(FT4-5) All PEN’s with the same new Olympus (!) sensor. Same AF speed. And more rumors!
Our sources do of course read your comments and they send me their answers. Some of my sources are new, some are well known, that’s why you see a different FT ranking (See the ranking explanation on the bottom of the article to learn more).
(FT4) Source_1:
1. the grip is just that – a grip. but it will come in different sizes to support the longer lens.
2. the sensor is Olympus own – its not sharing anything with Panasonic.
3. there is a dedicated, zoom button for zooming in when you are in the green box mode? button location below the record button.
4. flash is remote trigger capable, but no free bounce like Olympus E-PL1.
5. the other two cameras will have bundled external flash that uses the hotshoe+accessory port.
6. the front of the new EPL looks EXACTLY like the Olympus XZ-1 (Click here to see that camera)
7. the 45mm is about as big as the new Panasonic-Leica 25mm f/1.4, maybe a bit more smaller in width.
(FT5) Source_2:
1. All three PEN cameras do have AF assist lamp
(FT5) Source_3:
1. All three cameras do have touchscreen (but only the E-P3 is using the OLED 640k screen. The other two do use a 460k LCD)
2. AF is terrific. Very fast and accurate.
(FT4) Source_4:
1. Old lenses will focus faster on the new Pen cameras (although not as fast as when using new lenses).
2. AF really faster than the Panasonic GH2 (tested in daylight)
(FT5) Source_5:
1. There is no final firmware yet (it’s still 0.9), but I can say images do look better than the GH2.
2. E-PM1 is smaller than Panasonic GF2, but bigger than Panasonic GF3.
(FT5) Source_6:
1. Damn fast AF!
2. E-P3 has same design as E-P2. The E-PM1 and the E-PL2 do have a completely new design.
Feel free to make questions, they will might send me the answers to post on 43rumors!
Reminder -> Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct
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Fishfishfish
11 months ago |“The sensor is Olympus own – its not sharing anything with Panasonic.” <-Good news!
McPIX
11 months ago |And hopefully better dynamic range than before …
lnqo-M
11 months ago |Olympus READ 43RUMORS
Dummy00001
11 months ago |+0.5 (*)
Well they have to have user feedback channels. That, if they want to survive.
I heard that Samsung has forum moderators on payroll – and entertaining the idea of officially blessed forum for NX users.
(*) still no built-in EVF.
Duarte Bruno
11 months ago |PALEESE! Stop wining about no EVF, get a VF-2 or VF-3…
Esa Tuunanen
11 months ago |And you stop complaining about people who want camera which is tool and not some fashion thing!
Sony is apparently getting ready to hit Canikon with big stick by already moving Alpha range to fully digital age with fully working live view in every situation and seamless integration of video and all you can say about expanding Micro Four Thirds line up to full system is “No one can have ergonomic bodies, no one can have ergonomic bodies, no one can have ergonomic bodies…” ad nauseam.
Nic
11 months ago |I wonder if it will have a view finder built in?????
admin
11 months ago |That’s what I thought when I heard about the new cameras and lenses
frosti7
11 months ago |admin congrats..your site had benefited 43 users and perhaps millions of costumers
sneye
11 months ago |They would be ignorant not to.
Boris
11 months ago |Is it possible?
Somebody should make the sensor.
If not Panasonic, who else?
Marcelo Guarini
11 months ago |Boris, where I work we design our own chips and send them to fabrication to companies that only fabricate, they do not design (Example: MOSIS, EXFAB, etc.).
Regards
frosti7
11 months ago |it could be still manufactured by panasonic…not that this matters
the design matters.
lnqo-M
11 months ago |Maybe not, but is the NMOS or CMOS sensor, and is the globale also?
Bobby
11 months ago |ARM only design their microchips; many others make them and put them into vast numbers of phones & tablet computers. Seems to work out just fine for ARM!
MichaelKJ
11 months ago |Good to see Oly free from relying on Panny. I also think “only” 12MP is good sign. Of course, we won’t know how good this sensor is until the new cameras are released.
I find it a bit difficult to believe that Oly manufactured this sensor-probably designed it and outsourced it.
cL
11 months ago |Yes, the news sounds encouraging! Let’s see the result.
OlyFan
11 months ago |+1. Make that Excellent news! Anything to free themselves from Panasonic (tyranny) is a step in the right direction!
Mr. Reeee
11 months ago |Panasonic tyranny? That’s a good one.
The only “bad” thing Panasonic has done is refuse to share the GH2 multi-aspect sensor. That sounds more like competition and good business sense.
The thing that’s held Olympus back is poor planning, incremental, overlapping products with little differentiation between models and a lack of vision. Can’t blame anyone but Olympus for that.
It appears they’re stepping out a bit, finally. Although it appears the 3 new rumored PENs again will have only minor feature differences and basically the same guts. The rumored PEN Pro, whenever that appears, may attempt to break the pattern of incrementalism. We can only hope.
lnqo-M
11 months ago |I think Panasonic will, share multi-aspect sensor if Olympus will use possibility for give room for a large sensor, but is the very many thing in camera body so need build new.
Fraenzken
11 months ago |… seems they have listened to their customers
)
Heck, I thought I was first
Fishfishfish
11 months ago |I think you were just seconds after me~!!
marilyn
11 months ago |make it third haha
Miroslav
11 months ago |(wrong thread)
Marq
11 months ago |Bought an epl2 in January. Now miffed especially because of the af assist lamp. Was holding out with ep1 until wifey said she wanted a change. Doh! Got the epl2 after trading the ep-1 (half the eventual price for the epl2 so a Gd bargain).
Now what?
bonzoo
11 months ago |Take pictures with it & have a good time
Miroslav
11 months ago |Maybe they’ll make incentive for PL2 owners like Panasonic did for GF2 owners: http://www.43rumors.com/bhphoto-gf2-trade-in-for-350-with-apologies/ .
Low Budget Dave
11 months ago |Doesn’t Oly make an external flash with an AF lamp?
Michael Meissner
11 months ago |Yes, the FL-36R and FL-50R have AF lamps (I’m not sure about the FL-20 or FL-14), as do most of the Olympus flash clones. However, as far as I know, no micro 4/3rds camera uses the flash based AF lamp. Panasonic has body based AF lamps on some bodies, and it looks like the new E-PM1, E-PL3, and E-P3 will have it also. Maybe the new Pens will also use the flash based AF. We will have to see.
Mr. Reeee
11 months ago |craigslist, eBay or make it a nice gift for someone…
THEN upgrade.
Jimson
11 months ago |Sell it to me!
Maley
11 months ago |“6. the front of the new EPL looks EXACTLY like the Olympus XZ-1″
.
So it must be bundled with the 45mm 1.8, so they can keep the F1.8 plate on the front
Miroslav
11 months ago |Yes, and that’s why it has AF assist lamp.
Myiu
11 months ago |what means ‘Old lenses will focus faster ‘ FT or mFT lenses? both?
MJr
11 months ago |old as in, not *just* the new lenses that will be released along with the new cameras end of the month, and whatever comes after, but the current ones too, that is if its a decent lens in the first place, it’s not magic ^^.
Michael
11 months ago |Oh yea! We’re so close now. I sense an Olympus homerun!
AndyOz
11 months ago |Thanks Admin. Its great to see the different rumors from the different sources. Really appreciate it.
I cant wait to see what they look like. I was disappointed to learn that the E-PL3 was moving away from the E-PL2 styling but if its going to look like the XZ-1 I think that is a good move. Thats a good camera.
I am interested in what this bundled flash is going to be like that is coming with two of the models – presume its the E-PM1 and E-PL3 as they dont have built-in flash. Maybe a little GN6 – 10 flash? Good move from Oly to include a little flash for P&S upgraders.
AF improvement sounds fantastic.
Mar
11 months ago |Maybe sensor is made by Renesas like the one in Nikon D3/D700/D3s, it’s just that it’s a Nikon designed sensor but manufactured by a 3rd party.
Could be very nice, getting rid of that retarded Pana-Devil.
Henrik
11 months ago |…that retarded Pana-Devil…
Heyhey, cool down
(I know more devilish devils.)
Dummy00001
11 months ago |> Could be very nice, getting rid of that retarded Pana-Devil.
Let’s just put it politely: Panasonic needs a competition in market of 43 sensors.
P.S. It could also be the Samsung. Have to wait for the official announcement and detail.
Pepe
11 months ago |A grip is certainly useful for longer lenses, but so too is a VF. Anything definite on the rumored new EVF?
An0n
11 months ago |Unfortunately, I bet the EVF is dead. That’s why they’re coming out with a new external EVF. I was hoping for a Fuji X100 style EVF built in. Probably not possible with the large screens though.
Mar
11 months ago |X100 EVF is made only with 1 lens in mind, so it’s very easy to make.
Making that VF for an interchanagble lens is not possible.
AndyOz
11 months ago |The optical (OVF) part of the Fuji X100 viewfinder system is hard for an interchangeable lens system but the electronic (EVF) part of the Fuji viewfinder would be fine with an interchangeable lens system. Its just an LCD screen made by Epson (the same as the VF2 from Oly) and all they do is use a prism to fold the light 90 degrees and hence to reduce the thickness taken up by the viewfinder. I think that a Micro 4/3 camera could be made with an EVF in the top corner and it would have a similar form to the X100.
Check out Fuji’s site:
http://www.finepix-x100.com/en/x100/hybrid-viewfinder
Miroslav
11 months ago |“the other two cameras will have bundled external flash that uses the hotshoe+accessory port”
Great! But will it bounce? How big is it?
“All three PEN cameras do have AF assist lamp”
Finally!
“Old lenses will focus faster on the new Pen cameras”
Another big positive! Any news on 4/3 lenses?
Will 12mm be a kit lens for any of the camera?
Will MF assist be improved similar to Sony’s “peaking” mode?
Is E-PL3 screen just tilt ( no swivel )?
What will flash sync speed be?
Will shutter speed be 1/4000 max on all three new models?
Will PL3 and PM1 have AVCHD as well?
What about stacking modes: panorama, HDR, low light, etc. ? Oly P&S have them.
Many questions, sorry, can’t wait another six days
.
peroni
11 months ago |“Old lenses will focus faster on the new Pen cameras
Another big positive! Any news on 4/3 lenses?”
4/3 lenses are very old lenses so there is hope
Miroslav
11 months ago |What will maximum fps in burst mode be?
Will IBIS be better than in previous models?
Any “Extra Optical Zoom” feature for stills and video?
Will new models be compatible with old batteries?
WT21
11 months ago |Maybe all the mean is it focuses faster in low light because it has an AF assist lamp, lol
Ben
11 months ago |Will there be ISO 100 on all the models?
dumbo
11 months ago |+ 1 iso 100 is useful, i like to use the gf1 as a light meter for my rb67.
on a different note, do the olympus cameras have the same face recognition software (or similar) to the gf1, i use it always, it works incredibly well for me.
WT21
11 months ago |I’d love an ISO 50! But all modern cameras are now tweaked for higher ISO, leaving low ISO behind. Maybe it’ll have a 1/8000 shutter!
cL
11 months ago |It’ll be hard to design a low ISO sensor like ISO 50, which would be near grainless, but since the pixel density is so high nowadays…. If at ISO 50 everyone is still seeing noise, who is going to believe it’s ISO 50? At high ISO, companies can get away with it and people would think it’s just high ISO noise.
Only professional models have 1/8000″ shutter! (real mechanical shutter is expensive to make, as faster the shutter is, less accurate it becomes) I am happy to have 1/4000″.
Frosti7
11 months ago |Sources: do we get a noticqble improvement in dr and color fidelity? Thank u so much!
mario_lem73
11 months ago |That’s great news, for me the most important thing will be how the new sensor behave on low ISO’s. Hope they find away to improve it ala Kodak sensors output at low sensitivities…
leendert
11 months ago |“All PEN’s with the same new Olympus (!) sensor”
“2. the sensor is Olympus own – its not sharing anything with Panasonic.”
I doubt about this.
All previous rumors are talking about a tweaked sensor…
AndyOz
11 months ago |I agree that seems to go against previous rumors. I dont mind if it is ‘tweaked’ or ‘designed’ by Olympus as long as it performs better and has good IQ.
dumbo
11 months ago |and does it have better performance than the e5, please say yes
cL
11 months ago |Performance of E-5 is due to two things: 1) good body design (sensor tweak, features etc.), and 2) high quality lenses.
I don’t think it’s necessary to have better than E-5 sensor at this point for m4/3 since there are no lenses to match for it, so your images are still limited by the lens’s resolving power, whereas regular 4/3 is limited by the sensor…. It’s the bottleneck that needs improvement first. But good sensor improvement is always welcome.
occam
11 months ago |Dear Admin/Sources:
if the Pen sensor is the totally new Oly design sensor, then please explain whether there’s anything materially new on the rumored (September) Pen Pro special sensor-wise or TruePic-wise… or what makes the Pen Pro worth waiting for? Could you provide key features between the E-P3 and the rumored Pen Pro? Also, is the Pen Pro MFT or is it an FT, e.g., the rumored E-xx? I would love to sort out whether the E-P3 is the Olympus body I’m waiting for… or whether the Pen Pro is worth waiting for (e.g., MFT body + radical new sensor).
And on a totally different note, does the E-P3 have orientation sensor… would love to know!-) Thanks!
FlamingJune1967
11 months ago |“And on a totally different note, does the E-P3 have orientation sensor… would love to know!-) Thanks!”
This is my question as well! It is in fact a deal breaker for me. It really is a very basic function that should be included. Since the XZ-1 has one I am in hopes that the new Pens will incorporate this as well!
Michael Meissner
11 months ago |In terms of the current product line, the E-P1 and E-P2 have the sensor, and the E-PL1 and E-PL2 do not. Manufacturers always need some features to separate the cost sensitive model from the high end model (Canon until recently would not put spot metering in low end DSLRs, and reserved it for the medium/high end bodies).
So I assume, if the orientation sensor is critical, you probably will be looking at the E-P3. Maybe Olympus will surprise us and add it back to all 3 bodies.
Given the E-P2 was originally $1k with the VF-2 combined, and then $800 without the VF-2, but with the 14-42mm, I’m suspecting that the E-P3 will be in a similar price range.
That may mean E-PM1 might be $600 and E-PL3 might be $700. If they price the E-PM1 at $500, it guts the sale of XZ-1s (unless XZ-1 is lowered to $400). In talking to Olympus sales folks, I got the hint that there is no follow on for the XZ-1, so maybe that’s not an issue. I tend to think the price point for the E-PM1 with lens, has to be in the $500 range, and that $600 might be too high.
tmrgrs
11 months ago |Any hints about pricing from any of your sources admin? Will the E-P3 be about the same as the E-P2 was when it was introduced?
I wonder if DPR is already testing these three new Oly’s & the new lenses so they can publish hands on previews on the 30th?
FlamingJune1967
11 months ago |Michael: Thanks for your explanations. I did not know that EP 1 and 2 had the orientation sensor… but, I had only considered the EPLs because of the flash. I own the XZ-1 and VF-2, so I do not mind so much that a viewfinder is not included in the new Pens, but would really appreciate an OS on the E-PL3. I’ll cross my fingers… And E-PL3 with VF-2, and an added flash sounds like a winner… as long as I don’t have to manually rotate hundreds of photos. If so, I’m more inclined to the G3 than the E-P3 because of the whole tilt screen thing. (this is not something that can be added on)
Michael Meissner
11 months ago |FlamingJune1967:
It really depends on what you need. Some places where you use the tilting screen, you can do it with a mirror (as long as you mentally reverse the images).
The VF-2 of course gives you a limited tilt screen.
You can also do live view out to a source that takes video input. This way you do need to deal with the twisting screen (which doesn’t twist as far as I would like at times on my E-3). I’ve posted this picture, before but here is my E-P2 connected to a pocket video camera (MyMovie) that takes video input.
http://www.the-meissners.org/2010-small-albums/2010-pimp-my-ep2/small/2010-06-11-09-42-033-mymovie.jpg
The MyMovie is probably obsolete now. I recently picked up a portable media device (JXD i696) that takes video input and uses standard batteries (the MyMovie uses custom batteries) for about $40.
If you have something other than the E-PL1, you can also get devices on ebay (look for Olympus live view remote control) that combine a wired shutter release, and a video monitor, so that you could for instance put the camera on a pole, and be able to see the image that would be on the screen and take a shot, even if you can’t reach the shutter button. The cheapest of these is about $70. If you can afford about $275, you can get one that is wireless, so that you could even further remote operations. BTW, your XZ-1 supports the wired shutter release, so you would be able to use these devices on the XZ-1 as well.
I really need to make a youtube video about this, as I get the feeling a lot of people aren’t understanding what I’m talking about.
BS Artiste
11 months ago |I totally get your point. A remote shutter control (either wired or wireless) plus a remote display screen is even better than the swivel-tilt screen if one is going to hold a camera above a crowd for an extended period.
I do have both a wired and wireless remote shutter control for my E-30, but so far I don’t have an additional external viewing screen beyond the tilt-swivel LCD. Thus, I hold the camera above crowds by raising my arms above my head and adjusting the tilt-swivel LCD to view the image framing. That solution only works for short periods because one’s neck does get tired straining to look up and one’s arms get tired holding the camera above one’s head and above the crowd. For longer periods of above-the-crowd photography, a pole is needed for the camera or a step ladder is needed for the photographer.
I’ve seen the mirror solution before, which is clumsy, but certainly low cost. People use mirrors to view the LCD when attaching a camera atop an astro-telescope that is tracking the sky at an angle from which a flat, non-tilt LCD is nearly impossible to view.
BS Artiste
11 months ago |My two main uses for the tilt-swivel LCD are for above-the-crowd perspectives and to hold the camera out over the railing of a tall building or high bridge. The tilt-swivel LCD is only a short-term solution, and a pole with a remote shutter control and a remote image viewer is a much better long-term solution to the problems of taking well-framed shots from hard to reach places.
Michael Meissner
11 months ago |BS Artiste:
Yes, I agree that camera on a pole over your head looking up gives you a crick in the neck (been there, done that). As I said, there are several devices on ebay that will give you both live view output and shutter cord for the Olympus cameras that use the combined cable and support a shutter release, like your E-30. Look for “Olympus Live View Remote Control”.
BS Artiste
11 months ago |Some camera and astronomy online stores have mirror products that attach to the camera’s LCD and provide for viewing the LCD from odd-angles.
Fraenzken
11 months ago |@Admin: Do you know whether the new models have an orientation sensor?
Cheers,
Frank
Ben
11 months ago |Please yes!
BS Artiste
11 months ago |Will the new camera models include a hardware sensor capable of sensing camera orientation? Yes, they absolutely will.
Sensing camera orientation and level or plumbness is done with an accelerometer sensor to measure the acceleration due to the force of gravity.
Accelerometer sensors also are used to measure camera movement and compensate for it with small fast motors as part of the image stabilization functionality.
Since all the Pens likely have IBIS, they will already include the hardware sensors to measure camera orientation and levelness. The only issue is whether Oly includes software routines to take the accelerometer sensor readings and act on them to react to camera orientation and possibly display a level meter for panoramics in addition to using the data to adjust compensating motors as part of IBIS.
BS Artiste
11 months ago |Thus, because the Pens will almost surely have IBIS, they will include sensors that measure orientation relative to the Earth’s gravatational field (i.e., camera orientation and levelness). Whether Oly has development time to port the orientation and level sensing software routines to the new platform, firmware flash memory space to include those routines in the cameras, and a marketing desire to offer users those orientation and level-sensing features is an entirely different question.
Nat
11 months ago |what about the size of E-P3 vs E-P2?
lnqo-M
11 months ago |Have you make room for E-P2 in photobag,
is the not problem by E-P3 also i hope.
Pierre
11 months ago |How will handling and autofocus fare with the Olympus Zuiko 7-14 and the 12-60 SWD? that would be for the E-P3?
Would it be better to wait for its release, instead of buying a E-5?
Thanks!
AndyOz
11 months ago |Pierre – that is what we dont know yet – whether there will be an improvement for the AF speed of 4/3 lenses like the 7-14 and 12-60. There might be some improvement but unless there is a major tech upgrade I dont think it will be anywhere near as good as the lens focus speed on an E-5. Perhaps wait till next week to see but if they are the main two lenses you want to use you might have to get an E-5.
There was a rumor based on an interview with Olympus that they are looking at replacing the E-30 with a new 4/3 model – dont know when that will be released.
Otherwise the rumored Pen Pro might have a better method of Autofocussing existing 4/3 lenses but thats just speculation.
Pierre
11 months ago |Thanks for your reply. Yes, the 7-14 and the 12-60 are the two lenses I am using (with an E-30 for now), and I also have a E-PL2, which is sharper, but, unusable with the 7-14mm.
Also, I really prefer a viewfinder. So, maybe I’ll have to get an E-5 to get sharper pictures, and then, wait for the Pro-Pen, hopefully with new m43 corresponding lenses ultra wide angle and fast zoom, like the 7-14 and 12-60, but… let’s indeed wait until next week!
cL
11 months ago |7-14′s AF isn’t fast even on 4/3…. I think m4/3 and 4/3 are different platforms just because of that mirror thingy.
If you like smaller cameras, you can always use two cameras. Each has their own advantage if you can afford two (or want to carry two).
shep
11 months ago |Olympus’ existing external EVF is excellent. Very high resolution. Go for it! Don’t wait for the perfect camera…
Tobias W.
11 months ago |Let’s bet on how long it takes for Pablo to appear and start his Olympus bashing again…
One more hour?
Mr. Reeee
11 months ago |How about everyone exercise some self-control and ignore him.
Li Sun
11 months ago |But I miss him already.
Steve
11 months ago |Is the new sensor a CMOS oder NMOS? If it is a cmos than bye bye skin tones.
Rob Rackstraw
11 months ago |This is mostly fantastic news. SO pleased about the bundled flash for the two smaller cams. AF light! Focus speed. Sensor!
Lord knows why they would make a camera that looks EXACTLY like another camera because that’s going to confuse the hell out of people but frankly the rest of this is so good I don’t care.
A week. It’s just a week…
Rob Rackstraw
11 months ago |And I’ll say 30 mins for Pablo…
Bob B.
11 months ago |Isn’t it Pablum?
Len Metcalf
11 months ago |Great news all round here… New lens hey… I still think that means a new kit zoom too… But probably not the pro zoom that I am wishing for… I think I will be upgrading my EPL-1 to the EPL-3 as the moving screen sounds like fun, and I am not one for flashes… Though that will probably be at the expense of a dial… But with a redesigned body who knows what they will be like… I can’t wait to get my hands on the new 22 mm… It sounds fantastic…. Then it will just be a waiting game for the Pen PRO…. Now that will a very exciting lead up…
amalric
11 months ago |REAL Multi Aspect, a’ la GH1 – 14/12 Mpx?
Thanks Admin. Great Game, terrific job!
chris
11 months ago |thank you guys!
nice to read this good news…
Anon
11 months ago |My friend is testing E-p3 now. All I know is that highlights retention is much better now. Also color fidelity is better.
AndyOz
11 months ago |Any hints about high ISO noise from your friend?
Matthias
11 months ago |Good news
Image stabilization is still the same?
Nico Foto
11 months ago |Exciting news! Fast and precise AF, hopefully improved DR and high iso due to a redesigned sensor and not jumping in the megapixel bandwagon, and photographer oriented features (grip, redesigned EVF, REAL controls)…i like that!!! YES! Cross fingers…m43 is starting to heat up…
sneye
11 months ago |Reading all that is pure bliss. All my doubts about micro 4/3 are history. It seems like Olympus is on track again, after all those years.
ggweci
11 months ago |Great news all around. Excellent work Admin!
Is the any word on the “blackout” / shot-to-shot time? Fast AF is awesome, but it’d be a bummer if you had to wait about a second before the next shot can be framed like the previous/current Pen models.
AndyOz
11 months ago |Now all Olympus needs is an EVF built-in model and a bright quality zoom lens and things are looking really good. Especially if they could get them out this year. Maybe just hoping there.
I think Olympus and Panasonic need a joint marketing campaign on Micro 4/3 to talk about the system interchangeability, the number of lenses etc.
They could mention all the pluses of the G range and the Pen range and really let people know. I realise that all of us here and on sites like dpreview know all the details. Especially if they can now get AF speeds as good as or better than entry level dSLRs.
Miroslav
11 months ago |“Olympus and Panasonic need a joint marketing campaign on Micro 4/3″
Great idea!
cL
11 months ago |Great idea on paper, but even best of partners can fall out on joint stuff like this in real life…. It’s a pity really. Joint marketing effort really can save a lot of money. By the way, joint marketing is definitely in favor for Olympus, which makes it too easy for Panasonic to say “you’re just using us for our expertise.” Both partners must be willing to give and take for something like this to happen.
sneye
11 months ago |Panasonic and Olympus are bitter competitors rather than happy partners. Olympus must have had issues with Panasonic blocking its access to the latter’s advanced sensors, while Panasonic couldn’t have been too pleased with Olympus looking for sensors elsewhere. The recent and near-future announcements by both manufacturers show that they have different ideas about the development of m4/3. Sadly, a joint marketing campaign seems unlikely at the moment.
BTW, most people who consider lens lineup as a criterion to choosing a system would be aware of m4/3 anyway. As proven by Sony, the masses don’t care about lenses.
YouDidntDidYou
11 months ago |pretty sure Panasonic and Olympus ARE NOT “bitter” competitors as they do share some technologies..
anyways joint marketing campaigns might be against >competition laws< as well as colluding about what products to make or not to make or being too specific about which future directions to take…
also pretty sure Sony aren't doing as well as they claim to be in the mirrorless market especially profitably wise…
bedo
11 months ago |some more news on E-PL3??? because the flash will disappear, for example?! ….. a step forward for the sensor and AF; but a step back for the flash!
maitani
11 months ago |Good news, Still sceptical about the new sensor though, I’m worried it’s the same old 12mp sensor just tweaked.. I’d be glad If Olympus proves I’m wrong
Ferdinand
11 months ago |Seems quite irrelevant whether it is tweaked, isn’t it? What counts is the image quality, and the rumors indicate very good performance on that front.
Anon
11 months ago |There is almost NO blackout after taking a picture in E-p3.
ggweci
11 months ago |Nice! Where did you hear/see that?
ggweci
11 months ago |Nice! Where did you hear or see that?
pilgrim
11 months ago |Way to go Olympus! And great work Admin, thank you.
Olympius
11 months ago |While the increase in AF speed is a very welcome development, the AF assist lamp is even more so! Yay!
But that will make or break these cameras is the sensor. I do hope it really is a brand new design from Olympus, even if it is just a mere 12mp. They really need to break that bond with Panasonic, even though I like Panasonic, I can see how Oly relying on Panny for sensors has not been very helpful, to say the least.
Do any of your sources know if this sensor will be multi-aspect, like that found in the GH1? Or did Olympus, possibly, hopefully, get access to the old GH1 sensor and tweak that?
And will they use this sensor in the new E-50?
Wishful thinking…
Olympius
CRB
11 months ago |GREAT NEWS…maybe time to comeback to m4/3…after an unpleasant experience with pans G1…
Bob B.
11 months ago |I can’t wait to see what Panasonic’s new pro body has in store…also. This is all great for all of us.
When is Panasonic slated to announce this body?
Ahem
11 months ago |I’m quite sure that Olympus doesn’t manufacture sensors, so anything that source_1 says should be taken with that in mind.
AndyOz
11 months ago |Previous rumors have talked about an Olympus designed or tweaked sensor. It was thought that Panasonic would make it for them but it could be another supplier. I dont think that source 1 is saying that Olympus manufacture it, just that they have ‘designed’ it. anyway who knows – we will find out next week or hopefully earlier here on 43 rumors!
sneye
11 months ago |Perhaps we will never know, but does it really matter who makes it?
AndyOz
11 months ago |sneye – good point. All that matters is the performance.
Ross
11 months ago |The same could be said about the ZD70-300 4/3′s lens too. Was it made or designed by Sigma because it’s the same lens set as Sigma & has the AF/MF switch.
The main concern is the sensors performance but also for marketing hype, it is better if it is known to be a new sensor because the critics won’t leave it alone if is an old one.
Nathan
11 months ago |YOU could make your own image sensor. You don’t need to own a foundry, or a packaging plant. You can simply contract with a foundry. You get to design it, they’ll build it for you. There are foundries like this all over the world.
Archer Sully
11 months ago |I suspect that they licensed a base design (perhaps from Panny) and modified to suit their own needs. They have no need to do the fabbing themselves, as there is plenty of capacity in the world.
NativeFloridian
11 months ago |Admin, great post! I really like the way separated out the rumors by source… I feel like I’m getting the chance to do your job (interpreting the accuracy of various rumors and sources).
I’m really excited about the new Olympus rumors… can’t wait to see some pictures of the cameras. Will be checking back often.
maitani
11 months ago |as much interest as the pens generate a the moment, the a77 sony could be the show-stopper, looks like a real winner there…
YouDidntDidYou
11 months ago |lol
Tobias W.
11 months ago |Pablo, is that you?
No, seriously. I think the new PENs are going to be winners. I know I’ll get my E-P3 as soon as it’s available!
Pablo
11 months ago |Hi Guys,
no, I don’t use other nicks. And remember, its Friday. We all have a life to be lived. And not waiting for some dude posting his comments on the web…
I guess I lost my hope with you. You all just so ridiculously keep on being fans of a company which best days are long gone and that isn’t able to bring anything competitive and of good performance to the market.
And… yeah, the A77 and the nex7 will kill the market as the price/performance ratio will be so much better than the ever-repeating same old stuff Oly is bringing out, or the overpriced Nikon toys, or, or or…
rest in peace and have fun with your comming “new” stuff :>
Firmware
11 months ago |Pablo – you can keep your bloated A77 and weird NEX. I don’t need 24MP files filling up my hard drive. As for ISO 102800 and 10fps: Good luck shooting the cockroaches scurrying across your kitchen floor at night.
Can’t wait for my new/old Olympus this summer!
rampart
11 months ago |Thanks, Pablo. I missed you.
Maley
11 months ago |Maybe the Nex-7, cause the a77 isnt really a competition for PEN.
ajk
11 months ago |what are the video specifications of the camera?
in comparison to the gh2?
Beomagi
11 months ago |Does it AF with CDAF/NON-CDAF fourthirds lenses faster?
randini
11 months ago |I’m loving the sound of this. Thanks admin!
If “the front of the new EPL looks EXACTLY like the Olympus XZ-1″:
-does it also have a control ring around the lens mount?
-From the shot we saw of the EPM it looked to be very similar in size to the XZ1 at least from a top view. Can we expect the EPL to be similar in size from a frontal view but probably notably thicker to take the articulated screen?
Also “All three cameras do have touchscreen”: can the menus and all still be accessed via buttons/dials/4-way controllers to override the touchscreen on any of these?
Any word on which one(s) will get an underwater housing? Have Oly realized that people want interchangeable lens ports for these housings yet?
Sören
11 months ago |Great News, Admin.
I really like the style that brings us closer to the original sources.
Many aspects of the pens seem to be improved. If the new EVF now fits my purposes I will by the E-P3. The only thing that I will miss there is the swivel screen. Maybe i will also consider the E-PL3, but I definitly need the upper thumb control wheel!
I don’t really understand why the E-P3 will miss the tilt screen. Olympus was the DSLR king of these screens for years. Now, all other companies copied them and now they abandon the tilt screen again. Strange decision.
Nevertheless, I am really happy with the rumors in general.
The only thing that keeps me of beeing an early adopter of the new pen is the huge pool of rumors for upcoming mirrorless products this summer/fall. Sony, Samsung, Pentax, Panasonic… they all are supposed to bring something great into the game.
@sources: Will the screen of the E-PL3 will be the old and great Oly-style or is it some reduced tilt screen like in the Nex. 90% of my pics are panel format where the nex display is useless.
Gman
11 months ago |I’ll echo the question about underwater housings–are any of the new cameras getting one like previous E-PL models?
XA4
11 months ago |I’ll echo the question about E-PL3 screen – is it tilt/swivel, like E-series DSLRs, or tilt only, like NEX?
2. Is the bundled flash like NEX bundled flash (no battery)?
Is the bundled flash different from/smaller than the accessory flash mentioned a couple of days ago?
You would think we could wait a mere 5 days to find out… I guess not
Thanks, Admin. I’ll be sure to buy my camera (or two) and lens (or two) through your links.
Pixnat
11 months ago |Fantastic rumors, thanks!!!
@ Admin :
Do you have any hints on how the new Pens focus with regular 4/3 lenses?
Thanks!
Boooo!
11 months ago |Why does focus speed with 4/3 lenses matter? The cameras are much too small for most of them.
Sören
11 months ago |It matters for all people that have FT lenses which they want to keep but they don’t want to invest more money in a dying system by purchasing the expensive E5.
And my Zuiko 50mm macro isn’t too big on my pen (allthough it will never beat speed records on any body)
Boooo!
11 months ago |But you can’t use most of the lenses simply due to their physical dimensions, including weight. Either it will be seriously uncomfortable (in the case of the 14-54 and 12-60 zooms), or it *will* break that dinky little toy camera if you accidentally make the mistake of picking up the body instead of the lens.
You can hold an E-3/5 with the 300mm attached and it will survive. If you try to do that on a PEN, it’s going to break into a million pieces.
An internet acquaintance of mine tried using a 50-200 on the PEN and made exactly that mistake – picked up the body instead of the lens. Result: body broken, lens fell to the floor and got broken as well.
If you limit yourself to the 25 pancake, 35, 50 and the kit zooms, you will be fine – however, I’d personally fear even using the 4/3 Panaleica 25mm on a PEN. It’s too heavy and exerts too much pressure on the mount on such a small and structurally insecure camera body. God forbid that you have to mount a FL-50 on a PEN and use a non-toy lens – you’ll both end up in the hospital and waste your salary on equipment repairs.
That is why I’m constantly whining that Olympus needs to release new 4/3 bodies, or produce a pro m4/3 model at least the size of an E-30, preferably E-3/5, and solve PDAF entirely, because all of their pro lenses (save for the 50) *risk physically breaking their toy PEN equipment*.
PENs are fine with small primes and street shooting, but they can’t do anything serious.
Michael Meissner
11 months ago |Boooo!:
While I can see your point with the larger lenses, I don’t agree with the 14-54mm and 11-22mm. I use them all of the time on my E-P2 and I feel they don’t unbalance the camera. I know I’ve carried the camera with the 14-54mm or 11-22mm for at least an hour or two. While I usually use the FL-36 on the E-P2, I have used the 14-54mm and Metz 48 flash on the camera with no problems.
I have seen other photographers using the 50-200mm SWD for hours at a time with the various pens, and they worked well.
In general for all cameras, with the heavier lenses, it is better to hold the gear by the lens with the left hand, instead of holding the camera body by the right hand.
Boooo!
11 months ago |Really? I used a FL-50 and a 14-54 on my E-3, and it was physically unstable until I bought the battery grip. Now it handles well balance-wise. Previously it had a nasty forward tilt, the same as my E-3 does with my 50-200. The extra size and weight allow for better “hand IS” and much better ease of use, without straining the wrist as much.
Michael Meissner
11 months ago |We are all different.
I personally hate the grips on the E-1 and E-3. I bought the E-1 grip when Olympus was having its firesale on the SHLD-2, and rarely used it, and eventually sold it.
I only purchased the E-3 grip recently,and that was for the next generation of my steampunk gig where I disguise my E-3 as a view camera with bellows, and I needed the extra power because I was running the E-3 in live view all of the time. Also, I wanted to change the batteries without tipping the whole rig upside down.
Depending on what I’m photographing, I have be carried the 14-54mm or 50-200mm mounted on the E-3 with flash for extended periods of time in my hand.
Peroni
11 months ago |I use the epl1 with the 50 f2 and also the 50-200 without any trouble.
Well one, the autofocus performance is horrid.
Jason
11 months ago |Holy sh*t the PEN will have an focus assist light! Panasonic cameras focus so much better in lower light because of the lamp.
Not that the 640K OLED screen, super fast autofocus or new sensor were not enough, but wow, they finally added an assist light (that has got to be part of the reason the new cameras focus so fast).
lnqo-M
11 months ago |Jason. Assist light is only for focus in bad light.
QuantM
11 months ago |Dear Admin,
do you know if
1. there is 720p/30fps (seems no 1080p according to your previous post) ;
2. there is any manual control during the video shooting (at least of the level of G2)
on E-P3 ?
Thanks,
QuantM
Archer Sully
11 months ago |It should be able to do 1080p/30, as it has 1080i/60.
QuantM
11 months ago |Dear Admin,
do you know if there is
1. 720p/30fps (seems no 1080p according to your previous post) ;
2. any manual control during the video shooting (at least of the level of G2)
3. external microphone socket
on E-P3 ?
If one of these features is missing for me, as (occasional) videographer, there is no advantage over G2 (which already costs in Germany 330 E for the body).
Thanks,
QuantM
PS You can remove my previous comment – it was sent unfinished.
Michael Meissner
11 months ago |QuantM:
While obviously we will have to wait for the specs to become available for video, note, that since the E-P2, you can use manual settings with video, such as aperture. I’m not familiar with the Panasonic cameras as much, so I don’t know what kind of controls they have.
The SEMA-1 that plugs into the accessory port provides external microphone socket in today’s pens. Now, at present, using the SEMA-1 means you can’t use the electronic viewfinder (VF-2), or an external flash (but flash is not useful for video any way).
I believe all of the pens support 720p/30fps right now.
QuantM
11 months ago |to Archer:
“It should be able to do 1080p/30, as it has 1080i/60.”
Not an argument:
Panas G3 has 1080 50i AVCHD (from 25 fps sensor output) but does not provide 1080 25p. Japanese marketing is somewhat thing in itself.
Maybe Oly will not do this stupid mistakes since it does not have Pro camcorders with which it is afraid to compete…
QuantM
11 months ago |Michael:
after “degrade” from G2 to G3 (lost many control buttons, mic socket, buttery decreased) I have some paranoia about any upgrades.
1. On G2 (and probably G3) seems it is only possibly to vary exposure and number of frames per second (which determines the limit for exposure). Aperture and ISO seems to be set automatically. It is worse than on GH2 but better than on most of the competitors.
2. As far as I remember there were 720p on Olys but only AVI. I hope there will be at least 720p AVCHD.
If E-P3 will have at least 720p and the possibility to vary exposure and aperture during video it would be a good alternative to G2 (not to say to degraded G3).
murphy
11 months ago |what qualifies as “new” lens? ones released this month? or are some of the current ones considered “new”?
Steve-O
11 months ago |I’m loving what I’m reading:
1) New from-the-ground-up Olympus designed low-noise (assumed) sensor
2) FAST AF on all Oly mFT lenses, still faster on new
3) AF assist lamp
4) Flash included in E-PM and E-PL3 kits (like Sony but with a hotshoe mount) to maintain their small body-size
5) Flip LCD on E-PL3
All in small and slender bodies which have IBIS and further improved Truepic colors. Quite honestly this reads like my wish list I never thought would see the light of day.
Clearly this has been in the works awhile, but I have to wonder how much influence their new western president has had in getting them to focus on the groundswell of user comments on sites such as this and DPR’s Forum?
Now, some HG optical quality mFT lenses and plug these improvements into a 4/3′s small to medium sized full-featured body for use with those great lenses. I’d be fully back on board and looking to buy both.
Are you reading this Prez
?
XA4
11 months ago |That new chief bloke is mainly interested in cutting costs. He had nothing to do with the cameras coming this month. Hopefully he won’t destroy morale among workers with the layoffs… That’s my biggest concern for future products.
OlyFan
11 months ago |Lets see. The only thing that seems to be differentiating EP-3 from the other 2 is the LCD screen (and its not even flippable). What else am I missing? Why would anyone be tempted to buy it presumably with its higher cost? I don’t understand. Can anyone help me out here?!
Marcelo Guarini
11 months ago |Some people have a special delight when using a fine instrument. I did shoot with my brother’s Leica M9 and I tell you it feels quite a bit different than shooting with my E-PL1 (not considering the difference in image quality of course). He also has a Porsche Carrera, and I have a Toyota, he has the money to spend I don´t, that´s it.
Maley
11 months ago |It will have a propoer grip which both the E-PL3 and E-PM will be missing.
Michael Meissner
11 months ago |OlyFan:
I dunno, there is the size issue (E-PM1 being much thinner, E-PL3 is unknown, E-P3 should be same size as E-P2 with 2 extra grips).
Then there is the flash issue (E-PM1 and E-PL3 don’t have a pop-up flash, but are supposed to be bundled with a new flash, E-P3 has both pop-up flash and hot-shoe). The E-P3 would be the only one that could do remote TTL flash, unless the new flash bundled with the E-PM1/E-PL3 can do it.
If you need twisting LCD, the E-PL3 is the only camera that supports it. We haven’t seen too much about the E-PL3 other than the LCD/flash, so maybe it has some special sauce.
I would imagine the E-P3 would have all of the bells and whistles, and the others will have some features trimmed to justify higher price for the E-P3.
musabbir
11 months ago |I think the main differentiating factor would be the grips that you can attach to EP3 assuming that the grips make using 4/3 lenses somewhat comfortable on the pen. This would mean a lot of FT users like me who are still waiting for the pro pen or a bigger pen to use their lenses without fear of breaking the camera now on would consider making the jump.
Gino
11 months ago |NA
Michael Meissner
11 months ago |Gino:
I believe admin said all 3 pens will have touch screen, though only the E-P3 will have the high resolution OLED screen. Ditto on the faster AF and sensor.
I would imagine the kits of the 3 cameras will have the same lenses bundled, and if you wait 1-2 months, you can buy it without a lens bundled.
Jason
11 months ago |@Olyfan –
The differentiating factors, from what I can remember the admin has posted over the past month or so:
1- EP-3 has a 640K OLED screen vs. EP-2 230K LCD
2- EP-3 has brand new sensor vs. EP-2 has older sensor
3 EP-3 has much faster autofocus (really fast supposedly) vs. EP-2 which is slower
4- EP-3 has new AF light vs. EP-2 which has no AF light (that alone should improve speed)
5- EP-3 has new Truepic VI (a new double core processor) vs. EP-2 Truepic IV (a slower single processor)
That is all I could think off, but there will surely be aesthetic improvements, and possibly battery life increases, more intuitive interface, etc….
OlyFan
11 months ago |Thanks for taking the trouble to reply. My Question was EP-3 vs the EP-M and EP-L3. So, the 4 standout features I see are-
1. Screen
2. Flash
3. Grips
4. Build Quality
I can see that some (or all) of these features are important to some of you. I only wish Oly gets the pricing right. If EP-3 is going to be 1.2K+, I (personally) think they are killing the sales of EP-3 – too high a price to justify these features.
Sumoguri
11 months ago |I am so happy to hear the AF speed improvement! It has been so painful to take photos of my active 2yr-old with E-P1 and E-PL2. I also wonder which model would have underwater housing like E-PL2 and E-PL1.
kris
11 months ago |AF Assist Lamp?
Are you sure admin? The fact that the camera has something that could look like an AF assist lamp doesn’t mean it’s function is to assist the autofocus. More probably, the thing that looks like an IR-LED is even something more useful!
-A multi color LED that flashes in 4 different colors when taking self timer pictures, whereby the colors are selectable by a dedicated physical thumb wheel. Alternatively, the fn button can be programmed to select the desired LED’s color.
-A rain detector that automatically switched to “cloud” art filter mode when it detects rain.
-A Led that lights the camera itself and thus underlining the beauty of a pink or yellow foto camera body.
- …I mean, there are so many useful things marketing MBA’s could need to have implemented, an AF light really is not on the priority list because the intended(!) target audience does not know what AF assist light is for. So leave it away!
Seriously: Who doesn’t know that frosty feeling when reading specs of a new Olympus camera: Line for line the cold fear “oh, Olympus did it again”, again new dumb marketers features but little fotography enhancements…but then, once in a while small but real miracles happen and Olympus gives us some useful new feature. Then, a few lines further “it happens” again, making the small improvements obsolete by once again some stupid “marketing requirement” as we all know about..
(a more and more frustrated olympus fanboy…though I greatly like the 4/3 idea …)
God
11 months ago |lol.. you should be a fiction writer!
The AF assist lamp is an AF assist lamp and does what an AF assist lamp does. Period!
Jeff
11 months ago |Granted we haven’t seen these exciting cameras yet. So I understand this is speculative, but what will a touchscreen camera mean in relation to an underwater housing?
thanks for any insights.
43RC
11 months ago |More questions for Admin/sources:
1. Is IBIS effective during video?
2. Does E-PL3 get 1080i video, or just E-P3?
Thanks.
SLO
11 months ago |Mmmm… Oly designed sensor as opposed to a “tweaked” one. This is key. Getting ISO and DR on the level of APS, with sacrificing megapixels is a good move IMO. The fact that they use the sensor is all the models also makes good sense.
Any chance EP3 is weather sealed?
Also with a grip, new AF, the 14-54 II is a workable fast zoom for these new PENs. Reportedly AFS speed is fine with the GH2.
Edgaras Anisimenko
11 months ago |Damn I am soooo angry now to own E-5… Who decided to make it like that when not even a pro m4/3 will have it better. Normal AF assist… Oh come on! I would kill to have it in my E-5. Better art filter mode – f*ck you, Olympus… just go to hell! Just… I know that this is over reacting and my camera is still good but I would like to have that in A TOP CLASS (PRO) 4/3 camera not in some random EPM-1. And… annnnnnd! If the new (?) sensor has better DR and ISO performance – I got f*cked right into my ass. Oh, and movie mode with a fps choise is something that Olymus missed in my camera and it should skip it just to make all the E-5 user feel better!
Yeah, yeah, I know, these things are only good things about these new cameras, but still, whats the point of my E-5? Its bigger?
Steve-O
11 months ago |Please steer away from profanity. This is a great site free of “big brother” looking over everyone’s shoulder deciding what they’ll allow to be posted. Let’s keep it that way.
Not to say I don’t agree with your frustration, the E-3S (as I choose to call the E-5) should have been released at least a year earlier, avoiding this issue. But it could be worse, you could be a small Oly DSLR fan and have been dumped like yesterday’s news
.
lnqo-M
11 months ago |Huffda huffda
bUUUUh. Edgaras Anisimenko
Sell E-5, and Buying E-50 or E-XX, so i hope come in stock to next year,
and same IQ so E-P3 and maybe better also.
DonParrot
11 months ago |I don’t understand your complaints. I love my E-5 and this doesn’t change as a new entry-level or mid-range camera comes with goodies it doesn’t have. that’s progress, man.
The E-3 had a 10MP sensor, no AF adjustment, nor art filters and and and…
Then came the E-30 and the E-620 and they had all this. So again: that’s progress. A year has gone by and the world moves on. We should appreciate that Olympus is ready to equip its latest products – no matter if mothership or entry level – with the best IQ available.
I really don’t like the Panny and Sony strategy where the ‘lower’ models aren’t equipped with the best sensor available.
And: I bet that the C-AF performance of the new PENs still will be far from what a PDAF can do. Or they must have worked wonders. I’d love it but can’t believe it.
Zenobia
11 months ago |I’d really appreciate if one of the sources would verify that the E-P3 has both pop-up flash and hot-shoe but that the E-PL3 has flip out display but no built in flash.
Unless I misunderstood the original rumor, that seems backwards to me, i.e. I would have expected the E-PL3 to have the built in flash and the E-P3 to not have a flash but instead have a flip out LCD display, which to me would line up closest with the present E-PL2 and E-P2 feature set.
Can the sources check on that for us, please?
lnqo-M
11 months ago |+1
God
11 months ago |E-P3 = built-in pop-up flash + hot shoe + fixed OLED touch screen
E-PL3 = external flash (included in the box), goes on the hot shoe + high res tilt screen
Anon
11 months ago |I don’t have any specific informations about noise performance. I KNOW from my friend that higlights retention is much better now (better than ANY Olympus camera). Than means less underexposing to preserve higlights, ergo: better noise performance
Anonymous
11 months ago |Ok, I think somebody is missing a point of my angry mood reading all the good news about new PEN cameras. These are not the PRO versions as we all know, because for that we will have to wait a bit more like Olympus said it. So, why should these cameras have better sensor, more variaty in controling art filters, better movie quality and different fps AND assist lamp when the PRO 4/3 camera doesnt? You pay more for the size, fps and 100% VF. All these good stuff should have been in it and its not much, even logical to do THE BEST that is posible. You can say what you want, but AF-a lamp is a good thing and it is missing, because some zuiko lenses like 50mm f2 do hunt it lower light conditions. The flash “help” just irritates people you take photos of and ussualy they think that you just made a shot with flash so they just go away if is it a posed shot. Why not have a better AF now with E-5? And, I wonder how did that was passed… Now, Olympus said that you dont see a big difference in 720p vs 1080p so why do we have 1080p? Marketing? I dont care – they should have included that in E-5 as an option anyway. I like QI that I get now and noise isnt a problem but again, shouldnt this be THE best Olympus can offer for professionals? And now amatures get it as a marketing trick. I wont sell my camera for some m4/3 because it is just developing and doesnt replace 4/3, but still, I dont want to be in a dark place like people who saw that after couple of month you can get a better version of EP-1. Its like Olympys creates something and shows to the people who are responsable for taking it to public but forgets to say that this is not the finished version. After some time they do bring the better versions and see that it is in mass production, already I think Olympus rush too much with everything they make over these two years. Dont they read the comments and jokes about making a copy of the first camera with little difference? They just should say a big sorry and change the camera to newer version
I understand alsow the fact, that Panasonic is going ahead fast but their moves are on time and right to the middle of what is needed at that moment. Olympus people just get the news and start production of not finished cameras. It is always small stuff, but after you combine it, you get big dissapointment.Maybe this is just my little dream about a different E-5… Basicaly, I know I will buy a pro m4/3 because it will have better DR, ISO, movie mode, more control over art filters, more AF points (just for marketing), faster AF with 4/3 SWD lenses, something around 6-8 fps, more accurate, the true pic will be able to process everything faster and going back to movie mode – C-AF. Just please, Olympus, not now, let me sinck into my E-5 a little bit more
Edgaras Anisimenko
11 months ago |Ok, I think somebody is missing a point of my angry mood reading all the good news about new PEN cameras. These are not the PRO versions as we all know, because for that we will have to wait a bit more like Olympus said it. So, why should these cameras have better sensor, more variaty in controling art filters, better movie quality and different fps AND assist lamp when the PRO 4/3 camera doesnt? You pay more for the size, fps and 100% VF. All these good stuff should have been in it and its not much, even logical to do THE BEST that is posible. You can say what you want, but AF-a lamp is a good thing and it is missing, because some zuiko lenses like 50mm f2 do hunt it lower light conditions. The flash “help” just irritates people you take photos of and ussualy they think that you just made a shot with flash so they just go away if is it a posed shot. Why not have a better AF now with E-5? And, I wonder how did that was passed… Now, Olympus said that you dont see a big difference in 720p vs 1080p so why do we have 1080p? Marketing? I dont care – they should have included that in E-5 as an option anyway. I like QI that I get now and noise isnt a problem but again, shouldnt this be THE best Olympus can offer for professionals? And now amatures get it as a marketing trick. I wont sell my camera for some m4/3 because it is just developing and doesnt replace 4/3, but still, I dont want to be in a dark place like people who saw that after couple of month you can get a better version of EP-1. Its like Olympys creates something and shows to the people who are responsable for taking it to public but forgets to say that this is not the finished version. After some time they do bring the better versions and see that it is in mass production, already I think Olympus rush too much with everything they make over these two years. Dont they read the comments and jokes about making a copy of the first camera with little difference? They just should say a big sorry and change the camera to newer version I understand alsow the fact, that Panasonic is going ahead fast but their moves are on time and right to the middle of what is needed at that moment. Olympus people just get the news and start production of not finished cameras. It is always small stuff, but after you combine it, you get big dissapointment.Maybe this is just my little dream about a different E-5… Basicaly, I know I will buy a pro m4/3 because it will have better DR, ISO, movie mode, more control over art filters, more AF points (just for marketing), faster AF with 4/3 SWD lenses, something around 6-8 fps, more accurate, the true pic will be able to process everything faster and going back to movie mode – C-AF. Just please, Olympus, not now, let me sinck into my E-5 a little bit more
napalm
11 months ago |the only Olympus DSLR that had an AF-assist lamp was the very first one, the E-1. they never had it on any DSLR body ever since. if that was so important to you, then you shouldnt have considered buying your E-5.
another thing, nobody knows yet just how fast 4/3 lenses will AF on the new PENS. so right now your best bet with your 4/3 lenses is still the E-5. wasn’t that Oly’s selling point anyway? that the E-5 was made specifically for people who still have their 4/3 lenses?
Michael Meissner
11 months ago |Napalm:
While the E-1 was the only Olympus DSLR to have a focus assist light on the body, if you put an external TTL flash in the hot-shoe or connected via a FL-CB05 cable, all of the Olympus DSLRs would quite happily focus in the dark using the flash’s AF light.
Also note, both of the Panasonic DSLRs (L1, L10) had a focus assist light on the body. I don’t recall if the Leica Digilux 3 had a focus assist.
Even without the external flash, the camera would pulse the pop-up flash when it needed a focus assist. While annoying to your subjects, this counts as a focus assist.
The Pens currently support neither.
IMHO, the E-5 was created as a stop-gap to prevent people from leaving the 4/3rds system until Olympus had time of how to address the market that the E-5 users represent in the micro 4/3rds body.
napalm
11 months ago |I was replying to Edgaras, I know about the Flash AF light, I do use it on 4/3. but he was complaining that E-5 dont have it but the new PENS will have.
maitani
11 months ago |michael, the digilux 3 had AF assist light too, as it’s basically the L1 in silver
Jason
11 months ago |All Panasonics I’ve seen have the AF light, and the external flash does help on Oly cameras, but what about when your using a lens that does not really need a flash, the 20mm for example?
The AF light is very useful…to ignore its usefulness is foolish
Starred
11 months ago |Will it be possible to you the VF-2 viewfinder on these new Pens?
Jason
11 months ago |Yes, you can use the VF-2.
Mike
11 months ago |The E-PM1 is smaller than the GF2 but bigger than GF3?
GF2: 112.8 x 67.8 x 32.8 mm
GF3: 107.7 x 67.1 x 32.5 mm
Not much space between these two…