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What you see on top is the front of the well known [shoplink 23568]Olympus E-P3[/shoplink] and this is more or less the same design you have to expect from the new E-PL5. I have been told the back of the camera still has a more [shoplink 23567]Olympus E-PL3[/shoplink] alike design and button layout. Basically what Olympus is going to do is to merge the best from the E-P3 and the E-Pl3 in one camera. Combine that with the [shoplink 29074]Olympus E-M5[/shoplink] sensor and you have a nice package! 599 Euro/Dollars fro body and kit lens is what you have to pay for it.
P.S.: Despite every new generation of cameras that came out the E-PL1 is as usual the most sold PEN camera at Amazon US (Click here). It even sells mroe than the new Fuji X-E1. May we don’t need new PEN’s after all 🙂
62 Responses
Yesssssss!!!!!! Great news!
Let’s hope we get 2 dials.
Big +1
okay, enough of pen, now it´s panasonic fanboys turn 😀
Why they – according to rumors here – cancel E-Px line and call this camera E-PL5 instead of E-P5 (and just reduce the price) is beyond my imagination.
Because then the buyers of earlier E-Px cams would feel ripped off……
That’s a possible explanation…
Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth. As Admin stated, they’re merging best of E-P series (hopefully much improved IBIS, removable grip, more buttons/dials, full-sized touch-screen 3″ OLED, classic appearance, built-in flash) with best of the E-PL series (tilt screen, smaller/lighter body and, best of all, much lower cost). Add in the E-M5 sensor and this should be one heck of a camera.
I was just wondering, not complaining…
Totally agree. It has been said before. Why continue with PEN light and PEN mini without a PEN.
Epl 1 is ugly mofo
Maybe it’s so homely it’s got character? But I’m tired of hearing it’s the best selling mirrorless camera. Price it at less than most compacts ($263 w/lens on Amazon) and you could sell a ton of them even if they looked like cow chips. Actually, good thing they never made them in brown…
The E-PL1 is my only camera. And in the beginning it looked strange. But after a few weeks I loved it. It is a manly brick compared to the girly camera’s like the NEX and GF3.
+1
I love my EPL-1 even tough I have OM-D now, it ‘s the last PEN with ISO 100 that you can still buy today.
Yes … Yes!! The PM form factor can fill the role of a minimalist camera body. A P3 follow-on with tilting/touch/OLED screen with OMD sensor at a lower price would be a winner. Don’t care what they call it.
I personally don’t care for the SLR form factor, much preferring the “range finder” design that, along with the VF-2, allows me to shoot “Rolleiflex” style. The E-P3 has been over-priced relative to the OMD as well as offerings from Nikon and Canon. But a P3-style camera body with the new sensor and tilting screen at $599 … consider it sold.
What I especially value in Olympus and MFT is the company putting the same basic capabilities in multiple form factors. That allows a photo enthusiast to decide what form factor he or she needs for the day rather than having to choose IQ based on form factor. No other camera company does this. Love my three P2s, my PL3, and my PM1 for exactly that reason … but need that advanced OMD sensor.
I hope the E-PL5 has a built-in flash like the E-PL2 and E-P3. I hate the small clip-on units. A small amount of fill flash can make a big difference.
+100
As well the flash being available for RC mode use with an EVF attached.
they better not use this excuse to drop the second dial on the back.
If true, quite dismayed about the discontinuation of the e-p3. I have an e-p1 and was waiting for a better sensor. I like the controls of the e-p3 with the vertical dial and the exposure compensation. To have to go into the menu to deal with those things is a hassle on the e-pl series. I might just pick up a used e-p3 in a year or two if it’s going to be discontinued.
Or maybe an E-M5? 😉
Great news.
I was wonderering what they would do with the classy design of the EP-x line. Good thing they didn’t get rid of it and keep two modern looking cameras.
Both this and the Epm-3 should offer very solid bang for buck. These two models will basically be the end of the GF-5 and GX-1, as the specs on those cameras just cannot come close to competing.
Also if Panasonic wants to sell any GX-2’s they really have to bring a lot to the table.
Christian
http://www.flickr.com/photos/purecinema
just lost my panasonic G3 including the pana 20mm. so I am really extremely curious what photokina will bring. new body would have been due anyway, only sad having lost the pana 20mm which is excellent.
Sounds very good. Now I just hope they are ready to ship right after photokina and not months later.
On a purely superficial note, if it looks something like the silver & black E-M5 (without the evf-hump), it could be a winner.
makes mw wonder about inbuilt flash. what do they do with all that space in the left top corner?
Remember the very first E-P1 ? Didn’t have a flash either. But what makes you think it won’t have a flash ? The E-PL3 has one included as well, just not in the body. Why would they leave it out now if the body has a place for it !
coz they put a view finder there?
hmm, for this price i doubt it :/
Huh? Same front as E-P3? And the back of E-PL3? That’s going to look strange… I hope it keeps removable grip or has a larger one than E-P1/2/3.
then why doesn’t it have the name of “E-P4”?
I don’t think two lines of PL and PM aren’t necessary. Cheaper model is PL or PM, enough.
E-Pn series was released as the revival of the “digital” PEN. so this E-Pn line and E-M5 line (OM-D) must be continued, or inconsistent.
I hope E-Pn will return with the internal EVF model as E-P5 (not P4). It corresponds to NEX-7/6.
OM-D? coresponds to Alpha nn series (33/55/…) E-5? Sony don’t have. had alpha-900 (full frame).
Panasonic GH is different. it’s “still” + “CAM”, no corresponding. Gn is OM-D (even if it’s not so good as E-M5).
GX1 is ??? I don’t see how GX2 will be or if GX2 will exist. GF is PL or PM.
GX2 must correspond to E-Pn, and NEX-7. but Panasonic walking random…
You are sitting in front of a telegraph key, right? But how is your morse code transferred to this forum?
this is a good move. lets not give up on the pen look. its a good design.
If it is in the colour pink, green, blue and red I am not buying it. Will it be available in silver and or black? Than this is high on my list!
When you think of it, it is a logical development, consider the curious nature of why was the top end screen placed on the ‘mid price’ body, while the ‘high price’ body had the built in flash. This is something that has bemused the OLY fathful since they were released, so it seems the obvious marriage with the 16Mp sensor to improve the whole idea no end, yes it does leave the silly point of title though, I feel E-Px is the logical step and drop the E-PL line. Then if the still awaited successor to E-Px does feature RF styling, why not call it E-Rx after the 35-RC/RD models or E-SPx after the 35-SP, then they could be cooking on gas.
The last bout of PENs was just an experiment to see what the market wanted. Now that Olympus knows, it can forge ahead with two models instead of one.
With a sloping flash shoe? I doubt it.
I know Olympus was offering the 17mm as an alternative to the zoom with the EPL3. Why don’t they offer a prime people might actually want, like the 45mm. Or even better, make the 17mm more desireable and give it f1.8
That’s all I’m asking for. 1.8 and build just like the 75mm. Sold
Panasonic makes that very nice 20mm…
Well this is good, if not weird, news. I’ve been waiting for an updated E-P3 with a new sensor and whatnot.
Mark my words, E-P5 will look like a Nex-7 with a side EVF.
They are duly marked. And if it doesn’t?
Waiting to see official photos
The funny thing is even if they just use EP-3 layout and add the EPL-3 flipped screen, it’s already good enough to be called EPL-5. EPL-5 don’t need every feature that EM-5 have.
Sounds good. I like the new camera line up.
Shame Oly dont have any decent kit lens or standard primes to add to them. Hopefully they will sell them with the throw away 15 f8 attached.
How can you have a PEN Lite and PEN Mini without a PEN?
It looks like finally the old faithful E-PL1 may be able to have a long holiday. But I really don’t want another kit zoom (I’m getting a bit old for Westerns). If Olympus doesn’t want to offer a body-only option why not have $50/$75 off any lens bought with the E-PL5 body? I’d go for that over a third 14-42mm zoom.
But excitement is welling – I hope the duration between announcement and availability isn’t too long.
Oh no, the front looks like E-P3!? I wish Oly would bring back the E-PL2 look. It’s much better than the E-Px look.
In terms of appearance, I like the E-PL2 best — by far.
I couldn’t agree more. I personally own a EPL-2 and I think it is an awesome looking and performing camera. I do not need more effects, tilt-able LCD neither better resolution. It focuses quick enough for me (I have a couple of fast lenses though incl. Lumix 20mm tho). The only thing I miss is AF assist. light for low light conditions. That’s all nothing more nothing less. It sits like a glow in my hand and takes fab. shots (well except when it’s dark…;).
@Reza – do you have a source?
I remember some rumor giving the E-P5 for 2013. But with a built in VF? I’d wait for it.
I cannot take out of my brain that the new Fuji, even more than the NEX-7 is a dream come true.
And that it would be very stupid to ignore the demand for such a RF form. Retro appeal like the OM-D surely must have an end at some point.
And so the optional VF. Perhaps they’ll need a further year for the miniaturisation, or perhaps marketing give the RF a lower priority?
It’s strange, considering Sony’s and Fuji’s early decisions, which definitely have their public.
will it get swivel lcd?
Olypus and Panasonic may produce some very interesting Cameras, but none of them use the advantage of micro4/3 completely in terms of body size and -formfactor. As a user of a E-PL2 I keep waiting for a Body like the NEX-7 and the Fuji X-E1. With the smaller sensor it must not be any larger than the bodies mentioned, still has to have a hot shoe, an integrated flash, a tiltable E-VF and does not need to have a gigantic screen. All of this together in an even smaller body than the E-P, and I would immediately pay the price of an OM-D.
I’m just a little frustrated that Olympus hasn’t leaked or released some images apart from the photo in this post. I know… I’m being impatient, but with other companies releasing visuals and samples of what’s coming at Photokina, I’m just longing to know the specs and see some visuals.
Coming back from a holiday for the first time with a PEN1 (just acquired second-hand), I am disappointed with it. Handling is terrible without a grip, the FT lenses are infuriatingly slow on it, with the exception of 70-300. OK, 70-300. But it is precisely 70-300 that needs a good grip and a viewfinder (which the PENs haven’t). Compared to the PEN, the old E-520 is a beast in speed and handling. Yes, I will find a use for the PEN – parties, group portraits, leisurely tourist shooting… Alternatively, I will buy a mFT lens. But the standard FT system just cannot be matched for its comfort, reliability and lenses. With mFT, you can only find good primes. Surely, mFT has a future, but why, for God’s sake, give up FT?
Come on, Oly, make a E-720, or a E-70 or E-7 with the new sensor and stabilization!
The FT 70-300 can easily be replaced by the m43 version or the Panasonic 100-300mm. As for quality zooms in m43 we already have the Panasonic 12-35mm and soon to be announced 35-100mm which are both pro grade. Pretty sure Olympus will make 1 or 2 high quality zooms in response also. Most PEN users are more interested in compact discreet shooting so theyre not going to have grips to easier handling with large, heavy lens. You can get the OM-D for that which with the HLD-6 can comfortably handle larger lenses (although expensive), or a GH2/G5 which has better ergonomics. Please accept that FT is dead, and the only thing Olympus should be working on is an effective way to adapt the lenses, no need for new bodies. With increasing competition in the mirrorless market Olympus can’t afford to be sidetracked with FT.
Neither is Panasonic 100-300mm balanced with PENs.
Because of oversize movie theater screen even with horizontal grip E-M5 is below comfort of lowest end 4/3 cameras so it’s hardly full successor.
Compared to “gripped E-M5” GH2 has even less ergonomical grip and same flaw of oversize movie theater screen not leaving space for controls and thumb.
Olympus definitely can’t afford to be last one to offer good mirrorless line up, (4/3 DSLRs had problems in line up) so they should hurry in getting out high end mirrorless built around full high end controls and ergonomics instead of fashion/retro gimmicks.
At least Panasonic is finally taking replacing DSLRs seriously basing to GH3 rumours.
I agree that there is a need for small mirrorless cameras. But I doubt that Olympus/Panasonic will ever be able to produce fast zooms in the same league as 12-60/50-200, and small and light-weight at the same time. And while compactness is good from a certain viewpoint, it compromises handling. IMO, PENs are for children’s hands – and gentle ladies’. All right, children and ladies deserve to have large-sensor cameras. But if compactness were one of the main aims of serious photography, Nicanon would have got rid of DSLRs years ago. Olympus will be definitely losing out if they abandon the E-line. As an absolute minimum, they will definitely lose me.
compactness for serious/professional cameras has been a relevant item since the first Leica, and again confirmed by the OM-1. There are reasons for the old OM system having been discontinued, but compactness was never one of them.
WHERE AREZ THE ‘FULLFRAME IS DEADZ’ ZENSOR GUYS AFTER THE SONY LEAK??
WE HAVE A GAME CHANGER AROUND THE CORNER OF YOUR TINY ZENSOR COMPACTZ
Not everyone believes FF is dead, personally I believe APSC is going to struggle in the DSLR market as the big players C&N try to pull upgraders from APSC to FF and entice them with new optics.
However a Fixed lens FF mirrorless camera would be nice, $3000 is not so nice. As some have noted you could get a Fuji and a suite of lenses, you could buy the OMD, 17mm f0.95, 25mm f1.4 and 45mm f1.8 for the same dollar amount.
It is interesting as a product, but the dollar amount is very high.
The dollar amount may be high, but the dollar isn’t worth much any longer. 😉