 AF — even if they have not invested in 43 yet: I doubt that there will be immediate m43 versions of all the 12-60, 14-35/2, 35-100/2, 300/2.8 lenses, etc. but let us wait and see how the E-M5 handles the 43 lenses.
“A year ago people here were saying CDAF would NEVER be as fast in any situation.”
Try moving 0.5 kg of glass elements in hundreds of tiny iterations and let me know how that goes.
That’s why the Contax idea of moving the sensor is so smart! Moving 1-2 g (?) sensor essentially without friction (piezo electric actuators), instead of moving 0.5 kg (or 4 kg, or whatever) with lots of gears and friction. The problem with moving the sensor is of course the limited stroke of the actuators, etc.
I’d still buy one for the IBIS, form factor, and weather sealing alone. If the GX1 sensor is better than the G1/GH1 sensor, then I’m good. Now if it would have a faster flash sync (1/250 like the E-5) and a faster shutter speed (1/8000), I’d be really happy.
Never mind. The GX1 sensor sucks compared to the GH1… Oh well, I’ll keep waiting.
Yeah – if you are a banding fan, that is.
Admin, I concurr, you are doing a good job and don’t beat yourself up: whiners will always be whiners…
One question: 9fps with live view or without live view? the GX1 does 4.2 without live view and max 3 fps with liveview. The GH2 had the same. If we get 9fps without live view feed then 🙁
Now if we get 9fps with lv and a good tracking then I may make this one my back up system…
That I don’t know yet 🙁
is there any difference between EVF and liveview?
The GX1 does 20 fps — in reduced resolution :-).
CDAF is at least usually accurate when it finds focus, and M4/3 cameras dont require AF micro adjustment functions. And the speed of any autofocus is still many, many times faster than I can manually focus so I’m okay with my GF1.
But what does occur to me is that camera companies tend to fight the battles that they know they can win, in this case AF. I bet all the PR headlines surrounding the annoucement of the OM camera will revolve around “world’s fastest AF”, the fact a camera costing over £1000, will have the same basic sensor as a G3 which you can get for quite a lot less than half that price, and have the same resolution viewfinder wont be talked about so much.
A fraction (maybe a 1/3 to a 1/2) stop improvement in noise, and dynamic range isn’t enough to upgrade.
For Olympus, this will be a big deal since it will be it’s first SLR style M4/3 camera, but the G3 and GH2 wont be really outgunned by it in real world performance. So it better have a very well made metal alloy body that matches the E5 in build quality to justify the price, if the figures being suggested are correct.
How many E5’s have been sold at their huge retail price?
Panasonic really have to push the boat out and produce a BSI sensor for M4/3. From what i’ve read making larger BSI sensors is tricky, and yields can be low, but if they want to seriously compete with DSLR’s in the semi-pro segment they need to step up.
It’s good that we know about the sensor now. That will reduce the whining on Feb 8. Now we can look forward to all the good things, like real complete photos of the cam and details specs.
Admin, we want new lenses 😀
Coming!!! 🙂 Next post 😉
I wish it is a fast 17mm and fast 25mm. No more macros please..
Admin, we can’t wait any longer 😀
When Olympus says that they have “tweaked” the Panasonic 12 MP sensor from the P2/PL2 to the P3/PL3/PM1 they mean it (although perhaps not quite up to our hopes and expectations). I use both the P2 and the PL3 daily. I notice a significant difference in the performance of the P2 and the PL3 with the latter’s “tweaked” 12 MP sensor, which includes better auto focus, burst speed, and sensor performance in low light.
That said, I still prefer my Olympus MFT system over my Nikon DSLR system, and I prefer the P2 over the PL3 due to better ergonomics and handling. Indeed, it is my all time favorite camera across 50 years of experience as an enthusiast and semi-professional.
If the new E-M5 can offer an integrated EVF (I have the VF-2 and it is excellent), weather seals, an advanced 5-axis IBIS, the latest Panasonic 16 MP sensor, improved video, improved auto focus, improved 3D tracking, and more surface switches/buttons, it is a significant improvement over anything that Olympus or Panasonic currently offer.
Hey, guys … the megapixel and IQ wars are over and have been over since sensors hit 10 MP. Recall Thom Hogan’s comment that at one time the 6 MP Nikon D100 was considered professional grade. I owned a D100 in that era and was mesmerized by the increase in quality over 35mm film. Perhaps the time is ripe to include ergonomics and handling in the list of definitive camera features, areas in which Olympus occasionally excels.
Wise words. To me, differences in “image quality” are becoming theoretical these days. Light which requires a sensitivity greater than ISO800 with a fast aperture and reasonable shutter speed is bad light. It’s usually too warm, too monochromatic, too directional and too murky to enable the creation of decent images. In such conditions a bit of grain is the least of my worries. However, ergonomics and build quality have been a general weakness of digital photography. It seems that cameras are not really designed to be used by human beings. The old OM system was an ergonomic triumph in its day and I applaud Olympus for trying to resurrect it.
I can tell you right now, as a street night life photographer I don’t agree with that. I mean there’s the nature of light, but doesn’t mean you can’t get good captures in those situations with the sensor up to the task.
I can appreciate the problem Admin has interpreting snippets of information provided by marketing people. I don’t know about Olympus but in my experience marketing people in big corporations are not technical people. Obviously there are exceptions to this (if you are in marketing no offence intended) but they are paid to promote and quite often don’t have an in-depth understanding of the product, particularly if it’s a complex one like a camera. So they make claims that sound good and which are loosely based on simplistic factoids possibly provided by back-room technicians, and which they haven’t gone out of their way to double-check. Creating a buzz is their main aim and style is more important than content (they might not understand or be that interested in the nitty-gritty content anyway) and that’s why you can get misled. Not necessarily because they actively want to mislead, but that they are so used to marketing speak they forget there are customers out there who will understand more about the product than they do.
Hi admin,any news if 43 glass will work,even though CDAF…or maybe a E7? rumour..for us wildlife/birders who need fast teles….
Just want to make notice to a fact: everybody is complaining about sensors, viewfinders, AF speed as if they really know what diez it implies. Olympus is not an electronics manufacturer per se. Oly assembles electronics made by others (sensors, displays) but oly is great at the optics department an this is where always delivers the goods. Just think of sony for example is an electronics company and gives the goods with screen tech great sensors touchscreens (all electronics) but horrible optics.
Sony has Zeiss to give it quality glass.
Olympus has Panasonic to give it quality electronics.
Faster AF than the E-P3 … yawn.
Does it come in pink? Nikon 1 comes in pink!!!
Ok — if you want a pink E-M5, perhaps there are enough of us who could spare a dime for you to get the paint job done :-).
@Admin,
Need to know for its compatibility with 4/3 Lenses. I’m pending my lens shopping right now. Considering m4/3 45mm f1.8 or 50mm f2.0 macro
thanks
Good job Admin! You deserve more applause!
+1
I’ve been trying up and down try to look my previous comment about the OM-D now called EM-5, if only I can paste it and add “Told you….” but my comment seems vanish or my skill to use google is not good enough…but as a dust of rumor slowly settled the truth of OM-D/EM-5 will not far from my prediction or assumption….and anyone who follow the 4/3 and m4/3 development will have the same prediction/assumption too…
1. The sensor performance…
the hope: revolutionary new sensor will bring wow factor, extended low light and DR capability, reducing noise factor that will make other CSC/mirrorless camera bow….
the probability as February 8 get closer: it’s just GX-1 tweaked sensor by Olympus True Pic VI, it means it will give you OOC JPEG as good as latest PEN and probably 0.2 – 0.5 additional DR as Dxo mark test…
what it means: It’s a good current m4/3 sensor, if you expect revolutionary performance either you should choose other system or 4/3 or m4/3 is not good enough for you….go away…
2. The body style….
the hope: some retro timeless high quality weather shield design material with range finder style…
the probability: you got OM like Digital PEN or DSLR hybrid with few dial and physical button…some plastic case over magnesium or metal frame…and yes it will be weather sealed gimmick
what it means: calm Oly will make good fine quality of mini DSLR body like it’s E series line, but if you hate tiltable touch screen LCD or expect something radical you probably are not going to have it…go away…
3. The AF performance…
the hope: AF will be fast like lightning and accurate so finally we could use it for action and sport photography
the probability: AF will be faster from PEN, the burst will be high but if you can’t nail the action or sport probably it’s because your technic is sucks…
what it means: If there is something Oly could and should improve is AF speed, yes the EP-3 is faster but it happen due to the combination of old trick that Pany already use…more sampling readout, AF assist lamp (why Oly wait till third gen before integrating it is beyond our logic) new mechanism burst and the most hated tricks yet another new lens kit…well there is last trick that Oly have not use it yet bigger memory buffer and probably the “mythical” PDAF readout via sensor or whatever they could come up with?
4. 4/3 Lens compability
The hope: the new system will enhance compability of 4/3 lens to m4/3
The probability: Of course the 4/3 lens will work….but don’t expect radical improvement
what it means: Oly give up enhancing AF of 4/3 lens to m4/3 and use excuse that CDAF is the future and if you want to use 4/3 lens choose E-5…if Oly doesn’t have any new trick over AF system don’t expect radical improvement…
5. The View Finder new Technology
The hope: New optical hybrid digital view finder….
The probability: It’s just VF-2 integrated to body…nothing less nothing more….
what it means: Oly is not in the position of developing new VF tech, remember the VF-2 is made by Epson…but we were lucky Oly choose VF-2 and not VF-3 or Pany VF-1
6. The Rest…
The hope: The price will be affordable and they will use as much as previous accessories to be usable in EM-5…
The probability: No the price will be higher a bit a little lower then E-5 but more than EP-3….most accessories will be compatible but prepare use new expensive battery.
What it mean: Nothing it’s the price we have to pay for new camera….
There you go the prediction/assumption/conclusion of following 43 rumor of OM-D a.k.a EM-5…but whatever happen if you like me already invest too much m4/3 and 4/3 lens we will buy it anyway…simply because it’s too expensive to change or there’s not many alternatives out there….
To be honest I’d not been believing “insanely improved picture quality” on this camera which is made of current technology. Engineers in Olympus are not a wizard of OZ.
Project manager of the olympus’ new series told that he listened to a lot of voices from customers. Mr. Maitani did not care about such noises when he was planning M-System. Same is Steve Jobs on iPod (Macintosh has its predecessors, Alto and Lisa). That’s the reason why I can not be fanatic on this news.
BTW, which you prefer ? Organic EL viewfinder of SONY with same resolution as VF2 or double-pixel viewfinder of lower quality? Camera magazines will praise the latter as “improvement”. I hate them.
By my understanding Olympus and Panasonic aren’t too interested in making cameras for the Pro market. What ever the camera they release will be good but not AMAZING!! Whatever or however this “OM-D” will be like, it will be fun to use. Just like the rest of the EP range.
Didn’t we have the fastest AF thing many times before? E-3, E-P3, etc.
Olympus still asleep while the sony sensor (note: with 24 mpx) and similar density runs 2 or 3 circles around every 43 sized sensor ever made… with great iso, superb DR, and so will the new fuji…
> So I learned from this and I will now 100 times make you clear that one thing is Olympus marketing statements and rumors, another story is reality.
IMO some people have too high expectation from the rumor blog.
And way over the top expectations about the Olympus cameras.
IMO, Oly cameras are good and remain viable, but real innovation happens elsewhere. For example, I like cool headed discussions about Panny rumors more – and Panny cameras releases were more interesting to me than the Oly ones.
After 3 years of the m43, E-M5 is the first camera which based on the rumors (thank you, Admin!) might be somewhat interesting to me: the 3 year wait do tell me clearly that I, an “amateur with money” as per David Busch classification, is definitely not the target audience of the Olympus.
But probably I have this point of view because I have managed to convince myself that E-620 is the end of my current venture into the Oly territory and (since no 43 cameras targeted at me would be released anyway) it is ripe time to checkout alternatives. Coming NX20 and GH3, as well the G3 successor, are very interesting. Who knows, even Sony might surprise me this year too – with the long overdue pancakes and fast AF NEX camera.
Admin,
Please don’t let yourself become discouraged over speculations that don’t pan out or comments that disappointed fans might make. Indeed, if Olympus monitors this site (as I think they do) then perhaps our collective expectations and speculations are setting the scene for the next round of Olympus and Panasonic camera upgrades. Olympus got the tilting screen, integrated EVF, external dials and buttons, improved auto focus, weather seals, and updated sensor right on the E-M5 … and how many times have you seen these mentioned as desirable features or definitive expectations on this site. You do a great, great service for the MFT community. Thank you!
The problem is that most people don’t actually read the entire rumor articles. They see the headlines and that’s about it. Then they draw their own assumptions and their own conclusions.
They can’t blame the admin for that!
It’s sad that Olympus keeps tweaking sensors instead of building their own. I really want to love Olympus but they make it hard. Also, they need to quit ‘forcing’ kit lenses upon us. NOT everyone wants one. And what do I do if I already have a body and kit lens but want a new, second body? I have to buy another ‘kit’ lens. Nikon is doing the same think. Only Sony and now Fuji is not. Regardless of price, I want a choice to buy BODY ONLY! Are you listening Olympus? Probably not!
Look at the next rumor headline: a body only price is listed.
Sigh. Wasn’t the super-duper new sensor an FT-5, too? I suspect the fantastic DR and AF speeds are both just marketing hype from Oly. At the least, I sure don’t put any stock in anything posted on this site as a rumor. FT1, FT3, FT5, doesn’t seem to make much difference in accuracy.
Bob: Read carefully: http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-a-16-megapixel-m43-sensor-for-the-new-digital-om-camera/
Please guys. Don’t troll now. Be rational. My mistake was to “guess” that this could be anew sensor. But I never posted that as FT5 rumor!
Admin,
I followed closely all the OM-D rumors and comments in the last week or two, and I do not think you made any false reporting. Readers just need to read things carefully and give ATTENTION TO THE DETAIL of what and how you report the rumors.
I cannot describe the deep appreciation i have for you , your devotion, and this wonderful site! i check it every day, it basically my “morning newspaper”. keep doing the good work.
sorry for my English … its my third language 🙂
a camera for idiots…..
in 5 month olympus will release a new camera with even faster autofocus… but in the end you can still only shoot static objects with it.
all that fast AF talk is for morons who believe everthying….
IF this actually tracks (someonhow!) then I’ll consider it. I just had to rebuy a DSLR for tracking. If it can’t track, then I’ll stick with my EPM1. Just cant see CDAF successfully tracking on just a SW algorithm.
admin, I think you’ve done a good job. Anyone with good common sense is aware there’s some marketing psychology at work, and that there are all sorts of uncertainities. As long as you just pass on what you get it’s up to us to filter out the wheat from the chaff. It’s only fun, and useful for me because I was going to get a GH2 a few weeks back and probably still will. I will be looking towards an OM-D later on.
What I would still like to know is what are the video frame rates/resolutions? Is there a video crop mode, and is there added AF support for 4/3 lenses?
No one can use a rumour site and criticise what’s on it.
Olympus is in their own marketing world. I have owned every Pen model since they have come out up to the EP-3. They are good cameras but each generation Olympus marketers swear the sensor is better, the AF is better, everything is better.
I have reached a stage where upgrades are not going to happen. Not when I am getting much better quality out of the Fuji x100 and Ricoh GXR modules.
I still love Olympus but finding truth in their statements is more difficult than with any other manufacturer.
Admin, your site is probably my favourite rumor website. Don’t be upset by negative comments – if people base camera buying decisions on rumors then they are always dissapointed – just look at the xPro1 and focus speed. You provide the BEST m43 rumors on the PLANET. Yea I probably won’t buy a E-m1 but I for sure am interested in reading about emerging models…. Keep up the good work and never ever feel you have to justify reality checks of over inthusiastic tech adicts 🙂
digicame-info.com has received from some readers that the sensor of E-M5 is not the GX1’s one.
However, it serves no more information about that..
Getting tired to see a new Pen every six month or so.. Now despite many rumoured new features of 16Mpx OM-D, we need to see how capable it is in taking images 😀
I think it is enough to simplify m4/3 lines:
1) one with hi-speed (may start with ISO 400 till 12800 or above) + SWD m4/3 lenses, weathershield, fast-AF, fast FPS, etc etc…
2) the other with hi-quality image (sort of ISO 80-1600) + better PDAF support for HG, SHG lens.
Just my two cents
AR
I’m just going to get a disposable film camera. No rumors and no hype! Static sensor technology so the slightest improvement is a welcome surprise. Most people that use them drunk at a weeding can out shoot the majority of those seeking the next digital camera with .001 faster AF.
I’ve some doubts that it’ll faster than the Nikon V1/J1, just read Thom Hogan review and you’ll see the gap for AF is huge between PEN series and the V1.
@AlexV
try reading some decent websites (one that doesn’t have a Nikon agenda)that will give unbiased reviews.
Focus has to be accurate, fast to acquire as well as fast to utilise in various conditions/scenarios….think about it.