Yesterday we had the Panasonic announcement day. But there is no time for rest now. The next announcement is coming around May 9th by Olympus. And there will be certainly the new E-P5, almost certainly a new E-Pl6 and certainly no new MFT lens. As I told you before, expect no built-in EVF, and uses the same [shoplink 29074]E-M5 16 megapixel sensor[/shoplink]. On top you can see the first image of the new E-P5 which takes some inspiration from the [shoplink 37006]traditional PEN-F style (here on eBay)[/shoplink]. It has a more “classic” look compared to previous PEN models. As you see the standard kit lens will be the new [shoplink 34914]17mm f/1.8 lens[/shoplink] (and there is a 14-42mm kit option too). AF speed has been improved even over the best in it’s class, the [shoplink 29074]Olympus E-M5[/shoplink]. There is a new external EVF too.
Stay tuned on 43rumors!
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Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
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FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct
327 Responses
glad to see they did not change too much, now waiting for the specs!
Heil for the PEN line revolution (FT5)!
http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-new-pen-revolution-coming-in-september/
And for the E-Px line disappearing, and then being completely overhauled (FT4):
http://www.43rumors.com/two-pen-cameras-at-photokina-e-px-line-to-be-discontinued/
P.S: Admin, this is nothing against your work, I know you do your best. It’s against the “trusted sources” who make things up and should be degraded to FT0.
Yep, some sources do over excite the news they want to share. And I am aware of that and I am not doing that kind of mistakes again. It’s a learning process and my goal is not to create a perfect news, but to become better and better.
“Like”
Full respect for your answer admin
Don´t mind, Admin! It´s a rumors website. And when your sources are telling “news”, they are brandnew. So definite desicions aren´t made at that time by Oly. And Oly also can change desicions.
I don’t mind rumors turning out to be wrong. I’d rather, in fact, hear more unreliable/unverified rumors. Some of them are a lot of fund. “It is for entertainment, not for investment,” after all. 🙂
“Fun”, not “fund”. Funds are good, too, of course. 🙂
Unverified rumors can be fun, but they should be FT0-FT2, never FT3-FT5.
When you see a rumor classified as FT5 and then it runs out to be just bullshit, it’s not so much fun. That was my point.
Oly’s marketing guys have been plying this game on this site for too long. It started with the rumors about the E-5, which was going to be the most revolutionary camera ever seen and in the end it was en E-3 with upgraded JPEG engine and screen resolution. It continued with the all new sensor on the E-P3, which turned out to be the same old one. Not to talk about the mythical hybrid camera that has been spotted and tested since this site started years ago. Ah, and what about that super revolutionary EVF that would chnge the way we took pictures?
And now this flop about the revolution in the PEN line, which has turned out to be exactly the same as the previous generation but with the new sensor.
Panasonic is not making this mistake and is keeping themselves from big and undelivered promises. Olympus is making the mistake once and again of creating a lot of expectations when products cannot be bought, which turn out into disappointment once the products are available for purchasing. Not a good strategy, IMHO. And not one that the admin should allow anymore to happen (also IMHO).
I don’t think I am bullshitting you on that rumor. I always told you this camera would have same E-M5 sensor and no EVF.
Yes Admin, you told us this, but only recently. The rumors I’m saying that turned out to be bullshit are the ones I liked above, about the revolution in the PEN line and the disappearing/complete overhaul of the E-Px line.
And again, this is not against you.I know you never lie knowingly or try to bullshit your readers. But I’m pointing to facts that have been happening for years already with Olympus’ trusted sources. THEY are the ones who give you the misleading information as something sure, and then it turns out to be false, completely (I put more examples above).
So what I’m saying is, these sources should not be trusted anymore. Whatever they say, should be posted as FT0-FT2. That’s fine. We can have fun with those rumors. We can dream about our ideal cameras, have a good debate here and all. And no one would be disappointed that an FT0 rumor turns out to be bullshit. It’s part of the game.
Milan! I did that. I think I improved my records in time and also asked those sources to focus on facts and not on personal emotions. SOmetiems sources are happy about something that people will not like. The E-P5 for example has been teased by Olympus and many people were expecting something super cool and new. It will certainly be a nice camera but it will miss a built-in EVF and a new sensor (of course the E-M5 sensor is still very good). I now give myself more “time” to analyze rumors. And it worked on the E-P5 and it worked on the GF6 and G6. It will hopefully work on the next Panaosnic and Olympus cameras coming in August-September.
+1
I was hoping for so much more than this.
Not interested…why would I be…I have an OMD and this brings less to the table for more money? 🙂
Cool story, bro
You have an OM-D? Wow aren’t you special, thanks so much for sharing!!!
Do I see a command wheel surrounding the shutter button?
She is a true beauty! I’ll nevertheless stick to the Panasonic G series, as an EVF is a must for me and among the m$3s with built-in EVF, the Gs offer the best bang for the buck.
OMG the design… :O
I think I would buy this just for the design.. this looks friggin amazing..
wow…
+1
You are so right!
Nice, very nice. To look at. But without an EVF? Waste of a good design team.
Agree. With integrated EVF it would have been my OMD-Em5 back up body. I find itsimilarto Fuji EX1, but even nicer, and smaller.
With integrated EVF, it would have been OM-D, not a PEN.
First let’s see the other differences (splash and dust proof, for example, or the presence of a 5 axis IBIS), only then we can judge if it can be an OMD-Em5. In any case buyers would buy from Olympus, so I don’t see any problem.
Consider then that there’s also an OMD-Pro on the horizon: will it be another Em5?..
ALL pens of the original variety had viewfinders. Just so you know for future reference.
Even better, this need a new EVF.
Admin says no evf, but comparing this with fuji xe1, seems like there is almost enough room for an evf.
Beauty indeed
Mmmmm I prefer the design of the E-P1/2/3 .. This goes too far toward the retro style.
The all time cutest bodies are the E-Pl3 and E-Pm1 IMO : I like their stripped down minimalist design much better.
I agree. Still, it may partially be due to the colour scheme. I think it would be interesting to see a white model and an all black model.
Actually, not so much the colour scheme as the textures chosen. They seem to have been chosen specifically to evoke images of the past.
waddabout the bl00dy viewfinder. It’s lost
Totally agree. Admin and the sources that claimed that it would be more PEN-like were absolutely right. Gorgeous!
Beautiful!
Come on guys! It´s nothing more than a P3 with a black stripe! >:-P
And Sony sensor! 🙂
Same shape, more retro crap. At least the grip is interchangeable. This better be a serious upgrade on the inside…
Wow- I’m impressed by the looks. Nice classic look. Glad they got rid of the painted metal bodies, and went with what looks like a faux leather. Gotta love that Olympus font too 😉
+1 This is what some of us(?) photographers have been wanting for a long time. A real digitalized rangefinder-looking camera! I find the design near perfect!
If that’s all you wanted, we’ve had that since the E-P1. Retro influence to a degree is interesting, but when it looks like an imitation of cameras from bygone decades (and this is especially relevant in regards to its materiality), I feel that it lacks its own character.
I think they went too far with the faux leather(?) and matte top plate, materials which are so recognisably from a different era.
It’s all preferences, my friend. To have something that was antique and for film-only, now available as NEW and completely digitalized, I feel that to be totally refreshing if you ask me. Great move by Olympus to take it back, completely.
I agree that we are all entitled to our views it would be a dull old world if we all liked the same things.The faux RF styling is ok my only gripes with it are the lack of built in EVF and “for me” the fiddly handling, my eyes and heart say RF my brain an hands say DSLR style. Sadly my brain usually wins lol
The Original Pen F was a half-frame SLR, NOT a range-finder. It had through-the-lens viewing just like the conteporary Cannon, Minolta, Nikon and Pentax SLRs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympus_Pen_F If Olympus really wants to be RETRO, they should make the NEW Pen have a built-in view-finder, just like the ORIGINAL!!
BTW a half-frame film camera shot 18x24mm images, sorta like a crop-frame DX digital camera. It also used a rotary shutter like a movie camera.
And all film cameras had a viewfinder. Photographers will not use this camera other than ‘maybe’
Who is going to stand like a bl00dy dork holding this thing in front of themselves at arms length with a tele or 14-150mm lens on it just to see what they are taking pictures of. If the sun is out that’s a waste of time as well. Get realistic. It is not an ideal camera. Its in its third iteration now and the bl00dy designers have not put in anything that web sites like this have asked for.
If they were making cars we would still be on the Ford model T with a V8 under the front seat, not to power it but just to make the right noise.
I disagree : why make a past looking camera with all the new technology inside. A wink to the past can be good, but this is going too far. If you want a past camera, just get a film camera ! I want a contemporary looking camera, may be with a hint of reminiscence to the past, but not a digital camera looking like a film camera.
That said, I still prefer the Olympus look to the Panasonic look. I’m not after the faux DSLR look. I just want a smart minimalist design like the E-Pl3.
Classic bull. waddabout the bl00dy viewfinder.The classic pen had one. Nay, every pen had one.
If this had an EVF in the corner they wouldnt be able to sell them fast enough.
Indeed!
Lets hope the new external Viewfinder matches two important criteria:
1: It should not look like a tumor on the camera (like the previous ones).
2: It should not be so expensive that it pushes the “complete” E-P5 in rediculous price ranges…
I agree with your senitment, but:
1. We don’t know that there will be a new external viewfinder.
2. the VF-3 would look good on this camera
3. Olympus viewfinders have never been cheap, if there is a new one it will probably cost $300
Admin sais there is a new EVF too, check his last sentence.
yep confirmed. No evf.
No EVF or new EVF????
Oh..oh..we are confusing this.
No EVF in the new EP5, but the will be a new EXTERNAL EVF coming to market.
That looks nice 🙂
waddabout the bl00dy viewfinder. It’s missing. The originals had one.
That looks like a computer rendering, especially the leather. Nevertheless it is beautiful. A real nod to the old Pen F!
Maybe Olympus sold the font to the “Olympus Rising” movie and has reverted to the old font?
Just wish it had an EVF.
I’m worried that that dark mid-section of the camera will feel cheap in the hand, judging by how it looks in that photo.
It’s beautiful! With integrated EVF would be an ideal camera. What a pity!
Wow!!! Looks very promising!
Can not see the picture!Does anyone has another address?
build-in evf or flash one the corner, which one would you take?
Vote for flash! 🙂
EVF, no question! It looks nice, but, not sure how they can justify the reported price compared to the features off the om-d. Only real addition seems to be Wi-Fi?
EP5 plus VF2/3 = price OMD? looks like a simple calculation to me.
actually no, the OMD which already has the EVF is going for roughly $890-990, this E-P5 is supposed to go for 1000, that’s $1250 plus the VF-2 (and who knows what the new one will cost)…So yeah, the E-P5 still doesn’t make sense even after all this time of R&D.
You pay for the design and for the pride of ownership. It’s supposed to be a “flagship”, so Olympus expects low volume sales.
I agree. Good designs like this fairly deserves a price raise.
Look at the losses of the imaging division low sales are the default position of Olympus expectations
i was looking from the european price, not the u.s. price
You’re paying for the excellent OM-D sensor in a smaller body. I bet that will be a selling point!
If it goes for $1000, it is probably with 17/1.8, and OM-D with 17/1.8 is $1500 new.
You should compare with the price of the E-M5 when it was issued, not after one year. Here the prices didn’t climb down they barely lost the equivalent of 40 dollars, body only.
Why compare prices to when E-M5 was issued? If you’re looking to buy a camera now, should look at prices now? Buy yes, if the $1,000 price tag includes the 35 f1/.8 lens as kit, then yes, I can see this as a great option and I may well be tempted (especially if there’s a good pre-order deal with new EVF)
But, if it costs $1,000 for just body… seems a bit rich to pay more for a (feature-wise) worse camera – although I love the looks.
But if they made a Pen Pro like this but with 5-axis IBIS and corner EVF it would be a case of shut up and take my money 🙂 (Don’t see any advantage to weather sealing when only one decent-ish lens supports it, and not even a general purpose walk around lens).
(bounce) flash. But I’m afraid it’s going to have neither.
Both. If Fuji can do it, why can’t Olly?
+100
Completely agree. Ignore my answer from above.
Apparently, there’s the arcane business art of holding back features for strategic reasons no mortal can understand.
Well, some do: it’s more lucrative to sell EVFs and flashes separately.
But you know what, Oly? I bought a Nikon semi-automatic flash because I did not have a proper one in my Olympus camera. I hope E-P5 will have a decent one built in. Thanks for reading.
None of them. I care only about 5axis IBIS!
Looks Photoshopped.
its pretty and thats all that matters apparently…
waddabout the bl00dy viewfinder. As another said, stand like a dork with arms extended taking pictures might as well use a phone. The Oly designers seem to be missing their bits, the bits that matter. EVF that is.
That thing looks really good! I just wish it had an EVF. Built-in flash is just silly, EVF is way more useful.
Nooooo, I can’t see the picture!
That’s cause there is no viewfinder and the sun is shining on the display.
🙂
Uh, sexy!
It looks photoshopped, but that doesn’t mean necessarily that it’s a fake, since official product pictures sometimes also look photoshopped (like the first leaked OM-D pictures).
It seems inspired by the Fuji-X-models a little bit, although they played with their own heritage – especially the Olympus Pen logo seems closer to the classic Pen line than it did on the E-P1/2/3
+ 1
too cool to be true;-), to much wishful thinking, cannot believe that the oly people can do SO NICE design..
(i own 2 em 5…)
There is discrepancies between official image and this one. This has Dial button too low.
http://penimg.olccdn.info/pen/bc/touchtry/images/ttry_main_img.jpg
I just superimposed the two images in photoshop and agree. They don’t stack up.
The official silhouette has a much more pronounced mode dial amongst many other minor differences.
The silhouette looks identical to the E-P3.
Maybe marketing wasn’t allowed an actual E-P5!
What’s the difference between the EP series vs. EP-L? It’s not immediately obvious from looking at them…
Turns out I’m not as lazy as I thought to figure it out myself. Go Oly! lol, where are your fast zooms?
Nice! Why does everyone expect EVF in PEN? What would be the difference to OM-D? I think it is clear: OM-D = PEN with integrated EVF. PEN = OM-D without EVF.
And no EVF in the “RF” position…..means losing customers to Fuji and Sony.
Yes. sad, is it?
One can live without an EVF, but life gets *much* better when you get one, available all the time.
This is going to play in the hands of Sony and Fuji, who now have cheaper bodies than the E-Px.
Noobs can’t tell the advantage of IBIS is they haven’t tried one.
There’s more than enough features to differentiate the E-P5 to the OMD without being at conflict because of the EVF:
– Weathersealing
– 5 Axis Ibis
– Modularity (HLD6)
– ergonomy/handling (SLR vs RF)
– Styling (some people actually care about this)
I agree entirely. The problem with an E-P5 without a RF position viewfinder is that there is almost nothing to differentiate it from the E-PL5. There’s plenty to differentiate it from the OM-D, but within the Pen line, it’s going to be hard to justify a 50% price increase for a slightly wider body with one extra dial.
Plus, with the Fuji X-E1 priced at the same price the E-P5 is expected to be, but offering better image quality with a built in viewfinder, there’s serious competition to consider. Yes, the Pen beats the X-E1 in many areas (AF speed for sure, plus IBIS), but Fuji’s got a great system building, and NEX isn’t going anywhere. Both offer small bodies with integrated finders, and m4/3 doesn’t have ANY that don’t have a VF hump.
I love my OM-D, but it’s easier to fit my Fuji X-E1 in some bags because it’s shorter…it’s a feature that needs to find its way into the high end rangefinder styled m4/3 bodies. Both the E-P series and the Panasonic GX series.
There’s more than enough features to differentiate the E-P5 to the OMD without being at conflict because of the EVF:
– Weathersealing
– 5 Axis Ibis
– Modularity (HLD6)
– ergonomy/handling (SLR vs RF)
– Styling (some people actually care about this)
Besides, if the E-p5 were to steal sales from the OMD it wouldn’t matter since that money goes to Olympus either way (better make an impact with a new model than to let it sit in shelves by prioritizing an older one). And even then, Olympus could always release a Pro OMD to further distance the E-PX and OMD lines.
Once all pens had a viewfinder.
Once upon a time all cameras had film, I wonder how many peeps writing in this thread know what film is???
I use film in a Pen FT and a Bronica GS. I also want a viewfinder. I don’t want the equivalent of a V8 noise in a Ford model T.
Sorry. I used the equivalence word.
Absolute beauty! Even nicer than the OMD. Yeah, if it would have a VF in the corner.., would be mental.
I’ll keep my EM5 for now 🙂 VF is a must (even though you can buy an external one)
What a sexy looking camera! I´m curious what´s new (except for the sensor).
Probably wifi and near field communication. And a new processor?
@admin: You rumored a price of 1000 USD including kit lens. If the kit lens now is the 17mm f/1.8 that is a fair price.
Bloody hell! It’s a piece of art. Even the inscription on the front is a classic.
Is it a front dial?
Where is the viewfinder?
I really like my EM5 but the EVF is way too big for me as I don’t use it actually. I prefer this form factor (I used to have a GF1) so if the EP5 got this, I will sell my EM5 for it :
– EM5 sensor
– 5axis stabilization (very very important)
– weathersealed
But I’m sure it won’t happened… However it’s weird that the kit lens is the 17 1.8, Olympus is trying to make a high end camera ?!
Mate, it is not going to have either of these things:
– 5axis stabilization (very very important)
– weathersealed
So, the PEN finaly comes of age, this first image looks truly beautiful, hope the rest follows suit.
No the Pen is going backwards.Once they all had viewfinders. Now they have arms out in front like a bl00dy idiot to take a picture……. As long as the sun don’t shine.
Am glad the mode dial looks more recessed now and front dial position looks fantastic. Hope they didn’t remove the thumb dial as i miss that on the OMD
Does anybody believe the VF-2 will be backwards compatible with the E-P5? Too bad the VF-2 doesn’t have a locking pin (which was deliberately omitted). But wait, I’m sure the new VF will have a locking pin. Too bad I have short arms and deep pockets!
I can see why the kit lens is the 17mm. It seems a shame to design such a nice solid looking classic camera and then stick the nasty plastic Olympus kit zoom on it.
Come on Olympus, give us a quality standard zoom.
Another possibility is that the 17mm didn’t sell as well as expected, due to the mixed reviews it perceived.
BTW, at least the black 12-50mm doesn’t look or feel cheap in my opinion – rather in the same league as the Pana 20mm and the Oly 45mm (of course I’m not talking about image quality here).
I have the 12-50mm and I use it because I have an OM-D and I can’t afford the 12-35mm at the moment (and not totally convinced it’s worth the money). But I HATE the feel of the zoom ring
So many things they could improve. Silent shutter. Better video. Built in ND filter. Better grip. Battery grip. EVF of course.
It will not have any of these:
Silent shutter. Better video. Built in ND filter. EVF of course.
If it has a new processor (and “better AF” and the fact that TruePic VI is more than 2 years old now suggest it does), it might as well have better video codec and/or in-video controls.
As always:
“AF speed has been improved even over the best in it’s class, the Olympus E-M5”
The next OM-D-Pro will focus back in the past….
It’s about 5mm taller than the E-P3. I wonder what is squeezed in this extra space. My guess: OM-D IBIS.
I would love to see IBIS for video, even a simplified version.
This is no camera for shooting video. It looks too exquisite for such utilitarian tasks.
its perfect for candidstyle video
Ulli.
How the hell can you be candid, when your standing with your arms out in front of yourself. With a camera shaking as you try to press the buttons at arms length and you can’t see the display because the sun is shining? Candid? Ulli, no it can’t be.
Dude, calm down. Many people wanted a viewfinder. We didn’t get one. It’s not the end of the world.
As for candidness, I have to argue that putting the camera up to your face is the worst way to capture candid moments. As a matter of fact, using the display is far better as it allows you don’t draw as much attention to yourself by having a camera in front of your face. Better yet, pre-set focus and shoot from the hip.
exactly, you don’t need a VF or an LCD, you just need to learn how to hold your camera level and judge distance with your eyes, photographers have been doing this longer than anyone alive on this forum and have done just fine, with both film and digital.
I’d love a VF PEN, but this ain’t it. Learn to accept reality, @viewfinder memories after your 1st post we got the idea of your opinion, rest your typing skills ..
That works well. A tiltable LCD would also be nice. But when a tele lens is attached you need a viewfinder. My Voigtlander 21mm is great for zone and low shooting and wide enough to get most shots but with a 14-150 or more a viewfinder is essential. Also the reality is most people do not have a drawer of cameras to pick and chose from. It is no wonder that most M43 users only have one lens. The camera design of the Pen series prevents them trying additional lenses. If I was starting now I would not buy additional lenses for a pen. I have a range of M43, 4/3, M mount and Adaptall lenses amongst others. None except the original and my CV21mm go on my EP2. (yes, I have the viewfinder. In Sydney it is mostly impossible to see a fixed lcd display)
But a view finder is essential. It does not have to be used all the time but if it is not there it cannot be used.
Tiltable OLED, in fact, is probably best for street shots. Tilt-up EVF also decreases the “someone is staring at me” feeling.
And it’s not just for street shots. Many (most?) pros preferred the waist-level VF of Rolleiflex, Hasselblad 500, and Mamiya 67.
The only real disadvantage of anything that is not up against the eye is stability with long-teles, I think, which is why I could really use a built-in EVF.
How do you know that it’s taller? I don’t see any difference in proportions when I put them side by side ( on a PC screen only 🙁 ).
You display it on a 12″ monitor next to a 24″ monitor and you can clearly see a size difference.
all back body would be better
My guess: There will be an all black body, but of course no black 17mm 🙂
This looks like a good excuse to get the 17mm lens. 🙂
I’ll probably get this after the first price drop at the end of the year or early next year.
Sweeet! Hopefully this cam doesn’t have an evf. Otherwise I need to rob my bank account again 🙂
I just love this retro design, just like my omd 🙂
Ok Oly, we now know you’re able to produce unique looking cams. What about designated fast zooms and the long time due firmware update for my omd? My 5-axis ibis is waiting for better video specs!
+1 on firmware update with more video frame rate options.
A camera without built-in EVF is a cripple.
This retro look cameras are boring me to death. Why is Olympus (and Fuji) not able to design a modern high-end M43 camera?
If retro is not your cup of tea, you have the sony nex, canon m, nikon 1 and samsung nx to choose from. Are they not space age enough?
no viewfinder = no camera.
No IBIS, few proper lenses.
“If retro is not your cup of tea, you have the sony nex, canon m, nikon 1 and samsung nx to choose from.”
And don’t forget Panasonic. E-PMs are not retro either, especially E-PM1.
Becos style is important as well. Retro to the max!
To be retro it must have a viewfinder.
You obviously don’t know what retro means.
To make that answer you clearly have no clue at all. Stupid comment.
Take a moment to consider what I wrote, and you’ll realise that it is not my comment that is stupid, but yours alone. Cheers
It’s hardly about ability. Those two manufacturers are proud of their legacy and choose to celebrate it with new products. Nothing is preventing you from buying a Panasonic (or Sony).
Could you imagine if they did a deal like they did for European customers with the OMD where they gave away a free 45mm with purchase? This camera would suddenly look like very good value- the 17mm AND the 45mm? NICE! Of course it won’t happen but nice to dream.
This is one of the most beautiful cameras I’ve ever seen. Already thinking of selling my E-M5 to get this instead, based on looks alone. Why am I always so irrational?
I am also totally in love. It must be the spring. If only I could keep my credit card well tucked inside my wallet..
I have a sneaking feeling its based on the thought, of not being able to see the picture you want on the display, when the sun shines. It causes all sorts of irrational behaviour. Just the idea that some one could make a digital camera and no built in viewfinder, really gets under the skin, it irritates and causes irrational behaviour. If it gets real bad, I will buy your gold bar for 50c just to keep you peaceable.
This looks nice. I want a form factor like the G6, but with OM-D internals.
This E-P5 is an example of form over function, while the G6 is the opposite. Only Fuji seems to get that good design is BOTH form and function.
BTW only a weak of mind can be tempted to sell an OM-D for an E-P, or perhaps someone in need of male (or female) jewelry 🙂
Yeah, I’m very tempted and I don’t doubt that my mind is weak. 😉
Well said. What kind of bloody criticism was that? Weak minded..? Poor kid..
You can always send me your OM-D for free. I need a backup to mine 🙂
‘Pearls before swine’ come to mind 🙂
I bid $100 for the unwanted E-M5. 🙂
And… I don’t need it, and I don’t want it, and I shouldn’t get it, but, see… it’s… sooooo… pretty… Must… stay… strong…
Feeling… weak…
If it has 5-Axis and if the new EVF proves to be fantastic, I might be a goner. The advantage of VF-2 over E-M5 is that it tilts up. Great for macro and landscape. I hope the new EVF can be used in previous models with firmware upgrade; this is an advantage of Olympus’s strategy of nickel-and-diming us.
What we really need, actually, is a cord that allows us to have video output, flash, evf, and remote all at the same time. Then nothing needs to be built-in.
And to those who are complaining about the absence of EVF (including myself), I don’t see any hot shoes on photos of the original PEN F, and what a lousy placement of the shutter speed dial!
thats looks really classic ,..and they add FRONT DIAL,.for EV control,.i’m curious with the back /lay out button
Yep, very curious to see back too.
Oly, gives us:
– faster AF
– 5axis IBIS
– hi-res 4:3 ratio LCD
– bundle it with 17/1,8
– and sell it for $1000.
That would be fair!
What good is bl00dy front dial when you can’t see what your dialling?
Are you blind?
Meh, doesn’t do it for. What is so fantastic about its looks??? That grip make it look ridiculous. I don’t mind classic/stylish design but this leaves me totally cold. Mind you, I thought EM-5 was very ugly until I actually saw one in the flesh. Anyway, no GPS, no EVF, no weather sealing. I’m still waiting for my dream camera and EM-5 is the closest so far.
…doesn’t do it for ME
they are even closer to repeating the curves and font of the original PEN-F(T) than ever
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Olympus-Pen-FT-with-38mm1_8.jpg
The PEN F (T) had a hole in the back to see through the lens. Well mine does. Its called a viewfinder. All other Pens had viewfinders as well.
So this is somewhat lacking as a Pen. Is it not?
And this one has 3″ screen in the back to see what sensor sees (also through he lens) and processor precesses.
I think this is fake.
If it’s genuine, the head-print is only “OLYMPUS” without “PEN”.
trust me, it’s real
Yes, I think it is a fake photo, there is never ‘Pen’ after the Olympus logo on the Pens, also: ‘Olympus’ and ‘Pen’ are not alined well. I don’t trust this picture.
Companies make photoshop composites all the time, in fact most marketing material is mostly PS jobs and renders, doing actual product photos is more expensive and takes more time (ironic isn’t it?), if it was fake it would be more obvious.
Not sure were your information comes from, my original Pen F has the full name on the front logo. OLYMPUS – PEN F
wanna bet this is real? 🙂
1000+ for designe …dont consider ergonomic …but design is pretty nice with clear link with history of Olympus
very good
And i keep not liking the retro look. The handgrip is not very functional – it could be much more comforting without creating any useless bulk (as long as it doesn’t protrude more than the flattest lens). Also the handgrip looks so tacked-on, as an afterthought.
Enjoy it in your vitrines, then.
I agree Henrik. The handgrip does look tacked on. Almost like it was an afterthought. I’m not a fan of the looks of this camera and I generally like retro. I think the x100s will remain king of the retro cameras, at least when it comes to looks.
Thanks admin. Best new post for ages. You got more about this camera you can share with us today?
I was never very fond of the PENs and their design. But this one is something, I really like. Especially the control wheel around the shutter release.
A pity, though, hay it does not have a build-in view finder.
Does it have a tiltable display?
I actually think the EP2 was a better looking camera. More stylish. Not that impressed by the looks of this one. This is probably my least favorite EP camera in terms of looks. But I’m sure it will be the best in terms of performance.
If there’s one thing to be sure of, it’s that. Otherwise, I’d be extremely worried.
I want to know how the “AF speed has been improved even over the best in it’s class, the Olympus E-M5.”?
To me this camera looks an awful lot like the EPL2.
Astonishing design. I love it.
If the 17mm is included for $1000 that is a great deal, but I think Olympus will charge a $1000 basically using the design to differenciate, it will still be appealing to some.
Looks ok as a phone as a camera it mises the mark. No viewfinder = phone = no camera
This looks lovely, but…
I just can’t understand why neither Olympus nor Panasonic will make a RF style cameras with EVF.
If they read peoples comments on line they must know that they’d sell even a high end RF + EVF to many many enthusiasts… yet they’re not interested and I wonder why.
Admin… Can you ask them why they wont make such a camera, even a high end model?
Anyone else wondering why there is no grip screw visible? Are they dropping this already?
If you look at E-P3 pictures, you can see a hint of the interchangeable grip screw at almost all angles, but this E-P5 picture doesn’t seem to show it at an angle that had it visible in E-P3 pictures.
I noticed that as well. It maybe just bad PS job or that the screw is positioned further back. If this grip is not exchangeable, then it’s another big design mistake. It looks like it could be removed, though.
I like dial to front on camera body. 😉
Why? you will never know what its set on when the sun is shining and you have the thing stretched out in front of you.
Isn’t that just a scroll wheel for exposure compensation and the like at the front?
It seems the mode dial is sticking out at the back of the camera. Now if they’d even print the mode symbols on the side of the mode dial wheel in addition to the front, that would be some great design.
err, in addition to the top – sorry
I have a secret for you, “viewfinder memories”. If sun reflects off your rear screen and right into your eyes, tilt the screen a little.
If its a fixed lcd you get a sky shot or a foot shot by tilting the screen. If its a tilt screen it still wont work in real sunny places. Perth, Sydney, BungleBungles. If there is a viewfinder it can be used if required. If there is not one, it can never be used.
Hum.. ok, next?
Admin, will EPL-6 have an integrated EVF?
there is still no news bodies can replace my GF1 which have PERFECT ergonomic, has rangefinder, etc…
Since 3 years, i’am asking for an integrated EVF… i love MFT system because small sensor, etc… but please PANOLYMP, built-in EVF in bodies and it will be a success!! i’m jaelous, NEX, FUJI have already built-in EVF, even the pana LF1 !!
Im not demanding a lot, even a cheap EVF with low resolution, im used of my LVF1 which i can focus perfectly!!
lots of EVF-itis around here 🙂
Ulli. There should be a lot more.
Ha, you are too funny! Trolled the whole thread, half of the comments are yours. Maybe the LF1 is the camera for you!
EVF and OVF is dead; the future is WiFi/Bluetooth + Google glasses
Might work well. But don’t forget Google will have a record of every shot you take and all those you only framed. And the only person who will never see the record is you.
But the message is important. All DSLRS have viewfinders and they sell very well. Pens don’t have them. Where are they in the sales race?
I have e30 and em5 amongst others. I just want a replacement for my EP2 that has a viewfinder built in.
Well by now at least everyone knows their policy on no EVF’s.
Seriously if you want a no EVF small camera with great image quality get an RX100.
the look doesnt mind.
same sensor as E-M5? with two knobs for control? no vf but smaller? ibis?
let see all the specs 🙂 ! could be a nice companion to the E-M5.
They should have just stop producing the external evf and stuff it in the body instead!
is that rectangular thing infront is the shutter button like the pen f?
look so good ,retro,hi-class
Looks horrible!
Original Pen F is much better.
Pretty hip, but… does it flip?
Still waiting for the PEN with corner viewfinder… (+ 5-axis IBIS + wifi)
Oh! What about the f2.8 zoom?!?!
Looks like Oly is mocking us. The left side of the front looks so much like there was an evf on the backside. Well, I may give it a try if it has 5 axis IBIS or some other new goodies.
It looks like OM-D quality body. Probably not weather-sealed though, as none of the kit lenses is weather-sealed. 🙁
And good lens choice – with 17/1.8, it competes directly with Fuji X100s, leaving Nikon A and Ricoh GR in the dust, compared to those two adding better low light quality and compared to all three ability to change lenses and have every one of them stabilized.
Difference is that Fuji X100S has a hybrid viewfinder, leaf shutter, built in flash (maybe this does too?) and built in ND filters.
If I didn’t need to change lenses, I’d probably choose the Fuji every day of the week compared to this – even though, personally, I much prefer the looks of the E-P5. And if it doesn’t have the Oly 5-axis IBOS, I don’t think it is necessarily a killer feature?
It would be interesting to see what the new add on EVF will look like. For instance it could be a truncated pyramid, lower profile and more stable. But then why not buy an E-M5.
The only explanation is that Oly believes that the Pen line was created for those who never used a VF, i.e P & Shooters, and iPhoners – so that they would almost never use a VF.
One wonders if this line was ever made for photogs. or just for a demographic, like camera joshi.
Other interesting point is how configurable the camera will be. Did they simplify the menus, since this was a general complaint?
It’s priceless anyway to see the drama queens here getting all anxious for their jewelry, poor darlings 🙂
I love the styling. Wouldn’t mind picking one up as a backup to my OM-D — if it’s not too expensive.
Looks like the same strap lug as the OMD, which rubs your finger raw after time. I guess most things never change with Olympus. If it doesn’t work just keep doing it anyway and eventually no one will want any of your products.
Maybe it’s ur fingers that need to change. Lugs are fine for me. They were for my E-P1 and they’re fine for my E-M5.
WHAH….the strap lug hurts my little finger….WHAH….jeeeeeezzzzzz….Get an F’n Life!!!!! 🙂
A saw will solve that problem. Your choice what to cut off.
OMG a slight critique on something olympus!! quick guys, get him!!!
LOL even Leica straps suck.. Go buy a third party strap and be happy.
Yes there are times when the lugs on my E-M5 and my E-P3 can get in the way. But the lugs on my Sony, Canon and Minolta cameras used to get in the way too.
Is there camera with perfect lugs that nobody has ever disliked?
Lo que me sorprende es que en el momento que estamos esta cámara no tenga un visor electrónico. Para mi un gran error.
Hopefully will the EP5 have a tiltable screen!!!!!
Looks nice. So far so good. Now let’s see the back for the control layout and LCD. I would rather it did not have a tiltable LCD. I hope it’s backward compatible with the VF-2.
Let’s hope for a new VF-4 with 3 mil. dot display instead. 😉
Anonymous *could* solve his lug problem with some nice smooth heat-shrink tubing…
Why not a new, hopfully, hi-res, full-tilt, (sic) view-finder, and compatibility with the VF-2?
They are functionally used seperately, so surely they don’t need to be incompatible!
Yes.
no fake image anymore. it’s enough.
it’s not necessary for this post.
Have someone noticed the black 17mm f1.8 on the camera body? Because it is :D.
NICE CALL Mr. Devitt….you are correct..at first I thought you had it wrong…as all of the area around the lens is black on the silver lenses…but I just went and got mine and we would see a silver ring (barrel of lens) where the hood attaches all around the lens if it was a silver lens..and this one is clearly black…so yes..that is a black lens!!!! GOOD EYE!!!!!!
Michael, the front of 17mm f1.8 and also 12mm f2.0 are black.. This is silver,period.
hmmm…..
I looked at my lens again, more carefully..I thought at first that the lens in the photo above had a shade on it…but the photo is misleading and something is not quite right with the image, i.e. it has been retouched and does not look exactly like an actual Olympus on the outer edge before the silver ring is seen. That area has definitely been messed with in post production.
..so now upon close scrutiny I do believe that this is a silver lens that has been retouched.
There will be a black version.
@O : Michael wrote that the 17mm f1.8 on the pic is black. It isn’t. The front of the lens is black, but you can see the silver edge on top part of it. As far as it concerns a black edition, me too I think there will be one for those who feel the need to have it in black. Again, the front of lens is already black.
Don’t crash my dreams Marco :D, Bob is right, looks like retouched photo.
fake, no doubt
Nope. Way to many large and subtle aesthetically correct design elements to be fake. Whether you like it or not, it was done by a professional.
fake, no doubt
Could the camera manufacturers please stop feeding that retrolook-hype once and for all!?! It’s getting pretty boring!
For those who haven’t realized it yet, we live in the *** 21st Century *** and more precisely in 2013!!! I can’t believe we are still stuck in the 1950-60’s in terms of camera design… Is it that difficult to develop/imagine more contemporary and still appealing designs!?! Every other piece of consumer goods (cars, computers, household appliances, telephones etc.) has got more contemporary or even more futuristic/avant-gardestic designs than all those rangerfinder-camera-like DSCs. So where are the Jonathan Ives and Philippe Starcks (just to name the most popular contemporary designers) of the camera industry!?! Or are photographers such a bunch of ultra-conservative blokes that they are themselves stuck in the past?!?
Clearly you know nothing about the history of design. If you love contemporary design then head to the Sony camp. They always embrace the utilitarian modern design. Go there and stop complaining.
@Tim: Actually, I know more about the history of design than most other people here! I’m the son of an architect (and architects know indeed a lot about design) and the sense of aesthetics is virtually in my blood. Also, I’ve seen a great part of the camera evolution (I got my first camera in 1978 and haven’t stopped photographing resp. using different sorts of cameras since); so leave me alone with your dull allusions…!
Then as the son of an architect you haven’t learned anything.
+1and LOL (by the way, if your father studied, that doesn’t mean you’re intelligent. Or an architect. Try to have your blood examined, and see if there are traces of some architectural globule)
@Mumbly Architecture does not equal product design and vice versa. All too often architects think that being part of the profession (or simply being the child of one) makes them arbiters of taste in all other design disciplines. Being an architect does not automatically lend authority to your personal opinions about design. Architects are still susceptible to the whims of fashion, trends, and the marketplace.
As an architect I hate it when laymen, spouses, children, friends of friends, etc use the profession to lend validity to their own personal opinions about design when they really have no claim to it; especially when its done to invalidate someone else’s opinion.
And really? you’re going to call out Ive, in the same paragraph where you lament camera design being stuck in the 60s? I’ll give you Starck as being somewhat futurist but all Ive’s done is draw from the well of Dieter Rams (splashed liberally with 80s era Sony) time and time again. Having said that, I do like Apple design but its ridiculous not to admit just how large of an influence 60s design has had on the Apple aesthetic as a whole from the original iMac through today.
Now now… taste is subjective and everyone’s entitled to state what they like. Just because a design is based on a classic notion of beauty doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for improvement.
@AC2:
Please don’t get me wrong! I didn’t want to say that good taste resp. sense of aesthetics is hereditary and/or that architects are THE authority when it comes to design, but they (or at least many of them) have indeed a very pronounced sense of aesthetics. And my brothers and I have been raised in a way to recognize good and bad taste when being exposed to it.
Some may say that taste is subjective and that there’s no universal conception of good and bad taste. But that’s a common misconception! Actually there IS indeed good and bad taste; there are shapes and/or colours which harmonically match together and some which definitely don’t! There may be variations based on individual taste (e.g. some men like blonde women and other prefer dark haired women), but these are just nuances. Don’t get me wrong here too: I don’t wanna say that the E-P5 is ugly, nor that any other retro styled camera is really ugly, but I was rather critizing the camera manufacturers lack of imagination/creativity. This 1950/60’s style was fine at that respective point of time, but we live in the year 2013 now and things should have evolued in the meantime… Like you say, modern design takes influence in the past and that’s perfectly okay, but copying design from the past is NOT the same as taking influence from the past. Contemporary design has always to remain individual and this particular individuality is exactly what I miss in the design of those retro-styled cameras!
One last point: I didn’t want to invalidate anyone else’s opinion. Or at least, I didn’t start with it. I just wanted to backlash on Tims’ comment where he wrote that I know nothing about the history of design. I do definitely have a good sense of aesthetics and even if that may sound arrogant, there’s no reason I shouldn’t be proud of this part of my education…!
Mumbly. you will know the importance of a viewfinder then. Not just a bolt on $$$extra. but a hole in the back.
Pen-F was a dslr, not a rangefinder.
A DSLR, really? Think about that.
‘d’ is Pictish for ‘film’.
LOL!
Dinky Single Lens Reflex?
i don’t think you can equate this with cars and such.. Photography is an art.. and many enthusiasts want to grow up to emulate the past greats of photography.. all those masters of old carrying around those old little rangefinders … leicas.. etc.. etc…
In the days of yore, holding a camera in your hand was a big thing. there were no decent point and shoots (i received 11 brownie instamatic cameras for my Bar Mitzvah back in ’65) and no cell phones..
i think holding a retro camera gives a feeling of ‘purist’..
and may i also add that i love kitchen appliances… and there are SO MANY RETRO toasters and blenders and food processors its not funny. People like retro stuff.. and of course, when it comes to cameras, the retro styling sets them apart from the hundreds of point and shoots, which all look like little bricks.. They are so boring, that the manufacturers have to produce them in every color of the rainbow to get the buyer’s attention..
there’s nothing wrong with retro..
> i don’t think you can equate this with cars and such..
For sure, one can. Of course! Car design has evoluted over the years; sure there are some nostalgics in the car market too who fantasm about hot-rods and vintage cars, but these people are stuck in the past too!
> Photography is an art.. and many enthusiasts want to grow up to emulate the past greats of
> photography.. all those masters of old carrying around those old little rangefinders … leicas..
> etc.. etc…
That’s just dull sentimentalism resp. dumb nostalgia!
> In the days of yore, holding a camera in your hand was a big thing.
It’s still a big thing. I get a excited today when buying a new camera as when I got my first camera in 1978. I’ve had many different kinds of cameras in my hand since then (from Leica-M to large format bellows cameras, medium format cameras, 35mm-SLRs etc.), but holding all the time the same type (design-wise) of cameras in my hands is getting really boring!
> i think holding a retro camera gives a feeling of ‘purist’..
I loathe purists! These are people have an elitarian view on photography and who don’t want to open their minds on new developments and trends.
> People like retro stuff…
Narrow-minded people like retro stuff. It just like those blokes who get practically in a state of ecstasy when they ride a Harley Davidson. Backward technology for backward people!
> and of course, when it comes to cameras, the retro styling sets them apart from the hundreds of point and
> shoots, which all look like little bricks.. They are so boring, that the manufacturers have to produce them in
> every color of the rainbow to get the buyer’s attention..
There, I have to agree with you! Most camera makers don’t seen to care a lot about good design. The last time they did, it was in the 80s when Canon hired Luigi Colani to design their T90 and EOS-cameras and when Nikon hired Giorgio Giugiaro to design their F-series cameras. Since then, no significant progress has been made in terms of camera design. It’s even getting worser. Compare e.g. those digital point-and-shoots from today with those of the early days of DSCs. An Olympus mju 410 digital looks A LOT sexier than actual Olympus point-and-shoots. Even an Olympus C-1400L or Nikon Coolpix 950 looks better than many other actual DSCs…
Hey Mumbly… the brand new Kodak S-1 is your camera!! It’s soooo modern.. 😉
“These are people have an elitarian view on photography and who don’t want to open their minds on new developments and trends.”
Uh…
I think your view on photography is rather ‘elitarian’ actually, and also you seem to not have opened your mind to this trend of retro-styling.
I’m not at all saying you HAVE to like it, as taste is totally personal, but your rant about design is just totally ridiculous in the light of the standards you are claiming yourself.
Hah! He wrote ‘evoluted’
+1. To some, retro equates to shallow. For me, it’s as much about function as it is about form. I too prefer buying retro styled home appliances over the usual utilitarian gloss white/black or chromed plastic fare. I have retro styled kettles and toasters: they not only have that old time character, but are built more strongly than the standard fare. They just feel better made to me (the ones I bought anyway). I also bought a retro styled digital radio with large tactile dials and buttons, making it easier and more enjoyable to use. I appreciate modern designs too, as long as its functionality is retained. Some modern designs go too much on the minimalist theme for me.
I think it’s not just the retronomy that people like, but there may be designs that just work, that are somewhat timeless (not really, but have long-lasting appeal maybe?).
Basically all this means is it doesnt matter if it worls well or if its overpriced or all of those “small” things, what really matter is how pretty YOU look when you use them. Go ahead, call me a troll for saying that (wait, did I say it?)
Hipster designers designing cameras? Remember the Pentax K-01? Marc Newson is a fine designer but the K-01 was of the Marc (pun intended).
However calling in designers from outside the house can be good. Canon T-90 by Colani or the Contax SLRs by Porsche.
With that said Olympus has a lot of heritage for inspiration. An integrated EVF is due to do the Pen series justice. How many iterations onward with this new chassis?
BTW, the font is too small. Should be bigger and justified to the right.
Don’t know what you’re talking about when it comes to the font. It looks spot-on to me: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Olympus-Pen-FT-with-38mm1_8.jpg
All this whining about a “missing” EVF; why is it so hard to understand that if Oly were to include an integrated EVF, that the line between PEN and OM-D would be blurred from a consumer POV? The more complaining I hear about what this new PEN doesn’t have makes me think people are just closet OM-D fans who have a rectangle fetish.
From a model range standpoint, I completely understand why Oly did what they did (assuming this rumnor/image is real).
People are complaining about it not having an EVF because there’s a lot of people who want a rangefinder styled m43 camera. You may not, and that’s fine, you’re catered for. Great. But I do and by the sounds of it, lots of others too.
But having an EVF in a camera makes a lot of sense. It may take a few sales away from the OM-D, but how many OM-D sales would they lose compared to how many E-P5’s they’d sell because of it. Not everyone can afford an OM-D.
Just my thoughts,
Colin
+1
Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I do understand better the “want” you mention for a rangefinder-style body, but if all we’re talking about is a difference in form and packaging (OM slr-style vs. rangefinder style) but with the same sensor and perhaps 5-axis IBIS (not confirmed), than the risk is real for one Oly model to cannibalize sales from another. I’d bet that Oly takes that risk seriously, and perhaps they felt the risk of going non-EVF and having greater distinction between OM-D models and PEN models was more tolerable than the risk of sales competition within their own products.
Personally, I also think it would be “nice” to have a rangefinder option from Oly, but pragmatically, especially with the success of the OM-D, I can clearly understand why they chose to direction they did with this new PEN.
Lastly, from what I’ve read (true or not) around the web, plus also looking at historical pricing for the digital PEN line, I bet the 14-42 lens kit model of this new PEN will be $300+/- USD at the very MOST. To include a built-in EVF would put it at, or very close to, parity with the OM-D in pricing (original MSRP, not discounted).
Or course, final pricing hasn’t been announced, so this is all just supposition.
Yes they do take that risk very seriously, so much so that (very unusual for Olympus) they discussed this potential issue with various external consultants.
I think they are wrong on this. It is possible to create clear differentiation between a PEN with EVF and a in basic features identical OM-D, in shape/looks but much more so in handling and by extension, the photographic techniques and styles both cater to.
From the looks of the E-P5 picture, they went the other way, and reduced differences in handling, while differentiating more based on features.
There are 2 things they should be looking at:
– does a PEN with EVF cannibalize part of the E-M5 market? (it will, but to what extent?)
– will the combined market share of such a PEN + E-M5 be significantly better then of the E-M5 + viewfinder-less PEN?
Both the sales of both models and the strategic consideration of total market penetration of the system should be high on their list, I’m convinced they do look at the first but are neglecting the second.
As I’ve said before, trying to make an argument about cannibalization within Oly cameras is just nonsense.
Firstly and most importantly building an EVF into the P-5 would not mean a decrease in OMD sales, there are enough features to differentiate them apart (WS, IBIS, ergonomics,modularization,styling,etc) and enough people that prefer that aesthetic as well. And even if the E-P5 were to steal sales from the OMD you have to consider some issues:
1.- Whichever OMD sale is lost to the E-P5, that money still goes to Olympus, so there is no loss.
2.- At the rumored price Oly would actually make a profit by losing OMD sales to the E-P5 since it will be priced more expensively ($1000 with no evf vs 890-990 for the OMD, which HAS evf), so according to the current arrangements Oly will actually loose profits since most sane people are probably going to prefer the OMD over the PEN because of the features vs price difference.
3.- As I said, prioritizing sales of an already old model over a more expensive newer one is just dumb, even in the worst scenario Oly could (and most likely will) release a Pro OMD to further differentiate both lines if necessary.
4.- A built-in EVF would only mean trouble for Sony and Fuji, the E-P5 would be more likely to steal sales from the NEX 6/7 and the XE-1 and Pro-1 than the ones from the OMD, in fact it would more likely complement the OMD in this segment.
So yeah, that argument is just BS spewed by OMD elitists with no logic behind it. What i don’t get is their reason for doing so, it’s not like an EVF in the E-P5 would make their OMD cease to work…It’s all just different ergonomics in the end, why should there be just one type of body for those who need an EVF ? There’s still people who remember that mirrorless was an attempt to get away from the bulk and bumpiness of (d)slrs, why try to go back (GH3 anyone?)?
I think you just proved my point about the font but misread what I wrote.
Oly usually does very balanced design. The fontsize not fonttype is too small. Needs to go up a few points (height and width). On the new Pen it covers a quarter of the width of the body while on the vintage Pen it about 2/5 the width. That’s roughly 15% bigger.
About diferentation: I think Oly needs a rangefinderesque camera to compete with Fuji/Sony. The difference between an OM-D and the Pen+ would be the 5-axis IBIS. Like the Pen-mini didn’t have the ibis as in the E-P3.
The Pen series was cute but then Fuji hit a homerun with the X-100. It did struck a chord with the consumer be it hipster or gearfreak.
EVF in the Pen series would be welcome. If Sony can fit one inside a Nex-6 so can Oly.
When people cried there was no onboard flash in the E-P1/2, Oly did ad it in the P3. The body grew a bit, though. Now ditch the flash and put in a decent EVF.
Oly didn’t play out the true retro card and lost there hand.
Now if Oly needs to open up a new category like a R/S (35RC/RD 35 SP) line so be it if they wish to keep the Pen line simple. Even a fixed 17,5/1.4 would be nice.
There’s no canabalizing. The money stays with the same company. Now it might go elswhere. It’s good to have choice.
I like the retro designs Olympus have come out with, and judging by the number they sell I’m not alone.21st Century tech coupled with classic styling, what’s not to like?
Does it take pictures? Yes? Okay, then STFU.
The amount of whining that goes an about what a camera (or a cell phone, or a car) is retarded. It’s like crying over the fact that my hammer is the wrong color; as long as it effectively drives a nail, why would I give a crap?
We’ve reached a ridiculous level of faggotry.
Of course, the design is important too! Maybe it doesn’t contribute directly to make better pictures, but design is definitely an important aspect in the buying decision process!! If design was irrelevant, you could live in a wooden hut resp. shanty too! Hey, you’ve got a roof and some windows – what else do you want/need!?! Same story when it comes to buy a car. If it was only for driving, there wouldn’t be so many different types of cars (sedans, limos, pick-ups, station wagons etc.).
So design may not be the decisive factor when choosing a new camera and if everything else (image quality, feature set, handling etc.) is fine, one will certainly not refrain from buying the camera just because of its design, but functionality isn’t everything and one is certainly not a retard when putting some importance in the design of the things you’re buying…
Ah, But if they changed the shape of your hammer handle or cut it in half you would complain.
“Could the camera manufacturers please stop feeding that retrolook-hype once and for all!?! It’s getting pretty boring!”
+100
It’s fine to put some design elements that remind of those old cameras, but to sacrifice ergonomics because of that is stupid.
Where does the retro stop, anyway? 1970s? 1930s? 1890s? Are cameras that look like the ones from 1990s retro as well? I’d personally like to have more of 1980s and onwards looking cameras.
And don’t tell me to go to Sony or Panasonic, the reasons why people hang onto Olympus ILCs, in spite of their styling are well known.
Maybe they should drop the Fugley OMD-E-M5 design, and go with the ORIGINAL Pen F design, complete with ORIGINAL style view-finder that is centered on the lens (just like the ORIGINAL). Maybe even go to the ORIGINAL Portrait (verticle) orientation of the sensor. I mainly shoot vertical compositions, so i’d really like that!! http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?OlympusPenF.html~mainFrame also http://www.cameraquest.com/olypenf.htm
Or perhaps the Pentax K01 in yellow. Fit you perfectly.
Have you really compared this picture of the EP5 closely with that of the EP3? To my eyes it is essentially the same body in size with only cosmetic changes other than adding the control wheel on the front? Everyone knew it would have the EM5 sensor six months ago and I seriously doubt given the size shown it will have the much better 5 axis IS of the EM5?
AFAIK, the 5 axis IBIS needs the hump on the OMD for the sensors, so not likely here.
IF the 17mm 1.8 is included at $999 and IF the AF is much improved (doubting that one) and IF there’s a new EVF that is as good or better than the VF2, but is more compact and locking, then it might be of interest.
Previous rumor said $1000 price was for body only. Who knows but I doubt they’ll bundle that lens for that price.
and if support AVCHD v2.0 them maybe … not for sure just maybe I’ll somehow might be considering it 😀
Awesome design. Even better than the X-E1. IMO of course. It’s just such a disappointment without the i-EVF. But we knew this ages ago… oh, well. Bundled with the 17/1.8 and after some discounting, it could still be a good purchase.
A missed opportunity again for Olympus, not finding a way (or a will) to integrate the EVF into the PEN bodies. This would have kept a lot more users in m4/3 and brought a few more in with it. Instead, it’s little improved over an E-PL5, just much better designed, more expensive, but with at least a better standard lens in the form of the 17/1.8, which I hope will get a decent discount as a kit with the body.
Even with the E-M5 sensor, an E-P5 with 17/1.8 will be more than a match for the current crop of APS-C street/docu/travel/candid photography friendly cameras on the market with 28-35mm equivalent effective focal lengths. What it gives up in small percentages through sensor size, it makes up for with Fast AF, superb image processing and colour rendition, good shadow detail recovery, packaged in a non-intimidating and compact, classic design.
I have little reason to doubt at this late stage that the image mockup represents the genuine article. It may be photoshopped, but even official product images are. Again, for the ten thousandth time, a real shame and disappointment without the i-EVF. Will be interesting to see how the E-P5 does, even without it. Whether the strength of the PEN RF design and legacy combined with the modern tech and features is enough to carry it as the PEN flagship amidst some increasingly strong competition.
Probably the most expensive mirror-less body w/o a viewfinder, way to go Oly. Now let’s launch EM7 @ $1200
Would people really pay that much more for styling? I’d take the EPL5 over that.
Depends how much you value it (styling). If not much or not at all, get the less expensive camera with the same or similar internals. It’ll do just fine.
I value it to a point – but in this case, in light of other products in similar or lesser price range, couldn’t justify it.
Electronic Viewfinders are OVERRATED and unnecessary.
Why squint with 1 eye and if you can see 3 inches of screen detail with 2 eyes?
in fact, framing flexibility/angles is advantage with a screen arm length, instead of the camera glued to your head.
Due to the exclusion of ambient light, an EVF provides a clearer picture with considerably higher effective contrast than a display on the back can offer. Which makes framing easier, in particular when detail in the shadows matters to the composition. It is as simple as that…
Because of a rear display not being very easy to use in bright sunlight (to say the least)
Because 2 hands + forehead give a lot more stability then 2 hands
Because it does not disturb the people around me when shooting concert pictures in an otherwise darkish area
Thats just 3 examples of the many reasons why a VF (electronic or otherwise) can be highly desirable.
Legacy glass and M43 adapters.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I enjoy composing with my eye to the viewfinder, with the camera plastered to my face, than at arms length, which is a fidgety exercise that is much less precise in my experience. It doesn’t work as well nor feel as good to guerrilla arm a camera.
An EVF is essential to me for proper composition. Not only is it impossible to see a 3″ screen in sunlight, one can’t make a beautiful and careful composition, nor see the contrast, the fine details, whether it’s level, observe the depth of field, see whether a lamppost is growing out of the subject’s head…
I’ve grown to actually prefer an EVF to a fine pentaprism (OM’s were super) as it shows color balance and under/overexposure effects directly in a way that an optical VF cannot do.
Go ahead, hold your camera out at arm’s length–there are lots of people who like to do it that way! Not for me, though.
Your in fairy land and must look like a dork taking pictures.
I like the frontal control wheel. Hopefully they have not gotten rid of the rear wheel. The wheel around the four-way control on the old EP1 was not that easy to operate.
I just hope it’s built solid like EP1 as well. Beautiful thing!
No EVF is not a problem. You can always get an external one if it’s really necessary. I prefer keeping it simple and compact. I just hope that it also has the 5-axis IBIS like EM5. The words are the gyroscope is inside the “pentaprism hump”, and without it, can we still get that 5aIBIS?
There’s no gyroscope in the hump. Since the sensor is floating in an electromagnetic field instead of being moved mechanically as in other sensor-shift IBIS systems, more space is required around the sensor assembly. To make room for this, the electronics associated with the EVF had to be placed above the EVF – hence the hump. Because the E-P5 presumably doesn’t have an EVF, 5-axis IBIS could be implemented without a hump being necessary.
The electronics can go anywhere. Even outside if required.
Space enough for a VF. This is what Panasonic should have done. Regards Ulf.
till now nothing could beat Fuji x100s in overall from oly or Pany 🙁
Fuji X100s is a great camera. I’m also considering it. But an E-P5 with integrated EVF would have made the choice a lot tougher, and probably would sway me to stick with Olympus for the 35mm equivalent focal length. Being able to change the focal length by changing lens should not be underestimated. With the smaller m4/3 cameras and lenses, the extra burden of carrying additional lenses is not much at all. The E-P5 with 17/1.8 plus 45/1.8 would make a great combination for street/travel/docu/candid photography. That would cover most of what I would do, and at a lesser cost than starting afresh with a new system or buying 2-3 fixed prime APS-C cameras. As always, YMMV.
The shutter has a commander wheel and to the right is the mode dial…the design made me think there’s a evf but then again that’s where the flash is 🙁
If the sensors are getting better why use flash?
To fill in/soften shadows for example in a backlit scene?
To get some control over direction of light?
To get those nice sparkles in the eyes of a model?
Keep in mind that the popup flash of those cameras can be used to remotely control larger much more capable flashes.
Yes thank you.
But I was being sarcastic 🙂
Yes, wheel around the four-way control is a problem on all Pen to now, I hope Olympus look to OM-D by this slak wheel thing so is not low-end style on button.
If Olympus can offer an external viewfinder as a bonus accessory either as a standard package or through a promotion, it would go some way to lessening the pain of not having an i-EVF. They have offered 4/3 adapters, 15/8 BCL, 45/1.8 as bonuses; I don’t see why they couldn’t offer either an OVF (for those buying the 17/1.8 kit) or an EVF as a bonus too. For those who already have an accessory viewfinder, they could just sell it or keep it as a spare/backup or use it on another compatible camera. C’mon Olympus! Bonus OVF or EVF with E-P5!
Hi Oly, we want EVF !
Basta!…
simple: i just love the design.
since the first PEN i was a customer of the “big” Pens, never got warm with the P-Ls and P-Ms. And again this is what i want, a not to small, classic looking Camera with a lot of external controls. i think this will replace my E-P3.
I know its starts to get boring-but i really would appreciated an internal VF – i dont need one, just would like on in that body-shape… Well maybe i ll get a O-MD when the price drops a bit later as a back up for the E-P5 😉
I m kind of curious how the new external VF will look like, if its low profile, and fits to the design i dont need the extra O-MD XD
I personally would love to see a tiltable touchscreen on this E-P5 – it is such a great feature for candid street photography. EVF is great and loved by many but a good tiltable touchscreen like on OM-D is very useful and underrated.
By the way, if this leaked image is real, the silver primes will looks much better on this than on a black E-P3 or black OM-D… I know I know, looks don’t matter etc but isn’t it nice to have a great functioning camera that’s also adorable-looking 🙂
All else being equal, wouldn’t you want a good-looking watch or car instead of ugly ones that “does” the job? 🙂
Anyone who says looks don’t matter in a camera is a no good. 😛 By that logic then looks wouldn’t matter in a car, because all it has to do is run well, be reliable. We all know that’s crap. Looks matter in most everything. Having a car whose looks please is very nice; same with a camera (or a toaster or a pair of shoes or a neutered companion animal). There is not often an excuse for a poorly-designed anything. Saying looks don’t matter, it’s just a tool is silly.
That is beautiful. I’d replace my EPL1 with one of those.
is this new EVF the same one that was rumored a quite a while ago? the one that was suppose to be made my epson?
Oh man, I have a bad feeling that the VF-5 will be a remake of the VF-1 with a $400+ price tag. That would put it right in line with the VF offerings for the Nikon Coolpix A and Sony RX1.
Notice the scroll wheel on the front of the body? If it has that and the thumbwheel on the back it’ll be an ergonomics improvement for sure. Packaged with the new 17 and maybe a new VF this could be a real winner and a good alternative to the OMD.
Love the style, like many I hope for tilting screen and 5 axis IBIS, if they can squeeze it in.
Squeezed.
You’re saying it has the 5-axis IBIS ? That would make it a reasonable choice over the E-PL, if along with better built and controls that is.
This is so sexy!
This is much much much better looking than E-P1~3!
It does look much better, but even so the E-P1~3 didn’t look bad at all either, from the front that is. But it was the top and back where it really went wrong.
Thats absolute beauty. Nice work Olympus. But its not worth the price when you get the same sensor in the E-pm2.
no EVF, no party. You say, there is the OM-D, i say it costs too much. apart Panasonic G5/G6 that are dslr styled, there is no mid level m43 camera with an evf….bah.
Yeah this would have been their chance to make the E-P line into something more than just slightly improved built quality compared to the E-PL line.
I will do this for all of us again, it’s been 3 years.
ALL WE WANT IS A PEN STYLE WITH INTERNAL EVF! HOW F* HARD WOULD THIS BE.
PLEASE FULFIL OUR WISHES BEFORE NORTH KOREA NUKED US OUT, OLYMPUS!!
I’d buy if it has a built-in flash and uses the same batteries as previous Pen cameras. I rarely use an EVF. Hopefully the old VF2 works on this one too.
I will buy it. F**k the architect.