Right before the new High End OMD announcement the Olympus E-5 has been marked as discontinued at BHphoto (Click here). The new High End Micro Four Thirds OMD will replace the E-5. Short simple question: Is this the official end of the Four Thirds Camera system?
79 Responses
My heartfelt sympathies to all 43 users!
There won’t be any new 4/3s cameras. However, the old ones will still work and the new m4/3s 4/3s hybrid camera will breathe new life into those excellent Oly 4/3s lenses.
It’s all about the glass, silly! This isn’t 2008, where F/T sensors were spitting out chroma noise all over the place (m43 didn’t even exist then, right?). I’ve already decided what m43 lenses I’m going to sell during the coming months (only the small primes may stay).
Meanwhile, I’m hunting the auction sites for more “dead” F/T glass (just bought a 50-200 which I always wanted, but never had a proper sensor for it).
In sum: OBS is here, m43 fanboys. Smell that coffee!
If a camera fell over in the woods four years ago and nobody saw it, would it still be discontinued?
RIP. Always sad to see a camera product line go, but at least it laid a great foundation for the future!
I guess there will be no more E-7
Great Glass but its pity it have to end .
My warmfelt feelings these arrogant racists go to hell:
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3530490?page=3
Their lenses will live on OUR cameras, while they rot in hell 🙂
Tsk tsk tsk… forgot to take your medication again??
“Racists”? Really? Amalric at it again…
How would you call people who declared they never touch m4/3 with a bargepole, when Oly proposed they did the transition?
And who held it hostage for four years, spreading false information on Oly’s innovations?
It might not be very interesting but that is what a committee of lynchers can do to a company. They’d rather wreck it than change their old geezers habits. They almost succeeded 4 years ago.
I am doubling your dosage, and don’t even think of not taking it.
No second opinion then? 🙂
This IS a second opinion. First was to put him in a straitjacket
I strongly advise amalric to be instutionalized in a remotely located high security mental care facility.
Almalric’s 1000 year m43 Reich has began!!!….43 racists prepare for your genocide! Don’t feel so bad, some call it survival of the fittest and your archaic existence has come to an abrupt end!!
The Last Reich has surely begun, but it is the NSA Reich, which according to Snowden has 150 servers in as many countries. I suppose that if you are living in the USA you are even more closely watched and spied upon, since all the main providers have agreements with the NSA. How’s that – do you enjoy it, being constantly spied upon?
No wonder that you develop the fascist mentality of banning, as frequently as the old STASI did. Freedom of Speech a distant recall for wimps like DPR’s mods Skeys and Jaywol.
So instead I’ll let you believe in Oly’s ‘One Beautiful System’ . The important thing is that you keep buying under the benevolent eye of the NSA – and shut your trap.
Someone mentioned a Reich? LOL.
Stop ruining OUR forum, with your immature, self-centered nonsense.
GET LOST!
He is the most arrogant racist available on photography forums. There’s no hope he will be banned because of his racist comments. I think he has some kind of problem and puts his rage on forums. In a more arrogant and racist way than others do
I still have no idea why he isn’t banned here, because I think he’s banned on every 4/3 forum and even several Flickr groups.
Amalric, seeking professional help isn’t shameful. You have anger management issues and you need to see a specialized doctor.
If amalric gets banned, we have only adriantie to laugh about!
There is a large difference between a standard troll/fanboy and a raging psychopath. You can laugh at the former, but only be seriously concerned about the latter, because it’s a danger to other people in real life.
Yes? That’s just the smearing of a filthy smearing of an anonymous troll. Never fear little man, I am not going to come after you, trembling in your corner.
However is your sister’s @ss worth a transatlantic flight? Then, perhaps, who knows 🙂
make sure not to look like your icon when you cross the atlantic, because your face showing up at customs will set off alarms on all those 150 NSA servers at once.
Code InfraRed – Amalric trying to infiltrate the homeland! Lock up your sons and daughters!
Projecting again…?
Man you are clueless.
I don’t understand what you are whining about. You act exactly like them, but against Oly dslr users. Some of us have both an Oly dslr and an EM-5 and like both. My hope is that the rumored new camera will be the best from both worlds. Btw they (at dpreview) talk about how small the EM-5 is and that the body should be at least as big as the old OM cameras. I have an OM2 and is almost the exact size as the EM-5. A tiny bit wider, but also a tiny bit thinner and lower. With the grip on the EM-5 and motor drive on the OM2 they are still roughly the same size.
In the DPReview microcosm, 4/3 is alive and well and the e5 being discontinued is just a sign of the e7, e9, and e50 and e70 coming along with 40 more lenses next spring…
oh those silly fanboys at DPReview… if they only took a few moments away from photographing their cats to face reality.
Think they’d switch to Canikon sooner than to m43? Think again. They’re coming after you. In 12 months, I expect most current F/T users will be using the new m43 camera. To some of us here, you’re all m43 newbies. But welcome nonetheless.
Just bought a 50-200 SWD now for a very nice price!
I guess the aftermarket for FourThirds will be more active now, and prices will rise. 🙂
Hope it performs excellent on the new OMD … – which I hope will ship … before christmas?
grow up, troll
You’re not wanted there anymore, yet you still go there… Typical of a hater. HAHAHAHA!!!
While the mirrorless market heads for the toilet , Olympus dumps the more popular SLR . Can you say insane
“While the mirrorless market heads for the toilet , Olympus dumps the more popular SLR” . Can you believe it?
It is as if they lived in Saturn…
Where is the broom? I want no Saturn’s lice near my loved cameras 🙂
Am,
I use m43rds cameras all the time, I agree with Colin, the m43rds forum at DPR is like a Zoo. Half the comments are exhausting and the in-fighting between Panasonic and Olympus users is ridiculous. If the forums were merged I would probably try to find another place to read, which wold probably be better for my health.
Just do it. I have never defended the 1044 forum. In fact I have been frequently banned from it although I was among its few creators.
However I see a difference with those in 1022 who were happy to bring Olympus to destruction in order to protect their selfish investments.
This is the case today: they would see the destruction of m4/3, while we are simply available to take their lenses.
Who is the aggressor then? Wake up!
Typical Olympus fanboys ruining another forum, huh??
They’re mad that Panasonic is making cameras and they think they shouldn’t, so they continue to bash Panasonic and Panasonic owners simply defend their purchase..
They’re upset if you use a FT camera, other than Olympus. -It MUST be Olympus and Olympus ONLY.
In their eyes, Panasonic should just be making Toasters, TV’s and Coffee Makers… NO CAMERAS.
Sad, really.. All one has to do is read the comments here and see who’s truly at fault for the zoo antics..
You have got to be kidding? That rant is exactly the crap I cant stand. About nothing at all just an opportunity to attack.
I am glad Panasonic makes more than toasters, my 25mm f1.4 in 43rds and m43rds are stunning lenses.
And so do I. I love my 14/2.5, and yet I have two Oly 4/3 lenses. What gives?
Watch the negative, “MY EM-5 is better than-” Comments, the complaints, the un-needed, Un-called for hate for anything Panasonic. Or better yet, just read the comments from the 20mm lens.
I agree with the things you said…especially the ridiculously stupid Olympus vs Panasonic attitude of some people.But lucklily there are still enough folks who dont care about that. And I do enjoy reading the comments of some veteran visitors here.
Yeah, let’s revive the Leica R and kill of the M system, too! And those guys at Sony are also clueless, not understanding the power of the mirror.
You, my friend, are too clueless to be properly embarassed in five years time. Congrats!
Bullshit. No one needs a mirror anymore. And all the great lenses are still in production – and they will work fine on the next cam. This is not the end of 4/3 – it’s the end of the useless mirror.
+1 Exactly! The Pentaprism/AF system on a camera with a mirror is really not useful at all if the EVF and AF systems on the sensor surpasses the “traditional” systems which were added because of – wait for it – NO AF ON 35mm FILM (literally – on the film).
4/3 user here. Excited to see the next model! I have saved some money to retire my E-3 finally.
So for me, if the is right Olympus not come by an new E-7 will the be more E-5 to and to good price. 😉
I desperately need my E-520 to have the new sensor implanted. The epm2 midget I have is no fun handling. I might also possibly live with the E-620 with the new sensor implanted. But nothing ludicrously smaller.
I wouldn’t hold my breath, a m43rds body is no problem to me, I enjoy the EVF advantages and being able to use both my sets of lenses is simply a huge plus!!
But, I have yet to see a single application of a competitive on sensor PDAF system… Nikon came the closest and it still has serious flaws. Not to say it can’t be done, but these technologies are gently progressing, they develop, release and improve etc.
I still think there is at least 1 DSLR in the pipeline, if not, as long as I get good, accurate SAF with a small focus point I really dont mind too much… But, a company that thinks like that for product launches is a company doomed to failure.
If they are going for it, the OBS, it will be a solid product, anything less and they will release a DSLR with all the bells and whistles of the PEN world…
Anyway, lets see.
no I think thats it,no E7, no more SLRs
personally that might be ok for me, but my requirements are oddball
I can live with EVF, and all I need is responsive cdAF
but Im a bit fearful of what happens to those who need CAF, or carry long SHG lenses
so where does it all go now?
new sensor, …….considering it will almost certainly have pdAF, maybe
MMF adapter, ……I freakin hope its different
OM heritage, ……kinda likely
expensive, ……..seems a given, but Im still hoping for $1300
For me is m43 Pen, and only Pen, and the this i will have is small fast lens, and i not need zoom, but only one thing, why is not size on OM-D Pro just so size on GH3, i wonder, wonder and… wonder, if camera is Pro and will be use on maybe only big FT lens daily. 😀
All this fantastic glass, and no modern sensor to hang on it. 🙁
I hope the hybrid technology will live up to it’s hype. A little beefier body, PDAF on sensor or in adapter, perhaps? And hopefully updated lenses one day. It would be shame to see the fantastic 35-100/2, 150/2 and 90-250/2.8 disappear.
I think PDAF on OM-D Pro is by Sony tech so STL mirror in adapter also Sony self use, if this not is right, why we need an new adapter for PDAF in OM-D Pro, we have MMF-2 and WWF-3 (warher pro) why an new one?
Maybe the new adapter is purple.
LOL, this is true.
A new high end m43 replaces 4/3, establishing One Beautiful System!
You know that’s spin, yeah?
It’s just a new OMD with improved evf, bigger grip, Sony’s new sensor with improved on chip PADF, and a few other tweaks like faster shutter and even better AF.
4/3 lenses will work well enough for Olympus to say they have OBS but the lenses will not be 100% compatible (optically and ergonomically) and we’ll never really be satisfied with the situation. And some of us will keep hoping for a EM7.
Meanwhile, the pigheaded obstinance of the dinosaur management at Olympus will continue to cruelly limit their cameras by intentionally omitting industry standard features in their cameras, especially “High End” video, but even in-body panorama and HDR.
With its optical brilliance (IQ, AF, IBIS, SHG) Olympus should be able to release a DSLR killer.
They just need to put their optical magic in a worthy camera body.
Sony can do it. Fuji. Panasonic. Build decent bodies. But humpless inbuilt evf, a microphone jack, decent grips… these simple things seem beyond the big O.
We’ll buy it, love it. But you just wonder what olympus could do if the management wasn’t so decrepit.
Close, but yet so far from perfection.
Let’s what “can-do” Sony and Fuji come up with. So far, neither of them comes close to any OBS. No IBIS and Fuji video sucks. And don’t whine about the hump, it’s boring. A camera that small with so many features is impressive, period. (Did you study management, btw? Didn’t think so. And what’s “optically incompatible”, anyway?)
I keep thinking Oly should make a ‘professional’ camera just to stop the whining. Take a D4 and make it 1/2 the size, weight and cost, but >1/2 the IQ. Honestly I’m not sure it would sell that well, at least not until a few sensor generations pass. It might however be important in marketing.
Weird pissing match. I would have thought the new camera would unite the two camps (FT & MFT) by resolving the FT PDAF issue once and for all (presumably), but some people seem determined to piss.
I always thought that since I started with m43, there is no reason for me to get a 43 lens and using an adapter, but if future m43 camera’s will be able to utilize 43 lens without compromise, then there’s no reason not to buy 43 lens except maybe for portability.
The AF issues with using FT lenses has kept me from buying any of these excellent lenses. If the AF issues are solved wiht the upcoming OMD I just might have to buy a few of these lenses. If the C-AF and tracking is up there with the pro-level Canons and Nikons I can see myself with the 90-250/f2.8 for wildlife photography. Could be exciting times ahead. Then again it couldmall be hype and it will take another generation before the potential is reached.
Back at the end of January at the Olympus booth at CP+ Olympus had a poster showing the ILC cameras being released this year. It had the following cameras:
E-P5 (by name)
OMD-Series (no model name)
E-Series (no model name)
From the current rumors and talking with a Olympus Rep the next camera is going to be the OMD-Series camera. According to te Olympus Rep the the next OMD will be above the E-M5 and will be announce in September and available by early November. He also mention that there will be another camera announced very late this year.
Could this be the E-Series camera listed in the poster. If so what will be its features that makes it different than the next OMD? I guess we will have to wait a few months.
I think point by OM-D Pro is an small good back up camera to E-7, by just like IQ.
Interesting.
If E-7 really is in the wings, I wonder what value it brings to the table other than larger form factor and NO adapter for FT lenses (i.e., a more robust form factor for the serious glass). Also, presumably it could be bigger… so more and perhaps more powerful electronics? More battery? Different accessories (bad, since I’d prefer family-wide accessories… but battery grip would be different, at least).
Also, I’d like to know what that camera would be BEFORE I buy into expensive E-M1. In other words, before buying, I’d prefer to know my options… since my next camera is for FT glass compatibility, as well as any available upgrades to E-M5.
four thirds = massive camera + tiny sensor = rubbish idea = dead in the water
Are you not someone whose name begins with ‘a’ I wonder…
Dear Mr Full Frame!
Nothing more annoying than listening to full-frame rubbish! I have seen a lot of you kind of guys dragging along huge amount of gear from a fancy car. I have not seen good results. If you’re talking Hasselblad, Mamiya or Pentax 645D, we can talk, but 43 and M43 can often compete with your huge gear. Even professionals are selling their stuff and changing to OMD. OLY has gotten into high gear, and will bring something so cool this year, that Canon and Nikon will struggle hard with what is coming next. Sony, Panasonic and Olympus are game-changers!
Here I was thinking it took Canikon roughly six years to come close to the E-400 (410/420/450), the *smallest DSLR* on the planet.
Oh well, life apparently can be quite sad and limited when you only have money for FF cameras. Being locked in, you’ll do anything to justify your investment. Btw, a real men’s digital FF body is much more massive than an E-5, you prosumer sissy 🙂
The gear doesn’t make you a photographer, you can go and use your FF as an anchor instead!
good bye olympus
In fact the case is simple, and Oly made it crystal clear:
m4/3 can take 4/3, while 4/3 cannot take m4/3. Hence m4/3 is the superior system.
Users objected that they could not focus 4/3 lenses fast enough, so Oly set to work on that.
Revulsion at m4/3 is not an invention of mine: it has been going on for 4 years here, the center of the luddite rebellion:
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/1022
Oly has just to cut their oxygen line, and they will come eating in the hands of m4/3 – good dogs.
You talk about arrogance? Hypocrite.
real shame if it is the end of 43 cameras. my fathers e5 is a great camera
on the flip side maybe olympus can now sought out the lack of quality telephoto zoom/prime lenses in the m43 range, i would have thought this would be a strength of m43 but i still cant buy a decent lens to shoot Motogp/motorsport events with.
ah well i just spent my money with canon…
“on the flip side maybe Olympus can now sought out the lack of telephoto zoom/prime lenses in the m43 range, i would have thought this would be a strength of m43 but I still cant buy a decent lens”
I totally agree! I have a little more time to wait and see how well this camera works out with 4/3HG lenses(I don’t own any but would buy some), or if any m4/3HG telephoto zooms are coming out?
Or Nikon may be my next purchase.
,
what would be the advantage to having a mirror? I really do not know of one. there are many advantages of the EVF so to me its a move forward.
No crystal ball here, but what about if the implementation is progressive? As the processing power of m4/3 has increased, some 4/3 lenses already focus faster. My 40-150 does well, and all the CDAF compatible lenses. Some are already using the 12-54 II with good results.
Not all 4/3 lenses are created equal, they have different motors, some were faster and some slower even with PDAF, some were backfocussing, so don’t expect miracles.
Say that 80% will focus *better* with the coming OM-D. Will there still be room for an E-7? The big question mark is if the 12-60, and 50-200 will focus fast enough. But I don’t expect that Oly (and Sony) found the magic wand for all. And in the long run they will be replaced by m4/3 zooms. The first appearing in September.
The other aspect has little to do with 4/3. Will CAF have improved? Some won’t care about 4/23 lenses but all will care about how the new camera deals with action.
There really is very little chance of Oly coming out with a new 4/3rds camera. When the key advantages of the 4/3 sensor are 1. size and weight 2. cost it is incredibly surprising that anyone decided to sell 3kg/US$6k lenses expecting there to be a market in the first place.
A new camera wont make the format attract new users. It will simply serve as a temporary answer to those few users still in the format. The problem, of course, is those same users will be then be expecting ‘another’ camera in a few years time.
I couldn’t have said it better. There is also a snippet of new that makes me think we are at the end of 4/3. Olympus is asking his reps to send back the 4/3 display lenses.
That says that they want to sell the last samples, and so be it. The stocks of 4/3 lenses will be empty v. soon. So why would they introduce an E-7 if there are no lenses for it? For the second hand market? It doesn’t make sense.
Instead if they introduce a fastish m4/3 zoom in September the message of the new camera will be clear. Play with 4/3 lenses while we are revamping zooms for m4/3.
It should be clear to anyone with some commonsense that 43 has been dead for about 5 year. It was just not buried, that’s all. The E-5, though very late, was released with very little features that are competitive and a sensor that was dated from Day 1. It was released to try to make people believe there is still some life in that dead system so as to let Olympus clear the remaining inventory of those fine but orphaned 43 lenses. That was not entirely successful, which is why we now have some sort of smart mount adapter for M43 to use 43 lenses. While the small number of die-hard 43 owners will buy the new camera with the 43 lens adapter, it is hard to imagine many of them buying new lenses now. Even less new system buyers or people switching from other systems will consider investing in those expensive 43 lenses. I think the burial ceremony will be announced soon, once Olympus confirms that this 43 lens adapter is the last product that has anything to do with 43.
Surely they will make an announcement if they formally abandon the range.
If they *supersede* the range with a new high-capability m43 camera that takes 43 lenses seamlessly, then that makes sense.
I looked closely the Oly 43 range as a potential buyer a few years ago, and was put off by the fact that the purchaser’s kit would be no smaller, no lighter, and no cheaper than an APS-C kit.