The new E-M5 camera will be announcd within one hour and there are new “last minute” leaks 🙂
First you can find the full new lens press release on Olympus Australia website (Click here to downlaod the pdf).
Cnet pusblished their E-M5 video review fo a couple of minutes on youtube (it has now been removed).
Than we have the full press release at E-P1.net.
Image samples (Click on it to enlarge):
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/b1112958.jpg
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/p1020152.jpg
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/p1130148-sm.jpg
http://blog.bergencountycamera.com/wp-content/gallery/olympus-e-m5/s2221124-sm.jpg
And Clubsnap (Click here) posted a full interview with MR. Terada! Here is the text:
“CS (Clubsnap): Top of mind concern is actually how Olympus is intending to build back trust with consumers after the recent accounting scandal?
TT (Terada): I would like to apologize to our clients and want to confirm that our Imaging business is separate from the department that was in the news. Business at Olympus Imaging Corporation is going on as usual. We continue in building client loyalty and trust by continuing to develop and introduce new products and by making sure that our service to clients is good.
CS: The PEN series has been a huge success since it was first launched appealing to a younger generation , which segment of the market is the OM-D targeted at ? What’s Olympus rational in the OM-D E-M5 design and when was it concieved?
TT: We began to consider the M4/3 system 3 to 4 years ago. We identified 2 target groups of users of the 4/3 system : Customers who wanted an easy to use camera and customers who were serious photographers looking for a compact system that was easy to carry in any situation. The 1st product, the PEN E-P1 was developed and introduced to distinguish it from a DSLR. 1 year ago, we considered the concept of a FULL System that benefited from using a viewfinder where composing from a large LCD screen was difficult (eg with longer lenses)
CS: Please share with us more on the new 16mp live MOS sensor and 3D autofocus found on the OM-D?
TT: The new 16mp Live MOS image sensor produces lower noise at High ISO and boasts Dynamic Range that is a 1/3 improvement over current sensors. Combined with an advanced TruePic VI image processor, the results ensure superb color fidelity , at high resolution, sensitivity and colour accuracy.
TT: Autofocus is faster (fastest in the world) because of the new 3D tracking autofocus technology. Apart from being faster, it is also more accurate.
TT: 3D autofocussing sequentially tracks subjects (even subjects that are moving directly towards/away ) and works best at 4fps
CS: How is 5 Axis Image Stabilizing in the OM-D different from normal image stabilizing?
TT: Current image stabilizing technology relies on 2 axis. The problem was that rotating/rolling actions could not be compensated. 5 Axis Image Stabilizing takes care of this problem with 2 magnets front and back with the sensor ‘floating’ in between. It takes care of pitching, yawing, horizontal/vertical AND ROTATIONAL movements. An entire new mechanism had to be designed to make this possible.
CS: I noticed that the OM-D body and the new lenses are splash proof, will it need much maintenance on the part of the owner ?
TT: Owner will need to just wipe a wet OM-D with a towel to dry it off . It can withstand heavy rains and is built to the standards of our E-series of cameras and lenses. Our E cameras has not received a ‘Wet Claim’ warranty yet till today. The OM-D line weather sealing are of the same standard in sealing.
CS: Will peak focus be coming soon?
TT: Maybe in future. I feel that magnified focusing is still better
CS: Any plans to make a lens adaptor to allow the use of older OM lenses onto M4/3 bodies like the OM-D ?
TT: I cant remember the model , I think its MF2, but we have one already
CS: ha ha Oops…
CS: Many photographers who adopt the Micro 4/3 system have been using these cameras for street photography and photojournalism type images but lens choices are still limited. How difficult would it be to design and manufacture an ultra wideangle prime lens eg a 10mm f2.8 ?
TT: Technically it is possible…. it might be a little big if you want fast f-stop . We already have the ultra-wide 9-18mm zoom and the recently released 12mm f2. Yes, we can consider the possibility of faster and wider prime lenses.
CS: When will the OM-D be available to the public ? Which countries will get it first ?
TT: Soonest on sale will be around mid to late March. Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan should be the first countries in Asia to receive them
CS: What will the OM package be like? Body only? Body with Kit Lens ?
Jimmy Loh (Olympus Imaging Singapore GM): It will be in 3 combinations … Body Only … Body + the new 12-50 zoom … and Body + 14-42 zoom + 40-150 telezoom
CS: The current OM-D max shutter speed of 1/4000s is limiting especially with minimum ISO of 200…. Any plans to increase max shutter speed?
TT: Yes this will be a problem in shooting in bright sunlight, we will consider this in future
CS: What about lenses for birding? eg. a 300mm.
TT: We would like to cover the photography field so yes that is a serious consideration we have to think about in the future
CS: With the EP3 and now EM5, the fastest Contrast Detection AF in class, do you think that CDAF can now rival PhaseDetection AF in speed and AF tracking?
TT: This is reliant on shooting speed and it is difficult to test side-by-side
CS: Any plans on introducing pancake lenses in future ?
TT: No comment ha ha. Its under consideration
CS: The XZ-1 compact has been a huge success since its launch in 2011. Can we expect an upgrade sometime soon?
TT: Yes there will be a successor to the XZ-1….. ha ha ha but cannot reveal anything yet.
CS: And with so much attention on M4/3 Olympus seems to have been a little quiet on the E-series
TT: We continue to be firmly supporting the E-system”
Cool!
46 Responses
Here’s some samples of the E-M5!
http://e-p1.net/olympus-om-digital-cameras/olympus-releases-the-om-digital-e-m5-(samples!)/
Admin, enjoy tonight. You’ve done a GREAT job over the past few weeks and have built a little Oly community single- handed ly. THANKYOU!
Those are both… beautiful.
The macro… it… it has a SCALE on it, and what appears to be a focus limiter? HOT DAMN.
Why do m4/3 cameras not have an inbuilt electronic focus limmiter – definable in cm/m & inch/ft from and too by FW with any m4/3 lens….
And scale? – again why is that not just read out on screen, real time?
On lens focus limmit is just old thinking…. come on bring these machines up to date…
I actually prefer the manual controls like that- I’m not much for electronic by wire stuff, although I do wonder why it’s not included on the read out screens.
Well, Olympus certainly considers to do a lot of stuff “in the future”! Probably no focus peaking though!
From what I’ve been reading focus peaking is not all it’s cracked up to be. Magnification still reigns for precise focussing.
yeh like all the things we ask for…. eventualy they will get there!… after everyone else…
I like what was said about weather sealing that it is the same standard of the E-5! I thought it was going to be less.
The leak that cannot be stopped!
Very interesting interview. Surprised about the ongoing support for the E Series. I thought this would replace it.
As a side, does anybody know what inhibits the E-M5 to go to only ISO 200 at the minimum? Is this something that could be rectified with a firmware upgrade or something borne of the sensor or processor capability?
Its not a FW solvable issue for shaw… Possibly a sensor set thing but I think (without knowing) its a sensor drive/read circuit that defines base ISO… so the same sensor could have diffrent base ISOs if driven by diffrent circuits… I’m taking a bit of a guess on this tho…
anyone know for shaw?
I have the same issue with my GX1. Why can’t we have ISO 50 or 25. With the fast primes I have picked up…I am realizing that I really need to get some ND filters…which I have NEVER needed before.
Here’s the Australian press release
http://www.olympus.com.au/getmedia/389c461a-8841-40d3-98ce-7d0f01ea021c/PR1202001.pdf.aspx
I HAVE to own that 75mm f1.8!!!!! Any idea what quarter that this lens will be released?
The OM is not my camera…but if it comes in at about $1000 for body only…I can see it being a good choice. The GX1 and LVF2 cost $900 (I personally love the form factor of that combo)..but it is a no brainer to spend the extra $100 and pick up this OM as it offers a lot of extras. Definitely.
it says end this year…..too bad it takes so long, as it was my plan to get both the E-M5 and that lens asap. now need to change plan again.
no…the press release says ” by the end of the year”…that would mean anytime between now and then.
there is a full press realease on the Aussie Oly site:
http://www.olympus.com.au/Learn—Explore/Latest-News/The-New-Olympus-OM-D-Compact-System-Camera-Series-.aspx
http://www.olympus.com.au/getmedia/389c461a-8841-40d3-98ce-7d0f01ea021c/PR1202001.pdf.aspx
also some other stuff here:
http://www.olympus.com.au/Learn—Explore/Blog/Olympus-Blog/February-2012/The-Beginning-of-the-New–OM-D-Create-Your-Own-Wor.aspx
> CS: Will peak focus be coming soon?
> TT: Maybe in future. I feel that magnified focusing is still
> better
I guess we will have to wait for the EM-7
> CS: The current OM-D max shutter speed of 1/4000s is limiting
> especially with minimum ISO of 200…. Any plans to increase max > shutter speed?
> TT: Yes this will be a problem in shooting in bright sunlight, > we will consider this in future
Wow! that sucks! I am thinking they are hardware limited otherwise it would have been in already and we will have to wait until the next iteration of the camera
I really wonder how good the new is will work, also the stabilized view through the viewfinder.
Here’s the Australian EM-5 press release.
http://www.olympus.com.au/getmedia/389c461a-8841-40d3-98ce-7d0f01ea021c/PR1202001.pdf.aspx
http://olympus.com.au/Learn—Explore/Blog/Olympus-Blog/February-2012/The-Olympus-OM-D-E-M5–Breaking-Down-the-Tech.aspx
OM-D released with sample pics!
http://www.kineda.com/olympus-om-d-e-m5-released-with-sample-pics/
240 fps frame rate??!!! Why cant we have that in recorded video?
thats the max evf refresh rate
“The new 16 megapixel LiveMOS sensor with a maximum 240fps frame rate captures broadcast quality Full HD video.”
What does it mean?
the 240 fps is the refresh rate of the sensor and evf when shooting video i think?
Well, if they can read it, why not output it? 😉
http://olympus.com.au/Learn—Explore/Blog/Olympus-Blog/February-2012/The-Olympus-OM-D-E-M5–Breaking-Down-the-Tech.aspx
Why do you need to program which eye you use? Left vs Right on the EVF? Is their pupil tracking? Interesting what it could be for.
Wow! Is all I can say about the 1st sample image. Is that straight out of camera, no ND filters, no stacking exposures? 200iso, 1/4000s in bright sunlit snowfield with no blown highlights? And still all that detail in the blacks? Either Oly marketing dept is sh*tting me, or the incredible DR claims are true! Can’t wait to see an independent review (with exif info)…..
removed
Sadly the dual scale appears merely be a metric and imperial scale and a focus limiter. I’ve certainly lost interest in it and probably the E-M5. Without extension tubes and converters another infinity to 1:1 macro doesn’t interest me, I’ve already got a bagful and even a couple for 4/3. I was going to get a GH2 but put it off to see what the O-MD brought to the table. However I’ll GH2 up now. Luckily Mathers have got free LR3 with the body only now, so it will save me £80 updating LR2. The video is the bummer for me. I really need the video crop modes and at least 50p. The GH2 only has it in 720, but it has it. I did want the IBIS and weather sealing. However, I think I’ll just have to wait until the E-M7 comes out, which shouldn’t be too long, unless they choose to make us wait until the E-M9.
ok steB thank YOU for clearing that up. u answered all the questions i had about your plans. thanks again!
🙂
LoL. Can someone ask me about My plans? Heheh
SteB, thanks for sharing your macro insights. You’ve enlightened me considerably with just a few posts. I too am sorry the 60mm hasn’t turned into the 2.5:1 – 1: .5 (or so) you were looking for. I was really interested in the stronger macro as well.
At least this one is effectively a 2:1, so perhaps that will be interesting.
Cheers.
I will probably be aiming to used what I described before to get higher magnification a reversed manual focus 24mm or 28mm f2.8. I’ll put it on manual extension tubes. I might try one of those cheap bellows. A bellows is mor easily adjustable but they are very delicate in the field and the bellows part easily torn. Alternative secondhand enlarger lenses like the Scheider Componon S or EL-Nikkors are good. The 50mm f2.8 are the most commonly available and can give all the magnification you need. The manual extension tubes are so cheap that you can get 2 or 3 sets if you want really high magnification. I might look at a focusing helicoid for more adjustability. The Olympus 65-116mm auto extension tubes are good for adjustability. Unfortunately they seem to have become more collectable lately, and are more expensive and harder to find.
I’ll probably be getting a GH2. I need the video for a few projects and sadly I think the E-M5 is a bit limited for that. Although I do like it generally. I feel they need some auto extension tubes to use with the 60mm f2.8 macro or it’s a bit restrictive for me.
120fps maximum EVF display rate in still shooting with 29ms display lag enables sequential shooting display with minimal viewfinder delay (default frame rate is 60fps, adjustable to 120fps). Video refresh during video recording is as fast as 240fps, reducing the rolling shutter effect entirely.
No focus peaking, no sale.
Me too.
“CS: Will peak focus be coming soon?
TT: Maybe in future. I feel that magnified focusing is still better”
Why not let the user choose? They are after all not mutually exclusive. It is laughable that they talk about building up consumer trust, and take the consumers for mugs by rationing easy to implement features, but maybe they will offer it to you on a future model. Actually the NEX-7 is starting to look more interesting. Yes the lenses are crap but at least it has peaking, and I can even stick all my Canon macro lenses on it with the Conurus/Metabones adapter.
Totally agree! NEX is the best choice for legacy lenses right now.
Anyway, the OM-D seems to be a great camera if someone wants native AF lenses.
Agree. I prefer to have something like focus peakng in Sony. It will be like a dream to use my Zeiss and Voigt easier with a classic, retro Olympus body.
Anyone heard any more about the new pansonic lenses ? Is the 35-100 weather sealed ?
I doubt any Panasonic lens will be weather sealed. They don’t even have a weather sealed body and they never had one.