What I wrote weeks ago (Click here) seems to become true soon. A new PEN is coming it will be the E-PL7. And it will feature the same 16Mp sensor used by the OMD-10 camera with 81 AF points, 8 fps and 3″ vari-angle touch LCD screen.
Nothing revolutionary (as usual with PEN updates) and from what I heard more “advanced” innovations will be announced at Photokina. The current E-Pl5 sells for $499 only with free extras at BHphoto (Click here) and at Amazon (Click here).
via Photorumors
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108 Responses
NEW SHELL E-P5？
Doubt it. I dont think it will have the 1/8000s shutter or 5-axis IBIS or builtin flash..
I’ve been trying to save for one of the OM-Ds, but this announcement might bring some seriously cheap PL5 deals soon.
“And it will feature the same 16Mp sensor used by all other OMD cameras”
OMD cameras have two different sensor sources.
EM-1 with panasonic and rest with sony
em1 pana sensor with pdaf will be used only in em1….maybe em6 but I doubt that
I think it would be feature-wise if they differentiate the new pen series into:
Ep7 = high end = like GX7 features + 5 axis ibis + weather seal + em1 vf + tilt screen
Epl7 = mid end = like current Ep5 features & body built, no evf, 5 axis ibis, no weather seal
Epm7 = beginner = like GM1 form factor + hot shoe + 2 or 3 axis ibis
Maybe they are adding the lens profiles that the e-m1 and e-m10 have? Updated wifi?
Realistically though, I think the most important feature will be the price point. The e-p5 was too expensive when it was released and even the current discounts are too little too late. Hopefully Olympus has learned from the past.
I think a E-PL series PEN with the OMD EM10’s 14-42mm EZ pancake. I’m not sure the P series makes much sense anymore… not too much smaller than the EM10.
Why Olympus, why? Why so many new bodies?
The only thing that could practically be added to the E-PL5 is a few of the software tweaks from the E-M10, like live composite and focus peaking. That certainly doesn’t merit a new body.
Save your resources and release something when you’ve got something worth releasing! Why be in such a hurry to stuff the channel and sell off your old merchandise at fire sale prices?
Maybe they’ve got something up their sleeves, maybe they’ve found ways to manufacture more powerful electronics more cheaply, so they can increase margins or hit a lower price point. Maybe they’re just proud of the 3-axis ibis and want to standardise it across their cheaper bodies.
I believe the author misunderstands that the sensor used in the E-M10 shares more with the E-M5 than the E-M1. The E-M1 sensor is significantly different than anything else Olympus offers since it has on-chip phase detection.
Perhaps Admin/Source was meanining: Em10/Em5 sensor and TruePic from Em1.
The sensors are all within small fractions of a stop any differences are more likely down to in camera image processing , the E-M1 sacrifices a little high ISO for a little better DR.
How about a screen with the same aspect ratio as the sensor!!! I could never live with the stupid screen on the E-pl5 or the E-pm2. It makes a 4:3 image look tiny, like almost half the size of what you would perceive the screen to be when the camera is off.
So many times I think about picking up an E-pl5 and then I remember the silly little screen.
+1 EPM2 and EPL5/6 all have extra wide screens that don’t match the sensor aspect ratio, and the resolution is quite low too. I was going to get an EPM2 but the screen put me off. The EPL7 needs a much better screen and the same image quality as EM10 for $150 less.
No EVF again!
By now you should have realised that the PEN is about external evf as option. You would be surprised how shooting with lcd is a revelation in many scenarios.
You mean there’s a difference between the PENs and the OM-Ds? SHOCKING!!
Get the E-M10 or GX7, forget the PEN w/ EVF.
Wear a baseball cap and get in close. Works wonders.
I like that! 😉 Except for us who since our middle age in life have lost their close focussing distance & wear glasses, especially with bifocals it gives me a pain in the neck. 🙁 That’s one reason why I jumped for the OM-D when it first came out.
Does anyone know if the E-PL7 will have an electronic first curtain shutter (EFCS)? After the OM-D firmware updates I hope so
Yawn one more overpriced toy…
Yawn. Apparently another quiet day over at Canon Rumors.
Let’s adopt a homeless FF! 🙂
LOL you guys should learn the basics first, then you can talk, maybe even have opinions. Or just get a compact and throw that micro four turds rubbish in the bin.
When you throw your M43 toy in the bin, do not forget your “knowledge” to go with it.
ORK shoots exclusively with accordion bellows and flash powder.
Nothing revolutionary means I stick with my EP5- which is fantastic. No reason to upgrade whatsoever. You know the noise performance will barely if at all increase and no more resolution- so what’s the point? All of the features are already there- more focusing points on a mirrorless is of little value anyway. There is none.
I will stick a few more years with my E-P3. Fantastic camera and I don’t need a new one every year.
From E-P5 to an E-PL7 it would be a step down in model but likely with more updated features, just like the E-M10 is to the E-M5.
So the EPM3 will likely be modest as an update.
But there’s still a chance the E-P7 will be more substantial in terms of changes. E-P5 had key tech from the higher-end OM-Ds carried over. EVF is unlikely, but PDAF and weather-sealing are a possibility for the E-P7.
I’d welcome a brand new sensor as well, but I think Olympus is keeping that for the E-M5 update.
Very interesting insight. Is this a piece of your brain here?
Yes, it is. You can take a bite.
Too small, peabrain…
No shutter shock would be nice!
Olympus and their weird EPL-x announcments. 1st keeping the EPL-6 to Asia only and now annoucing an EPL-7 (to updates to the Lite before their flagship EP-x is announced) with better AF but probably still 1/4000s shutter and crippled 2-axis IBIS.
Hope and agree with below that it means the EP-6 (or 7) is announced with weather sealing and new sensor if announced with a new EM-5 ie EM-6.. Pen 6.. mmmm….would be interesting. Be awesome if they found a way to get 500 pictures from a battery too.
Still don’t get why they would announce another EPL body before updating all the PENs at the same time.
I have an EP-5 and an EPL-6 (that I ordered to the US from Hong Kong with Kit Zoom for ~$400). Since the EPL-6 is less than half the price of the EP-5…I expect it to have less features. It always makes me laugh when people come here to complain about the lower tier camera not having ALL of the features of the more expensive camera. Duh.
I love the EPL-6…For the price I think Oly got everything right. Same sensor (most important part) as the EM-5. Super small size…but it still takes the incredible VF-4!
I grab that camera ALL the time to take shots at work for my customers or if I am going to a museum or something when I want to travel superlight but still come home with the goods. Panasonic does not even put the up-to-date sensor in some of their lower tier cameras. I like both of these two cameras so much that I probably would not upgrade unless there is some fantastic sensor breakthough….
I will give it to you that the EPL-7 will most likely have some small upgrades….you know that Oly is not going to pick that camera to showcase a new sensor….so it will most likely be incremental changes..nothing to get excited aboutl……
Even m4/3 users aren’t excited for this. Olmypus should release less bodies, and create products more substantial changes. The current market is people buying less cameras.
But a new customer will likely prefer a new model. At least it’s what I would do. So, good news for those looking for the new model, nothing new for those already happy with a current model. As I wrote on the previous post, I think we’ll be really curious and excited when new sensors will be available.
I would agree with that & there will also be those that are bargain hunters & would not normally buy a new model & rather wait for lower prices of superseded models & so both groups of buyers are satisfied!
Maybe M43rds has hit an impass. 16MP- don’t see it going higher anytime soon. Until organic non-bayer sensors come out what can we really expect? Minor tweeks that’s what. But for the cost- heck- I still use my EPL1 I have laying around. Zero wrong with it. How about getting that 300mm and 7-14 out a bit sooner.
the E-PL1 1/2000 max shutterspeed is a bit annoying.
But this new camera is not for upgraders.
Upgraders should buy an OMD.
It is annoying which is why I own the EP5, but you can work around it. And you can also buy a mint one for under 100 bucks now. I’d buy an EM1 if the cost wasn’t so high.
I think it is the same in all the formats the A6000 just about matches the D7100, the A7R and A7 are just rehashes of older sensors [ Nikon D800/D600 etc} in a smaller body. The good news is that until there is a genuine step up in image quality there is no reason what so ever to upgrade .
Obviously, you’re not taking too much photos when it’s sunny. DR is the weakest point of E-PL1 (amongst many nowadays). Many P&S have better dynamic range.
zzzzzzzz 🙁
Panasonic can learn from this, use the latest generation sensor in all camera models
paansonic has done this since GX7. Even GM1 has the very same sensor. They seem to have learned from G6 and bad slaes (apparantly). What Panny now should learn is to come with a G7 with the same new sensor, DFD focus tracking and 2,5 K video.
It´s good that E-PL7 keeps the traditional 30fps in 1080p and still does not combine multiple shots in the so called HDR mode. Safe and clean….kind of.
I was about to buy the E-PL6 before Christmas, which is essentially the E-PL5 with an electronic level. I am really happy now that I did NOT and waited – until the E-M10 was out. What will the E-PL7 have to have in order to be able to compete with the E-M10?
If Olympus does it’s homework the E-PL7 doesn’t need to compete with the EM-10.
There should be a market for both types of cameras. But I’m not sure if there is any room for a E-PM3 these days or even an E-P6. But anyhow a refresh is always good to keep your product current.
That’s a great question.
I’ve loved everything about the E-PL5, the looks, features packed into a small body and modular design, but Olympus did a superb job with M10. It’s essentially regulated my E-PL5 to back up and hazardous duty.
The only features missing for me on the M10 are electronic shutter and better quality video. Maybe Oly will surprise us there.
Better they don’t Another me-to product just for the sake of filling a checkbox in the product proliferation parade. This looks weak, it looks indecisive, it looks like just chucking out another model for another model’s sake. It looks like they have plateaued and are losing the plot.
It starts to look like these manufacturers are new product junkies. They can only command high margins by creating interweb astroturf chatter for the next must-have toy.
They have become victims of their own pricing strategy. They have taught consumers that price slashes will soon follow general availability. It’s all about the pre-order, abetted by interweb astroturfing.
But now the new launch backlogs are getting shorter and shorter, as is the period between launch and first discount/rebate/ebay special. The only way to command the high margin is to continually release new models.
Yeah, they should really wait until they can deliver organic sensors, otherwise where’s the improvement ? On the other hand, not releasing anything until new sensors arrive might really hurt their sales because the competition will clearly not wait for Oly and Pany to come up with paradigm shift.
I have EPL5. I won’t buy any mFT cam without good AF tracking anymore. Seems this one has not got it. Fine. Not for me.
You want Pro features on a entry level body? If you want good (?) tracking in a M4/3’s body then the only one that will do it better than the other models is the E-M1, but you have to pay for it.
True in mFT land. Nikon 1 has it in the cheapest models. NEX6 has it, A6000 has it. Any cheap DSLR has it. For the same price. Great!
Yes, it is called PD-AF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) & the only Olympus M4/3’s model that has it is the OM-D E-M1 & that is their top model with a price to match.
It’s bound to appear across the whole line up because Sony is embedding PDAF pixels in most of their sensors, also, Oly likes to use most of the same technology across its line up, Pany seem to be adopting the same strategy as well. fingers crossed
But EPl7 is not pointing towards this, at least nothing in the current rumour suggests so…
Why, how much more does it cost the manufacturer to put in at least an AF system that is state of the industry circa 1995?
The Sony A6000 has it as well. And I would not say that this is a pro model.
I think it is time now that this ‘pro feature’ trickles down to more entry models.
If the A6000 existed 1,5 years ago i would have bought that instead of the E-M5. Despite the better lens lineup of MFT. So MFT has to do something here.
check out GH4 tracking AF
Yeah, this is yet another area where M43 sux.
The EM1 with PDAF and the GH4 with DFD seem to have solved that, unfortunately, PDAF only (fully) works with 4/3 glass and DFD only works with Pany glass (it seems). Why do people still say m4/3 has poor AF-tracking? I think it’s due to the fact that most people don’t report the effectiveness of AF tracking on forums, mostly because normal consumers are not forum posters. Also, unlike the vocal minority on the internet, most normal people don’t a have a real life need for fast AF-tracking on m4/3, so the less people report on said feature the fewer that feature is known. Same goes for sensor performance, most people just repeat what they’ve heard/read instead of trying for themselves (just look at all the APSC and FF trolls that come here without ever using a m4/3 camera nor played with raw files in LR)
I need proper tracking AF and even the best M43 cam sux at it. The rest is bs.
True, but don’t say it too loud in a marketing forum.
Read the name of the website, what did you expect, canon users ? use some common sense ffs. I bet you go to dpreview Fuji forums to read about NEX don’t you ?
Wherever we go, we don’t like lies and liars – or dimwits like you, if you really believe the fibs you wrote. So we write a reminder now and then, and we poke fun at the dimwits.
Have you actually handled the EM1 or GH4 personally ? Or are you going by what you’ve read on the internet and from trolls ? Did you do any tests by yourself ? can you show them to us ? do yourself a favor and go to your camera shop and test the camera yourself, I did and I was convinced the poor AF tracking of m4/3 is just gossip/myth by now, just like the long standing DOF and low light arguments, people got stuck with their early impression from the days of 12Mp sensor.
E-M1 tracking uses PDAF with micro Four-Thirds lenses.
not always, only when the camera decides by itself to do so, because somehow Olympus thinks CDAF is good enough for 95% of the time . The only way to enable PDAF all the time is to use legacy 4/3.
Isn’t the GX7 up to scratch?
Any chance / rumours about video specs?
If it had PAL friendly frame rates and decent codec it could stand out as something new.
I think the E-PL7, like the E-P5, has lost its reason to exist. It is not that much smaller or cheaper than the E-M10, which is much more camera. One of these two lines has to be dropped, as there is only room for one rangefinder shaped model, given the popularity and I think better profit margin of the E-M10, E-M1, and E-M5 (and its replacement).
However, you never know, Olympus might make the same mistake again with the E-PL7 and E-P7 and we will see 40% discount in 9 months’ time. Both Panasonic and Olympus need to learn that less is more in a tough market, i.e. have fewer models and sell each of them better.
Ron, you are dead wrong in dismissing the E-P5 which for me is the best camera in the range currently. That is mainly down to ergonomics, which I much prefer to the OMD line. Beside the button placement and general handling, I generally use the EVF at the 90 tilt position, something the OMDs don’t do. I also like the fact I can upgrade viewfinders as better models come out. But I don’t even have to wait. The E-M10 has the older generation 1.44 mp EVF, but I am sporting the VF-4 at 2.36 mp.
In other news, the E-P5 has 5 axis IBIS but the E-M10 has only the older 3-axis. The E-P5 has 1/8000s shutter speed and pulled ISO 100, and so is two stops more capable than the E-M10 in bright light. I no longer need to carry around ND filters for general photography, which is a big win.
Certainly the E-M10 has some advantages, but not the right ones for me.
Indeed, forcing DSLR-esque designs down every consumer’s throat would be a mistake, there’s a reason why Pany, Sony, Fuji, Samsung, etc, all have RF-esque cameras, people have different needs and preferences, there isn’t one single type of consumer out there and the success and continuous release of RF-styled cameras prove that. Sadly, the Pen line is destined to do poorly if there isn’t a clear improvement in sensor tech first and I really doubt Oly is capable of doing that anytime soon nor do I think they would introduce such sensor techn in the Pen line before the OMD line. Hopefully they release a new EM5 MkII/7 with new sensor before the Pens get updated.
E-PL6(=7) is not that much smaller than the E-M10???
http://camerasize.com/compare/#460,521
Just a cm in width, two in height. There’s even smaller difference between E-M10 and E-M1, so we could scrap E-M10 as well. And what about E-M5 that’s somewhere in between and costs as much as E-M10?
There’s a place for all of them in the market. Plastic shell is the cheapest part of the camera.
you’re forgetting something a lot of western rationalist gearheads forget: style matters, and in asia, especially with ladies, brings in a good amount of dough. not everyone is interested in a darth vader camera. r2d2 on the other hand…
With Fuji’s ever improving autofocus and steadily growing lineup of excellent glass, Oly and Panny can’t afford to slow down. I hope this is more than just a modest refresh.
With current lenstech APS-c will always have the original drawback of too big lenses. With big DSLR bodies this was less of a concern, with small bodies like these this is and remains a disadvantage. With ever improving sensortech sensorperformance becomes less and less advantageous though…
So I guess the Nikon 1 system is the win then?
It’s actually good value in terms of sensor size: IQ: performance, but the thing is, the Nikon 1 system (just like the eos M) doesn’t give me any confidence in the long term. Nikon has clearly aimed the Nikon 1 to appease the industry and consumers that were clamoring for a nikon mirrorless, but we all know nikon is clinging to DSLR with all their strength. They will do everything in their hands to downplay the mirrorless concept and the Nikon 1 is the platform they chose to do that, otherwise they would’ve released their own A7 long ago, they will never take it to its full potential. Regardless of all that though, the fact remains that ,currently, m4/3 is just the most versatile and adaptable mirrorless system out there, just by the sheer number of body styles, lenses and add-ons.
Yes man. I am really happy with my V2, even if some controls are dodgy.
If you buy camera’s for AF tracking only: yes, It is very good (but far less so in more murky conditions btw).
Nope, Pentax Q :).
Sure, the Q has a pinhole sensor. No need to focus.
I fully agree with this. I do not see the point of a small camera with an oversized lens It defeats the primary purpose or at the very least diminishes it.And all for what? DOF I guess But I can get enough bokeh with a 1.8 75mm.
For gods sake Olympus, lets have at least one pocketable option now you have the pancake zoom you are already half way there.
Even the fastest of FujiFilm’s auto focus is not fast, regardless of the “world’s fastest” rating–everyone has that.
Olympus and Panasonic need to find more innovative ways to make their equipment appealing, but there might only be so many things anyone can do.
“And it will feature the same 16Mp sensor used by the OMD-10 camera with 81 AF points, 8 fps and 3″ vari-angle touch LCD screen.”
Sensors don’t have fps and screens. All the specs seem the same as the current E-PL5 (there is no such thing as OMD-10, but there is E-M10 with the same sensor as E-PL5), I am sure it has at least WiFi like E-PL6, and I am sure E-PL7 is different from E-PL6. At least TruePic VII is there.
It would be awesome if this pen had an electronic shutter option.
Hopefully it has an electronic first curtain shutter. Cures shutter shock and does not have any of the disadvantages that a full electronic shutter has.
I still want a full e-shutter. I want quiet. If not, pass.
Have you tried the Nikon 1?
Amen to that!
Sure we are not alone.
Have you considered the GX7? It has a silent mode Electronic shutter.
Like Panasonic seems to be about to, Olympus should completely rethink their MFT product lines. E-PMx, E-PLx and E-Px are much too similar (while the E-PLx is the only one I could be interested in, because if a camera lacks the viewfinder, I at least need the tiltable monitor).
THUMB WHEEL …. is all I’m asking for
I have accepted to stick the EVF added on top
Never really liked the E-P cameras.
GX7 is the E-P7 to me.
I wonder if they’re merging the E-PM and E-PL lines… A smaller E-PL7 that competes with the GM1 would be nice. At the very least I hope they move the record button, I had to disable it after constantly hitting it with my thumb.
“same 16Mp sensor used by the OMD-10 camera”? That is also the sensor for E-M5, E-P5, E-PL5, E-PM2. Why bother releasing cameras based on one sensor once again? Just because it is the time to release something again?
Because a camera is more than a sensor?
It doesn’t look like this one has a big leap in anything else either over EPL5 and EPL6. We know that improvements come in incremental small steps often times, but as a whole, it needs to be significant enough to justify the change.
The TruePIC VII processor will be used, as in the E-M10. There will likely be more focus points, also. The unfortunate thing is that the price point limits their creativity in adding features.
I’d like to see a better sensor, but the APS-C world seems to be locked to a similar pixel density with 24 MP. I’m sure Nikon would like to revise the D7100, but they’re waiting for sensor innovations.
Rationalizing the m43 line: The DSLRish OM-D is popular and has two models, flagship E-M1 and intermediate E-M10, so three Pens is too many. I suspect the Pens mini goes, and also the high-end Pen, leaving the E-PL7. Only two improvements are needed over the E-PL5, better IS (E-M10 system?) and electronic first curtain shutter. The pancake 14-42 would be nice but unlikely unless Olympus wants to drop the 14-42 R II completely. Those two improvements are enough to make it a desirable and current model. I predict $449 launch price.
I would like an integrated flash with decent manual control.
I vote yes, it’ s time for me to retire my E p2 and i’m going to a lighter and easier camera to fit my pocket. Better if a little smaller, too, summing up the skills of the Omd-10.