On that leaked picture you can finally see the upcoming new E-M5 in all possible angles and with the new external flash (there is no built-in flash!). And for the first time you can see the new 75mm f/1.8 and 60mm f/2.8 macro lenses!!! As I told you days ago, only the macro lens is weather sealed. All new Olympus accessories, Battery grip, Four Thirds adapter and external flash are weather sealed! The camera has the fastest autofocus of all digital interchangeable market currently on market! (yeah even faster than a $5000 Nikon D4) It shoots 4fps or 9fps without that powerful AF in action. Shutter speed is 60-1/4000sec. It has an innovative five axis image stabilization, a 16 megapixel sensor (probably the same from the [shoplink 26836]Panasonic GX1[/shoplink]). It uses the powerful Truepic VI engine. ISO range goes from 200 up to 25,600 ISO. Unlike the Fuji X PRO 1 (the current preorder king) the E-M5 has a 1.44 Million dot EVF placed in the middle of the camera. The 3 inch OLED touch screen is tiltable . It records in Full HD MOV(MPEG-4AVC/H.264) format (no AVCHD 2.0). Camera dimension without grip: 122mm x 89mm x 43mm and weight 369 grams. Price of that beast: 1100 Euro or $1200.
The camera will be announced on Wednesday ( I guess it will be announced between 2-3 in the morning London time!). Stay tuned on 43rumors! You can join our group on facebook and follow our tweets. As you know I am going to sum all links to news and reviews in one single post. I will make it easy for you to not miss any interesting detail of the new camera.
One more thing: The camera with grip looks very close to the [shoplink 28231 ebay]OM-4T camera (here on eBay)[/shoplink]. I would have expected Olympus to announce a “special” adapter for [shoplink 28862 ebay]OM lenses (here on eBay)[/shoplink] but this is not going to happen 🙁
Oh, and second more thing 🙂 I am surprised to read that almost two third of all readers like the new E-M5 design. That score probably beats the Fuji X PRO 1 🙂
[poll id=”112″]
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588 Responses
Screw new cameras, I want to know of new lenses, like that really big looking one behind the 12mm.
It’s big alright! Amazing what an extra 30mm can do to glass!
Love the silver/ black body. I could live with this camera. Sure, the hump is biggish, but nicer than the VF-2.
The camera body is only fractionally larger that my E-Pl1, and only an ounce heavier. It will actually fit better in my camera bag than the E-PL1, which is always wearing the VF2.
I won’t be buying it in a hurry, but if a RF style body with built in EVF doesn’t happen, this will be good enough.
That’s the 12-50..
Firts wowww like it !!!
I am ready to see some pricing on the lenses.
Sweet,
I can also see new lenses
no build in flash, no remote control, no…. bye bye Olympus ( I quit you my love)
I can understand that you had not enough money / technologie to compare with Sony NEX 7 but this is out of tolerance for me, sorry!!!
Lol the list of no is down to 2 for the trolls? Is this the best you can do?
sonys suck in comparision with fuji and panasonic and oly 😉 sony is only marketing
Remind us all, when did Sony release a lens range this large designed for the Sony NEX 7… oh that’s right they haven’t have they. They have still not invested much money in lenses. They have spent hardly any money on lenses designed for the size of the camera. Also do remember that last week Sony overall announced that they had made a loss for the last quarter. Things are not going that well at Sony at the moment. No profit on TVs for the last 7+ years and various other parts of the company struggling. This might explain their lack of investment in lenses. At the moment the NEX 7 looks nice as a piece of male jewellery around the neck on a strap but as a system camera which is going to be used to take photographs it lacks the backup of the accessories and the most important part, lenses.
Nex technology is younger than the M4/3 and Sony has the Alpha dSLR line to maintain so it’s not like they fully concentrated on the Nex E-Mount. Now that the Nex is taking off, I’m sure there will be more lens coming in the future. As for your mighty M4/3, lol, remember what happen to the 4/3 back in the days? I guess the tiny size camera and lens didn’t help them against the bigger Nikon and Canon huh? So where is it now? Why do think Fuji, Ricoh, Pentax, Samsung and Sony chose ASP-C sensors? M4/3 will never give that clean, film like, smooth boken look and high dynamic range capability compare to the bigger sensors. Your tiny lens (if you really think they are that tiny) will only keep you happy until the fall of M4/3 so enjoy collecting them. Soon Olympus will leave the tiny sensor and join the ASP-C. By the way, not just Sony is losing my money right now, but also Panasonic, Olympus, Canon and Nikon. Geez, do you research buddy. In the meantime, go shoot more pics with that souped up point & shoot of yours before they become classics.
Yes, the lenses are that tiny. Once YOU understand that you’ll throw your Sony gear into the garbage bin, if it isn’t too large for that.
Coming from APS-C DSLR I can tell you that there isn’t much IQ difference to warrant to carry a full DSLR system anymore.
I am well aware what other brands are losing money. I use to work within the industry and still have contacts within it.
If you can’t get film like results out of M4/3 then that is down to the user and not the camera. Use the right lens with the right settings and you can get the job done. The dynamic range issue has nothing to do with sensor size as much as it does with Panasonics sensors. They are noisy compared to other camera brands. That is down to poor design. But then you have lenses that work better wide open with the format to compensate.
Take a ASP-C sensor and crop it to a 4/3 ratio and the difference is not so large anymore and that is the mistake many people like yourself make. They go on about how much larger the sensor is compared to 4/3 and completely forget it is a 3:2 ratio so of course it is going to be bigger. Now get to the real world use of producing a 10×8 photographic print, how much of that 3:2 ratio photograph have you just had to crop off? Quite a lot. There are plenty of professional photographers out there including myself who can use a micro 4/3 camera and make money out of the photographs.
Larger sensor means more light hits the sensor – this is a fact. APS-C will always have an advantage in IQ due to that. If you cannot see IQ difference between results, then maybe you eye-sight or or photography insn’t that good.
I spent lots time getting the best out of booth and APS-C has better potential.
Then we have other aspects like size, weight where m43 has an advantage.
The question is which system supports the photography of each individual best. Deciding which compromize to go for is of course also about budget.
Currently m43 is my choice even if APS-C would be a benefit for the photography I do. With arrivals like the Fuji and the Nex-7 I am re-considering…..
totally wrong, what is important is pixels size not sensor…with the same number of pixels a bigger sensor will be better as pixels will be bigger. A m43 sensor can have exactly the same performance as a APS-C if has slightly less number of pixels and for me 12 to 14 Mpix is enough most of the time.
Totally nonsense! Sensor size matters, not pixel size!
I have used APS-C and 24×36 digital formats as well and retouched photos of other pro photographers. If at standard ISOs you are saying you can’t get as good a result out of a 4/3 sensor compared to a APS-C sensor on say a 10×8 print that is a little bit of a concern. The APS-C does not have advantages in all areas of image quality.
When you get up to higher ISOs then it is different regarding noise but that more more down to the sensor brand than the sensor size. The 24×36 format does have advantages though because of the sensor size but all of this can be lost if the photographer does not know how to get the best out of it. I have seen that happen before.
Please explain to me why other makers didn’t choose m4/3 sensors in the first place? Is there something you guys know about the m4/3 format that the rest of the industry doesn’t?
@chuckd
mostly pride and lack of foresight.
Because it would require them to totally redesign their lens line ups. Olympus had already discounted the OM system years before so they had the option to start from scratch. The squarer the format the easier it is to design good quantity lenses. For Canon or Nikon to have changed lens systems it would have cost them a fortune in money in developing them so they continued with what they had. In the end it all comes down to money.
Chuckd, If you can’t get great results from 4/3 give up taking photos. As for research, if you had done any you would have known that many pros (Nikon and Canon users) are using 4/3. Also look at http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/kidding.shtml
He is talking about a Canon v a Hassy mid and can’t see the difference in general use. So how can you?
Oh I forgot. Olympus corporate is in such a rosy financial state compared too Sony. It’s not like anyone is speculating in Olympus going bust, being sold to, “ghasp!”, Sony or others.
Did I say they weren’t… no.
The difference is Olympus are still investing development money into the whole system (not just camera bodies) and this is something Sony with the NEX is just not doing. There does not appear to be any commitment there from them.
Also no one has said Olympus is being sold to Sony. They are talking about a 20% stake which very different to owning a company outright. It will be interesting to see if that happens now with their recent losses and cancelled agreement with Samsung regarding TVs and changes with their mobile phone division.
Stu5, just stop. You made yourself look like a moron with that rant up there. You like m4/3 fine, tattoo the logo to your forehead. Just don’t go around smacking people with you fanboyism.
BTW, you said you are a pro photographer. I am not one but I know about business strategic. With SONY’s current position, it is very easy for SONY to cripple m4/3 format. I don’t think SONY will as it is not the Japanese way but if SONY is American, m4/3 is dead.
@Pei
not gonna happen, Sony are making too many wrong decisions.
It’s quite funny how some people use words like this when they feel things are not quite going their way instead of trying to engage in a intelligent and structured conversation, they simple take the easier option and name call.
I think you need to look up the word ‘rant’ as you seem to have a miss-understanding of it. Also the word fanboyism as again you have a miss-understanding of that word as well. I have never said the m4/3 system is perfect have I?… No. In fact I have stated it’s current issues before so that rules out the word ‘fanboyism’ out. I also use many format of cameras in my work, so I am not a total fan of any one brand. ‘Rant’ well I am not shouting or screaming am I? Again no.
All am doing is stating very basic facts. If Sony was investing fully into the NEX system you would have a proper lens range by now but there isn’t, why is that? What is holding them back from fully committing to the system? Why are they not bringing a range of lenses out at present? Why are they not trying to reduce the lenses in size yet?
No Sony would not cripple Olympus because as they are a Japanese company that is not the way business is done there. This is what saved Pentax about 20 years ago when they were in trouble. The other camera brands helped them out in many ways to save them.
Pei, Sony has become Americanised and it is showing in its marketing, product delivery and profitability. To fast, to slick, overpriced (Using marketing to sell poorly thought out product). It has picked all the bad components of Americanisation. There are many good ones, it picked the wrong ones. There are two kinds of business. Those who want to make a profit full stop and those that want to do good business with good product, thereby making a profit. Sony is the first type nowadays.
Quite.
“Oh I forgot. Olympus corporate is in such a rosy financial state compared too Sony. It’s not like anyone is speculating in Olympus going bust, being sold to, “ghasp!”, Sony or others.”
—-
Yes indeed. Didn’t the Sony shares lose 50 percent of their value without a scandal. So, Oly indeed seems to be in a better finacial position than Sony and the likes.
Keep in mind that the new Fuji Pro also does not have an on board flash. But that won’t stop us photographers from buying the E-M5.
Mr. Sony…?
Eat your Nex and shut .. 😉
So a small dinky pop-up flash is your priority and would have that rather than advanced IBIS, weather sealing, touch LCD, grips and more/better lenses.
I have an E-PL2 and don’t play with its pop-up flash; I use my Metz AF-1 50 or my LED light panels.
It seems that you don’t use tour Metz with wireless control !! :-p
Zounds. Almost looks like a full photo system in that pic.
Looks like there is more to that hideous bump than meets the eye. Good!
It sure does look like a decent system. Just a long weatherproof telephoto prime to come now!
It’s a relief to see that the tripod mount is centered on the lens mount.
While it would have been absurd if they had left of the accessory port, the hump sure isn’t pretty. I’m still wondering what’s under it, can’ t just be dead space!
Wooow….:-)
Can anyone make out the attachment for the middle camera?
There goes any chance of the hump being removable I think.
That is the Blue tooth transmitter. It’s been out a little while but you might have missed the launch of it.
olympus waa the first with Panasonic in the mirrorles world- they should be the abolute leader but they are not. why? becuae of some marketing guys… fire them!
How is Sony doing in their home country on mirrorless sales at the moment… oh that’s right they have slipped to third place. Now that is a little embarrassing when it’s your home country to go from first to third.
Is that because they think the NEX will be dropped? We are talking about Sony here.
So where are all the other companies from? All mirrorless camera producers except Samsung are Japanese. Trolls. Trolls everywhere.
You are missing the point. We are well aware the other two brands are Japanese and this has nothing to do with trolling. Sony brand in Japan is huge. It’s very popular with Japanese people compared to the other brands and use to have a loyal following. They would buy it simply because it had Sony on the front and they felt they could trust it. For Sony to go down to third place in mirrorless sales in Japan does not look good.
Olympus & Pana are selling their 1st and 2nd generations cameras for dirt cheap, that’s the reason why they’ve sold more. If the Sony NEX-5 goes for $300, what do you think will happen?
@chuckd
maybe they are producing them “dirt cheap” with lower production costs, r & d already paid for, less marketing costs because of effective word of mouth, cheaper distribution because of higher online sales, eh?
chuckd,
Amazon Japan has the E-m5 on its web site for US$1460. That is not a price to buy the market.
Stu5,
Sony has become Americanised and the Japanese tend to prefer their own.
Oh, you are quite right. Olympus has close to no brand recognition in the photography space compared to Sony, in particular in Japan. Panasonic is of course a tiny almost unheard of company, employing just 350,000 people, and with a puny 104 bn USD in sales last year. Technically larger than Sony, but lets net allow facts to confuse the matter.
Yes people are well aware of that and you are still missing the point about how loyal the Japanese are usually to Sony brand regardless of the other Japanese brands.
The silver version really looks classical.
But look at all the different silver-tones Olympus used for their lenses.
Would have preferred a uniform silver.
No build in flash is no problem for me, I never use it anyway.
Which of the two new lens the big metal one on top of the 12mm f2 ?
Ugh.
Flash is (tiny but) separate — not built-in.
Lots of glass in the pic… but no 43 glass. The dream Oly camera is still MIA.
The stereo scope mic has a flash on top, so you can use flash and stereo mic. Nice for video.
But… it looks like it’s still all about MFT glass. When is Oly going to bridge 43 with MFT? The grip and the battery made the camera look so pro… so serious… so 43. My fingers are crossed, but I do not hold out much hope for full 43 glass support after seeing this Oly marketing pic.
If the remote flash commander can be tilted up, I definitely prefer that to a built-in flash. On the E-3 I sometimes get unwanted reflections in the subject from the commander flash when shooting closeups with remote flashes.
Good point. Also, if the flash opens flat, it should be eminently pocketable (and good for the soft reflection flash, as you point out). Not so bad, assuming it was engineering necessity to fit the rest in-body.
Agent00soul: The usual solution to getting unwanted reflections from RC flashes, is to use FP-TTL mode and set the shutter speed faster (assuming you are not using the FL-300R flash).
Another solution I’ve read about is to put exposed film over the pop-up flash which should block visible light, but allow IR light through. This works for normal slave flashes, and I assume the RC flashes would have some sensitivity above what humans can see.
Well thanks admin for clearing that up cant miss which lens is which now
1/4000 max shutter speed puts this to E-xxx level which is also the highest what these controls and ergonomy affords.
So maybe this is first step of finally diversifying m4/3 toward single system including also high quality 4/3 optics.
But lack of any kind integrated flash is plain questionable because it’s usefull for quick documenting of things for example when you’re taking apart some appliance for repair.
i am definitely buying this. hoping that the video is 60fps as a bonus.
@Alexander
Just curious… What body are you currently using and how often do you deploy built in flash?
it is often nice when you make pictures against thel light. I have a Nikon p7000
Wow the new lenses look great, but expensive.
Nice way to visually mislead people by making a camera look professional when it’s actually not.
You’re right, it really does look like a very nice professional camera system.
What make a system professional?
Don’t feed the trolls !
And to answer your question. You’ll know if you are one. 🙂
+1 ur right
When professionls buy the system and use it in their work. Guess CaNikon has 90% of that market
There’s a few using µ4/3’s in that context.
Sir, what is your definition of the term “professional”?
Re: MIA professional 43 glass support. Is it called marketing when it’s #EpicFail? I think that’s just called stupid. In this case, Oly seems to have lined up all the ducks for professional camera… just to miss the major beat: 43 glass.
By all appearances, they are phenomenally stupid. Or maybe they planned for it but there was a technical glitch? Doubt it. I think I’m just so stunned by the sheer stupidity and absurdity of the Oly oversight, that I’m making excuses for them.
Antoine, good point. I was thinking along the same lines. Major disconnect by Oly from image to execution.
-=-
Let’s hope the sensor is a major pleasant surprise (to make up for the apparent MIA PDAF support for 43 glass).
My God, you need to calm down about 43 glass on m43 cameras. They aren’t the same system or mount. If you need to use your 43 glass soooo badly then use your 43 body. Wait for the E-7. Quit bitching.
“43 glass on m43 cameras. They aren’t the same system”
You must work for Oly marketing.
No, Olympus said ‘one beautiful system’
EX are big, they are also a pro body to go with the SHG glass. There are lots of other great 43 lenses which are better built and optically superior to the m43 lenses. The exx and exxx make a great useable package with bodies about the same weight.
The reason some of us are hoping for pdaf support from this model is that there is a real need for a better sensor in these sized bodies for 43 glass. Its not bitching, its just wanting a different set of features to what you want. Deal with it.
Jonko, they are according to Olympus fully supported they made the mmf2 to prove it.
I think Occam is entirely right. I also want my 43 lenses to work on this new body. There are many 43 users who have been waiting for this. Probably 50% + of 43 users. Many of whom will walk away from Olympus if it is not forthcoming, they will not move to M43.
What are you on about, now? M43 sucks? Why are you here?
Jonko
tmrgrs
Ranger 9
mewmew
OM-4ever
Chris K
WOWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
I LOVE THE 75MM!!!!!!!!!!!
Which one is which though?
Look at the front lens element, it is very clear that the silver one (same finish as the 12mm F2.0) is the 75. While the one to the right of it, the black slim lens is the macro.
LOL, thanks for changing the picture so I look like an idiot. 😀
Same built q as the 12/2 !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
I hope we can pull the ring for manual focus like the 12mm!
Are you just writing down my thoughts or what!
lol
Oh great, means it will cost a fortune
I’ve got a really bad feeling that 75 mm is going to be expensive- too expensive for me and most Olympus consumers.
1000$ maybe or ????
Same feeling for me.
>1000 €
F*** built in Flash. this is looking cool. Only hoping the IQ, DR, IS, VF don’t dissappoint.
Agree 100% on the flash. The new IS is a huge plus for me, it sounds like a lot must have been invested in its development. This cam will be a street shooters dream.
Bad news/Good news.
Good news first: There will be an E-7. (Good news for those who want a mirror camera for their 43 glass.)
Bad news: Olympus has an epic fail at some level of their organization. Either camera division executives have vetoed bridging the 43 and MFT systems… or marketing has not prioritized bridging 43 with MFT… or engineering has epic failed to solve any engineering issues to bridge the systems once and for all. Since the official line is (from the top of Olympus) that the camera division is totally insulated from the financial crisis in the company, then (by the official line) the #EpicFail begins at the top of Olympus — leadership #EpicFail. I imagine that marketing is #EpicFail too, but engineering should probably start a skunkworks project (totally against Japanese culture, I know) to fix the issue themselves. Otherwise, Olympus is just dead-ending one of the best things (43 glass) going for their new bodies (cough, cough, except the MFT ones… until they build a bridge body).
So close… and yet so far.
@Admin, thank you for not getting our hopes up. That would have been more frustrating. I never got excited about Olympus until this camera, and I can see my hopes have been dashed — even though the 43 bridge feature is a virtual necessity for Olympus. Now I see why and how people get so frustrated with Olympus.
Fix your camera division executive offices, Oly. Skip marketing (in case you have rampant #EpicFail there too — which you must if they did not properly advise their camera division executives to bridge the systems) and fund engineering to solve your single biggest opportunity and system oversight — 43 / MFT bridging.
‘Nuf said.
Have you forgotten about the new m4/3-4/3 adapter that will be coming, too? Why would you say it’s an epic fail on the engineers part if they haven’t been able to come up with a perfect bridging solution yet? If it’s so easy then, please, tell me in detail and technical terms how to do it.
Let me spell it out for you.
Given the pic above (which showcases all MFT glass), Oly marketing is apparently not showing off the full 43/MFT system… which implies the new camera does not fully support 43 glass. (I would love to be surprised but) I no longer hold much hope that the new adapter adds any value beyond weather-sealing. There was a rumor that Oly would provide an adapter for 43 users… again implying some special value to the adapter. But if it’s just weather sealing, 43 glass would not be getting full support (i.e., for PDAF and full focus speed).
As for the engineering snipe, Oly has had years to solve this all too obvious problem. So they shouldn’t need me to do their engineering for them. It should probably be solved by now… several times over. I guess there’s still a sliver of hope, but the marketing pic (above) does little justice to a unified system if they “forgot” to showcase the combined glass of 43 with MFT.
So, mirror less half of the system (MFT) is getting better incrementally (with all the new primes, e.g., 45mm, 75mm, and 60mm) but suffers without the 43 glass support. Meantime, the premium half of the system (43) withers and dies without new bodies or glass. And at this rate, 43 glass will never get mirror less support assuming only E-7/mirrored support for 43 glass in future. And unfortunately, the E-5 and presumably any E-7 will be neither as pocketable nor as versatile as the E-M5 was shaping up to be.
In other words, I was be excited to buy a bridge body (which would take all 43 and MFT Oly glass), but not to buy a mirror-only body (e.g., E-5/7). Jury is still out on the non-bridge “pro” body, E-M5. If you were right about adapter bridge support for 43 glass, I’d be delighted (but again, the pic above suggests no special support for 43 glass).
Why do you keep insisting they are two halves of the same system? MFT is one, FT is completely separate. One has a mirror, one doesn’t. One has lenses designed for PDAF the other CDAF. Stop acting like you are being robbed of something that was never promised to you (ability to use 43 glass on m43 with full AF speed). You knew when buying 43 glass initially that it was for large pro bodies that are not pocketable. If you so desperately needed a pocketable system then why did you ever buy an E-X? Your plight is no different than anyone else who bought into a DSLR system.
I’m not against allowing the use of 43 lenses on m43 bodies, I’m all for it, but people who are moaning and bitching saying Olympus failed miserably but not having full PDAF support on the E-M5 are majorly disillusioned and are only acting like spoiled 8 year olds.
Spilt milk.
+1
> You knew when buying 43 glass initially that it was for large pro bodies that are not pocketable. If you so desperately needed a pocketable system then why did you ever buy an E-X?
If it does fit into tiny minds of you “no mirrorless full controls and ergonomy bodies” people just why should SLR mirror be dragged forever for camera to be allowed to have fully featured controls and ergonomy?
SLR mirror design was simply only possible solution offered by analog mechanical era technology to problem of getting actual through the lens (rangefinder lacks that) image framing and focusing user viewable. Now with digital camera design that mirror part isn’t needed for that and for uses which don’t benefit from guaranteed speed of light operation of SLR viewfinder having EVF instead of it would give benefits elsewhere.
Mirrorless enables big flexibility in making different bodies so why should it mean even less diverse line up?
4/3 line up had two consumer/entry level bodies (cheaper without IBIS), full ergonomy and controls enthusiast model, and then flagship model with additional ruggedizing and weather proofing. Most DSLR systems have similar model line up.
Again m4/3 line up of Olympus consist of 0.95a, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98b software version style iterations of PEN whose design is compact P&S on steroids and interchangeable lens. And now with three years from announcement of mirrorless concept we have first actually different camera model whose features are at just about that old entry level. (except smaller LCD of E-xxx models left more space for ergonomy)
It was actually few Olympus big shots who talked about one beautiful system.
So just why are you so fanatically demanding limiting mirrorless to only small stuff?
Is it too big concept for your minds to have one compatible system from compact bodies and lenses to fully featured high end bodies and high end optics with possibility to choose according to needs of the moment?
Hybrid AF system combining both would benefit even every model because no matter how much marketing pee and shit you sheeples swallow PDAF’s advantage of instantly knowing how much and to which direction move focus stays. Or do you want Olympus to wait until everyone else have done their own cameras with that?
I’m sure Canon and Nikon love the idea of getting rid of SLR design’s mechanical&optical complexity.
Jonko “If you so desperately needed a pocketable system then why did you ever buy an E-X? Your plight is no different than anyone else who bought into a DSLR system.”
This is not correct. The m43 was not in existance when 43 came out. The use of 43 glass on m43 was supposed to be assured.
I think Occam is entirely right. I also want my 43 lenses to work on this new body. There are many 43 users who have been waiting for this. Probably 50% + of 43 users. Many of whom will walk away from Olympus if it is not forthcoming, they will not move to M43.
+1 It’s really funny seeing all these rants about the 43 glass compatibility. Olympus would not want to invent a camel would they. They have said m43 is the future and they well realize their own future depends on how well it does as a system. Grapes are sour indeed eh?
Jonko
tmrgrs
Ranger 9
mewmew
OM-4ever
Vril_Ya
I confess: I am a mirrorless fanatic. 4/3 lenses were superb–one of the most beautiful mistakes in photographic history (at least the history of Oly’s photo division). I still own the 50/f2 micro mounted on an old E510 body (I sold the wonderful 25/f1.4 and 12-60 zoom about 18 months ago for a decent price).
So, what can Olympus do to preserve the value of those superb lenses? I don’t have the expertise to say. But I would like to ask any tech gurus who read this site to answer the following question for me:
Is there an elegant, efficient, cost-effective technological SOLUTION to creating mirrorless camera bodies that will fully support the classic 4/3 lenses? And by “fully support” I include especially FAST, accurate autofocus and truly useful manual focus.
If not, I guess Oly will be distracted by the need to build at least one SLR body per design cycle until the regret and disappointment over these orphaned lenses begins to fade away. Or, until Oly itself fades away, god fobid!
Even if Oly survives as a corporation it may be forced to sell the photo division. In which case, I doubt the new owners will be able to afford to worry about the legacy lenses.
Retained or sold off, the Oly photo future is mirrorless. Given the fact that Oly lost far, far, far more money with their financial scandals and bad acquisitions than they spent developing the 4/3 lenses we all love, perhaps it is time for us to begin the grieving process for the legacy 4/3 lenses. I hope not. But I am prepared for the worst.
In the meantime, I love the new m4/3 body and battery grip. If Oly survives long enough to find a better sensor to put in a future iteration of this new line (OM-D, EM-X) I will happily buy one to replace my G1.
43/m4/3 bridging isn’t important to the vast majority of m4/3 users. Go buy something else and be happy.
Unclear on the concept and…
ditto.
It’s important to the majority of 43 users though! This is 43rumors.
All of the “macro” 4/3 users in the world should get together and stage a protest rally in front of Olympus headquarters! If you carpool you probably can all fit into two cars…
Jonko
tmrgrs
Ranger 9
43 lenses are superior in quality to m4/3. A weather sealed camera needs weather sealed lenses. 12-60 and 50-200 are uniquely brilliant.
I use 43 as it is compact yet delivers excellent results in real life situations. I climb so am not going to haul a ff or even an APS-C camera about. Anyone with half a brain be they 43 or m43 shooters should want 43 compatibility with the om-D! Why wouldn’t you?
43 lenses also have superior price and weight. THis was one of the reasons 34 failed. The sensor though was smaller than APS-C. No chance for Oly to break into the pro market with that offer. Enthisiasts bought the smaller cameras and cheaper lenses. Oly has invested heavily in the big, expensive and excellent lenses, but did not sell enough. Even if many pro’s were aware of the lens quality a) to switch from CaNikon is too expensive, b) camera housings could not compete with CaNikon.
43 is a flop
Lol. Nice one.
Jonko
tmrgrs
Ranger 9
mewmew
OM-4ever
Hope you will be in same situation in a coppel of years. Stocked with good glas and dated cameras.
Jonko
tmrgrs
Ranger 9
mewmew
Pff, am in that situation now with my M-mount lenses and Epson R-D 1. Fortunately, most people only look at the pictures; they don’t care if my camera is “dated” or not.
can somebody please point out which is the new 75 & 60 in that photo?
thanks for the labels!
is it just me or is that 75/60 huge?
75mm looks big compared to the rest, I have the 45mm, it is soooo tiny! The 75mm is about as wide as pannys 14-45mm kit lens.
I wish they made them a bit beefyer with F1.4 instead.
ADMIN IS GOD!
Just before the question “Which one is which though?” he changed the photo with the new one solving the problem…WHAT KIND OF SOCERY IS THIS!?
So this is the solution to satisfiy both m4/3 and 4/3 users? a m4/3 body looking like a dslr? still waiting for the sensor final word…lets hope its not really from panasonic
i lol’d
thanks admin!
People seem to forget that it’s miniscule compared to DSLRs tho. Even compared to the crappy plastic entry-level ones, but surely the true comparison lies with a weather-sealed one, which will not even come close in size and especially weight. Not to mention the lenses.
Not compared to the exxx it isn’t (certainly weight wise with grips inc… do we know the weight of the grips yet? 425g without)
missing the point are we ? Yep.
MUST…HAVE…THIS…..CAMERA!…..
That small flash better be tiltable.
The camera body is 2cm higher and 1cm thicker than E-P3, is that correct?
it looks like the one that oly already bundles with the epm or EP-L3. And that one is tiltable by 45°.
The camera looks great and I will probably end up owning one – but I am going to buy both of those new lenses… maybe even preorder them!
The Micro Four Thirds is getting a serious photo system ;). Even classic Four Thirds E-System never had so many fantastic primes offering like the MFT already has.
BTW what’s that device on the top of black body? Seems like small bouncable flash.
+10 😉
the black body with the tilted screen? That’s the Bluetooth thingy:
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/01/olympus-penpal-sends-photos-via-bluetooth/
Something is strange with the telephoto zoom lenses on that photo. It looks like there are two superzooms (14-150), one in black and one in silver. But so far the silver version does not exist. Instead, the black version of the 40-150 is missing on the photo. Strange.
The black 40-150 is mounted on the right OM-5. Same for the black 75-300 on the middle camera.
See here: http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/8799/omdaccessories.jpg
The black 40-150 is mounted on the silver camera.
There are two copies of the black 12-50!
Thanks admin. too bad There s no built in flash .. If IQ and Dr have improved quite a bit , I may buy it. If not i am probably end up with a G3 or Gx1 ..
A quick note to the Rude Haters, Panny Fanbois, and make-believe photogs: E-M5 is the new King. Long live the King!
Admin, thanks for the confirmation with the arrows, LOL!…I did a little research (I am more a Panny man)…and figured it out before you gave us the red ink! . I was surprised that the macro was so large. That threw me a little ( I guess the scales on the side of the barrel should have been enough, though. Looks like a really well made lens. I already have the Panny/Leica 45mm f/2.8 Macro which I love and satisfies my needs in the macro area …but i will be interested to see what the story is with the 75mm f/1.8…THAT looks like a nice chunk of glass!!!!!
I call it a bokeh master :D.
I am also surprised to see these large lenses. But I have been told they are very high quality. That is what matters! 🙂
They are supposed to be super high quality. Probably “4/3rds class”.
+100%
Micro Four Thirds is not only about small –
it is about ultimate performance in a lightweight and compact design too!
From the colorization of the metal it looks as though the 75mm, f/1.8 is the same metal build quality as the 14mm, f/2.0, which means it is probably built in Japan and is high quality. ( and will have a $150 accessory lens hood made in China! :-)). It looks like a grenade I would like to pull the pin on.
What is the object in the hotshoe on the camera in the middle?
What kind of flash is this mounted on the side of the silver E-M5? A new one? Replacement of the Fl36R?
Whats this?
The OM-D is a damn nice looking camera!
Bummer, the 75mm is big and silver. It looks like it takes a 62mm filter!
I wonder if it and the 60mm have the same focus thing as the 12mm. For the macro especially, it would be pretty much essential.
I’m interested in the 75mm focal length, since it’s close enough to the classic 135mm, but I’d have to see how the Oly 75mm compares to the Voigtländer 75mm f1.8 before buying either one. I guess they’d be around the same price, $715 for the Voigtländer, unless the Oly 75mm is based on their 45mm instead of the 12mm.
I think it is based on the 12mm and will be closer to $1000. (Plus $150 lens hood. LOL).
Sad, but true. Oh well if it were cheap then everyone would buy one, that would be no fun either 😉
I WANT the quality!!! I would like to see the price lower…but I will just have to figure out a way to find the money if it checks out to be a stunning lens.
The Voigtlander lens is designed specifically to be soft at full aperture, for portrait use; see this page: http://cameraquest.com/voigt_75_18.htm
I hope/assume Olympus will have designed theirs to have good sharpness even at full aperture, like the 45/1.8. That’s how I would want it, since I would be using the 75 to photograph stage performances and for documentary coverage. I am more excited about this lens than I am about the new camera!… especially since it will work on my Panasonic GH cameras as well.
if it only were weathersealed, then it would be perfect.
looking at the focal lenght and speed, I can’t imagine this being too expensive, unless they choose for a special lens design. its perspective characteristic(subtle depth compression) should make this lens interesting for me.
What a month of contrasts in terms of looks and design.. the yellow Pentax K-01 and the Olympus E-M5.
Interesting 🙂
I do not think we will ever have a Yellow OM-D, rats.
😉
OM-1 is in many type leather on e-bay also yellow. 😉
I was hoping for a PINK one, possible with BABY BLUE trim.
The 70 looks like the 12. So I think it must work the same way. The 60 does not. Other then weather proofing I think I still will use some legacy macro glass, the lens are much smaller and I have a lot of it with tubes, lighting, bellows etc, and as you say auto focus will not work. If you and I are both wrong on the auto focus part I might buy it.
Now give me a weather sealed 7mm f2.8 !
One can hope…
The only thing I don’t like about the M43 Zuikos is their finish. They’re not that uniform in appearance…
Thanks Admin!
Missing your Sunday for a great day of skiiing…just to help satisfy our Oly lust!
The new 75mm looks awesome!…same build quality as the 12 & 45.
The mini flash looks totally pocketable too.
Can’t wait for Wednesday!
I will catch up 🙂
Well, there goes my theory of a removable hotshoe. Looks like there’s some crappy little add-on flash…
New sealed adapter 4/3 not show in photo¿?
only i see OM adapter MF-2.
The 75mm looks like a KILLER. Want it.
me too!
+1
Good stuff. A few remarks come to mind:
1) The E-M5 (including hump) is smaller in all dimensions than the E-400. That’s should give many an indication just how small this camera is.
2) The camera on the left seems to be sporting a tiny flash unit. Is that the GN10 flash that’s rumored to be shipping in the box? I hope it can be used as a controller for remote flashes. Probably too much to ask for it to have an auto-thyristor mode as well (against blinks).
3) The flash on the right must be the FL-600R. Looks like it gets a second reflector. Nice. If it’s weather sealed, too, all the better.
The 75mm f1.8 will be a really nice lens for sports…hockey rinks = bad lighting
Yeah,.. Oly Rocks,.. Am i too excited? Sorry admin ,. Cant help myself
It’s time to put my G3 and silver GX1 on ebay ,.. Oly I”m coming .. Bye Panny
The macro lens is what fascinates me. Not just because it’s my interest, but because its design is intriguing. There’s a lot of inscriptions on it and apparently a switch. Unfortunately the image is not high enough resolution to be certain of more. However, I do know my way around macro lenses. It is quite different than I expected. Longer, and the other stuff is unusual. It look possible that it may go beyond life size. Although maybe that’s just my wishful thinking, but I can’t see much other reason for the switch and the inscriptions. One big question is whether the lens is an extending type, and shown in it’s extended position, or maybe it has some other unusual design. I would love to see a higher resolution image so I could say more.
One other thing, the new flash appears to have a video lamp built into it, or that’s my guess as to what it is i.e. not a secondary reflector.
The inscriptions look like a chart of reproduction ratios, common on macro lenses. I think the lens is pictured in its fully extended position, which makes all the ratio markings visible.
I am guessing that the switch is a focus-range limiter, like the one found on some EOS macro lenses. If you are using the lens for portraiture, you can use the switch to “lock out” the extreme macro range, for faster AF. If you are shooting macro, you flip the switch to the other position, allowing use of the full focusing range.
Yes I know about Canon EF lenses and focus limiters on macro lenses because I have got quite a few. I’ve also been taking macro photographs and using macro lenses for over 25 years.
That 75mm f1.8 looks like it’s about the same size as the Panny 14-140 so it’s gonna be a chunk of glass. Looking forward to finding out the price.
Looking forward to a review of the E-M5. Guess I’m going to have to dust off the the old Master Card.
Two billion USD dollars 🙂
If we compare the size of the 75 to the size of the 45 in the row in front of it:
— The front rim of the 45 is 39.5mm across (I measured my 45 to see.)
— Measuring the picture, the image of the 75 is about 50% wider than that of the 50.
— So, I estimate that the 75 will be about 60mm across the front rim, give or take a few mm.
The Panasonic 14-140 is 66mm across the front rim (I measured that too) so the 75 should be a bit slimmer… but I expect Aly is right, overall they will “feel” about the same size. I have no problem with that; I think the 14-140 handles well on a GH, so the 75 should be no problem. Those with tiny hands might be a bit challenged, though.
Wow (SF photo gal), i thought u didnt like Oly cameras!
Does it still have a noisy m43 sensor with severely limited dynamic range?
Do you still have a microscopic willy?
LOL! bobw
The OM adapter, could it be the never released one that hales the focal length correct? It would be a good welcome back for a lot of old and current OM users.
Any adapter halving ðe focal lengþ would degrade image quality and cost way more to make ðan ðe current one. I would even argue ðat ðe current one is ðe correct one; ðe impreßion we get of half ðe focal lengþ being more correct is just because we tend to þink of focal lengþ, which is a technical characteristic of ðe lenses, when we actually mean angle of vision, which is the result we want.
Also if you optically “halve” the focal length, you will increase the intensity of light, making the lenses all a stop faster. I suppose it could have an in-built ND1 filter.
Any info on the price or GN of the new mini flash? Can’t wait for Wed.
I think a previous rumor said the E-M5 comes packaged with a GN 10 flash.
I love it, Olympus you have my money 🙂
OLYMPUS E-M5 – this camera will make history!
– The best camera-tool on the market (!) and
– OM-D-System gets really professional (!)
right from the beginning
WOW – Olympus E-M5 – state of the art!
This will be a bestseller!
I have to update my preorder wish list instantly:
I will certainly preorder
– The OM-D E-M5 camera body (black)
– The 12-50mm m.Zuiko powerzoom (black)
– The OM-D HLD-6 external battery grip
– The new Olympus flash FL 600-R
– The new m Zuiko 75mm/f1.8
(Please bring the 12mm/f2.0, the 45mm/f1.8 and
the new 75mm/f1.8 in black!!!)
– Perhaps even the new 60mm/f2.8 macro
+ Eyecup, MAL-1 Macro Arm Light, SEMA-1, PENPAL PP-1 …
This camera will take the pole position in the Micro Four Thirds Camp.
PS.: It will be only the second lightweight and compact camera for Nikon and Canon Enthusiasts.
A camera that Canikons will firstly use outside the photo studio, on holidays, for street photography, on a walk, at the sea … – summarized for only 98 % of their stills and videos – but not for their really serious 2 % professional stuff.
But nothing will stop the Olympus Imaging Division now!
With the announcement of the new OM-D-Series Olympus celebrates the come back to market leadership and success.
After the PENs market penetration this is the second strike to regain top positions on the basis of their famous camera tradition and product excellence.
The key to success is once again their power to innovation and the speed of developing and launching high quality products with extreme reliability.
Olympus has the best long term strategies!
On the way to their current break through the development of the Four Thirds System with its superior HG and SHG-lenses and the top cameras E-1, E-3, E-5 was a necessary and not jumpable step to move the potential of the whole system (Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds) to a new dimension – the integration of HD-video and stills in a future-proof alliance.
Special thanks go to CEO Akira Watanabe and the Olympus Imaging division!
Best camera in the market? WTF. Everytime someone says “best” they don’t understand different cameras can fullfill different sets of needs. And then there’s that sensor…
what sensor would that be?
you spend all day correcting people on the basis that the inf at hand is just rumour
then you go right out and excuse yourself of the same thing
freakin typical
Let it go Raist, sheesh….
Collin? 🙂
Wow , talk about OBVIOUS Olymmpus employee viral marketing scheme!
Did you you copy all that from some brochure ?
This is camera will be great but I seriously doubt it’ll change anything in the grand view of things. This release only means a more serious alternative to the pens, less casual. When I first opted for m43 I decided it would be my only camera system, no chunky DSLRs for me. The problem with that is that potential customers would soon be detracted by the casual P&S appearance of the PENS, at least with the OM-5 (and this is a very shallow but true comment on the state of things) people will take you more seriously.
So now it looks like this:
Pen line : personal, everyday casual use
OM: paid jobs and for those times you need to be taken seriously
At least now I won’t be forced to get a bigger DSLR system just to be taken seriously. Sadly, looks are everything in this world.
Dear amvr,
“Wow, talk about OBVIOUS Olympus employee viral marketing scheme!
Did you copy all that from some brochure?”
Don’t worry! I’ m an ordinary bank employee in Europe. But in my job it is very important to value customer strategies and to know if you can trust in the entrepreneurial actions and vision.
I’ m fully convinced that Olympus will celebrate a break through with the E-M5 and the OM-D-series.
My only link to Olympus is the fact that I’ m a loyal Olympus customer since more than thirty years (OM-1, OM-2, OM-Zuiko-lenses …) and now converted to a Micro Four Thirds Fan and Enthusiast, because taking stills and HD-video is my passion. OM-D series and E-M5 are the digital realization of a dream of my youth (the digital OM-5!).
Well it seems that for the first time I’m starting to feel good about micro 4/3. Hopefully this will be so popular that Olympus can kill off those horrid, retro brick, Pen camera pieces of *&%#!
I love those bricks.
I would never fault you for loving those “bricks” if that is your thing. For me they were a source of great frustration as I desperately need to upgrade from my E-510. I saw Pen cameras as little more than overpriced point and shoots and the E-5 as an overpriced and underwhelming compromise.
The E-M5, on the other hand, has got my full attention, and I can’t wait to read the specs on this new camera. My only question is what other OM-D cameras are planned after this. I budget my money thus I’d like to know if there are cheaper models coming before the summer.
did you know that with those overpriced point and shoots you can make beautiful photo’s?
Somehow i always want to laugh about people who are so desperate to upgrade their camera but are not satisfied with the options within their choice of system. Why don’t you just look at the other systems. They are all worthy too!
Ulli
Great comment.
thank you Jim, and this one was without drinking
Thanks admin, great job!
+ 100% !
Those overpriced point and shoots are also hard to hold. Let me also point out that my E510 shoots beautiful photos too, yet think it’s time to upgrade to a better camera. Overall I thought that the Pen system didn’t bring enough to the table for me to seriously consider them. What I want is fast, accurate focusing; greater range when shooting bracketed exposures; and a newer sensor. As for looking at other systems, I’ve got $2200+ dollars in zuiko 4/3 glass which doesn’t doesn’t exactly mesh well with the Canikon collective so forgive me if I’m just a bit reluctant to switch. Despite that, I was in fact finally starting to look at other systems just a week before I first heard of the the OM-D (that was cutting it close there Olympus). Now it looks likely that I’ve finally found what I’m looking for in the E-5M.
Still laughing now?
Olympus, shut up and take my money!!
Sorry, but without AVCHD 2.0.. it’s a no go for me. Gotta have AVCHD 1080/60P. I’ll be waiting for the GH3. Too bad really… I was looking forward to this. How can it have better than GH2 video footage without AVCHD 2.0?
wooooow…
I cant wait to see the AF tests, finally BIF with a PEN? Tracking my kids will be great.
A few other points. There’s something more going on with the viewfinder than just an accessory port. My guess it is tilts. The close-up images earlier carefully blurred a bit.
I had another look at the macro lens after enlarging the image and sharpening it a lot. It doesn’t appear to be an extending macro lens in the extended position. There doesn’t look to be anywhere for it to telescope into. So either it’s a fixed length lens IF, or it extends further. It almost certainly appears to have some sort of dual range from the switch and the white and red lettering. The question is whether this just extends it to 1:1 or beyond. If it goes beyond 1:1 it would be very significant as the only lens currently available that does that is the Canon MP-E 65mm f2.8 1-5x. However that starts at 1:1, and doesn’t go to any less, let alone infinity. Of course another option is that Olympus macro is itself not an infinity focusing macro lens – in which case Olympus have nicked my idea I’ve suggested quite a few times that a macro lens going from around 0.3x to about 2.5x life-size would be a killer.
Iso 200 and 1/4000thsec !! Are they serious?
Voigtlander 75/1.8 is much smaller.
Did you guys notice the camera with the external battery grip has an additional shutter release, in front of the standard release? It seems that is part of the external battery grip, so you have 3 shutter releases with the external grip? Interesting!
That shutter release is for portrait/style shooting so that you have the ergonomic comfort of a release on the top of the camera when it is turned 90 degrees.
I know what portrait shutter release is, but take a look at the at the black camera w/ external batt grip vs the silver one. Check out where the shutter release is on the silver camera, now go back to the black one. There’s two shutter releases on top and one at the bottom for portrait, I am wondering if all three are usable when you have the grip on. Quite an interesting design.
I think I’ve figured out what is in the hump. There is actually an ultra micro 4/3 camera inside that you can pop out for ultra stealth shooting.
I supposed this idea came from Transformer.
My bet is that the E-M5 will transform into a 43 mount camera and 0M mount camera when needed. Need less to say, the m43 sensor can transform to full frame as well. And also the photographer with the equipments will also be transformed from amateur, to professional and eventually transform into an antique camera collector.
that is what it means by the E, “Evolve”!
I think Olympus was actually planning to release this when they release the E-5, but I guess it was not ready yet. So they released the E-5, which has the same body as E-3 with minor upgrade.
And this probably explain why the E-M5 has a 5 in it. But we could also explain it that the 5 is an upgrade to the 3 from the Pen series.
I still hope to see a 43 to m43 adapter that support 100% focus speed. But I guess I will in anyway sell off my 43 equipments. Anyone want to buy a 2nd handed e-3, 12-60 SWD and 50-200SWD? I think this bulky, weather sealed lens could go soon. but however, the standard grade zuiko 43 glasses will might be of good use with m43. What do you think?
I doubt it. I think E-M5 is a logical name for the spiritual successor of the OM-4.
‘spiritual successor’
how do you people think this stuff up !
Admin – Any news on the mm3 adaptor?
Dear Admin: Thank you, for bringing such good news, for a great site and forum.
The Olympus Way
Dear Olympus: It seems to me that the new E-M5 is a creation worthy of the memory of the late, great Yoshihisa Maitani. As a former professional user of the OM system, that is my highest compliment. While your choices may often run against convention, I assure you that I place great value in the fruits of this unique design philosophy, just as I value the fruits of my own creativity. Thank you for your efforts. -J.C.
Does anybody know if the OM-D E-M5 has the level gauge?
What a fantastic system m43 has become! I’ve been into photography since 2005 and this OM-D is my perfect camera. There is nothing about I dislike and it meets all my needs! Olympus is alive and kicking! My wallet hates you though!
“The camera will be announced on Wednesday…”
Wednesday is HUMP DAY!!! How apropos! Seriously, though, I’m interested. I don’t buy a lot of gear, and this looks like something I might actually want to buy.
A few questions/observations about the “family portrait”:
— Look at the 45/1.8 lens, just above the center camera. Notice how its front edge is dark? Normally there’s a chrome-finish plastic ring that goes there to cover the lens-hood mounting lugs, but it comes off very easily; I figured lots of people would lose them. Well, even Olympus seems to have lost theirs — LOL!
— You can see the stereo-microphone and micro light accessories in the upper left corner of the photo, but what’s the accessory mounted on the center camera? GPS unit?
— I assume the flash unit shown on the right-front camera is the new FL-600 and that it has an LED video light below the flash portion (as on Canon’s new flash.) So, what is the thing on top of the left-front camera? Tiny flash to replace lack of built-in? Remote commander? PEZ dispenser? Something else?
Center unit has a ‘Penpal’ bluetooth module. The left camera appears to have a new gps module.
Consensus seems to agree that’s the pocket flash rumored as included with the camera… to make up for no pop-up flash (another longstanding rumor).
GPS module would be nice though.
Could be, although it looks a bit odd for a flash unless it is pictured in a folded position. It reminds me of a gps module we use with our 5Dmk2 in the field.
If it is true that there is no pop-up flash, that is actually a plus for me, as I dislike them.
Thanks, guys! I will have to look up the “Penpal” module; have no idea what it does.
All the little accessories except the little flash were released a while ago.
I am disappointed that in this day and age Olympus still wants us to use a flash cable on a tiny camera. Can’t they make a tiny radio wireless device???
RF control of flash might be a headache because of the different standards needed for different countries. And there’s the issue of battery drain also.
I would be happy if Olympus sold enough cameras to get PocketWizard to expand their ControlTL system to work with Olympus. Since they don’t even cover Sony yet, I am guessing that would be a long wait. But maybe PixelHK or Phottix or one of the other Chinese OEMs would get with the program…
Actually, I am beginning to think the device is in fact a flash controller, possibly of the strobe type.
Hump day AND my birthday! I assume everyone will chip in and buy me one:)
@Admin Is there no AVCHD at all or just not AVCHD 2.0? Because I think the 3rd generation PENs have AVCHD. MJPEG video sounds kind of boring. Is the video really better than GH2?
mjpg is good for editing because of the low compression, it works great even on older pc systems, while not lots of encoding/decoding is required. regarding to the required storing space its hopelessly antique.
Looks like they updated it… It’s not mjpeg it’s mpeg4/h.264. Most modern computers can edit this native anyway. Any software worth a salt can do it. Heck two years ago I did it on a cheapo i5 laptop right off the SDHC card in RT with no transcoding.
About built-in flash, here’s my take:
http://flic.kr/p/bp4VuK
very good question, i wanna get 60p
This idea is bad,
Flash shoe is need fixed to body to support external big flash, same FL50R.
“It shoots 4fps or 9fps without that powerful AF in action”
Can anyone explain me: 9 fps without AF, that means a lot of unsharp images to me. Who does need 9fps for static subjects? Then 1 fps and some timing is enough to nail the shot.
9 fps is for action. Sports or wildlife. Without AF this becomes worthless. Or do I miss something?
Any subject moving high-speed in parallel to the film/sensor plane will remain in focus. So for certain situations (especially at distance) where the focal distance remains within the depth of field focus, high-speed shooting can be no-compromise even without between-shot autofocus. So AF on/off setting is situational, and makes sense for a pro camera for high-speed shooting.
Also, lots of people now are shooting in short bursts for portrait, fashion, etc. — that way if the model blinks or twitches, you still get a good frame “before” or “after.” Continuous AF isn’t needed in this scenario, but a higher frame rate improves your odds of getting a good picture.
The auto-stacking feature in Lightroom and Aperture makes these mini-bursts easy to manage, so editing isn’t as big a nuisance as you might think.
That photo already looks like a complete and serious sytem, but don’t forget we have all the Panny glass too guys.
No AVC-HD 2.0 means that it won’t be any better for video than a GH2. I doubt it will even be that good. That is a shame.
Hope is fading… It’s still possible that it could record in 1080p60, albeit without the AVCHD metadata it would mean the clip length would be limited to ~30 minutes.
Clip length is going to be limited to 29 minutes 59 seconds anyway, due to the European laws dictating a higher import tax (4% if memory serves) on video gear as opposed to still photography (and the cutoff point is whether the camera can record VGA or higher for 30 minutes). Panasonic for some of its point & shoots has two models, the European and the rest of the world, and the European version is limited in software. Olympus tends to not have separate models, but instead limits all cameras, such as the current generation of Pens (E-PM1, E-PL3, E-P3).
How long do you want to be able to record uninterrupted?
I record performances at my local renaissance faire, and occasionally some shows are more than 1/2 hour long. If I don’t know the performer’s way of doing the songs, I have to guess when the break was between songs, and sometimes I guess wrong where I think the song has ended, and they add in another chorus or verse. Granted, 1/2 hour meets my needs a lot more than 7/14 minutes of my E-P2.
Similarly when my daughter was school age, I would have wanted to record her in plays or at sports events.
It is easy to edit afterwards to get the performance down to a more viewable size if you recorded it.
I haven’t seen any Panasonic Lumix G yet to support the latest AVCHD 2.0 version, while the NEX-7 does. Anyway, this is a Sony/Panasonic format standard, and if Olympus doesn’t support it, neither does Nikon and Canon with their DSLRs.
Surprisingly, the DMC-GX1 doesn’t either, and rumours says that the OM-D/E-M5 shares the same sensor with the GX1. Neither is using the oversized, digitally output sensor seen in the Panasonic GH series. Rather, it’s most likely a sensor optimised for still photography, lesser to video. A compromise acceptable to most, I presume.
Right!
Another thing I haven’t seen anyone mentioning is the possibility of shallow dof casual street portraits. With the built-in viewfinder of the E-M5 and the 75mm f1.8 (150mm reach!), I’m hoping I will finally be able to get out and grab some nice shots. I’ve always been envious of the shots from the 85mm f1.4 Nikon lens, and I think the extra crop reach (and tradeoff of the slower aperture) of the 75mm will be capable of similar effects:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/bokeh_/discuss/72157594261826092/
Well lets see, according to the Cambridge in Colour DOF calculator, if you shoot a f/1.8 75mm lens with a 4/3rds sensor, a region of 0.161m (6.34″) will be in focus for a subject that is 4m (13.1′) away, and the apparent focal length is 150mm.
A so-called full frame body with the f/1.8 85mm lens will have a depth of field of 0.25m (9.8″), with a real focal length of 85mm.
A Nikon with a crop factor of 1.5 will have a depth of field of 0.164m (6.45″), and the apparent focal length is 127.5mm.
The calculator is at:
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/dof-calculator.htm
Thanks for churning out the figures :). My friend has a crop sensor Nikon and uses the 85 f/1.4, so it’s encouraging to know we’ll be able to get similar shallow DOF results! Now we just have to hope the bokeh is nice, but if the 45mm is anything to go by, I think we needn’t worry :D.
Im with you on the 75mm! I had been anticipating a longer fast tele, and if its as good as the 45mm, then its going to be a killer lens! A very exciting announcement. Just wish it came in black.
M43 is getting mature ,. Hope Panny comes up with A Fine Glass with fast aperture for both Prime and Zoom ,. Enough with powerzoom ,. There’s no point with slow aperture
No built-in flash? My god… I would not really be happy If I had to carry an extra flash with me, it doesn’t matter how small it is…
But I have many other questions: Will there be a OM-D cam that is not weather-sealed and less expensive? Will there ever be some mFT zooms similar the good old FT 7-14 4.0, 14-54 2.8-3.5, 12-60 2.8-4.0 or 50-200 2.8-3.5 lenses? I know it’s difficult to make lenses with such a quality in a compact, leightwight style, but I don’t want to carry much weight with me, and I don’t want to carry a big bag with me for my photo equipment.
And how will the new cam work with the old mFT lenses 14-42 (second version) and 40-150? How will it work with the FT lenses mentioned above?
And when will the new pens come out with new sensor? 😉
pro cameras dont need flash built in, this is for party-snapper amators only
It is not a pro cam, it is a mid-range cam, similar to E-30 😉 Very rarely I need a flash, and for that a built-in flash is good enough for me, should I buy an extra-flash and always carry with me only for about 4, 5 pics of 1000?
It comes with the flash, it does not look much bigger then an SD card but thicker, you could always mount it on your camera strap, along with an extra battery. That is not hard to do.
pro cameras that haven’t flash, have integrate radio control to flash.
Is ridiculous not integrate any system to shot external flash in pro camera.
+1 maybe there is a radio control ? but it would be a big change as until now olympus system is a wireless control by flash…I have a Metz and I would like to have wireless control without carrying another external flash…
Pro cameras without built-in flashes use Pocket Wizards for triggers.
What? Plenty of circumstances when a built-in flash is good enough or aids creativity: 2nd curtain shutter, fill-in flash for for outdoor portraiture! Yes we see a lot of photos ruined by flash but I’d rather have one than not. Thankfully that new external one is pretty compact but it’s a negative not having one built-in for me.
Built-in flash is useful for fill flash (generally) and trigger flash (pro).
Yes, that’s what’s so frustrating about epl3!
flash is useful for backlit subjects and creative flash techniques, what will be interesting is whether the add-on gives enough clearance for use with wide angle and fish eye lenses and also it’s High Speed Synch capabilities….
Then why did Olympus put one on the E-5? I thought they considered that their pro 4/3 model.
I wonder… Could the hump house a wireless flash control unit? If so, I don’t mind that there is no built-in flash. If not, it’s a big oversight on Oly’s part. It’d be another case of a lower model camera (E-P3) having features the pro line doesn’t…
Also, I can’t believe I missed it! A new flash bracket! I’d been search for one of these for macro photography :D.
I don’t think the flash bracket is new. I believe it is FL-BK04.
For macro photographer, there is also the FL-BKM03.
Unless Olympus comes out with an entirely new line of remote flashes, the current Olympus remote flash protocol requires using visible light from either the pop-up flash or the clip-on flash provided with the E-PM1 or E-PL3 (presumably the E-M5, but we probably need to wait until Wednesday to know for sure).
A non-weatherproof OM-D = PEN.
Stop going backwards.
…and a new twin flash?
I myself do like the retro design; much speculation whether this cam is going to be the next “BIG Thing,” Photography is in the eyes and hands of the beholder/user. I believe any photographer with some skill, given a pro cam or a consumer cam can produce good images. With this said, it’s all up to how you will use the cam, what you use it for and your personal tastes, etc. IMO, I like the design immensely. For the first time, a new mirrorless cam with a decent place to position your thumb; I love the raised “thumb-piece.” As a M43 Pany GH2 user, I am very dependent on the video side of the cam. I will need to see the final specs on this camera in terms of the video codec/bit rates, the ability for remote flash, clean ISO up to at least 1600 and fast prime lenses. Here’s is a question, I wonder how the backwards compatibility will be for using the Pany glass will transform with the new E-M5, this too will be a factor for anyone currently shooting GH2 or Pany looking to jump ship to Oly and the E-M5. The biggest draw for me as a videographer is the ability to upgrade to HD video using a larger than standard consumer sensor at a much more affordable cost than to purchase a new HD video camcorder. Add in the fact that with M43, you can virtually use any lens out there and for me it’s still a no-brainer. Any limitations, for me, can be worked, etc. Regardless of the position Oly is currently in, I think they will have a winner on their hands and right now they need a Home Run! Are we ever really satisfied with any new camera that comes out regardless of the manufacturer who produces it??? Do your homework and decide what is best for you – then get to making photographs or video!!! Olympus, I like the design and I like the direction you have taken here with the E-M5. Looking forward to the official announcement on Wednesday. Good job as well to Admin of this 43 Rumors site, keep up the outstanding investigative work!
The problem I see as a GH2/AVCHD user is the fact that if they don’t adhere to the AVCHD spec, then they lose the spanning of 4GB files, and the files are much larger due to a less efficient mpeg4/h.264 implementation. Maybe they can get 1080/60P better this way rather than adhering to the AVCHD 2.0 spec? Still, the loss of the standard means 12 minute limits like the Canon DSLRs.
Amen, SJO. I’m with you all the way.
Just sick and tired of all the whiners on here that want this and that and everything else, and of course, want it all for less than the price of an E-P3. The real photographers are the ones providing the proper insight into this camera.
WOW. Very nice. We are finally getting back to seeing cameras that are kewl, and metal and small and affordable, like the film cameras that they replace.
About time.
It does look nice.
I need to preorder right now
Regarding built-in flash… Built-in flash is harsh, you can’t use it with a lot of lenses (try using an E-520 with a 12-60 and you’ll get lens shadowing half the time), and frankly, with the iso speeds you get these days you don’t even need flash most of the time.
“Will there be a OM-D cam that is not weather-sealed and less expensive?”
This OM-D isn’t expensive.
I don’t need a weather-sealed cam, why should I pay for that? But a PEN with new sensor and the new is (if it works better then the old is) would be nice 🙂
I expect that is coming or maybe even a Panasonic version. When that comes there will be a body for all of us.
That 75mm/1.8 is NEX big!
Looks twice as long & a lot fatter than the 45mm/1.8.
You should see what a 150mm equivalent F1.8 for NEX would look like ;).
It’s just physics – no way you can make it smaller than a certain size for that focal length/max aperture combo.
Actually different optical designs can have different sizes even if it’s exactly the same max aperture and focal length. More glass just means more precision and thus better quality, but also harder to make and more expensive. The trick is to find the right balance. Since this one is high-end the balance shifts to precision over pricing, thus it is big. At least compared to other m4/3 lenses.
Based on the photo, I calculated/estimated that it will be about the size of the Lumix 14-140 zoom — so, chunky, but not hard to manage.
A 75mm f/1.8 lens requires a central aperture almost 42mm in diameter regardless of format, so such lenses are unavoidably somewhat thick. (Central aperture of a 45/1.8 needs to be only 25mm in diameter.)
If the hump doesn’t contain a flash, it must contain something else. A joint all around the base of the hump is clearly seen in the full size photos of the camera. It wouldn’t be there if the hump didn’t flip up or detach. But for what?
By the way, the eyepiece is not part of the same section, since the joint runs between the hump and the eyepiece.
I wonder the same thing. Wednesday should still be interesting.
There is a fold-out water tent in there.
Sold!
I think that the biggest clue is actually the small horizontal rim below the finder window. Why else would that be there than to provide extra grip for the thumb when pushing up the EVF. Very neat for low-angle photos or macro.
I think the EVF is in the hump. The EVF specs are identical to those of the VF-2 which is similar in size.
I’d guess the shoe is sitting up high to make it compatible with the accessory port that sits below the hotshoe – so you can plug in the microphones, bluetooth module etc. without that connector running into the viewfinder.
“If the hump doesn’t contain a flash, it must contain something else”
hahaha reminds me of Kinder chocolate toy. 😀
I honestly can’t wait for the OM-D to be released, i gonna go for the Silver & black one i think with the 12-50mm, flash or no flash who cares.
I’ve not had an Olympus Camera since the E-510 days, & personally loved that 4/3 camera as it got me into the world of Photography, before moving over to Nikon.
I love the classic retro look of the OM of old.
I think it work with all M4/3 lenses because it is a m4/3 camera when all said & done.
think I would prefer the OM-D in brown…. (or even Pentax yellow)
I was on the same boat. Seriously thought about E-5 before but the price tag stopped me. This one will cost over $1500 with lens too, but definitely will try it at the store when it is released.
Waiting new E-ML5 with flash integrate and lcd pivoting to front.
and without Sealed and low price.
EP-1 = E-M5
E-PL1 = E-ML5
+1 🙂
What’s a EP-1 ?
+2
First came OM-1, then came OM-2.
Refinements were OM1n & OM-2n.
Then came OM-3 & OM-4.
It’s obvious, that there is a continuation, hence the OM-D/E-M5 within the digital era.
Lower end models were OM-10/OM-20/OM-30/OM-40, hence expect also the next digital model to be OM-D/E-M50!
the 2 new lens is really big.. They have to make them small if they want to steal dslr users.. Come on olympus ,you can do better than that..
The problem is, that it’s not easy, almost impossible, to make high quality lenses that are compact.
For an Autofocus MFT lens of that f/stop and focal length…IT IS SMALL! Duh.
In fact, i don’t think a 150mm eq F1.8 has ever been done before. m4/3 makes the craziest things possible ! 🙂
+100
Ever heard of Leica M lenses???
Proving his point ?
yes but leica engineers dont need to bother to make products which are reasonable priced
exactly !
Leica M..incredible lenses…but…no auto focus. (oh …and this lens will be in the realm of hard-working regular people can afford it.) 🙂
Canon 60mm f2.8 macro looks smaller than oly 60mm 2.8.. And canon crop sensor is bigger than m43 sensors..
Not so. If you look at the photo above I think we can both agree that the new Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro is smaller in height and diameter than the new Olympus 12-50mm which is sitting to the left of the new 75mm f/1.8. Yes? The dimensions of the 12-50mm are 2.5″D X 3.25″L. .. the dimensions of the Canon 65mm f/2.8 Macro are 3.2″Dx3.8L”????? So how is the Canon possibly smaller. Also..the above Olympus Macro looks more sophisticated than the Canon lens.
but….since the Oly macro is equivalent to a 120mm macro for FF we need to compare it to the Canon 100mm Macro which is 3.06″x 4.84″. So how exactly is the Oly Macro larger.
My comment above was actually referring to the new Oly 75mm f/1.8 lens. For an AF lens at this focal length and f-stop…the lens is INCREDIBLY small. Yeah …it is bigger than its other MFT counterparts…but it is WAAAAAAY smaller than any 1.6-crop or FF lens that compares in focal length and f-stop. No doubt! 🙂
+100 Mr Bob
Nice explanation sizes ,..can’t wait to see the review of both glass
Perhaps they’re leaving the door open for third party vendors (Samyang, Tamron, Sigma, Kenko-Tokina, Voigtländer) to enter with a 85mm/F1.4 portrait lens.
That lens will be BIG!!!
Whilst the 60mm macro looks slightly shorter than the 12-50mm zoom, it is an illusion. If you measure it on the image you find it is fraction longer or same height. Smaller filter thread maybe 49mm or 46mm. My guess is that it has switchable ratios, see my other comments. I’m a very experience macro photographer and have owned a lot of macro lenses over the years. It’s not an extendable lens extended. The switch makes that impossible and there’s nowhere for it to telescope into. It could extend out of the front, but is probably fixed length (IF).
in any case…the Oly macro above is considerably smaller than ANY Canon macro. That was my only point directed at 1player’s ridiculous comment.
Even Olympus’s own 43 50mm f/2.0 lens + 43-to-MFT adapter looks like it would be smaller than their new 60mm. Weird. Is there something else about the 60mm macro we need to know… or is the size a way of keeping cost down? Curious.
Maybe the 60/2.8 is a real 1:1? Well, I hope it is. Also hope that it’ll be around the same price as the 50/2 or even cheaper (because it’s slower).
Yes look on 12-50mm, not bad price on the also then.
I’ve already commented that there is something going on with the 60mm f2.8 macro. There is a switch on the side, and a table on the side of the lens presumably with magnification ratios. There’s not quite enough detail to read them, but there are 2 sets, white and red. Whilst it may just be a focus limiter I think it is some sort of switch between ratios (hence the 2 colours). This could mean a number of things. It could mean it’s a switch to get to 1:1 but this seems odd in a modern macro lens and given it’s length. It might also mean that it goes greater than 1:1.
It is not extended because of the switch and other design. So unless the front extends out of the housing it is IF i.e. fixed length and easiest to weatherproof. Measuring it on the image the length is a fraction longer than the 12-50mm (83mm) – say 85mm. However, it has a smaller filter thread, possibly 49mm or even 46mm. With a minimum focusing distance of 0.19mm, if it is IF it will have a working distance of about 85mm at the closest focusing distance (back flange distance of around 20mm).
The more I see of the E-M5, the more I am surprised at the projected $1,100-$1,200 cost of the body. I think Oly will have trouble meeting demand….
indeed as i will do a bulk order
Don’t say that .. People said that about the X-Pro1 price and look what happened.
ps. It’s not like you get the grips and such for free you know ! And the 75/1.8 is gonna set me back quite a bit for sure.
I’m really curious about the video. Any word Admin if it does 60 fps?
or 24 fps. and what about tracking focus? those are the three big question remaining. Even if DR is as good as the P3 it is good enough, and it should be on the level of the Panasonic GX1 then it is more then good for me.
if hump is simple caprice (inside empty) to seems to OM old cameras….
i waiting to new pen E-P4 with viewfinder and flash popup
sigh……………………………………………………………………
I like to have the 1,8/75 to. I need a new job 🙁
maybe sell one of your lenses first? thats what i am thinking about, but not sure yet.
The macro looks big (extended?), the 75 mm as shiny as the 12mm – this lens is intimmidating used for street photo. It has been designed for “show off” rather than for usage. A black version would have been better. Personally I am more likely to get the Pana 35 – 100 anyway.
Similar thoughts on the advantages of understated black. And black finished lenses age better than silver ones imho.
Note the position of the microphones on either side of the hump.
It really is the Mt Everest of MILC … With a hump like that.
It is a phallic symbol. 🙂 We were promised a camera for the boys after all.
What is the contraption on the HUMP of the OM-D in the middle of the picture?
Or is that two contraptions — wide oval eyepiece + ???
That is the bluetooth adapter…transfer your images wireless to your ipad or smartphone
Just how many tripod mounts are on the bottom of this camera? Look at the flash bracket (I think it reversible and adjustable seems to be rubber in flew places), that is one. Look at the grip that is two.
Is there one in the center of the lens then that is three! Sockets are cheap I guess.
“The problem is, that it’s not easy, almost impossible, to make high quality lenses that are compact.”
Oh for the goddess’ sake. See Contax G system and Leica. See the Pentax Limited lenses. Where do people get this ilegitimate drivel from?
Have you priced a Leica M lens? or seen how some of the old ones do not work that well on the M9? With the Pentax the registry distance is huge, bigger then even the Nikon. Both of these are camera lens are great (the sharpest overall IMHO), but they do have limitations.
Some day we will have sensors that work more like film and we will have better results with short registry, till then it will be tough.
“Oh for the goddess’ sake. See Contax G system and Leica. See the Pentax Limited lenses”
Add the adapter on a Pentax and they’re no longer pancakes. Those Leica lenses are not cheap and are all MF. Add AF and make it internally/silently/quickly focusing just like 12/2, 45/1.8, etc. and they’ll be bigger, optically compromised and/or even more expensive.
“Where do people get this ilegitimate drivel from?”
As flash said, some of those compact lenses, particularly the wide ones, won’t work well on digital as you’ll get colour shifting. This is because the lens is so close to the sensor which causes the light to hit the sensor at a sharp angle and it can’t cope like film. You’ll see examples of this fairly documented on the web. Here’s one:
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2011/10/28/sony-nex-7-with-wide-angle-leica-lenses-a-quick-test-and-gxr-comparison/
LOL Just can never get enuff for trolls
I’m hoping the module on the left side E-M5 is a wireless flash module with focus assist lamp. Edit: Or other form of flash trigger.
It’s a wing to provide downforce, as the camera is so light. Specially made for motorsport photographers.
I thought it was a left over t-10.
the 75 1.8 has designhints of the Original legendary 100/2 om, cool, my next lens together with the OM-D.
:clapclapclap:
the camera seems to have replacabel prisma options OVF for 43 and EVF for m43
That would be to dam good. But I suspect there is some truth in your statement, but I do not think it is removable. Maybe the next version will have it there, outside chance this. I want supper tracking to take pictures of rafters I have in my yard.
That 75… oh no, I’m getting wood.
Yes, it is attractive. When they release a photo of it mounted to an E-M5 with portrait grip, people will start to get ideas. 😉
Toughest decision will be what color to choose.
Black looks classy and modern, but silver looks classic.
Silver Olympus lenses go better with the silver camera … please make all silver lenses in black too.
“please make all silver lenses in black too.”
That would be awesome !
Personally i think chrome is the more aesthetic one, but i’d like to use it on the street without blinding people (standing out too much), so the black version is more discrete, and it’s certainly not unattractive, which is a bonus. Also depends on how the material will look and feel for me in person. The coating on the Fuji X-Pro1 for example really doesn’t look very attractive to me, probably because it doesn’t have texture. It seems this one looks right. Yea i’m very picky like that when the choice is there.
After looking back at the OM wallpapers like this one: http://www.olympus.co.jp/jp/fun/wallpaper/camera/dl.cfm?id=364&type_id=2&la=en
I think black looks more slick. Plus the grip looks more performance-based i.e. “grippy” than the slippery leatherette on the silver version.
But Olympus must make the 45mm in black.
Too bad it doesn’t look /exactly/ like that. Too many redundant curves these modern times. I’m a fan of the titanium. http://www.olympus.co.jp/jp/fun/wallpaper/camera/dl.cfm?id=224&type_id=7&la=ja
I’m especially disappointed, or bummed out that the grip isn’t removable, and with removable i mean you can choose your own. While keeping it neatly straight at the same time when without one. They had something going with the E-P3 grip, now why not continue with it. Might even have been interchangeable when done right.
If the hump merely is there for cosmetic reasons than that is a waste of a lot of space.
Considering the EVF is half sunk between the shoulders and the port/hotshoe built on top of that. What do the sloping sides and front conceal? Helium to make it lighter?
Having said this I do notice a different eyepiece. Deeper and bigger than previous pictures showed. That 75 looks like a Contax/Zeiss.
Yes, the HUMP was not required.
There are two different eyepiace rubbers in the picture. The leftmost camera has the same as on the full size camera images. I suppose that one is standard and the one on the middle camera is an acessory.
I really like the look of that middle eye-cup – looks good and deep so you can get your eye up close and exclude light around the edges.
Come on man do people really believe that Olympus would just put on a empty hump for no good reason. That is just too idiotic. Not even grips are ever empty unless they’re add-ons. Have some sense man.
Helium … good idea …
pfff, the 75 mm is in silver shiny bling bling,I hate that…
+1. Silver lenses don’t age too well in my experience…
Okay. Where do I sign…..
As a long time Olympus user, OM10, 1 and 2 and a variety of film cameras I was seriously looking for a more traditional styled DSLR. I did have an E-PL1 for a short while but ended up returning it as its rear screen only made it almost unusable outside, and finally ended up with a 60D. The 60D is now up for sale and I’m going to have a play with both the E-M5 (and X-PRO 1) at the focus on imaging show in Birmingham UK in March.
Which one to buy, probably the Olympus, small body and a wide angle lens for street shooting and whack all of the bits and a big zoom on if I want to impress a punter!
I need to get an APS SLR so I can start using all the fast Samyang lenses and have a balanced body. I LOVE Olympus cameras but their good lenses are just too expensive. And mounting a big fast aperture lens on a small camera doesn’t make sense. Bummer. There’s no way I will be able to afford the 75mm and I really need a fast portrait lens that can provide great dof. That dramatic tone was so much fun.
And who needs newfangled stuff like autofocus anyway…
I want NEX-7 with m43 mount!
and a m43 sensor ofcourse
That would be dumb.
Congrats, you’ve figured it out.
why? it would be dumb to have a nex 7 with m43 mount with aps sensor
Why would anyone other than a fool downgrade their sensor? 😀
i was merely reacting on Efat who wants a m43 mount on an aps format camera, that would only make sense if you changed it with a m43 sensor too. I am not goin into discussion about sensor qualities, because its a wasting time about something which is not that important at all.
No point getting worked up over what’s clearly a 12 year old.
i think he is 13 already!
Ulli, there is a little problem with back flange distance and the width of the nex lens mount, and a bigger problem of selecting f stop and focus. I think it would be a start from the ground up, but as a wishful thought its not a bad one.
so luckily its not complete nonsense? thank god
“I want NEX-7 with m43 mount!”
Rephrase that to:
‘I want a NEX-7 sensor cut into an oversized MFT sensor ~16 megapixels within a MFT camera’, and I’ll fully agree with you!
reverse, you would not want that. It would be slightly less than 16M and would in all possibility be inferior when seen in large print format. The pixel pitch density of the NEX7 is 0.0039 and the 16M pany sensor 0.00364. not much difference and the 16M would be more attuned to the size.
I guess I would get the same per pixel performance as the NEX7 with respect to both DR and high ISO usage at low light.
I agree that I will not get the resolution difference (16 megapixels vs. 24 megapixels), but I’ll have no problems printing less sizes.
I’ll also welcome the smaller raw files needed for storage, and the faster bufferings, the smaller files permits.
An m43 to NEX-7 adapter exists, but as I understand it very fiddly to use.
Olympus ?… have two water pro lens for m43 one zoom 12-50 made by macro function and a 60mm so is dedication for macro and also a camera water pro by a five axis IBIS so is special good for macro, is the a niche Olympus will in to. ???
What I still do not understand is the incoherence in product design of the Oly’s m4/3 lenses. There is a significant variance in finishes, materials and proportions. With the old OM line one could identify the lenses easily, they had nearly identical design and finishes. This picture looks like a collection of lenses designed by different people, manufactured in different plants with materials from different suppliers. Otherwise, a very nice system, looking forward for the official release on Wednesday!
This is a viable critique i ve been thinking the same, it s going on since the 3 incarnation of the 14-42 kitlenses all different, seems like they havent figured out where the system is heading until now, for future lenses my favourite design would be the 12/2 and 75 /1.8 design approach
We live in the age of do-overs.
It’s a common practise, that different factory design teams compete internally. The winning design gets produced. Let’s hope all R&D design teams still getting busy, with internal and external projects.
“This picture looks like a collection of lenses designed by different people, manufactured in different plants with materials from different suppliers.”
Yep. You guessed it.
I feel I have now owned this camera for a month. Im ready for the next model, when will those rumors begin? Should be interesting to see what news crops up before this model goes on sale.
Well, it looks like the new lenses are just as big as Fuji’s, and the body is almost as big (and just as big once a grip is attached, and with the cost of Oly’s top lenses the price almost evens out. So if Oly wants my money I’ll need to see either 1) a dramatic increase in DR or 2) that Fuji didn’t learn anything from the terrible implementation of manual focus in the X100 (which I own, and will continue to happily use, bad manual focus notwithstanding, because the image quality is superb).
Probably, a little of both. and not a knock out, so they both will be successful.
Why would one need a new, special OM lens adapter besides the MF-2 one? Are ðere any weaþersealed OM lenses?
As far as I know, ðe OM system was not weaþersealed. It was just weaþerresistant because of its extreme simplicity and ruggedneß. For instance, ðe OM-1 and its OM-3 suceßor had only a small battery for a very lowpower photometre, leaving very little for water to ruin if properly dried after a splash or immersion.
OM-3Ti and OM-4Ti is water pro and all OM-2,OM-3 and OM-4 use two SR44 or LR44 battery.
The OM-4 had weather proofing; my older 2n did not, the others not sure. There were a flew sealed lens that were sold at the end time, I did not pay attention to that as my bodies were not.
I just ran across the fact that the OM-4 was in the opening of a James Bond movie. Another M5 connection.
Wait, the D4 is only $5000 ?
Sorry, its really nice, but I cant get past the hump. That hump is one ugly bitch
Put a paper bag over the hump.
lol, yes. Make sure you don´t look at the mantle piece whilst poking the fire.
Paint flower on hump, be happy.
Very many people will laugh at you for buying a camera with that hump. It is not necessary.
Have you heard by Camel camera.
Not while I am present, I make that giant Polish guy with the M5 in the picture look like a midget 🙂
Deleted.
If you care about what people think about you and your camera, then you are not a real photographer.
Then why do you need to carry around a faked up, humped-up mini D3/1D to feel like a “professional” photographer??? 😀 😀 😀
Does this mean that it won’t do a silky smooth 60fps video?
If it does not, then I will have to stick with my GH2 and await the second version of the OM.
I was looking forward for a 25mm prime from Olympus, less expensive and bulky than the Leica lens.
25mm F1.2, and finish like 12mm F2.
Cool. When ?
come on that huge bump and no flash??? who confirmed this???
me 🙂
lol 😉
See addon flash in the image above. Why would it be there if there was a flash in the hump?
Hahaha Who else den our great admin
Why oh why the 75mm is silver and not black 🙁
The is made in metal 😉
Because no lens manufacturer has been able to make black metal lenses.
umm….
There have been plenty black metal lenses. With modern anodizing methods the finish can be very durable.
They use to be able to do that even in the OM lens.
INCREDIBLE!!!!
and expensive as 12mm (aka “pro price”)
I feel the same. Why Olympus don’t couple lenses with the 2 body styles, silver for retro and black for wheather-sealed ?
yes i was wondering about that too, but this is just a small issue for me. if not, i just would paint the damned thing black myself.
whole lot better than white like the canon L lenses.
agree those white L lenses are terrible on a black eos body….they should have make a white 1Ds series too
Agree too. They aren’t even white for christ sake, they are more like “cream-coloured”…ugly…
I’ve got an 85mm f/1.5 Canon rangefinder lens from the 1950s on which the rings on the barrel alternate between black and chrome. Maybe Olympus should do their lenses like that and make everybody equally happy (or unhappy.)
Don’t forget the new flash unit, top down, right side.
Have you wonder how the camera could stand up in the air? The flash must be double the weight of the camera. lol…. kidding, probably double sided tape? glued?
now we are talking 😉
Looks like Olympus has it’s sights set on picking up the system camera approach they had with the original OM series. That’s great.
All they need now is a sensor.
Admin, of course the OM will be more popular than the X-Pro1 on this site. The X-Pro1 may or may not deliver on it’s promises, but one thing it will never be is an m43 camera, and your audience is m43 users!
Nice job OLY!!! Glad you kept the accessory port so I could plug in a bunch of GPS, bluetooth gadgets (and a 2nd viewfinder!) instead of making that hump shorter.
No built in flash? Really? So after the great innovation of Pentax, a hump without EVF, we get another one – a hump without a flash. And don’t tell me real men don’t use built in flashes, that they are weak, harsh, useless, etc. I know how to get best out of it and when not to use it. m4/3 is about portability and I don’t want to lug another thing in my bag or to have a camera taller than DSLR because someone wanted to save a bit of R&D time by using addon flash from E-PM1. If I wanted external flash, I certainly would not carry that one.
Why is it so hard for Olympus to make a m4/3 camera like E-620 or E-30 – with EVF, flash and articulated LCD? Is one of the conditions for getting sensors from Panasonic not making a body like G1 or G3, so Olympus has to strip its each and every m4/3 camera of some feature?
No buy. As someone said, I’ll wait for E-ML5 with flash and articulated LCD. We’re back to E-P1 with this one. My E-PL1 will be with me couple of more years for sure…
Just leave it on all the time if you want it so much.
Take a look at the picture. It doesn’t look practical keeping it on top of that hump all the time. If the camera top was flat, it would make some sense…
About the tilting touch-screen, can we expect the same AF by touch like the EP3 ?
For me, it’s a good way for focusing : simple, quick, efficient. Even more if the AF speed and the touch tech has been improved !
I don’t recognize the flash attached to silver E-M5. I suppose that’s new FL-600R. If it is, it’s too large for me, I was expecting something the size of FL-300R.
“I was expecting something the size of FL-300R.”
Then get an FL-300R 🙂
No high speed sync 🙁 .
Both FL-300R & FL-600R are weaker than the older counterparts, i.e. their guide numbers are calculated at ISO 200, while the older flashes at ISO 100!
For high speed sync, get the most powerful flash available, either the FL-50R or the Metz biggest one.
What are FL-600R specs?
FL-300R GN is 20m at ISO100.
Flash up in ceiling.
Been to dpreview and compared ISO 3200 shots of G3 and NEX, and honestly the G3 sensor is very good. The difference from NEX 5 or 7 is very small. It is a good sensor for high ISO. I am very much looking forward to what kinds of images Olympus gets out of it.
Keep talking Fan. If you say it often enough, even you will believe it.
GX1 sensor is no NEX killer. Not even close.
So much camera, so little sensor. Just watch the pretty blinking lights and pull out your wallet ok? 🙂
Big hump, but not even a tiny little flash?
I can’t believe it.
Hump is a large mystery so pyramid in Egypt. 😉
The hump contains a juice box.
Maybe it sharpens razor blades, if you align it right? 🙂
The real OLY innovation is the ability to plug in bluetooth and GPS toys.
awaler.
There is a box of matches inside, that’s why is so big. Oh and an oil lamp.
I salud to Olympus with this camera ,. Is more dare to move forward and fill the need of photographic tools rather than Panasonic who always concerned with UN-wanted and UN necessary features,..
There is a BIG homework Panasonic to catch up ,.. They have the Resources, Money , and technologi but somehow they (DUMB) don’t know how to make a Photographic tool or maybe they just An Electronic Giant not A Camera Maker
The thing is far too narrow. It’s exactly the same width as an Ep3, that works for
The spacing and design of a Pen, but not more a more busy control set.
Should be at least 10 mm wider like the original. The grip does not help either, it only adds height.
Just look at 122mm crazy. Another cheap job by Olympus because it allows them to use the same injection mouldings as the Pen.
Shame.
Except it is molded of Magnesium.
Are you being sarcastic? I have trouble imagining that someone could feel this strongly about something so stupid.
yes 🙂
Sorry, I was talking to the other guy! Hope I didn’t make you feel bad. Hope I didn’t make the other guy feel bad, either, but I did want to needle him a bit for being dramatic.
You didn’t make me feel bad.
The handling and haptics are very important. The original OM was just wide enough for grip, with enough spacing for controls. This is too cramped and you will be surprised when you pick it up in the shop how small it is.
I suspect the reason is due to the cost of changing injection moulding frame. Yes they inject mag alloy as well. See above comment to Flash.
If they are going to use OM nomenclature, then do a proper job. Not a Pen in disguise.
Except they injection mold Mag Alloy as well. The difference in cost per body is minimal between metal and mag. About two dollars. Mag is not expensive these days.
What does cost is changing the injection moulded frame. Hence the Pen in disguise
Yes, clearly another shameful, cheap job!
How do you inject magnesium?
Proprietary Olympus process, introduced with the E-3.
I can’t believe so many comments criticizing the lack of flash. Is it so hard to carry a small flash for when you need it, which is probably rarely?
I use my pop-up flash on way less than 1% of my shots….
Carrying is one problem. The other is that by the time you find it and put it on you’ll miss a shot. Fastest focus of all ILCs won’t help much. And if it’s always on E-M5, you’ll get a Frankenstein looking camera… So, instead of addon EVF on E-P3, you have to put up with addon flash on E-M5. Not much of a progress.
It’s interesting. I am a 5D user. I do events and travel with NO flash.
EM5 is clearly not targeting soccer moms. And for advanced amateurs, a small flash in the forehead usually kills a good picture instead of helping make one.
I do agree that a small flash with tiltable head would be good emergency fill. I hope Oly can make one of those, or even make that as default accessory in the box.
A wireless TTL trigger would be much welcomed but I highly doubt building a wireless flash system is on the priority list of Olympus.
Actually there are times when I do find it annoying to carry a flash when I’m carrying the E-P2 around (mostly when I have the 14-42mm or 20mm lens on it, with the 14-150mm lens, the FL-36 tends to be part of the package). One of the reasons I bought an E-P2 in the first place was when I wanted to go light, but still have been image quality than a pocket or cell phone camera. If I intend to use flash, I will carry it, but I’ve had times when I didn’t have the flash, and I wished I had brought it with me, but it was too bulky. The FL-300R is perhaps more suited to carrying around, but it wasn’t available when I bought the E-P2.
“I use my pop-up flash on way less than 1% of my shots….”
Careful, you’ll wear it out.
I never use it. WOFTAM. This is one of the good things about the OMD 🙂
While I am OK that they will ship that puny/cute little flash in the box with the body and that we have a huge new video flash, I would also very much like to see a small bouncable and actually usable flash like their old T32 but with bounce like Sunpak RD2000. Even Fuji copied that design with their EF-20
I use that on my D7000 and its great, but it will always go off full power if on a non compatible body I guess. And it can only go +/- 1EV Where I frequently need at least +/-2 EV on Nikon
The little flash on the camera on the right is real little, but probably works better then any attached flash. You can carry it on your camera strap.
There are many flashes available for the m43 bodies.
They deliver the cam with the new flash for $ 1100?
Well the puny little one, probably cost less the 30 euros to make.
That would be ok, even if I would still prefer a built in flash 😉
flash, in China then 100th of 30Euro
It’s beautiful, I’m sold. The tilting touch-screen is sensational – touch screen brings all sorts of possibilities (I’ve often dreamed of being able to select exposure or focus points in a frame using a touch screen) while keeping the buttons and dials to a minimum.
No built in flash suits me fine – why have a compromised flash built in when I can slip a small but effective flash into the space it’s meant to go – the shoe.
The faux penta prism hump does looks taller than the traditional OM hump, but there will be a technical reason for it. I look forward to comparative pics with an OM4.
My only disappointment now is the confirmation of no ‘special’ OM lens adapter. Sadface indeed.
Am i the first if i say i am in love with the HUMP?
You are, but not the last
+1 !
Only double ^^ for me. 😉
Kiss the HUMP.
I dig it.
Hump it baby…. Hump it
Nobody has commented on the two shutter release buttons( body and battery pack) being strangely high, reminding me of very old style film camera releases. Most modern cameras have a shutter release which is only marginally proud of the surrounding collar making it possible to squeeze the release with the least shake. This tall button would appear to make that technique more awkward. Any thoughts as to this design decision?
The voigtlander 25mm will look nice on the black one….but will it perform much better?
The hump makes it OM-like, it’s a style signature. If it didn’t have the hump (and EVF), then the camera might as well be an Pen E-P4.
And the hump is REQUIRED so previous peripherals with accessory ports can be fitted above the veiwfinder. I dont see why people find this so hard to grasp
You mean if it didn’t have the accessory port. There would hardly be any hump at all if there was only an EVF. I guess Oly knows its market… those that want to ACCESSORIZE!
If the enthusiast Pen cameras can take advantage of accessories that use that accessory port… why shouldn’t their new flagship camera also be able to use those same accessories? Would you isolate the users that previously bought AP2 accessories by selling them a relatively crippled camera for the sake of cosmetics?
If you want the accessory port but no hump, forget about the integrated EVF and get an E-P3 (or E-P4 when it comes out). If you want an EVF but no accessory port, get a Panasonic G3 (or wait for the GH3 or G4 when it comes out). Else, don’t buy this camera and keep hoping for something prettier to come along.
Admin, what’s that thing attatched to the hotshoe/viewfinder on the middle EM5 in that picture?
Bluetooth ‘Penpal’ module.
It’s one of Oly’s toys/gadgets.
How about a remote flash trigger?
I’m really lusting after this camera – reminds me of good old SLR days, but in a more compact package and way cheaper to operate.
If Panasonic had done this 3.5 years ago, instead of the G1 (great at the price), they would now own the MILC Enthusiast market.
Although the Fuji X-Pro1 may have an edge on stills IQ, this camera with it’s Panasonic G3/GX1 sensor, and a sensible price-point is going to be a highly recommended buy.
For me the major break through for this cam is the accessories! I would gladly take a hump twice as large if I could plug in both GPS, bluetooth and electric toothbrush. I can see the marketing now:
“OLYMPUS OM-D: ACCESSORIZE YOUR LIFE!”
OK. Your theme is getting old. Move along.
black or silver… black or silver.. black or silverrr?
No built-in flash = no clear buy for me. Pity, otherwise it looks very good. If there is no built-in flash, I really don’t understand the large size of that central hump?!
admin,
i dont believe many are love the design. your poll have not tell the detail which specific part. overall many love it feature and layout. debate on the pyramid is still there 😀
anyway, no worry! olympus users will still buy this camera. if they are not buying this, what else they can buy from olympus 😀
That viewfinder “hump” is such big only because of the accessory port between the viewfinder and the hot-shoe. It certainly would look more aesthtic if the hump was lower. But Olympus could simply not design it differently with the look they had in mind. Constructing a camera looking more like NEX-7 would have forced a radical change in the controls of the camera compared to other PEN-cameras. Changing from using a PEN-camera to OM-D would then be very confusing if they operated in different ways.
all this obsessing over the hump has we wondering if people here are getting enough sex in their lives… just saying
Very OM-system pic from the 1970s/80s.
i like it.
If image quality is going to be an evolutionary step up from the Pen series, I am definitely in.
i like that 75mm.
So a kit could be something like
OM body
12mm , 45mm, 75mm, and at least 1 longer tele lens…
the macro 60mm looks tempting.
Altogether I think positive for Olympus and users.
Yet i am still very tempted by the new Fuji Pro…
and will be waiting for test results before I decide..
“The” 3 big open questions about the Olympus OM-D E-M5:
1. Who makes the 16MP sensor? AKA: Is it the Panny GX1 sensor?
2. What’s the point of the pro grip, battery pack, weather sealed body, and new weather sealed adapter if not to support the superb pro weather sealed 43 glass? AKA: To PDAF or not to PDAF 43 glass?
and…
3. What’s hidden behind the Olympus logo and what does it open to reveal? AKA: Why the big hump? AKA: Where’s my flash?
Wednesday, February 8, 2012, may still have some surprises in store for us.
PDAF = not happening. Doesn’t matter how many times you ask.
Jonko
tmrgrs
mewmew
OM-4ever
Chris K
Vril_Ya
Ranger 9
^^ What is this, your Christmas card list?
Admin, this is a m43 fanboy site. No wonder EM5 beats anything in a survey.
lol… and let see how many will buy. x100 sold 100k unit so far, impressive!
Yes it is! Why do they buy (just preorder?) it? And I think many of them will use it for old Leica M lenses!
Why are we so certain the device on the left cam is a flash? Yes, it could be, but maybe its a gps/flash transmitter/af illuminator unit instead? If no popup flash, then mustn’t there be a transmitter? If it a flash, than it seems smaller than any other in the system up until now, including those issued for smaller cameras…
I was thinking… what if the Olympus logo pops up to include a built-in flash (as norm), but Oly includes/sells a separate video “only” light (akin to the light in the middle of their new external flash? Then the camera has a built-in flash, the videocamera mode has a small pocket video light, and both bases are covered for basic shooting (photo and video). Including a video light (even if external) would be a boost to the video capabilities of the camera, especially for casual users, and would provide one more use for the battery pack(s) — to support video lighting without instantly draining the camera battery.
Except Admin says: No popup flash.
it will popup to show Bumblebee’s two LED eyes for video 😀
Logic says it is a flash with a design hint to the T20 flash on the OM series but the front of it (which would be the flash head) is angled which does not make a huge amount of sense if it is a flash. You could well be right with what you think. Would hopefully mean it would also work with the Pens.
I hope there is a non-functional flash in the hump. I hope it takes up the entire hump and that it looks very cool but does nothing at all. Well, perhaps it will make you think it is flashing, that would be nice.
From the picture, I’m wondering. Are a clip-on flash and thumbnail included in the package?
It will come with the flash, guide number 10; I expect it is the one to show on the camera to the left (it is real small must use a lithium cell).
If I get this unit I will attach to my camera strap. I do not know about the thumb-wheel. It will have to have a couple of things that have not been rumored for me to buy it, or wait for the next model and buy some glass now.
Too expensive. The end.
Disagreed! i would saya fair price for IS and weather sealed body
Expensive?
That depends on how and what you compare.
If that thing on the top of the left camera is a flah, it doesn’t even need to use a button battery / lithium cell. It could simply get its power over the accessory port from the camera. However, it doesn’t look like a flash in my opinion. Could be a gps logger or something…
*Sigh*
Oly both does great things and half you know what things.
If I see correctly, in the bottom center we have the stupid bluetooth module. Really was hoping that WiFi would be built into the camera or we would have a different module. It is stupid even today that you can have bluetooth or you can have flash but you cannot have both. How do not see how dumb this is!
I believe this is still an excellent effort, but they always leaving something behind
They did an excellent job of assembling a camera from available parts and tweaking them to make them better, but forward thinking they truely are not!
Where did they get the 5 axis stability from? Where did they get a small system camera weather sealing from? Where did they get the hump from? It is a camera people have been making them for over 150 years, there really is nothing new. It is the execution.
faboys to the max…
it is TWICE the price of Panasonic GX1 + X 14-42mm Lens kit! It is 3 times!! the price of (excellent) GF2 + couple of lenses!
It is MADLY expensive compared to DSLRs cameras, even good one. It is SONY NEX7 price!!!
this camera is worth probably £400 pounds, like GX1 is worth £300 pounds…
they are milking the cow, time will tell WHEN the bancrupcy knock on the door… as is the case with Panasonic right now (9 billion loss) to shitty selling E-P3 which even now is overpriced, compared to competition…
yet, NO ONE IS INTERESTED in buying E-P3, even if price would drop to half…
like it was stated here, m43 started as a good concept of ‘cheap’ cameras, it skyrocket to a professional territory with price, quality is 4 years behind though! Old sensors & weak ISO, of course I will change it for my £1000 kit, is soo awesoooomeeee…
it is weather sealed isn’t it?!? wow want!!!
@em5isoverpriced such a nice name
we are all adults here and can make or own descisions.
From what I hear Olympus are happy with their level of EP-3 sales.
EP-3 flickr activity is massive and happy.
As for Panny’s temporary loss is doesn’t mean a lot in the grand scheme of things.
The m43 concept was never cheap it was practical and enjoy your camera/video (if they saved a bit of costs y losing the mirror they had a choice to take the saving or invest it in the rest of the body).
Photographers and videographers who spend time outside will be very interested in weather sealing.
I left my canon 5d MII 24-70mm at home , i carry my ep3 12mm all the time , and im really satisfied with it , and im a profesional , living with my photos , so dont tell that, the M4/3 was not about price IS ABOUT SIZE AND PICTURE QUALITY, i wouldn’t not change my ep3 , not for a sony , non fuji, and I WOULD LOVE TO BUY AND EM5, instead of a D3 , for the price , and weight, thats for SURE ^^
yeah sure!! actually Nikon 1 and Canon GX 1 are a bargain, aren’t they?? they are priced as competition and usually better. For a body of those features, it’is well priced, and we are talking about an MSRP, price will drop bellow 1000 Euros in some months. Quit a deal if u ask me for a Weather sealed body with very good performance ( according to the rumors and based on the E-P3 reviews it should be the case, fast AF, no shutter lag, and good buffer, not as the NEXs that gives you 10 FPS BUT they don’t shoot more than that, i prefer having 4/5 FPS for 2/3 seconds than 10 FPS for JUST one second) This camera if there are no big issues with it will be an ideal streetphotography tool.
em5isoverpriced,
Was an E-M5 responsible for the breakup of your parents by any chance? Olympus fanboys look rational and levelheaded compared to your ranting.
I would be very interested in seeing where you are coming up with your numbers. Panasonic.com lists the price of the GX1 body-only as $700… and that is without any lens. You are already wrong and we haven’t even added the cost of the 14-42mm x lens??? And three times the price of the GF2 with a vague “couple of lenses”. Well the G-F2 with the 14mm kit is also selling for $700 so you are already more wrong than you were last time and we haven’t even added the second lens. Which second lens were you using to come up with your numbers? And you do realize that there is a GF3 out right? Why are we even comparing an older generation 12mp body to a brand new one and expecting the new one not to cost more??
In fact, your comparisons have only proven that the E-M5 is reasonably priced. If you took either of the cameras you mentioned, and added a viewfinder (which I doubt would perform as well as the new Oly finder) – how much more does the E-M5 cost than your rig? Maybe $200 more? Now factor in the new sensor (at least compared to your second example) with the latest processor engine and improved auto focus and a tiltable OLED screen. What’s that worth? Now how much does it cost for a magnesium body and weather proofing? Please share an example of a DSLR with those features that make this camera look “MADLY expensive” (it would have to be a DSLR because Panasonic and Sony don’t make anything comparable).
If anything, your post has convinced me of what a good deal this camera is. If you aren’t interested, that’s fine, don’t buy one. But don’t be a donkey about it.
Do you guys think there will be any chance of Olympus offering the new body with one of the new lenses instead of the 12-50mm?
Their bundled discount is usually a good deal and I would love to get the body with either the 75mm or the macro. Or better yet, a two lens kit with both! A guy can dream right?
A combo with one of the new primes would be great, and it’s heartening to see them in the photo, above. But I believe the current rumor is that the lenses are coming later than the camera, so kit _sounds_ unlikely.
As for double combo kit, I doubt it. The two lenses probably have too similar focal lengths and too specialized purposes to make such a kit attractive to many. But who knows?
Olympus will tell all on Wednesday. Fingers crossed for some interesting kit(s).
I’m sure you’re right.
I have noticed that sometimes the Olympus online store offers a discount on certain lenses if you add them to your cart with other products. If they had a deal where I could buy a silver E-M5, the 75mm, the 60mm macro, and have the total on checkout be $2000 or less… I don’t think I would be able to stop myself from ordering. And this from a guy who doesn’t even need a new camera!! (and who doesn’t have $2000 either)
Outside chance. Was hoping that they would offer a 25mm weather proof prime when it was anounced.
I hope that hideous humpy accessory port above the EVF just a hotshoe/port extension stacked on a lower level hotshoe/connection. Can be detached for those who use flash but not the accessory port…
an overkill features and accessories for such micro43 sensor camera and those lenses size are so dslr’ish
Haha made my day IHUR, thanks.
It is a good sign when the complaints start being about having too many features or accessories! m4/3 has small and slow lenses if you want them… in fact smaller than APSC is able to offer. But, if you want high quality and fast… well… they’re going to be bigger. Your choice though, and that’s the great thing about the format right now.
Compare apples with apples, lets see the size of equvelant APS fast lenses for mirrorless…..if they exist i.e!!!!
Or then carry the full DSLR with giant lenses
Pentax has several small, HQ lenses for APS-C. Nikon has some…..
Please tell me one Pentax / Nikon mirrorless lenses which has a faster aperture and is smaller than a m43 lens with the same focal view????
Pentax limiteds are mostly 2.8 or slower, there are only three with 1.8 and they are no pancakes either.
Cheers
Why should M4/3 have limited accessories? Why cannot if offer many options to its users?
Absolutely!!!
We have invested in m43 because we think it is the most logical future for enthusiast and prosumer photography. Panasonic started the whole brilliant idea but then lost their way with dummied-down P&S upgrades. Finally, Olympus have seen the light, but it took nudging from Fuji and Sony to show the way. Nikon gave us a fright, but their form factor is better suited to more entry level work, and Canon are coming very late to the party. We need full featured m43 systems, and the OM-D EM-5, together with some nice new fast primes and a range of flash accessories really is a great step forward. Panasonic had better have some similarly good news at the end of this week, as the GX1 doesn’t make up for all their lost opportunities. Viva m43!!
Why do you think Olympus was following Sony and Fuji?
A body like the E-M5 takes at least 2 years from drawing to delivery.
I seem to recall earlier interviews where there was talk about a Pro m43.
Hello everyone
I’m relatively new to the world of M4/3. Now I have GF2, 14/2.5, and 20/1.7. I’m impressed in the design and physical look of EM-5.
If I want to upgrade my GF2, should I move towards EM-5 or buy GX1?From what I read here, GX1 and EM-5 use the same sensor, don’t they? The IQ would not be different (or may be similar). Correct? What bothers me is that if IQ from both cameras is smilar, why should I pay more for EM-5?
Thank a lot. Paul
Weatherproofing, built in EVF to start with. Both those things are worth real dollars.
Olympus JPGs are generally recognized as being better, saves you shooting raw and PP.
If you later need bigger lenses (Panny 100-300mm for e.g.), you have the grips as an option with the E-M5 to help balance them.
But, hey, don’t upgrade at all unless you feel limited by your current camera. I use the E-PL1, and probably won’t buy this because I don’t need it yet. When I do, I’ll buy what is sensible at that time. You would be much more sensible to buy lenses. You don’t have the 45/1.8 yet, and the Panasonic F2.8 zooms are just around the corner.
Shove a skin on your GF2 to satisfy your upgrade fever!
Sensible advice! I also have an E-PL1 and although its various limitations (for ex. cannot give it to my wife for her to take a picture -they are always out of focus LOL) I stick to it waiting for a substantial upgrade and investing in glass 😉 we have so much good glass to choose from in M4/3!
I will be buying into the m4/3 system in a few weeks time and am torn between the GX1 and E-M5.
Let’s say the sensor is the same. Why the E-M5?
The E-M5 will have a better build quality, has the EVF built in, has image stabilisation built in, should have better overall AF performance, might be more versatile.
Why the GX1?
The GX1 is much simpler, much cheaper, more compact, and might be more ‘fun’ (or less serious) to use. Plus, money saved can go to lenses.
Different propositions, and I don’t know what will be the best investment for myself. I do think both cameras are priced acceptably.
Wait till a couple of days, the m-5 will be released on Tuesday and you will be able to learn a lot more about it then and shortly after. Remember the sensor is not the camera, but I am sure you will like either camera.
I will certainly wait for the first reviews before deciding. Both are great and it’s mostly down to how I feel about the cameras, and how much I want to invest in lenses.
Me too, I will have to decide between these two. I will be waiting for E-M5 reviews.
The Pana user interface is more straight forward. If you only shoot jpg, the Oly is better. RAW is of course always the best, but requires post processing.
IS on Pana lenses is very good, but not all lenses have. If you are looking at the very good Oly primes, an Oly camera with built in IS is better.
Flexilbe LCD is very useful
Manual focus (3rd party lenses) is more straight forward in Pana.
I have owned Oly EP1 and Pana GF1. Now I own a Pana G3: Same sensor as GX1, built in veiwfinder, swivel LCD – and is a lot cheaper than GX1. The later has slightly better build quality though.
One of the elements I have to consider is that I will have a budget now (I’m trading in my 7D), but likely won’t be spending great amounts any time soon after. If I buy the E-M5, I might be able to get it with the kit lens and 20mm. If I buy the GX1, there will be a lot more room for lenses. Especially as I would like to have the 25mm, or a nice set of primes (14, 20 and 45mm).
The only problem with manual focus on the E-P3 is that in magnified view, the entire image is magnified = difficult to compose pictures if the target moves. Otherwise it is at least as good as the Panasonic solution!
* assign Fn2 to toggle AF/MF
* set up manual focus to automatically magnify (selectable: 5x-14x) the image when you turn the focus ring. Ca 1/2 s after you stop turning the ring, the magnification disappears, and you can compose the picture.
Still, it would be even better if the edge of the image was without magnification, thus allowing instant composition.
pour faire simple il y a aussi le GF3 ! mais l’EM5 va être aussi simple a utiliser que le GF3 mais plus polyvalent, plus évolutif, pus complet, plus rapide que le GX1.Je pense que c’est un meilleur investissement…
Paul, the GX1 sensor is known (Panny sensor). We do not find out for sure about the sensor in the Olympus E-M5 until Wednesday 2-3PM, Japan time (or maybe later, when camera is released to reviewers/public).
Aside from the sensor, the Oly E-M5 offers weather-sealing. Panny is releasing some weather-proof lenses, so they may have a weather-sealed body coming out later this year too, but Oly has more experience in this area.
Oly E-M5 also has a special EVF (unknown special how), IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization) to work with any lens (even legacy lenses, e.g., Nikkor or Leica), Olympus colors and image processing, Olympus jpegs (again good color), versatile form factor (with optional grip for big hands or lenses), battery extender (optional battery bottom for long jobs), and PenPal gadgets (e.g., bluetooth, for what it’s worth; GPS would be cool).
In general, Panny’s strengths are filming, power-zoom (silent zoom for filming) lenses, and OIS lenses, while Oly’s strengths are photos, colors, jpegs, and IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization for any lens). With the latest IBIS, Oly may have an advantage for macro photography as well.
FYI.
Hi paul,.
I have GX1 for several weeks and honestly ,.I don’t like the image Quality from GX1 ,.the Color smeared,.AWB ,un natural,.but the High ISo is a big improvement over GF1,.so is a decent camera for a low light shooting with high ISO,.but again ,Less detail and the color smeared,.
I rather to have more noise but still have a fine/sharp detail like GF1 or EP 3,.personnaly its not a good value concerning an Upgrade from GF1,coz GF1 have better Image Quality in a good light condition ISO100-400 ,.GF1 is better than GX1,..
About EM-5 ,nobody knows,.but you can see the comparison between GX1 >< EP-3 @ stevehuffphoto.com,..will determine your choice
l’EM5 a la stabilisation 5axes pour tous les objectifs, il a un viseur intégré, l’écran est orientable, il n’est probablement pas plus gros que le GX1 il est évolutif et résistant. Pourquoi hésiter ?
I can understand people’s concern about the sensor quality, tweaking and issues and Olympus having to do using pana-sensors.But It’s hilarous to see negative comments on the the sensor size itself though. So what.. a m43 camera system doesnt deserve dlsr type accessories range? 😀 ..m43 is a system and it has its limitations both in terms of size and quality. simple.
I don’t have a problem with the sensor size. It’s the lack of significant improvement over time that puts me off.
No real problem with the exterior design of the OMD, bit worried by the lack of direct buttons though. Hopefully someone in Olympus has worked out how to do menus now.
The price difference over G3 is something everyone will have to decide for themselves. If the sensor was much better than G3/GX1 then it’d be a no brainer.
The G3 16MP sensor is a significant improvement.
Are everyone shure that it is the G3 sensor? The G3/GX1 has a base ISO of 160, and rumors about the sensor in the E-M5 is that it has a base ISO of 200.
This difference can be because Olympus has altered the tone curve to get more highlight headroom.
significant improvement over what ? the previous sensor in olympus cameras (EP1 to EP3) ? Ok yes
But if you look at pana sensors, G3 is worse than GH2 that is worse than GH1 so it is a bit disapointing…and more generally pana sensors are not the best on the market, look at Sony nex7 sensor, the gap is huge !! (I don’t like nex however)
For me, sensor is the weakness of m43 not beacause of size but because of technology…
The gap is not so big. Compare a G3 sensor against Canon EOS 5D Mark II at ISO 3200 and the Panasonic one wins by a huge margin. It is a good sensor. Compare it to Nikon J1/V1 and it wins too.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonynex7/page26.asp
Fan,
Look again. The G3 does not beat a 5DII at all!
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonynex7/page28.asp
Run the compare, select all cameras and add the G3 and 5DII to the comparison.
The G3 scores poorly against an old camera at end of model life, and is thrashed by the new one.
Digital Camera World for March 2012 tests the GX1. According to the test, the Dynamic Range at base ISO (TIFF) is more or less identical to that of the E-P3, and only slightly better (1EV) at high ISO values. It is *significantly* poorer than that of the NEX-5N (2 EV at base ISO; 4.5 EV at high ISO).
Personal experience with the E-P3 in mixed light (shadow, but some strong spots of sunshine) has given me JPEG pictures with totally burnt-out spots. Ok — perhaps I’m just an amateur photographer, and perhaps the RAW file can save the picture. But to me, the lack of good DR is the main concern I have.
So — if the DR is better in the E-M3, I will be thrilled. If not, that should really be among the 1-3 main concerns for Olympus for the M6.
Yes Dxo finds the same. Raw format allows to recover some highlights and shadows but it doesn’t do any miracle. Dynamic range is what is it…
I think one thing that Olympus need to sort out is the accessory port conflict. What is the point of have all these accessry port accessories, when you can only use one at a time? From what I can see there is already a conflict with the E-M5, because from what it appears you could not use a flash with any other accessory. So they need a splitter and a bracket to allow the use of more than one accessory together.
I think a splitter would be cool. Imagine a remote viewfinder!?!?! Or just two viewfinders on one camera!!!!
I agree it would be very nice to have a remote cable for the accessory port 2 connector. In the meantime, you can use a Yongnuo remote control live view for remote viewing and shutter release. Here is a review I did a few months ago:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1008&message=39307970&changemode=1
@SteB
re: micro for thirds port splitter
there is a business opportunity for you, get designing 😉
Hope this funny system will not focus ‘HUNT’ in low-light.
And hope for a useable Continuous AF, E-P3 is unusable very suck.
Nope.
In fact, EP-3 focus is exceptionally fast. EM-5 should be better and even is faster than D4. This EM-5 may blow away every FF camera in the market. We will see soon.
Anybody have a clue what flash is attached to the bracket at the bottom right? At first glance it looks like a FL-36, but it has a different shape, and seems to have an extra flash tube on the flash body, a bit like the Metz 58.
I reckon it’s the FL-600R
frontal reflector = Lamp for video?
I also think the is FL-600R ?
The 75 will cost around 1200
!!!!!!!!!! 1200 ??? but this would be the most expensive lens on m43 !! (maybe the panas 12-35 and 35-100 will be as expensive) The 75 is not even weather sealed !!
I don’t think the 75 will be more expensive than the 12, even if it has the same all-metal finish. A fast 75 mm lens is much easier to make than a fast 12 mm. Yes, it uses more glass, but probably fewer and/or easier to produce lens elements.
The hump is the EVF. Have a look how big the additional EVF for the EP2 was. Oly just didn’t manage to make the EVF as small as sony. Even panasonic’s new EVF for the GX1 is big.
Sony are much better in miniaturization, they always were.
What is Guide Number of two new flash?
In small model almost i waiting better that integrate of others cameras.
E-520 – E-620 = GN12
E-3 – E-30 – E-5 = GN13
My question is: When (approximately) will it be on (European/American/Asian) market?
Shipping is supposed to start end of March, so count on middle of April.
From the system image, it looks like the EVF needs to be pulled out/extended when in use.
Yep, I share that impression. A small detail, but it makes a big difference for ergonomics.
Yes, it will be a bad ergonomics. Or, if indeed it is the case, we can think of it the other way: the EVF can be retracted/compacted when not in use.
Yes, it will be a bad ergonomics. Or, if indeed it is the case, we can think of it the other way: the EVF can be retracted/compacted when not in use.
@admin: Why did you expect a new OM adapter? There is already the MF-2 OM. A weathersealed version does not make sense as OM lenses are not weathersealed.
Any hints regarding the lens price tags?
@emde
I have a feeling there won’t be a weather proofed OM adapter from Olympus as there is little demand, maybe from a third party???
YouDidntDidYou,
What would be the point of that? Do you know that OM wasn’t weathersealed?
Photoshop picture to compare E-P2 + VF-2 vs E-M5 :
http://ben30.free.fr/photo/e-p2_e-m5.jpg
Nice comparison! Thanks for the work.
It shows the good work Olympus engineers have done here. Remember it is all about containing (here HW/manufacturing) costs, by using appropriate components, like it or not..
I would then say: good job Olympus!
Will E-M5 work with Panasonic X 14-42mm lens ?
Any Ideo on the release date of those lenses?
Love the system. The picture reminds me the OM system picture Olympus used on the brochure during the 70s and 80s. Finally Olympus is converging to a great system camera with a lot of potential. In the comming future
Continuartion:
we’ll see a much better sensor and this will be a top camera system.
While not a deal killer, the 1/4000th shuttter is a bit disappointing.
I allready know one guy that cancelled his preorder for the nex 7 and another his preorder for the fuji X pro 1, both in favor of the E-M5.
Lets go for 600!
MGuarini, I’m keeping my PreOrder for the Fuji.
If the E-M5 works out I might buy one cheap after the ‘new’ wears off, or wait for the updated model with a Sony/Fuji/Canon sensor in a year or so when they have ironed the bugs out.