Blunty had the pleasure to meet Olympus manager Terada. And there are quite many interesting info in that video like:
-at 2:20 Terada explains why the OMD-10 uses a 3 axis stabilization (very interesting answer!).
– at 7:20 he explains that rangefinder similar EVF design is not optimal. EVF in the middle is better because your eye is in line with the sensor-lens axis. Doesn’t sound like Olympus is interested in a sort of GX7 alike PEN camera.
So be sure to watch it!
63 Responses
nice video, good to see Terada’s passion and understanding about photography and end consumers, Olympus needs to market PENs better at it’s target market in Western Europe and North America but one of it’s problems maybe that it’s target consumer for PENs doesn’t have much spare cash with high university fees,high living costs and high debt…
Well – they might be interested in a rangefinder-style PEN – although it’s not optimal, PEN is not their “premium”/pro line and might “suffer” with a sub-optimal placement of the EVF.
Big thanks to Blunty for addressing the video framerate issue with an Olympus high level manager.
The answer is somewhat reassuring in that Terada is saying that video
capabilities will be improved in the near future. We’ll have to wait and
see if it’s going to be a firmware update, or a new model. But 24/25p
seems to be coming. Better late then never.
Finally. This is the best news out of Olympus since the creation of IBIS! If Olympus can implement features that compare to the GH3, they’re cameras might be even more appealing to enthusiasts than a BlackMagic or a GH4.
No 24/25p no buy. All the IBIS is for nothing like it’s now.
Well…..I have to agree with Mr. Terada…I like a centrally-located, easily accessed VF. I love the E-P5 & E-PL6 with the VF-4 setup just the way they are. They seem balanced to me when I am using them.
I definitely agree with a vertical EVF and lens alignment. However, it’s nice to have a more streamlined body with a built-in EVF.
I found it to be much less of an issue than I’d imagined it would be going from the GH2 to GX7. The camera only resembles a classic rangefinder from the outside, but You’re still looking through the lens like an SLR.
It wouldn’t kill Olympus to produce a PEN with an integrated EVF to attract more people to the PEN lineup. Of course, they also want to sell the clip-on EVFs.
Yeah, it doesn’t every bother me when I bring out the old Panasonic L1 to play with.
I think Oly should offer a choice and produce both options. People will choose between OMD or PEN design depending on their taste. OMD is quite successful and I see no risk of cannibalization because people who like SLRs will keep buying OMDs and in case of the PEN Oly would be expanding their reach into a new and profitable market segment, attracting consumer which would otherwise go to other systems. I see no risk of dividing their OMD consumer base, and even if that came true it wouldn’t matter, in the end that money would still go to Oly instead of Fuji, Sony or Pany. It’s a win-win.
I just can’t comprehend why Oly is just so obtuse and stubborn about this, there’s a reason why the Leica system has endured for so many decades, if cornered VFs were so dreadful no one would be able to sell them, even Olympus were quite successful with that design, what was it called ? oh yeah, it was the classic legacy PEN !
The sad thing is, the more Oly avoids this EVF issue the fewer PEN are sold and in the proccess Oly gets the wrong idea that PEN is a failure…it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy, or rather a vicious circle.
+1
Very well put.
I like the PEN series because they are more compact and I would take that form over the OMD form if it had a built in EVF (and retained the 5 axis IBIS).
yeah..I get it…some people just want the Pens to be that whole “Leica” thing…which is fine. Everyone’s perfect camera is someone else’s nightmare! LOL!. I just really like the Pen’s the way they are….although I think there only needs to be two lines..not three…
I would love to see a totally Pro EP with weather sealing etc..but I don’t think that will happen…. I have a FF kit…so the whole M1 DSLR thing is not what I want with my smaller cameras either…but I see that if you just have one system you are probably going to own that or a Pany GH series camera….
One thing that is great is that we have soooooooo many choices.
Well, you are the one who’s not getting it. Who cares about Leica. People want the E-Pens to be like the real Pens. Look at the classic Pen F. It has a viewfinder!
I went from the E-P3 to the GX7 primarily because the E-P5 lacked a built-in EVF, which is essential if you shoot outdoors. Having used SLRs and DSLRs extensively, I can understand the reason for centrally-mounting the optical viewfinder. However, I don’t see how that rationale applies to EVFs.
The rationale applies equally to OVF and EVF. It’s not about what you see in the viewfinder (TTL or not), but about balance and handling, when you’re looking through it. Especially with large tele lenses, you have better balance if you’re looking along the optical axis, i.e. the hand holding the lens is in front of you, rather than slightly off-set to the side.
Both Sony and Fuji gave this reason for placing the EVF in the middle on the A7/R and X-T1, respectively. And people misunderstood their point, saying that it doesn’t make sense, since an EVF is always TTL, no matter where you place it. But it does make sense, if you realize that it’s about the handling of the camera.
Please. A few degrees off axis is hardly a problem. Think about driving a car. The driver’s seat is always to the left or right, never in the middle. Yet, millions of people seem to do OK with that setup.
Sit in middle on horseback. Side-saddle for squaws!
So, E-M10 has 3-axis IBIS since there was no space for additional sensors in the hump because of the flash. OTOH E-P5 has 5-axis IBIS in a body that has no hump and is similar in size to E-P3 which had previous IBIS system ( 2-axis ? ). Something’s wrong with that explanation :).
you forget the evf in omd sits part in hump,part in body, So the absence of an evf gives some space to such components. Thats how i solve the “mystery”.
This looks like a good illustration of your point
http://camerasize.com/compact/#459,289,ha,b
Terada himself just speaks of overall size reduction. It’s Blunty who mentions the hump.
pleasant and informative interview.
I agree with the idea of not putting the EVF clear off to the side as GX7 and Sony NEX’s have done. I recently had a chance to try the GX7 and I was very disappointed. The EVF off to the left is very awkward to use and hold properly. There is an advantage with being able to push the camera up to your face so it’s stable and solid. With the eye piece off to the left it just didn’t seem as stable. Obviously that’s just one opinion but I’ve put off buying the GX1 and that was one of the main reasons simply based on assumption. After testing it I came to feel I had been right decision.
Firstly, YAY !!! new comment system, FINALLY !!! THANK YOU ADMIN! THANK YOU!!! hopefully this will finally reduce the troll infestation on this site.
Secondly, the position of the VF is a matter of taste, something Pany, Fuji and Sony have understood for some time now by offering BOTH SLR and RF designs. Olympus is being unreasonably stubborn by being the ONLY ONE not offering this choice to consumers. This idea that the VF HAS to be in line with the lens is just prejudice against cornered VFs from the days of RF and the unavoidable parallax problems, which, as everyone should know by now, is not a problem with EVFs since every faux RF mirrorless out there features TTL WYSIWYG live view.
As for ergonomics, a cornered EVF is way more preferable than centered EVF, particularly on these small cameras and especially because of touch screens. A cornered EVF frees more space to the right where controls are located since your head is further to the left, secondly, your nose is not activating the touch screen or leaving grease everywhere, and thirdly, a cornered EVF to the left is beneficial to left eye shooters because you have more room for your head.
Of course, in the end, as I said previously, it’s just a matter of taste. If you are fond of SLR ergonomics, by all accounts go, with an OMD or G/GH but that doesn’t excuse Oly from not offering this choice to consumers (like everyone else does) nor does it excuse people from encouraging them to maintain that policy. M43 is about diversity and choice and Oly is shooting themselves on the foot by not offering built in EVF in the PEN.
Wow, quite an in-depth assertion of the benefits of the off center EVF. Interestingly, you do mention how it’s all about one’s own personal opinion. For me I’ll take the on center EVF. As for Olympus shooting themselves in the foot? Like many things we either love or hate, the market will be the one to have the final say as to who is right. For me I’ll vote with my wallet for a camera with an on center EVF. I’m a big fan of most of what Lumix has done but the off center EVF on the GX7 has stopped me from buying one. Just sayin:)
You left out an image of how awkward it is to use left eye with something like a GX7
How many rifle manufacturers offer an off-axis scope rail mounting option? How unreasonably stubborn of them.
How do you fit all the components for a high quality viewfinder system into a Pen or GM1 body size? I can not get my head around why people keep on asking for this. The size of the GX7 is a clue people.
It feels a bit strange having the VF in the corner, but it seems to work for some people.
I considered a NEX a couple of years ago and liked how it handled; it was the range of glass that put me off, not the position of the VF.
IF I needed another Pen and the best option was a corner VF I would consider it. If no Pen had a VF I would consider buying the P-word.
A sub-optimal, off-center integrated EVF would be another way to distinguish the PEN line from the OM-D line.
That would distinguish it LESS than, you know, not having a viewfinder built in.
There are two lower tier PENs with no EVF for that, I think that’s enough differentiation, the top PEN should definitively have an built-in EVF, after all, Olympus themselves described the E-P5 as a high-end premium luxury model. It’s really inexcusable for the flahship PEN not to have an EVF when cheaper cameras like the GX7 or A6000 have it.
I don’t think it’s a bad idea, I would welcome it. But you can’t argue that it’s a way to further differentiate the OMD and PEN lines, which is how I read the comment I was replying to.
isn’t m43 dead now thanks to x-t1?
Make love not war!
I have soggy peace pipe. Very good herbs in it. Who go first?
Pass that pipe this way, please. 🙂
Have stable full with Olly glass. X-T1 no much good for me. Hough!
What’s up with the commenting system, there is no ordering (or i cannot see it :-).
Top Left, right above the first comment. “Sort by….” Options are best, newest or oldest.
Thanks, found it.
No difference for me, EVF on middle or left (love new comments design, thanks admin)
I wish Blunty had asked the release date of 40-150mm f2.8..
+10
AND the 7-14 f2.8!
I DID ask actually, but the reason it was never included in the video is because it was an empty answer … there’s no set date yet as they’re still in the final stages of development.
Thank you for claryfing this Blunty! You know, the thirst of romors an news is always big here 🙂
I never realized that Olympus sees a hierarchy where the PEN sits between the cell phone and the OMD, and that the OMD is a step up from the PEN, which seems to be what Mr. Terada is saying. But if you see the EVF as a feature to add, it does make sense. You save the size and cost of an EVF with a PEN.
But from my anecdotal observations, without the benefit of any market research, enthusiasts seem to be missing the hierarchy that Olympus intends. I don’t recall hearing anyone on boards like these talk about “stepping up” to an OMD from a PEN. instead, we see an aesthetic, ergonomic, and camera body style choice of “rangefinder-style” vs “DSLR-style,” and often debate left side viewfinder placement vs center, but rarely suggest that we’d rather not have an option for a viewfinder at all.
I’d rather see hierarchy within the body styles themselves, where controls and ruggedization, rather than just the presence of the EVF defines the levels, and think Olympus is missing an opportunity to sell “Pro” and “entry” level PENs. People seem to love their PENs, but I’m not convinced that its because of the absence of a viewfinder. Maybe they love their PENs for a host of great things that the camera does so well in spite of not having a view finder. Oh well.
I like Blunty but wish he’d been a little more aggressive in his questioning. He did do a great, and still polite and respectful job with regards to video enhancements. Very well done. But I’d have loved to see him bring up the supposed issue of 12-40 Pro lens mount breakages. And press for more PEN roadmap plans, as he seems to be a PEN enthusiast himself.
But overall, a good video. Thanks for posting it
nice talk with Mr. Terada,
but why again change of layout ….I like the old one …was simple and nice to read
Yes, I say thanks Nate (Blunty) too & also to Admin for the improved comment system (even though it takes more for me to fill in as a visitor, but then, that’s the idea; to slow down the pleb spammers).
I still see the spammers & FF trols in forum …they always are and always will be
How come there are still only 2 messages in this thread, surely Blunty’s interview deserves more.
Hi Geoff! I think it’s because of the new Disquis system, it’s not smooth as it was and people still have to get used to it. (I hope your journey back home was ok!)
“EVF is in the middle because your eyes is in line with the sensor lens-axis” As if that matters when the evf view is actually 100% what will be in the picture. This is a bullshit excuse. Olympus had these before, and they worked with small cameras, just like they are supposed to work now. Oly could best the GX7 in this respect easily by putting a larger viewfinder in it, (16:9 screen and you don’t have to use much space). But I don’t get my hopes up since Oly is smaller than Pana and might not have the resources.
I not cyclops, but prefer finder on top of soul-stealing box. Make shoot buffalo and pretty squaw much easy!
Viewfinder? I hate viewfinders. I don’t need a hump either. I’ve used my flash once, and that was just to test it. PEN LITE for me – bring out an E-PL7!
I also would like a Pen Micro 1, like the GM1 – but it seems that Oly is going big and Panny is going small.
The GH3 and GH4 are going small? The E-M10 is going big?
Why not just get the GM1?
Let’s start with…no Sony sensor, no IBIS, slow flash speed…and other limitations, although the e-shutter motion pictures are always good for a laugh.
And the E-M10 is bigger than the E-PL5/6. When was the last time Oly brought out anything smaller than an E-P5? That’s going big.
As others have commented, this is a useful video. I can believe that the most frequent request made by users was to have more PRO lenses and Olympus clearly is responding to that. It was also useful to hear that they will also be addressing the video requests. Thanks 🙂
Still only two messages coming up.
Did you click on “Load More Messages” at the bottom (& “Sort by Oldest” at the top)? Or maybe it’s the browser you’re using. I’m fine with Google Chrome.
IHi Ross,
I also use Chrome, the problem is with Disqus, it is a shonky piece of work and will bring down Rumous if that is what Admin wants it’s his business. —–Original Message—–
From: Disqus [mailto:notifications@disqus.net]
Sent: 21 February 2014 12:41
To: ghphoto@btinternet.com
Subject: Re: New comment posted on Olympus interview by Blunty.
Settings
A new comment was posted on 43 Rumors
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Ross (Guest):
Did you click on “Load More Messages” at the bottom (& “Sort by Oldest” at the top)? Or maybe it’s the browser you’re using. I’m fine with Google Chrome.
7:40 a.m., Friday Feb. 21
Reply
Ross’s comment is in reply to Geoff Howard:
Still only two messages coming up.
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Geoff, I am also experiencing erratic behavior in two different browsers, Firefox and Epic. Epic is behaving more predictably but the count is almost never right.
For Dolbydunn,
A quote from a message from Ryan Greaves, Disqus product support.
“In an effort to encourage a more positive commenting experience, the number of Downvotes and list of users who have downvoted will no longer show on comments.”
Does this suggest a straight unbiased system???
Strange, one would think that Disqus woud have all these kinks worked out before they installed their software on this website.
Check out Epic Browser. Also guerillamail.com – there are ways to mitigate the Disqus data piracy concerns. You could log in as a guest. You’ll lose your avatar and email notices of responses to the thread.
Come on Disqus, there has to be more that 2 comments on this thread. This is the third time I’ve commented myself. I get emails but the site does not update, it’s a heap of garbage.
Please Admin return to the old operation.