Image courtesy: ePhotozine
Olympus launched a new project called “Open Platform“. There is also a website for that here: http://opc.olympus-imaging.com/en/index.html. What is it?
ePhotozine writes: “Olympus are showing a new prototype interchangeable lens camera module, using the Micro Four Thirds lens mount and developed with MIT, it is designed to connect to smartphones and tablets. Called the “Open Platform” the camera module is designed to deliver the image quality of Olympus cameras, and connects to smartphones and tablets over Wi-Fi.”
Yes, this is in small words the Olympus clone of the [shoplink 48340 ebay]Sony QX lenscameras (here on eBay)[/shoplink]! 🙂
Sounds very cool or not?
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68 Responses
Why is the body so thick? The MFT flange distance is much shorter than that. I’m sure they could get this thing down to a more reasonable size. Even the GM1 looks thinner than this block and it needs space to fit its LCD.
Could this be the beginning of OM-X(MDN) concept realized in digital?? This seems more than a sensor linked to a smartphone, it seems to me that its a beginning of a framework/platform that goes well beyond photography. I don’t know where this would go, but this is very interesting and bold of olympus.
what is OM-X?
OM-X was a underlying concept/vision of a modular Olympus OM film system. The film OM system as we know was a simpler interchangeable lens SLR implementation of the concept called the “MDS”.
the http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/lecture/lecture2/part8.html
There was MDN, MDS, with M standing for “M-system”(Original name for the OM system), D for “Darkbox”, and S for “Standard”, N for “Neutral”.(I know the link above states otherwise, but I’ve read a Japanese interview with the Olympus designer Maitani that supports the above, and makes more sense to me.) “MDS”(aka OM SLR’s and lenses) was the more practical and economical “standard” commercial implementation, where MDN(aka OM-X)’s “Neutral” signified a non-hierarchical structure to the OM system, allowing for combinations of various modules that would assemble to make a specialized unit, calling for one very versatile system that extended beyond interchangeable lens (This probably relates to Olympus’s medical equipments too). According to the Maitani, he envisioned a digital back had the modular OM-X system had been made for production.
This one looks cool:
Wait what? That came out of nowhere. Cool!
Seem like a step in the right direction. The problem is that the Olympus Share software needs a serious overhaul. It has so much potential, but is crippled with limited functionality. It’s annoying having to go back and forth between my EM1 and iPhone to adjust parameters.
I think this is a far more interesting project than Sony QX lenscameras.
The word Open is the most important thing here. This could be the “Arduino” of digital photography.
We will see how open Olympus will be. But I trust MIT guys.
I think it’s marketting bulls%%t again. It seems they have decided to publish quite their limited WiFi protocol only, which is nowhere near how Arduino is open.
Man lighten up. The whole concept is the scope not the wifi protocol only.
First people complain about to less advertising and now suddenly it’s marketin sh!t?
Ofcourse it’s marketing.
But it’s not a negative thing!
I might be wrong… But…
Olympus will share their Wi-Fi camera protocol. What else? Users want to have wired connection and with complete control of camera (see what improvements MagicLantern guys do, like Dual ISO)
If they put a 5-axis stabilized sensor in it, it’s definitely cool and will allow developers to repair the flaws of the OMD series. Like video frame rates, codecs and resolution.
Does anyone who has been to Photokina know if it has a moving, stabilised sensor?
Drop this crap. Tools like this is better served by good smartphones.
Olympus need to focus where the strength is, good still cameras, excellent lenses and improve its video capabilities. (in that order) I have used the Sony solutions for a long weekend and its does not work.
Was it the concept that did not work, or Sony’s interpretation of the concept?
That is a good question.
The whole concept is very cumbersome, it’s equivalent of typing a document or a proper email on your phone rather than using your laptop.
The current lineup of most m4/3 cameras are small, light and produce very good pictures. Most modern smart phones take good enough pictures for that use. I’m not sure what problem these devices are trying to solve.
Mobile phone’s original goal was to make calls… See what ppl do with their phones today.
Olympus is trying to build a community that will invent the use of this new device. That may bring interesting things.
Perhaps,
I suggest you try the existing systems available and see how you feel about it. I was not impressed and there are some reviews online.
The old debate on should a device do “one thing very good” or (jack of all trades) several things ok is still debated. I would say that the mobile phone is an exception rather than the rule. There is a graveyard full of electronic devices that tried to do to many things at the same time.
Very interesting indeed. “The ‘Arduino’ of digital photography”, as was said below, seems like a brilliant idea. No stupid move for Olympus either, because whatever helps spread the MFT mount will be good for them and for the MFT system, even before anything exploitable comes out of the new “platform”.
Personally, I’ll be interested as soon as I’m into MFT myself.
sounds like a sony QX1 copy. nothing innovative
( cant post image somehow, so here is the link : http://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/smartshot-ilce-qx1_14_zpsa7ccef19.jpg?w=700&h=351
Except it takes your current lenses
And except that the Sony “solution” is rather clumsy and has a weird balance between lens and camera device. More a toy than really useful. APS-C is definitely the wrong sensor size for this.
In order to shrink a camera system, one has to shrink the sensor.
as wrong as 4/3″ ILC is. Panny’s phone with 1″ sensor fits is pocketable.
The difference between m4/3 and APS-C is really not as big as people make it out to be.
Except this is “open platform” so they don’t get the blame like Sony if it doesn’t work 🙂
Except Sony copied from Olympus, they only applied it in the digital world.
Since this concept already existed in the 60´s.
It was Maitani´s idea! Called OM-X later the OM’s were derived from the envisioned modular camera concept.
If not too heavy ,combine with the M43 light lens , fly it with HEXO+ !
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sqdr/hexo-your-autonomous-aerial-camera?ref=nav_search
Unimpressed, make a module to that take command to change ISO, open/close shutter + control lens AF/zoom, etc. Then output line skipped line view, raw data or uncompressed video for what ever purpose the developer want, then I will agree to call it and ‘open platform’
This is just a camera with APIs, we can only do what Olympus allow us to do.
Probably Olympus will be able to use innovations from this project in their other cameras as well. So a very positive thing. But go check out the official website, the animation in the frontpage pretty much sums it all up really well :).
That’s a great idea with a lot potential! First thing I thought was also om-X, but I could be much more.
Those who complain now about design, don’t get it, it’s a developer toy, not a normal camera. I also hope that Olympus is really open with the code, and not only searches for updates for it’s app this way… If they supply Hardware data as well would be cool.
cool, in combination with the 45 and a 3d pano head a great solution for high res panos
The question is: what does “open” mind for them?
On website:
Open: Creators and developers who participate will have open access to various information, technologies, and activities.
For me, Open is an API with high and low level functions available under an open licence.
High level : you can set all parameters for pictures like you do by hand on your camera. Remote liveview/focus peaking…
Low level : direct control of autofocus for precise focus in astrophotography. Direct control of sensor stabilisation: you can compensate earth rotation for stars photography (like Pentax but without external module) or drone motion for aerial photography.
sensor stabilisation: you have direct access to accelerometer / gyroscopes data for whatever application you want.
So, Open???
Exactly my thoughts.
And frankly, I have no high hopes for this. Corporations, small and large, are equally obsessed with control, and I bet that their meaning of “open” is extremely limited to some very specific areas.
And so, if it’s not really open, then it’s just an ugly clone of Sony’s QX lineup, which so far did not prove to be anything other than a gimmick. I’m still not sure who is it for.
In Japan Open source from a corporation like Oly probably means: ” Open to your ideas on how to use it”
That exactly the problem here. I guess as say Camaman it’s more ‘We are open to you adsvertising us for free’ more than ‘the system design is free to use for all’
Have Olympus forgotten what shape that people’s hands are…?
Its not for the hand.
Its a base system block.
Like that
Thats an ultimate selfie cam right there my man!
Cool! A Programmable Camera! My m43 lenses are now more valuable!
Open platform, but can’t do 24p? Are you serious?
Fantastic! This is how Canon and Nikon can be defeated – by open standards.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Calling Vitaly . . . . . . .
Ha Ha… This will be as open as Oly’s accounting standards.
If it is truly open in the sense that the mount, electronics, etc. are open standards then this is fantastic news!
m4/3 is already open standard
It’s just that companies have to deal with problem of machining the production line and logistic on their own while hoping their implementation would sell.
In perfect world it would be like Android, supplying “free guns” that everyone can use to level the playing field (no longer hold back from not having enough R&D to develop the software or hardware design) against big players like Sony or Fuji
But that doesn’t seem to be happening.
Where is the next generation Pen or Trip D?
I’ve never seen the Sony version of this in the wild. It was a novel concept, but seems very impractical and awkward. Remarkable that Sony launched a second generation and a model that accepts a lens lineup that they have not delivered.
Olympus should instead be focused on:
* catching up in video (4K), since the sensor for stills seems at a plateau
* more “pro” lenses, particularly ultra wides and weather sealed primes
* a compelling new Pen lineup with astounding build quality
* an answer to the Fuji X100 and Panasonic LX100 (TripD model)
* Pro DSLR beating continuous focus tracking
* firmware for existing models, particularly the EM5
1. I agree…
2. On schedule…
3. Nothing really wrong with PENs, noe EVF and thats it.
3. No answer to X100 or LX100 cause it would be the same thing especially after LX100, and therefore fail in the market more easily.
4. DSLR line from Olympus is dead and so is the 43 mount
5. I want my new E-M5 firmware! 🙂
1) 🙂
2) What schedule? It seems to be a very slow road from announcement to release
3a) Olympus seems to think that Pen sales have cratered and said they are “rethinking” (months ago, but not in time for Photokina)
3b) The correct answer would not be a “me too” product but one that is as innovative as the LX100 and X100 in identifying an untapped opportunity. Here’s two: fixed lenses enable miniaturization. Do a very wide aperture, fixed lens portrait camera. Or a fast telephoto zoom to complement the LX100. Lots of things haven’t been done. 🙂
4) But even faster tracking autofocus would still be applicable to M43 cameras — I’m not suggesting 4/3 camera support
5) Yes! And even though I don’t own an EM5, continuing support sends a message about the company (I own two other models)
All good points.
DSLR tracking especially. But 43 revival no way.
Will be usable as webcam for the PC ? Commercial webcams either plain suck or are expensive for the little they do.
As a RC pilot flying planes and multirotor (UAV) this is going to be huge af a video/Photo platform…
This will be cool but probably won’t be worth it for most of us unless the video is 4k and has lots of options for inputs & outputs.
Olympus will be making this so they can sell more hardware. There is a huge need for a more open platform camera with far better image quality. I suspect these will not take off very well in the consumer world (unless the video is spectacular) but it will be huge in the commercial world for industrial applications.
EG: Casinos would love to have 1080p or 4k video cameras with great image quality to snap stills and possible use face detection and a internal buffer. The DMV would love to have cameras that don’t crap out, have clearer pictures and easier to use. Assembly lines would love to have a cheaper alternative to http://www.svs-vistek.com cameras. Security companies would like to see an IP camera with high compression to not bog the network but sill allow for less compressed videos & stills with SD card recording for local backup.
I can see bit potential here . . . they just need to hurry up with the hardware and dish out some SDK’s
Developers don’t care how big it is. I’d be strapping lots of extra hardware on it. Look at Arduino – when that came out it was the size of a deck of cards and they sold like wild fire for people to play with, now they are the size of a quarter if you have a need for one that small. Depends on the application, with size comes cost (too small and it will cost more to make, heat up and you can’t have as many inputs & outputs)
Thought there were some news about modular camera back in 2012 or 2011…
I recall too. The patent diagrams showed a box that looks almost exactly like this.
Way Cool, this allows innovation around the software while having a very basic camera module.
Yo Dawg, I heard you like cameras so we made this camera fo yo cameraphone so you can get your camera on!
This will be great for Drone photography where most m43 cameras are to heavy for the smaller drones.
My thoughts exactly!
I was just reading about the Qx100 in the phantom 2. If this Oly gives a good video Quality and if it’s less than 200g is going to be incredible
admin, it says the Open Platform community has been launched in July’14, and you missed it for 2 months?!
It seems YOU missed it for 2 months too? Where were YOU?
I don’t run a site covering Olympus.
Contacted them. Too bad you have to write them e-mail for contact. Will see if they answer.
Interesting. Opening photography platforms to 3rd party development will bring a lot of usability and control.
What I want is the ability to manage camera configurations on my computer and then upload them as named configurations on the camera.
any word on a msrp?
For a moment I’m joyed to think they made a m4/3 module for Ricoh GXR
Stupid hope, I know…