Olympus R.I.P?

[Zuiko]

[steverh]

Re: Olympus R.I.P?

I agree with John.

I bought into the E system because Oly had no legacy AF film camera users to worry about and could design the system from scratch for the digital age. The classic example of that is the dust removal system. Dust is not an issue for most of us: the Arctic Butterfly sensor brush belonging to my club is in constant demand by users of other makes.

Another example - IS in the camera, not the lens so that even third-party MF lenses can benefit from it. Let's face it, the only reason Canikon still do it in the lenses is because of their film heritage, where it was the only way you could.

The digital SLR is on borrowed time. As soon as really good electronic eye level finders are developed, the whole mirror/prism thing will be obsolete. And Oly will be at the front of the movement. The merging of 4/3 and micro 4/3 sounds very exciting.

Until then, our E-3s, E-30s and the rest will go on being excellent photographic tools with fantastic glassware. Let's face it, the utterly obsolescent E-1 is still an excellent tool within its limitations - see http://www.flickr.com/groups/e-1 for proof!

There is a saying that the contributions to a good photo are 5% from the camera body, 25% from the lens and 70% from the light and the photographer - or something like that - I am sure someone can put me right!

[theMusicMan]

Re: Olympus R.I.P?

There is a saying that the contributions to a good photo are 5% from the camera body, 25% from the lens and 70% from the light and the photographer - or something like that - I am sure someone can put me right!

Photography is all about the light: the human eye to see it, the ability of the camera and lens to capture it, the techincal skill of the brain to process it... and the artistic ability of the photographer to pull all of this together.
me. Sept 2010

[Guest]

Re: Olympus R.I.P?

Well if it's RIP then I think it'll be a very unquite grave.

Actually I can see many commentators happily celebrating at the wake, telling us that they told you so; and poor thing the strain of trying to be 'professional' was just too much of an Olympian effort, we all saw it coming, very sad.

As they slowly slump to the floor (or for the sake of Ian, bounce off the walls in a frantic sugar induced soft drink high) there will be a hammering at the coffin lid. Perceptions will be splintered. Back from beyond the grave, Olympus will stand tall.

Because the SLR is an exhausted concept, there is no intrinsic merit is having a mirror flapping about in the optical path, it was just an ingenious solution to the technical problem of giving a through lens viewfinder. It had drawbacks, weight was added to the camera, size and complexity; the image had to be composed with the aperture opened to provide enough light, then the photographer took a guess at the actual dof.

What's surprising is that the SLR has remained the solution for so long.

So where does this put Olympus. Well they've signalled strongly that they will move to EVF. They have a reputation for producing high quality solutions to problems, they have a history of producing very well made products. And there is a commitment to providing compatibility with the existing glass.

If Olympus is convinced that it can drive forward the evf and focussing system to equal/exceed the OVF then I suspect they can. And in a reasonable time frame. Their engineers will know all the well rehearsed arguments as to why it can't be done, so they will have a clearly defined set of objectives to work to.

If it needs a bigger body to handle the longer glass (and keep in mind that the Sigma 135-400 is quite comfortable on the Pen's), well a slightly extended battery holder (and think of all the battery space that will give) is really not going to tax the engineers capabilities.


So where does it leave the E-5. A well proven sensor, in camera engine that is a development on one that has already shown its capabilities. It will be well made, it will be durable. Sounds like a pretty good combination. We just need some pictures/stats to demonstrate this.

Of course we'd have liked more, or course we'd have liked a killer camera that would have everyone envying us. But the paradigm shift isn't going to be an SLR camera, Olympus isn't aiming to be last king of the DSLR kingdom.

Olympus has set its eyes onto a new land, it seems to be wanting to beat a broad enough path to it so that we all can carry our legacy SLR lenses along the way.

I think we have a lot to hope for.

Nick

[yorky]

[Ian]

Re: Olympus R.I.P?

I agree - I'm, using Pens a lot and at Photokina I will only take a Pen E-P2 with the 14-150 and 9-18.

But if you want to use big heavy lenses, and in inclement weather or dusty conditions, a bigger, sturdier, and sealed camera is what you need. The question is, will Micro Four Thirds evolve in that direction? In the mean time, the E-5 doesn't look so bad.

Ian

[shenstone]

Re: Olympus R.I.P?

Not as company, but for our type of photography using this type of kit quite possibly in the long term

The simple fact is that there are a lot of people out there who like the SLR format camera and don't want a pen format. Other companies see this and have solidified marketshare and continue to develop in the SLR format.

I like many of the things in this new camera, size and cost being the 2 items I'm not keen on, and I would like to continue to use a system that is frankly better than I am.

I see quotes on forums that there will always be a body to take our lenses and I really hope so, but I just don't like using the rear screen to take a picture and holding the camera in front of me, and evf have an awful long way to go to be as good as even my E-500's viewfinder

So in summary I hope not.. time will tell

Regards
Andy

[fitheach]

Re: Olympus R.I.P?

but I just don't like using the rear screen to take a picture and holding the camera in front of me

+1 on that comment. If Olympus move to having EVF on all their models they will lose me as a customer. On rare occasions I will use the screen for critical focusing on macro subjects (with seven times zoom) but otherwise I much prefer an optical viewfinder. If Olympus want to expend some R'n'D effort they could make the optical viewfinder bigger, brighter and cover 100% of the image area. EVF will just consume the battery faster.

[Zuiko]

Re: Olympus R.I.P?

Well if it's RIP then I think it'll be a very unquite grave.

Actually I can see many commentators happily celebrating at the wake, telling us that they told you so; and poor thing the strain of trying to be 'professional' was just too much of an Olympian effort, we all saw it coming, very sad.

As they slowly slump to the floor (or for the sake of Ian, bounce off the walls in a frantic sugar induced soft drink high) there will be a hammering at the coffin lid. Perceptions will be splintered. Back from beyond the grave, Olympus will stand tall.

Because the SLR is an exhausted concept, there is no intrinsic merit is having a mirror flapping about in the optical path, it was just an ingenious solution to the technical problem of giving a through lens viewfinder. It had drawbacks, weight was added to the camera, size and complexity; the image had to be composed with the aperture opened to provide enough light, then the photographer took a guess at the actual dof.

What's surprising is that the SLR has remained the solution for so long.

So where does this put Olympus. Well they've signalled strongly that they will move to EVF. They have a reputation for producing high quality solutions to problems, they have a history of producing very well made products. And there is a commitment to providing compatibility with the existing glass.

If Olympus is convinced that it can drive forward the evf and focussing system to equal/exceed the OVF then I suspect they can. And in a reasonable time frame. Their engineers will know all the well rehearsed arguments as to why it can't be done, so they will have a clearly defined set of objectives to work to.

If it needs a bigger body to handle the longer glass (and keep in mind that the Sigma 135-400 is quite comfortable on the Pen's), well a slightly extended battery holder (and think of all the battery space that will give) is really not going to tax the engineers capabilities.


So where does it leave the E-5. A well proven sensor, in camera engine that is a development on one that has already shown its capabilities. It will be well made, it will be durable. Sounds like a pretty good combination. We just need some pictures/stats to demonstrate this.

Of course we'd have liked more, or course we'd have liked a killer camera that would have everyone envying us. But the paradigm shift isn't going to be an SLR camera, Olympus isn't aiming to be last king of the DSLR kingdom.

Olympus has set its eyes onto a new land, it seems to be wanting to beat a broad enough path to it so that we all can carry our legacy SLR lenses along the way.

I think we have a lot to hope for.

Nick

Spot on, Nick, you and I think alike!

[Zuiko]

Re: Olympus R.I.P?

+1 on that comment. If Olympus move to having EVF on all their models they will lose me as a customer. On rare occasions I will use the screen for critical focusing on macro subjects (with seven times zoom) but otherwise I much prefer an optical viewfinder. If Olympus want to expend some R'n'D effort they could make the optical viewfinder bigger, brighter and cover 100% of the image area. EVF will just consume the battery faster.

On the E-3/E-5 the optical finder is already bigger, brighter and has 100% coverage. You reject the EVF solution now, based on the quality currently available, but would you still reject it in the future if EVF technology equals or surpasses the very best optical system?

[petrovich]

Re: Olympus R.I.P?

I can only re iterate the words of Nick T-F.


Regards

[fitheach]

Re: Olympus R.I.P?

On the E-3/E-5 the optical finder is already bigger, brighter and has 100% coverage.

I don't have an E-3. Maybe if the E-3 owners all rush out to buy E-5s I can buy one cheap secondhand Judging by the majority comments on this forum that doesn't look likely.

You reject the EVF solution now, based on the quality currently available, but would you still reject it in the future if EVF technology equals or surpasses the very best optical system?

I reject EVF now mainly because of the process not the quality of the screen. I like looking through a viewfinder. For some things, like macro focusing, I like the liveview but I wouldn't want to have to use it all the time. I find holding the camera to my face has a stabilising effect whereas holding the camera 30cm away from me is more awkward.

However, I can see that EVF will happen as the majority of new users will have been "weaned" on that technique with compact cameras.

[steverh]

Re: Olympus R.I.P?

I reject EVF now mainly because of the process not the quality of the screen. I like looking through a viewfinder. For some things, like macro focusing, I like the liveview but I wouldn't want to have to use it all the time. I find holding the camera to my face has a stabilising effect whereas holding the camera 30cm away from me is more awkward.

However, I can see that EVF will happen as the majority of new users will have been "weaned" on that technique with compact cameras.

The EVFs we are all waiting for will be used at eye level, like a conventional DSLR. Some cameras have already been made with them, but the technology is not quite there yet - they still need improvements in resolution and response time. The Panasonic DMC G2 is pretty close - see http://www.photographyblog.com/revie..._dmc_g2_review

I reckon Oly must be quite close to releasing a similar camera that will take standard 4/3 lenses...

[Zuiko]

Re: Olympus R.I.P?

I don't have an E-3. Maybe if the E-3 owners all rush out to buy E-5s I can buy one cheap secondhand Judging by the majority comments on this forum that doesn't look likely.



I reject EVF now mainly because of the process not the quality of the screen. I like looking through a viewfinder. For some things, like macro focusing, I like the liveview but I wouldn't want to have to use it all the time. I find holding the camera to my face has a stabilising effect whereas holding the camera 30cm away from me is more awkward.

However, I can see that EVF will happen as the majority of new users will have been "weaned" on that technique with compact cameras.

I'm talking about viewing by EVF, not rear sreen. With an EVF you hold the camera to your face and look through the eyepiece just the same as with an optical finder, only the image you see is electronic rather than optical. For me, the crux is when they can get this electronic image as good as an optical one.

Whoops, I see that Steve has already posted pretty much the same reply.

[Guest]

Re: Olympus R.I.P?

I reject EVF now mainly because of the process not the quality of the screen. I like looking through a viewfinder. For some things, like macro focusing, I like the liveview but I wouldn't want to have to use it all the time. I find holding the camera to my face has a stabilising effect whereas holding the camera 30cm away from me is more awkward.

Steveh is right, evf technology is moving on. Olympus already has the vf-2 which is perfectly good for most purposes, not yet my choice for macro/insects and wouldn't be my favourite for sports, but it's pretty close.

Getting the focus system to be as speedy/responsive and getting it to drive the SLR glass better will probably be a bigger challenge. But it's a 'known' problem so we can be confident that Olympus have ideas about how to resolve it.

I really don't think we can judge the technology until we see the camera.

The PEN series is a great testing ground for new technology before it goes into the 'professional' camera.

Lets wait and see how this all develops, it could be good.

Meanwhile there is nothing stopping us taking pictures with what we've got.

Nick