Olympus is sharing the 5axis stabilization to Casio. The newly announced ZR800 has the same 5axis system but with one limitation: it doesn’t work in video mode. As I told you weeks ago also some future Sony A and E-mount cameras will use the 5 axis stabilization. In exchange Olympus will get super brand new Sony sensors.
96 Responses
Startng with the sensor in the em1?
I now Olympus needs to make money but at this rate 5 axis IS will be a generic & common industry feature!…lol
Olympus good to see you doing some business and bring on that 10 axis IS you’ve been hiding!
“Startng with the sensor in the em1?”
No.
@Ash
The em1 is expected to have a 16mp with phase detect on the sensor so technically it’s a new sensor or perhaps at least a revised version of the previous one.
Physics limits stabilization to 6 axes at most. Here, “axis” is marketing speech for degrees of freedom of which there are 6 in three-dimensional space, 3 rotional and 3 translational.
“Axis” obviously emphasizes the 3 rotational degrees of freedom which are stabilized by Olypus’ 5 axis IS in addition to the traditional 2 degrees of freedom stabilization represented by shifting in the image plane. BTW: The rotational sensor stabilization is important for video; this limits GX7 when used without stabilized lenses. The 6th “missing” degree of freedom in the 5 axis IS is the translation along the optical axis which directly relates to focussing.
5 axis IS is pretty much the maximum which is possible conceptually. There can be improved versions of a 5 axis IS, though.
Startng with the sensor in the em1?
I know Olympus needs to make money but at this rate 5 axis IS will be a generic & common industry feature!…lol
Olympus, good to see you doing some business and bring on that 10 axis IS you’ve been hiding!…sell it to Nasa.
Admin, any new juicy bits of info on that 81 point af in the em1?
Let me get rid of my reserve for the GX7 then!!
-NAAAAAAAAAAH!
5axis stabilization but without video?
fail 🙁
It means only digitally stabilized video, which does not work good enough (and produces jello efect)
It’s a bit disappointing if the new OM-D doesn’t have a new sensor. Ok, there will be PDAF probably and it will be compatible with 4/3 lenses but other than that, is it THAT much different from a E-M5? Will it be worth the $1500 price tag?
Rest assured, Olympus receives a licensing fee for its proprietary 5-axis IS.
@C.C.
Me thinks so too, along with forthcoming lens designs for Sony.
Licensing technology was one of my suggestions for Olympus to make extra money that I made here yonks ago…
Panasonic had 5-axis in some camcorders before it appeared in the e-m5 surely this would be a cheaper more simple way to do it for a P&S
Bye bye panasonic
And hello Casio? 😉
“Sony A and E-mount cameras will use the 5 axis stabilization. In exchange Olympus will get super brand new Sony sensors.”
People need to realize that Olympus or Nikon or any other company does not “get new sensors”, in exchange for something or otherwise. Sony’s semiconductor business is a separate company from its camera business. Any company that wants sensors simply has to provide the specs for the kind of sensor they want to buy and Sony’s semiconductor company will fabricate it for them. After all only Olympus or Panasonic use 4/3 sensors. Sony does not, so they will fabricate 4/3 sensors only if Olympus/Panasonic place an order.
“Any company that wants sensors simply has to provide the specs for the kind of sensor they want to buy and Sony’s semiconductor company will fabricate it for them”
This is probably true even for the biggest competitor.
However if done this way it is not a Sony sensor it belongs to the company commissioning it. If it is an off the self solution, even with a small amount of customisation it will be a sony sensor.
As for 4/3 size sensors, Sony may go to Olympus and offer a specific 4/3 sensor solution with guaranteed specific output quality. Its then up to Olympus to take it up or change the specification within the offering, commission a different one or go elsewhere.
The specifications of most current sensors are way beyond the usage requirements of most camera users.
It is about time sensor alternatives were offered. Versions such as very high resolution, high iso with a lower resolution, balanced use and other variations. All available round the same body. That way many who shoot in the dark could opt for a high iso sensor with super image quality that is not compromised by the need for high resolution and the other way round.
Olympus already bought the best MFT sensors from Sony (like Panasonic with GH3) in E-M5, E-PM2, E-PL5, E-P5. Olympus can buy anytime the best sensors from Sony.
Instead that Olympus to receive the best video from Sony … they receive nothing (they will pay anyway to Sony for that best sensors), but Olympus gives to Sony: their knowledge in IBIS and their knowledge in lenses.
Why Olympus doesn’t receive from Sony their knowledge in sensor making ?
Sony also bought 10% from Tamron, but I didn’t hear that Tamron gave their knowledge in lenses to Sony.
M43 is dead. Just realized guys start selling your lens and body’s
To fan boys here cuz. In near time will cost nothing and buy cameras with decent size sensor
Yep, so we can buy ff cameras and get “shallow dof”, cause nowadays that is the only parameter to judge a camera’s iq. +100 and thumbs up for us smart comment
Shallow DOF!
Bl00dy silly, just not good enough. I want to shave with it. Next time get it right. Finger cut is not sharp enough either.
Im still waiting on that camera recommendation I asked you for weeks ago
Dont feed this troll
Giving away one of their most attractive and unique technologies to everyone seems to be a very bad move, if Oly is only getting new sensors and nothing more, what appeal will there be left in Olympus cameras if you Sony itself will have BOTH 5 axis AND Sony sensors as well ? what’s the point then ? at least with 5 axis Oly had an advantage over Nex cameras, now it has none, in fact, now the trolls arguments make more sense than ever, once APS-C lens catalogs reach a healthy volume the only difference will be sensor size (besides lens size, but will that be enough ? does m4/3 have good enough marketing to make that point to customers?)
Olympus is giving away too much and receiving too little, maybe they should have opted for Toshiba or some other sensor manufacturer that has no personal interest in the market. By signing a contract with Sony it seems like they actually made a deal with a devil.
They should’ve made a deal with Pany, that way 5 axis would’ve stayed an exclusive m4/3 standard feature and they would’ve had something to bargain with Pany to make them cut their ¨limiting of sensor access cr@p¨ like they did with the 12mp sensor for years. This is a sign that Oly willing to make a buck from anywhere it can to stay profitable, and that’s understandable, but it only makes m4/3 weaker. It’s like being at a poker table and actually giving the other players your best cards.
Maybe Oly is making money out of licencing the 5 axis tech to others. Is that a bad thing?
Yes, think so. 😉
that’s precisely what I said, Oly prefers to make money by licensing 5 axis but at the same time weakens m4/3 by letting others have a technology which could’ve remained as an advantage to the system. That’s money for today and ruin for tomorrow.
BTW what kind of technology could Oly possibly implement right now that’s unavailable from other manufacturers ? They said there would be a viewfinder revolution, that turned out to be just stabilized EVF, then they promised the ¨one beautiful system¨ and we know that’s just PDAF for 4/3 lenses, etc… 5 axis was truly the only unique feature Oly had up its sleeve and they’re gonna sell it to the other players.
There’s just no way licensing 5 axis to other companies, even mobile phones, could bring Oly uo from the hole they dug themselves into. This is no Oly fanboy bait, I myself own an Olympus E-PL1, I love their cameras, but I’m trying to be objective here, Oly is making a big mistake.
@AMVR
Olympus has other technologies coming 😉
BTW
Imagine how much Olympus will make if the license 5 axis technology to mobile camera makers ( where it’s really needed)
Yes, I can imagine they are developing some kind of 5 axis mark II stabilisation, then free-axis stabilisation or even no-axis stabilisation, after that independant position stabilisation, etc. So don’t worry about selling old 5-axis tech. 😉
As with most joint ventures, I suspect Sony could have developed the 5-axis on their own, and Olympus would have gotten nothing.
Without this agreement, the EP5 might not have had PDAF. It is entirely possible that Oly beat Sony to market with the shared technologies.
Why exclusive is fact. The tiny sensors dint perform well anyway as small sensors go better big sensors aswell so m3 is dead. Start selling lens now
OMG ,.you are right,
.i think i can understand now, why your name is Shallow DOF,
.its because your Brain share the same name; Shallow , your depth of field of your photography knowledge is way too THIN and SHALLOW.
Its really awesome when you picked your name to shown your knowledge about this topic.
congrats
You chose to use a particular format, show enough rational and maturity to allow others to enjoy using the format they chose without pestering them.
You didn’t have to justify your choice to anyone so what makes you think anyone here must justify it to you?
Perhaps you should explain to medium format big boys why you’re using that little crop 35mm format?
You really need to sell our Canon or Nikon gear boy, today it’s like using a 90’s mobile phone when all the people are using the next century technology!
Just compare our camera image quality with E-Pl5 or the new Panasonic to see why people don’t sell this type of gear…
Maybe all you want is to buy m43 stuff from them… lol
Your photos of in-focus noses leaves a lot to be desired, noob.
In a year’s time everyone will have their own patented solution, just like it was with live view, sensors shaking off dust, electronic level, shadow adjustment filter, art filters etc etc. It’s a smart move. They will introduce some new features to stay ahead in the game.
AMVR wrote “Giving away one of their most attractive and unique technologies to everyone seems to be a very bad move”
You mean Olympus is a charitable organization “giving things away”? You are naive like so many others. Companies do not “give anything away”. They license technologies and make money on it. Given the fact that Olympus’ camera is currently not profitable, they must be looking for revenue streams by licensing their technology. They pay for Sony’s sensors and Sony/CASIO pay them for the 5-axis IBIS.
You call me naive but in fact YOUR view is over-simplistic.
They ARE giving it away. They’re under economic pressure to stay profitable, Sony has them by the groin since without their sensors Oly would fall behind every other manufacturer much like when they were using Pany’s 12mp sensor. They need Sony to stay afloat, but Sony doesn’t need them as much. Giving them 5 axis only strengthens their position on the market, whereas Oly gains nothing new.
Not only will the licensing of 5 axis amount to very little in the grand scheme of things regarding Olympus economics, Sony does not loose any advantage on their side. The strategical advantage that 5 axis means for m4/3 is way more valuable than handful of coins Oly will get from the licensing of it. 5 axis means people could potentially prefer an Oly camera over a Sony camera (given the same Sony sensor). An Olympus camera sold is way more important and profitable for Oly than a few cents per licensed 5 axis inside a Sony camera.
Just how much more are they gonna make from licensing ? is it more than what they could make by selling their own cameras ? more than what they could gain from attracting Nex users into m4/3 because of 5 axis ?
How many sales will Olympus loose once Sony has 5 axis ? what reason other than small lenses will there be left for consumers to choose m4/3 ? How good is Oly’s marketing at transmitting that idea to the general public ?
Yes, companies do not give anything away, every 5 year old knows that. But business is not whether you receive money or not, there’s always money involved, that’s a given, it’s about how much money you end up with at the end of it. A transaction of this sort means you either loose money and positioning or gain them, in this case Oly is doing the former and Sony the latter.
Olympus is receiving the short end of this deal, plain and simple.
How do you know for sure Olympus is giving it away? Are you on Olympus’ board and know the inside details? According to the rumors Sony will provide 5-axis IBIS from Olympus on its FF Nex body. Since Olympus does not play in that space it does not matter. If Sony is not willing to fulfill their order for sensors they can go to Toshiba as Nikon has done for D7100/D5200. Or even use Panasonic’s new sensor if it is good enough. But why would Sony like to lose their business? They are struggling to be profitable as a company.
This article is wrong.
OLYMPUS is sensor shift Stabilization,
On the other hand, Casio is lens shift Stabilization and Digital processing, and seems to do it with 5 axis revision.
Yes, this “news” is totally wrong. Casio has standard OIS. Then they split a longish exposure into a burst of exposures and calculate the image from those. According to Casio OIS gives plus 2 stops and burst mode plus 3 stops, together plus 5 stops (in certain blablabla conditions). Because of burst they call it 5 axis. Nothing to do with Olympus or Olympus IBIS.
-p-
Thanks for heads up on that. It’s a bit too easy for everyone to get excited over false assumptions.
Maybe it’s comparable to the “false” 5 axis IS that Olympuses uses in their SH-50 that combines classical optical IS with digital IS of the other axes. In my eyes it was a markting error of Olympus to call that 5-axis IBIS, because they justified other companies to do so as well.
Look, Guys. Beggars cannot be choosers. It’s about survival for Olympus, given the problems it has had and still have, and with the downturn in camera markets, it has little choice.
If you look on the bright side, it probably means that Olympus can again get the latest super sensor well before anyone else (like the one in the E-M5) and make a killing using that in the next OM-D. As long as its cameras are ahead of other competing ones, with the help of Sony’s sensors, it is not all bad. The E-M5 has had a good run due to this early use of its sensor (the best by far at that time). The E-PM2 and E-PL5 also had a big lead in that class before anyone else had such IQ for a small iLC. Olympus probably got a good deal and can afford to use those sensors even in cheaper (unlike Panasonic) as a result of the sharing arrangement.
So this augurs well for the IQ for the next OM-D. Now, any significant improvement over what is available in the E-M5 will be seriously good. This may be the reason Panasonic is loading up its GX7 with all the bells and whistles, as it cannot have the new super sensors until later. Panasonic is bleeding bad from poor sensor performance and dumping all its cameras before the GX7 like crazy. That shows how important sensor competitiveness is and why it is not such a bad thing for Olympus to swap lens and IBIS technology for sensors.
In the long term, this is of course bad. Once the OM-D runs out of breath, e.g. when people do not care about higher IQ because they have enough, then Olympus will have a hard time distinguishing their cameras from others.
It is not Olympus 5-axis tech as in OM-D, maybe as in SH-50, but probably not.
I have an em5 and various Sonys and just got the sh 50. It has 3 axis ibis for stills and 5 axis ibis for video. It also has panorama like a Sony now and way better than the em5. The Sonys and olympus cams are becoming more similar except sensor size. I like the sh50 simultaneous stills and video. Works slick. I like the olympus art filters. The in camera HDR needs a much wider bracket in the sh 50. The rx100 does a much better job than the sh 50.
Sensor in RX100 has much wider DR to begin with.
Hey, do we have any decent comparisons between the 5-axis sensor shift and a good 2 axis lens shift?
How about video? Is the sensor shift thing ‘bad’ for video and so it is disabled in the GX7 and the casio cameras?
the OMD videomode benefits alot having IBIS, at least thats my experience shooting video with the lenses I have/had (14mm,45mm,25mm plus legacy 85mm)I did not see any disturbing side effect. You have to be alert though when critical framing is important as the IBIS is continously busy with stabilizing, you can see it when you press halfway to stabilize the viewfinder/lcd. I guess this might be true for all kinds of IS but I only realized this after having the OMD.
thanks Ulli. It is very strange from Panasonic, a top camcorder maker to omit video stabilization in the GX7. Probably I should wait and see how this develops.
yes its weird the GX-7 does not have the same capable IBIS as the OMD. If it had it would prob become both an OMD and GH3 killer.
Because all gx7 previewed until now got version 0.3 firmware. How about waiting for officiel firmware 1.0 ans futures firmwares… Maybe it Will be unlocked by hack also. Nothing is impossible.
I am not even sure that it should read 5-axis vs. 2-axis. In the end, Olympus’ shift mechanism also supports movements in 3 axes only: horizontal shifts, vertical shifts, and in-plane rotation. Using clever counting tricks for marketing, they count the shifts doubly, as they can be used for compensating both pitching and lateral displacements. Hence, the so-called 5-axis system is a 3-axis mechanical compensation which can deal with 5 forms of disturbances. It seems likely that the sensors in Panasonic’s OIS are also sensitive to both pitching and lateral displacement and that the same counting trick would therefore render it a 4-axis system.
Interesting reasoning, I buy it. The question is rather why Pana omitted OIS from the video mode of the GX7. Is it because it causes more artefacts than the lens shift method or for pure marketing reasons to preserve the slaes volumes of their OIS lenses and the GH3?
Losers sell your lens and body’s buy nex or of fuji or give gulio to make a huge dildo
@Admin: Please, lock out this troll.
He adds nothing of value to the discussion.
What m43 can do that my 5dmk3 not
Fit in pocket
Is this really a serious question? Because if it is then I guess we all need to buy a 5DmIII?
where would you get 5Dmark 3 for less than $1000 body only
Any canon EOS Lens and FD lens can fit ounted on OM-D body,.but in contrary ,.-NO M43 lens can mounted on EOS Body
Who will mount f lens for that yiny sensor
Be affordable.
This is getting to much for me.
Everyone thinking Olympus has licensed 5 axis IBIS to other manufacturers (and a cross diagonal through the replies let me conclude that there are many) is plain wrong and doesn’t know the camera industry. Casio exists only because they ‘invent’ new camera technologies and license them to others, but one example (of many) is backlit CMOS. A plain google search should show enough to sustain this. Casio doesn’t bother to put their technology in a camera first. And Casio certainly doesn’t buy licenses from others.
So for all those questioning why Olympus sells the patent of 5 axis IBIS to oters, the answer is simple: they don’t own it.
Mod: I would like to see this article changed accordingly, to get it out of the way…
Matt
“Look, Guys. Beggars cannot be choosers. It’s about survival for Olympus, given the problems it has had and still have, and with the downturn in camera markets, it has little choice.”
Another clueless poster with little knowledge of facts. Olympus is a profitable company thanks to its medical business. It can afford to make cameras at a loss indefinitely. Whether they choose to do so or not depends entirely on their strategic decision.
The beggars who cannot be choosers are actually Panasonic and Sony. Large companies, but both making losses overall. It cannot continue for them like this indefinitely. Samsung and other Korean electronics companies have eaten their lunch and they have to get their act together or continue to slide into irrelevance.
And yet another clueless post! Were do you get your numbers from? Over the last quarter (April-Juune), Panasonic has realized a net profit of 107.8 billion yen ($1.1 billion), which due to end-of-year effects makes for a forecast of ca. 50 billion yen for the whole fiscal year. It is true that Panasonic has made losses last year, but it remains profitable overall, especially after reducing involvement in consumer electronics, where the Korean competitors are particularly strong.
Panasonic has made a loss of 754.3 billion Yen for 2013. They are forecasting a net profit of 50 billion Yen for 2014. I hope they make a turnaround and return to profitability – what I meant by “getting their act together”. Unfortunately they are doing so by reducing their consumer electronics business and imaging is part of it.
Why unfortunately? Their reduced involvement in consumer electronics is perfectly reasonable, and it does not affect the branch of the imaging section we are talking about here in this forum, namely the CSC segment. Hence, nothing to worry about at the moment.
Panasonic should change their name to National or Matsushita they sound like names that would make a good profit.
Panasonic have been selling off property shares etc which accounts for much of their profitability
http://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/12/10/panasonic-sells-off-3b-property/
Another clueless poster with little knowledge of facts. Olympus is a profitable company thanks to its medical business.”” It can afford to make cameras at a loss indefinitely “”
I know what you mean Olympus dominates the medical equipment sector which it competes in.On the downside Olympus imaging has been losing money for at least a decade.In fact covering up the huge losses over the time period was the main reason for the huge scandal.They make some truly awesome products and have a selection of glass for FT that is amongst the very best on the market from anybody.Can any PLC really allow a division to lose money indefinitely
My mate just told me he heard from a guy, who knows a fellow, that lives next door to a girl, who works for the c*a and they are getting new digital minox b cameras. Identical to the old ones but these are digital and have, wait for it, the Olympus 5 way IBIS fitted. They also have an optional 5 to 500mm zoom lens that is used for flash free night shots. It focuses from 2mm to infinity and is f0.42 but still only 20mm wide and 122mm long, fits in the jeans pocket and is nicknamed tiny little richard.
now m43 is dead. and fuji and nex. and canikon
I need to buy it soon in my local camera shop for 1$ – otherwise I cannot make photographs anymore. I hope it has 42 stops of DR and shoots all across the electromagnetic spectrum? Does it have a microphone input?
42 stops dr? you on some smelly weeeed? 43.5! and $1 dollar, what! Its no cheapskate. You want givaways or something? $1.85 for you with TT 200mm 0.95 lens. No bargaining, this is a respectable establishment.
Where does it say that the 5-axis stabilizer used in that Casio camera is from Olympus???
selling tech to casio? desperate times I guess lol
I see nothing wrong with Olympus whoring its 5-axis IBIS out to feed its own family. When it’s about survival, there is no shame in doing anything that is necessary.
Yesssss, ibis is not that important. Only in the eyes of omd users (compansation) for the sensor. Only movie and frozen object benefits slightly from ibis. Good bigger sensor en fast lenses are a better solution for low light. So now sony has everything and giving oly a good small sensor. Good for sony and the nex system which is going to dominante the market with fuji x. Excelent small camera’s and beautiful lenses. Oly just sold its soul but we already new that. 43 is product which can not survive du to high prices and medium quality. They needed the help of a big player but now their doomed.
so first you say IBIS doesn’t matter and then you go on to say that thanks to this tech exchange Sony is going to rule the world?
An interesting view of the world you have from that bridge under which you hide.
Noooooo try reading you ret…..
Blury everything u shoot with a gh3
I have been reading a book for a couple of hours. I came here and made a small post and was told to slow down I was posting too quickly?
I posted
“Panasonic should change their name to National or Matsushita they sound like names that would make a good profit.”
It went to moderation???????
Whats the moderation criteria today???
Ah I know its Matsushita. Good job Pany changed their name or they would never sell anything on line.
“In exchange Olympus will get super brand new Sony sensors”
I like that 😀
The comments section has become a waste of time. Its depressing
Agree. That’s why Disquis is coming in October 🙂
Yes! When matsushita gets moderated panasonic stands little progression
Lets rewrite it.
“Olympus is licensing out its successful proprietary 5 axis tech to Casio.
If implemented the tech will not operate in video mode for Casio cameras.
Sony, Olympus’ largest shareholder, is rumoured to have opted for the tech rather than develop it in-house.
Alliance notwithstanding, it is likely that Sony will continue to develop sensors for Olympus and other third parties, as has been the recent industry trend.”
Successfully licencing out technology is an important revenue stream for many of the worlds most successful tech companies. It is an endorsement not a weakness. It gives leverage to the most innovative firms, finances r&d and prevents rival propitiatory systems from developing. It is an extension of classical specialism where firms produce(or market) whatever they best at producing or marketing
Noones giving anything away (except perhaps the apparent lack of intelligence in some of the comments on this website).
It’s a commercial deal. There are commercial terms. If you think otherwise, perhaps its best you are a photographer.
if this was true…that Casio compacts gets real 5axis IBIS from Oly(OMD) …then the Oly must be in deep finantial shit to sold their best knowhow to compact cameras …glad to hear this is not true
…wake up Oly ..do marketing(at least like you do in UK…do it all over EU)…get in line with your prices with other CSC competitors and DSLR(APSC) low/mid end …and start real work
Pany had a 5-axis IS in some camcorders before the E-M5 would this not be more useful for a P&S
Ok, so show us Casios patent for 5 axis IBIS.
That was ment to Marc that said that Oly doesn’t own it’s IBIS tech.
Like some others have noted already, Casio does not use the Olympus 5-axis IBIS.
Olympus have a sensor-shift mechanism that can compensate for translational movement along the x and y axes (i.e. in the sensor plane), as well as rotational movement about the x, y and z axes. That’s possible because the sensor is floating in an electromagnetic field, and hence has more freedom of movement than a sensor moved by mechanical actuators, like in Sony’s and Olympus’ old 2-axis, and Pentax’ 3-axis IBIS.
Casio use OIS (i.e. in the lens), supplemented by digital image processing to achieve a “false” 5-axis IBIS. Panasonic does something similar in the ZS30 (TZ40 in Eirope), and Olympus does it in the SH-50. It’s not the same as in E-M5 and E-P5.
Mft is the worst interchangeable lens camera system oh maybe nikon 1 but nikon is a fail same as 43 and m43