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This is about 1000 times better than the new Pentacle K01
I hope Olympus makes it and rodent. Become a small part of sony

i just want to say, yes it CLASIC, and yes its NEVER DIE !

* * * * * * * * * *
The theoretical difference in sensor performance between APS-C and Micro Four Thirds is marginal, only 3/4 of an aperture stop.
* * * * * * * * * *
The sensor performance differences will become asymptotically flattened out in near timeframe, so any differences in low light performance using high ISO settings, as well as dynamic range will be practically nothing to worry about.

Rather, the serious photographer will be more concerned with the lenses providing acceptable wide open performance, good bokeh, compact size, weight and weather sealings.

With the Micor Four Thirds lens portfolio expanding, from ultrawide zooms, through a set of bright primes (20mm/F1.7, 25mm/F0.95, 25mm/F1.4, 45mm/F1.8, 45mm/F2.8 Macro, 60mm/F2.8 Macro, 75mm/F1.8,…, and in due time support of the classical Four Thirds lenses, a majority of photo scenarios are covered.

Take the 24.3 megapixels sensor from the current Sony trio (SLT-A65, , SLT-A77, NEX-7), cut out a MFT slice from it’s original APS-C size, and you’ll get a 15 megapixels sensor perfectly fitting the Olympus 4:3 aspect ratio. And if that’s not sufficient, make the sensor oversized with multi aspect ratios (16:9, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2, 1:1) further narrowing the size difference to the APS-C.

You’ll get the same low light performance, the same dynamic range ratio as from the sensor in the NEX, but with Olympus image processing, and the MFT lenses added, I just cant see any reasons to blindly stay with an APS-C fixation of yours…

Why did Olympus wait until now to release the OM-D?

– *Is the OM-D the secret weapon they’ve been sitting on for some time, to pull out when in danger and doubt times?*
– *What triggered the release of the OM-D right now?*
– *Why haven’t we seen it until now?*
– *Hasn’t it been perfectioned until now?*
– *Hasn’t all bits and pieces forming a system been available until now?*
– *How important is the fact we’ve just seen competitors launching advanced models within this year?*
– *Is there a launch synchronization made with Panasonic? What are they up to now?*

– *I sincerely hope it’s not just a show off to the white-collar of an eventually sell out of the Imaging division of Olympus?*
– *Rather I hope this “OM-D System” is pulling more capital investments into the Olympus Imaging division, seing the OM-D prosper significantly and getting a strong foothold in the market!*

You keep using LOL. I do not think it means what you think it means.

What a waste designing and building a brand new camera around a sensor type that has reached a dead end. APS-C is the future for the years to come. Micro 4/3 sensors are just too small to give good low light performance, smooth tones and rich detail. Yes, AF may be quick, the view finder from heaven and the lenses superb, but if the heart of the camera doesn’t deliver, it’s a no go for most serious photographers. And it seems that this is the target group for this expensive tool. I don’t think that this camera is serious competition for the Fuji X100 let alone the X-Pro1. Back to the drawing table it is….

E7 is gone forever.

I checked the site 20 times a day to pick up every new rumor for the EM5. The EM5 really looks not bad for an upgrade from GF1.

BUUUUT… when I step back 1 min, I found that GX1 X kit + LVF2 also costs around $1100~1200.

For basically the same price of EM5, I got the same sensor, about the same EVF. And, I have one additional wonderfully compact 14-42X lens.

In my gear setup, M43 is one “assistant” cam and my 1st desire is compactness. In fact, my only complaint to GX1 is the lack of manual video exposure. Other than that, everything is fine for me.

I sincerely hope EM5 will bring down GX1′s price.

Shrink the screen. 2.5″ 16:9 is enough IMO.

So where are you going to fit this viewfinder into a Pen if you don’t make it any larger?

Don’t look in the marked area ( it’s not me that made the picture ), look under it and the sign on the sloped side cover of the hump.

So a camera with the size of a pen with a built in viewfinder would not make sense?

“700+ comments! Olympus is making Admin very happy!”

No, it should make Olympus very happy. And ashamed at the same time, since they have so many devoted users yet keep letting them down with mediocre or incomplete mirrorless cameras in recent years. Hope E-M5 brakes that trend.

No you don’t. Even if it was 4:3 ratio there is not room to make the screen any higher. The space is just not there to do it.

It seems to me that the display has a 3:2 ratio . That would be a minor drawback because you loose resolution when shooting in 4:3.

No real need to. I have used the E series in the rain and changed the lenses no problem on pro shoots. If you start worrying about the sensor you also need to worry about the back glass elements on the lens and contacts. You just need to be careful otherwise to design sensor protection in like that will add a lot to the price.

Admin, I keep hearing recently that it may not be a GX1 sensor. If you could please double check with your sources about GX1 sensor or not. I realize it’s all rumor. I believe it’s going to be a tweaked GX1 sensor but if they managed somehow to get another one, and if it performs well then great. I just think it would be hard due to no economies of scale, if then the camera will come out at the price you are mentioning.

I still at this point believe a tweaked GX1 sensor is the deal.

BUTT UGLY…….

dream on

LOL… it does not look like a slimmed down E-620. You can easily tell you design is based on the original OM line. The E-620 shows none of that in it’s design.

Once you hit 1/8800 you’ll be sent back Marty. “Heavy“.

Almost 700 as we write
Do they get the same amount of responses on fora for competing cameras?

I wonder how many of you people realise the battery in an E-P* is same as the one in E-620, so I see no problem in 4/3rd lens being used as regards power requirement. That battery provides enough power for the 620 and if any one is worried about the requirements, surely, you all carry a spare or two along with you on a shoot (kept warm in a pocket if needed).

When I saw NEX7 on the first time, I think of a kind of scientific tool when I was in a physics laborary in my colleage.

Photoshopped lens is hiding the mirror.

EM5 is m43 dslr.

(my speculation)

Release model : ISO, WB, DRIVE, AF on the arrows on joy pad (just as epen).

Exp comp assignable to one of the top dials.
Exp lock assignable to either function buttons.

Yep i think to focus fast 43 lenses are gonna want juice … battery pack.

Perhaps an external microphone.
Connection for remote shutter release.
Some sort of shoot-by-wire system.

What makes nex 7 so appealing is not so much the rangefinder style but the fact that it packs the same features (did I mention bigger sensor?) in an apparently smaller package. And it is legitimate to wonder what this so talked about hump is hiding (if hiding anything) because as of now it can appear like a not so well thought camera (as opposed to a serious photographic tool olympus wants to make you think it is)

“To pay something similar or maybe even more expensive just to get cool body but lower IQ and DR.”

You can say that for other cameras too, like D300s vs D7000 vs D5100. Then there’s the NEX-C3, which has (essentially) same sensor as the 5N, D7000 and K5 but cheaper; it will beat a bunch of cameras costing more based on IQ alone. But…

IQ is not the ultimate criterion in cameras!

I don’t know why some of you just don’t get it.

so …
no exposure lock button ?
no exposure compensation button ?
no af/manual button ?
no drive button ?
no iso button ?

I guess some of these controls are on the back-panel arrow buttons but still … with only 2 custom buttons I am not sure the interface will be very smooth and friendly compared to say the nex7 or even the gh2.

Hmmm… Looks like a slimmed down E-620. I guess their idea of retro is lets build something that looks like something we already build four years ago.

Nothing new to see folks…. move along…

more than 600 comments and counting,.I think this camera will be a big hit,..I wish Panasonic R&D READ ALL about this comment and figure it out ,,.get into the mind of photographer,.and listen to our heart ,catch the passion of photography ,.don’t make the same mistake ,.over and over again

prepare everything and do not do a half-hearted for the NEXT GH3 or GX2,..forget about GF & G Line – you just made A BLUNDER ..

Eh, the EVF could actually take more than the opening you put your eye on. It could very well have an accessory port.

It’s not wrong but it’s “just ok.” At that point it depends on the asking price. Price it too high and it becomes not ok.

I care less about IQ (image quality) than I do about PQ (picture quality.) PQ depends not only on IQ, but also on handling, portability, responsiveness, and all the other subjective factors that make a camera either help or hinder you at getting good pictures.

A scanning back on a 4×5 camera would give vastly better IQ than anything we talk about on this forum, but for most uses would have no PQ at all because nobody wants to drag one around! A phone camera may not have very good IQ, but may produce very good PQ just because it’s easy to carry and unobtrusive to use. We all choose where we want to be between these two extremes.

The hump is so terribly ugly according to its body size. The balance may be a problem in reality. And…how come people pay $1200 to this gigantic hump, bulky body, unknown IQ? Plus, we can pay just $500 more to get X-PRO1, which is more stylish. IQ is also much more exceptional.

Then the Fuji x pro should have a hump too. Afterall Fuji is named as the mountain.

They should make an iPhone with EVF on the left and blackberry keys, real keys and dials. I think photographers like this sort of phone instead.

haha, I pictured you frothing at the mouth as you typed this, restrained in a special chair that keeps you from hurting yourself or others. Was I close at all?

people buying the E-PM1 I could understand that cost is the main priority. But if you have the money to buy an E-P3, and adding $100-200 more will get you a weathersealed body with EVF… I bet it would give you something to think about.

I’m just being realistic here, Olympus has a history of not giving everything on the first edition of a series.

the bit on the back of the hotshoe pulls back and the flash comes up,hidden under the hotshoe..the other pic showed it pulled out a bit.so the hump gets even Bigger!or maybe the new XZ2 is hidden there when you need a pocket cam..

It may be! Maybe the hump is a grip too!

Get a BIGGER iphone.

My hump, my hump, my oly oly hump!

My hump, my hump, my oly oly hump!

I think he is 10 feet tall.

IHUR,
The comparisons have been done on 4/3.

http://www.43rumors.com/olympus-e-5-third-best-dslr-camera-ever-tested-at-fotomagazine-de-e-5-in-stock/

Look this up it will show you where 43 is not where you wish it was.

http://goo.gl/kZOik <<<

600 comments!! We need another blog post to split the load admin!! Now we know its exterior, so what’s actually inside?

“no-nonsense curves…..I can’t wait to learn what’s inside that huge hump.” should we be censoring this?

anyone else suspicious of the picture from the polish website? it just looks much too small, as if it were poorly photoshopped in.

Same for me. Absolutely agree

There really is a picture of a blurred camera on a polish forum! What the?

Mark I think you misunderstood Melvin, he is saying that to offer a grip there must be the need to better balance some lenses, and has ( like me) assumed that means for 4/3 lens use hence his second paragraph.
I agree with you about the 2 grip design, I have made the same comments on this site to that regard.

It looks cool; certainly reminiscent of the original OM cameras (which is good!), but the real litmus test will be image quality. If the new sensor provides dynamic range and definition as good as, or better than, its competitors then it should be quite successful. I will wait to see what DxO and others have to say in that regard before plunking down any cash.

Good job. Now, make a black one with black 12mm lens .

You all asked for a hump. Now you have one.

I am interested but I must be able to use my 12-60 and 9-18 4/3 lenses fully If they work the same as they do on my ep2 then I will stay with the ep2 and e30..

Cat goes splat.
The KO1 looks like something a cow left in a field, yes cow pat that’s the name, watch where you tread or you will go splat.

Won’t be surprised if that hump is actually part of the removable EVF and Olympus will sell it separately at a hefty price.

Calxn,
The GH2 does not have ibis, nor Oly lenses. Nor Oly name.

the first image looks FAKE.
there is no ambient occlusion between the lens and body, just like a collage.

my 2 cents.

Carlos the hot shoe will take care of any flash (except a pen dedicated one), an accessory port (if it is one) would be for other things but what could be used there without blocking the viewfinder? maybe a live view PC output adapter?

Yes! the camera is very small, just see it in his hand that Polish guy. So, they put the hump, to let it bigger.

I didn’t say I knew what is in the hump but I can see exactly where the top of the EVF ends and the hump extends a large distance above that.

IHUR,
Go walk about, take the e-PM1 for pocket fit, take the E-M5 for hand held and neck, take the E-M5 +grip for larger lenses and heavy duty. All the E-M5 lenses will fit the E-PM1 so it is just part of a system. Funny I heard the word ‘system’ used somewhere else , now where was it…..?

Compare it to the back of the E-5 – it seems to be a shrunk E-5…

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse5/page2.asp

The Hump is big because the camera is tiny – it may have to pop vertically a bit to raise the flash clear. The accessory port under the accessory mount adds still further height. Think higher VF2 on E-PL3. Although one hopes there might be a surprise under there as well.

Yes! I think Oly made ​​the grips very big, so when you remove they, the camera looks like it was a micro43 camera.

Archer Sully, I agree totally with you.
In the old days f2.8 was the line between fast and normal that went to about f5.6 and higher was slow. Most normal and 3rd party lenses were f2.0 to f4 many being around f3.5 There was a reason, faster than f2.0 was expensive, faster that $1.8 was prohibitive. While today’s spending power exceeds that of past times, the fact remains, lenses must be sold, if they cost to much they will not sell.
We see on this forum that there is no consensus over what should be offered as a lens, some want longer, some shorter, some faster, some smaller, some manual, some auto and on it goes. So the maker supplies a ‘normal’ kit lens. (Most users never go any further) and then makes a range of lenses to fit different markets and budgets. Oly make 3 grades of lens available for 4/3. The super high grade is very expensive and no matter how much some others want them as a standard kit lens it will simply not happen.
As you said “Its just a trade-off is all”.

Alan, I live in Sydney. Except for the past week of rain, it is sunshine most of the time. I have an E30 and ep2 I don’t seem to have any problems taking photos and have great prints with no noise (I have even used 2 x A3 joined and seems fine)
Look at http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/kidding.shtml as suggested by Archer Sully in his comment above.

“We all know Olympus´s financial problems at the moment, they need to make a quick few bucks and overcharging could a way to do it…”

Funny thing is, if its over priced, it will not sell. I think marketing people know this. They have a way round it, called, re-education through advertising. This is proof that it was over priced in the first place but marketing is unwilling to admit they got it wrong. If there is big advertising beyond the normal introduction phase, then yes you were right.

Quite confident… stimmt das?

Do you know something or speculating?

That lens totally looks like it’s been photoshopped into the picture.

There just has to be a flash under there.

Yes, that should be about right.

The camera is more or less the size of the G3… the body itself could be a few milimeters shorter but the oversized hump makes up for it. It is clearly smaller than the GH2 when used without the grips.

The G3 is the better looking camera IMO.

I like this camera. I started photography with an OM-1 in 1976 then came an OM-2n and in 1989 came an OM-4T. The E-M5 will be a beautiful continuation. Today I have an E5 and an E-P3 and I’m very happy with them. I bet the E-M5 will be a much better camera than both

Measured the inside of the metal connector of the hot shoe, 65 pixels for the G3, 61 for the E-M5. Which should be about right considering the E-M5 is at an angle which will make the front width of the connector shorter than when straight on like with the G3. Again, this isn’t anything exact, but a rough idea.

I don’t think it’s correct…
Retry using the hot shoe wich MUST be the same.

Good point. I’m going to preorder the NEX-7. Those pancakes will be available eventually!

Thanks, Mark! Even though there’s a Micro FourThirds version of the 25mm Summilux, the FourThirds version is still better. M43 lenses just have more compromises in order to project light on the sensor with a shorter flange distance. So I guess if they come up with a FourThirds version of the Zuiko 12mm f/2, it would be sharper than the Micro FourThirds version.

Sadly, I don’t think the Lumix X lenses will be able to win against their 43 Zuiko counterparts.

Also prefer black lenses here, especially if the silver version is just plastic anyway.

Presumably he means lenses that focus fast. In an ideal world, Olympus would have some trick in the camera or in the adapter that would give fast AF for the old 4/3 lenses.

Just putting something out there (a remote possibility at best).
What if the truncated ovoid part at the front of the camera, and just behind the lens, could be a four thirds adapter, with some sort of focus assistance built in.
Now, if the hump was also removable, OM-D could stand for Olympus Modular Digital.
Unlikely in a small camera body, I know…

No, I don’t think you understand the mindset of the people Olympus is trying to appeal to. Many DSLR users feel the battery grip and portrait grips are important (particularly those shooting with higher end bodies). While I only use my HLD-4 when I’m shooting with my E-5 inside of its steampunk bellows setup, most of the people shooting with E-5′s, E-3′s, etc. use the portrait grip. Fortunately unlike the high end Nikon and Canon bodies, you can remove the battery grip for a smaller profile camera.

Either the person on the picture of the polish forum is big or the camera is pretty small.
Since the camera is blurred I’m not sure if it’s the real e-m5 or just photoshopped.

If the view finder is under the hotshoe, then the accessory port (behind the rubber cover) has to go there as well & that’s part of the design proportions you are seeing.

Maybe that hump houses a tiny fairy that will make all your wishes come true. ;-P

The overly aggressive design of the OM-D makes you feel uncomfortable?

Please, can we get a finder in the shape of a boob over here?

A camera is a hunting tool. It better be aggressive looking,even if that violates the sensitivities of the modern, neutered male.

Oliver, I’m with you. We need quality equivalent to the 12-60 + 50-200. Perhaps in the new Panny X, but the ranges aren’t as useful. I know some people like primes, but all these primes for m43 are just overkill without the basics covered.

Melvin, you must have tiny hands. I much prefer the E-1 to the E420. from a usability point of view. m4/3 is about small lenses. I think the 2 grip design is brilliant. Those who want a small camera can have it, those of us who want something more to hold onto, can have it. Since the regular grip adds another trigger and dial, hope you can program to use the two for different purposes.

I think the chrome version looks a lot better simply because the contrast with black body parts help to break up the height of the hump to make it less objectionable. Based on pictures previously released of the above I believe the hotshoe and box under it are removeable in order to use the pop up flash hidden under the bonnet. I think I like this version if the IBIS has been improved to work well at all speeds and if the E-D5 is able to track fast moving objects much faster.

Silver for me thanks.

Someone may want to add a more powerful flash.

You just don’t know what’s inside the hump. The smaller the camera, the larger the hump looks. Would you prefer if the body had been made an inch taller (See Fuji X-Pro 1)?

Could you give me some side by side comparison images how your micro43 can be better than those dslr cameras?

Don’t get me wrong, you can always have a professional photographs just by using p&s cameras, but should you have used a better camera on that moment with the same objects, it could’ve been better. Much better. That if you are looking for perfection day by day on your work.

Sorry to offend you or other people here, but I never think m43 was created for professional photography though it can mimic the functionality. It’s more for walkaround/travelling cameras, for its ‘p&s’ size with better quality. But, putting a pro name, battery grip, and other pro technology and features with micro sensor and priced the camera with premium price, is simply overkill.

Someone thought there should be an accessory port, and someone signed off on the idea. If those extra few mm in height bother you, you must be looking for something to dislike.

Isn’t that enough?

Does “grippier” include improved ergonomics in your assessment, or do you mean literally only “grippier”? What about added space for extra juice?

I believe my F2 with the Photomic AS finder, or even the sports finder, and MD-2 motor drive is the manliest camera I own. You can pound nails into hardwood with that beast.

What’s this about people carrying their cameras, other than compacts, in coat pockets? What else is in those pockets? Maybe a dead rat and a string to swing it with, Huck?

That design makes perfectly sense. People with larger than a camera joshi’s hands and those with long fingers want the added grip for horizontal holding. Those who shoot often vertically, and those who need more juice, will want to add also the battery grip. I’m fine with all that.

+1 it’s a plus for people and fashion photographers as well.

Some of us have normal-sized or large hands. I tend to shoot 50% vertically. A vertical grip is what I need. A larger horizontal grip is welcome!

I’m glad I have gotten a “preview” of the grip(s), because the camera without a grip is a no-go for me.

You lift weights in your spare time?

And suddenly the GH2 starts to grow on me. With its function over style and the snug, humble, no-nonsense curves, it now looks so RETRO!

Even more importantly, I’m sure that old chap will still trump this awkward Oly on most accounts except for the obvious extensibility feats.

I can’t wait to learn what’s inside that huge hump.

It allows the camera to be a ‘one size fits all’ what ever kind of photographer you are this camera seems to be pointed at you. If 10% of the users agree with that idea that is a lot of sales.

You mean Slavidjan the giant?

It makes a lot of sense. Some want the camera as small as possible to fit a big pocket, some want a camera with ‘feel’ that will be balanced with 43 lenses attached. This seems to be able to fit both jobs by using or not using the grip.

2 or 3 with grip.

It just gets better. Back in the days when I was using Olympus OM1N and OM4Ti it was nice to have the option of fitting a winder for the ergonomics or leaving it off to pocket the camera. Same with Nikons – my FM2n with or without its MD12 filled different rolls, much more versatile (size wise) than the F5. Choices are good!

Lol – my guess is you weren’t alive then!

I hope this means that the price of the EP3 will drop

Not necessarily (on 4/3rds glass). The grip makes sense if this camera is to be used in a professional capacity – namely battery life, and better “hold” ergonomics.

I can’t believe I see some complaints about the grip! The grip is optional folks! It’s for a full day of wedding photography where you need the battery and having portrait orientation is good *as an option*.

At last we have a decent sized camera. If they had built the grip in it would have sold better.

I’m not thrilled about the massive hump; to me a brick shape (with necessary grip) is more usable in the sense of (1) less problems with getting hooked in other gear/clothes/etc., and (2) looks more anonymous for street photography, etc. The idea of having a hump just for nostalgic reasons is pure insanity, in my view. I do expect Olympus designers to be sane people, and thus do expect a good reason for the size of the hump (as opposed to the NEX-7), and I do expect the hump to be solid and able to endure some bumps, etc.

So — I look forward to see the released camera and study the specs/read the reviews.

I am surprised people are complaining about the “hump.” the EVF has to go somewhere. I am not sure people realize how small this camera really is.

Those are photoshopped form these images, that’s not what the grip looks like, and the silver/chrome version will not be this reflective.

note that EM-5 sensor will probably be worse than GH2 one as G3/GX1 sensor is worse…

It’s a really nice looking camera except for the unnecessarily tall hump (as hundreds of others have said). Still, even with the hump, it’s much more attractive than the stupid Panasonic mini-dSLRS.

It is quite amateur of Olympus to release the image of the EM-5 in its most massive form. I wish they would have released full images of the body sans grips. The grips are cool, and definitely something not available OEM from Panasonic, or any mirrorless camera maker for that matter, but wouldn’t common sense tell Olympus to release images that make the camera look small? I consider it one of the many gaffes that Olympus is guilty of. And yes we don’t know if the images are real, but presumably, Olympus has released everyone of these images.

OLYMPUS you make such distinctive high quality products, why can’t you just learn how to communicate them properly.

I think the E-M5 looks very attractive, much more than the mini/fake-DSLR styling of the GH2. Besides this isn’t exactly a DSLR form factor, it’s just SLR styled.

I love all the zealous GH2 owners who are trying to vehemently defend their camera as still being the best m4/3 camera out there. Sorry, but you should have realized that a new/better camera would eventually be released. Also, don’t worry, the GH2 will still be a great camera after the E-M5 is released.

Merry me!

I wouldn’t expect this to touch the Nex 7 IQ. The difference between the top performing m43 sensors and this 24mpx Sony sensor is just too large. Unless Oympus has a brand new, much better performing sensor, it’s image quality will not be indistinguishable to the Nex 7.

http://bit.ly/AypPnW

However, I’m sure it will be good, but the Nex 7 has one of the best APS-C sensors in the industry (there are better sensors for high ISO shooting though, but it’s still a decent performer).

WTF?!?

I wonder if it auto focuses. I wonder if it sucks in rain water, like the x100. I wonder if its viewfinder is like the x100, while interesting, not practical in a lot of situations or usable for some eyeglass users (no dipole adjustment). I wonder if the it make lovely white orbs like the x100. I wonder if they will make more then three prime lens or any zoom lens for it. I wonder if they will drop it in two or three years.

Mostly, I wonder if Camerageek will get a life, or at least new material,

+1! My sentiments exactly. Choice is good, and so is not having to buy a whole new collection of lenses.

“Now, you all are fawning over another DSLR form factor m43 when the GH2 already exist, all for $1200. Gullible.”

I don’t think I’m being gullible. I own a GH2. It’s great. I use it a lot and I’m very satisfied with its handling, performance, and the quality of the pictures (and video) I get with it.

But there have been many times I wished that it had in-body stabilization and wireless TTL flash. I don’t think Panasonic ever will offer either of those features — they’re committed to in-lens stabilization, and I suspect they can’t get the rights to use the patents covering wireless TTL. Previous Olympus models have offered those features, but they didn’t have an EVF, which is a must-have for me.

So, the EM-5 is a camera with an EVF and with overall layout and controls similar to the GH2, plus the flash and stabilization features of other Olympus models. And (unlike the NEXies or the new “it camera” from Fuji) it will work with the lenses I already own.

Basically that’s exactly what I had wanted, so I suppose I really ought to buy one!… although I would also keep the GH2, of course…

Without grip and battery it looks great!

I think the hump is neccessary for the Olympus accessory port. You could argue that it’s not really needed when the camera has the built in EVF, but Olympus has quite a few other accessories that use the port.

Btw, I don’t agree that the original OMs were all function. Olympus made the OMs really small, but clearly sacrificed some fuctionality to achieve that goal. The OMs were pretty good, but not at the same level as the best Canons and Nikons at the time.

I’m surprise so many people seem to have an issue with the camera’s size or the ability to add a grip. Don’t like it, don’t buy it. I like having lots of options in the m4/3 format. I use both a GH1 and a GF1 and like being able to use the same lenses with both. Can’t do the same with the NEX or Nikon 1 system.

I’ve never had much interest in Oly products, but I’m certainly going to take a look at this.

Then what is the point of m43? You might as well buy a DSLR if m43 is too small.

wonderful, wonderful, look at it, wonderful…

fantastic black beauty
no logo hyperbole all over the body
screams pro
stellar build
godly interface

where can I preorder it?

“I can’t help it, the lens is photoshopped.”

Well, at least the front part of it is. For anyone who ever has worked in a marketing department, it’s easy to guess why. They made a photo of the camera with the lens mounted, but then some marketing person said, “We can’t use this; the front element of the lens doesn’t have pretty highlights and reflections on it.” (These are difficult to achieve; the lens usually has to be lighted separately.)

There was no time to re-do the photo, so some unfortunate graphics person was assigned to take an existing photo of another camera, and graft the front part of the lens (complete with pretty highlights and reflections) onto their new photo of the camera body and rear lens section. Unfortunately, the two photos had not been taken from exactly the same angle, so the perspectives didn’t match perfectly. The Photoshop artist probably was given only a short time to do it — “I need it before lunch so I can show my boss in our meeting this afternoon” — and in any case it’s very difficult to apply perspective distortion to circles without having them look unnatural.

So that’s how we wound up with a photo in which the lens looks as if it was kinked in the middle, where the two photos were blended together.

The camera seems fine but I don’t understand why such a huge view finder? It looks awful to me…
I’ve became addicted to the Pen series, if only the external viewfinder could be a bit smaller and with a new sensor of course.

Well, what to say. This camera is butt ugly. The small previews looked nice, but not this… It better be a good cam for me too buy it.

The Sony Nex is 70s gone bad styling, this is 70s gone good. Kind of like the 5n.

It is not very good, now that you bring it up. The lens is not even centered on the lens mount. In fact, it is strangely poor. I wonder if it was a generated picture on Amazon in which you select what you want an Amazons puts the image together.

Off to take real product shots.

The remaining info that now needs to be leaked is about IQ in general and dynamic range specificly: Which tweak technology leading to improvement of x with y%.
In almost all other aspects this camera is a clear step forward for Oly and also for m43.

donate for admin, you bunch of lumix and sony lumps and whimps

Admin – any word on UW housing for this?

fuck you fucking fuckers and haters, this camera rox the crap out of your consumer toy gadget collection, landmark oly, landing-stripe-mark

Unfortunately, whoever was in charge of photoshop-ing the image of the lens to the image of the camera could have done a better job.

Is it so difficult to take a picture of the prototype with a lens mounted? Don’t think so…
If it is a 3D rendering, is it so difficult to model a fake lens? Not at all.

If the graphic artist only had access to a standalone image of the body and a standalone image of the lens, at least paint a better fake shadow cast.

Sigh… I’m too much of a damn perfectionist.

Minolta just rocked, is such af f* pity this company doesnt exist anymore..

cheers Richard thought the one on 4/3 looked AWFUL these look much nicer. is it me but black lens on silver body would look much nicer….

I agree..I am just saying for this particular camera (The new olympus)…it is a lot of money to spend on a camera with this sensor with limited dynamic range…it is THE issue for MFT as far as I am concerned…and needs to be addressed. At this price level if this camera had a sensor in it with 1 or 2 more EV’s of DR…then I think it would be worth it…with a G3 sensor…I do not think it is worth the money…just my opinion…everybody has one. I am not a fan of Sony cameras..they just have great sensor tech. , not much more. Give me MFT any day to that camera system.

With film SLRs, especially the OM’s I preferred the silver ones. They didn’t mark up so much, or at least it wasn’t so clear. The coating of modern black cameras seems a bit tougher though, so it isn’t so much of a problem.

I am pretty excited about this camera. Olympus build quality and weather proofing is top notch.

As much as I want PDAF for the HG & SHG Zuiko 4/3 lenses, I am trying to not get my hopes up.

What kind of pictures you do IHUR? I do 15×20″ prints from my E5 and my E-P3 that are apreciable better than those I do to my friends with Canon 7D and Nikon D7000. I don’t understand what you mean by a non pro sensor. Yes, It has some less DR and a little bit moré noise, but It does’t preclude to get excellent images, in many cases better than the competition, and with less MP.

Really? This looks very form over function to me. Or do you suppose the hump(on this) was a result of a technical solution.
Only reason I can think of to not put the delete button over on the left side, and replace it with a another fn(or ISO, or DOF or…) on the right, would be looks(form).
Original OMs: all function.

At least it’s not form over function

I’d like a E-M5 here even if the EVF isn’t there yet.

Yes.

‘not a continuation of the function over form’ SERIOUSLY !!???

I’m at a loss for words. I find this neither retro nor attractive. Too many of you are caught up in the marketing hype to think clearly. The Gh2 looks much more attractive than this clunky, boxy camera. $1200 for a m43 without the lens? So hypocritical! The indignant comments about the X100 costing $1200 (with lens) or the Nex-7 for the same price. Now, you all are fawning over another DSLR form factor m43 when the GH2 already exist, all for $1200. Gullible. Marketers love you guys.

Without the grip(s):
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii301/moviemonster6/back-no-grip.jpg

Good for you. For the rest of us, this looks like a perfect upgrade from older m43 cameras inspite of the “older” sensor. Personally, I’m sold. I’m just waiting for sample images and first impressions of the camera. If they are in line with what we already know, Oly just got themselves a new customer.

The lens in this image is entirely fake, certainly not an actual mounted 12-50mm. As others mentioned the linked silver and black renders posted are fake as well. I can’t wait for a real image of the final cam, no extra grip w/ 45 1.8 mounted

If you look closely you can see there are TWO grips on the camera. One is a large horizontal grip and one is a portrait grip. That is why there are two lock buttons on the back. You can see the body of the camera itself ends and the very edge of the screen. You’ll also notice there is a flash housing in the hump. It’s noticeable from the front and rear. It swings open like on an e-620.

How do you know it’s $1.1k ? Or perhaps you mean Euro..and yes it will definitely be more expensive than Nex7, still you’re hoping that the IQ will be’nearly indistinguishable’ than the cheaper nex7

Nice stuff but to expensive if Olympus is expecting a come back I might just wait the price of the after 2012 christmas rebate,very good product anyway,and a lot smarter than telemetric lookalike camera for snob people : good job Olympus!

I’ve checked both G and GH-models and neither the hump nor the grip is fake.

To much information.

So this is how the E-5 is the last Oly DSLR

Why did they keep the hot shoe accessory port? Looks like it adds lots of unnecessary height/bulkiness.

Also, please please PLEASE Olympus stop it with the silver lenses (or produce black versions as well). I know it is only a cosmetic issue and doesn’t change the quality of the lens, but I will freely admit that the cosmetics are part of the package for me and silver lenses on black bodies look pretty awful.

We all know Olympus´s financial problems at the moment, they need to make a quick few bucks and overcharging could a way to do it…

Is it just me or does the screen look like it will tilt?

On a side note, I really hope the IQ of this camera impresses because in every other way it reminds me of my beloved C-8080.

Too much grip
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6800658863_6cac7c5d93_o.jpg

lol, sounds like a phallic phobia is going on with you.

many of people I know bought E-PM1 because of the price alone, so yes +-$100 is a huge difference for many people.

I have the K-M A2 and I can tell you that I also have the optional battery grip for it. That camera does not look as well put together as the E-M5, and it’s battery grip is larger and not as nice as the E-M5.

The better camera in terms of form and functionality is the E-M5. I will definitely order it. I also have a couple of OM-1 cameras. Oly nailed it.

This is a render because the silver one, blurred in the leak, is at the same angle and of course the lens is photoshoped. Try to put the silver e-m5 image on top this new (same sizes) and you will see that both fits… but there is a little difference. In the silver e-m5 image the black part above the viewfinder is misplaced or moved or rotated. Don’t know but maybe this image has the flash.

The blurb on the advertising copy released a day or so ago by Olympus was all about Art filters, so it´s going to have them big time.

Which makes sense, as Olympus is heavily into getting the most out of the sensor by software (read jpeg), so they would want to provide software filters that would also handle the sensor´s output to the max.

Other companies expect you to do it in Raw, which I do, I guess it´s just a different philosophy.

HUMP HUMP HUMP HUMP

Size, without the fake grip and battery grip isn’t very big but the style looks like a shrunk Nikon F3. A bit toyish I have to say.

Yeah I’m thinking about that too. The price is a bit too high for me.

These two pictures are the non-grip versions. One is black. The other is silver. What do you think?

http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/e_p1/imgs/6/2/62e0ff85.jpg

http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/e_p1/imgs/e/d/ed48d6a7.jpg

I want a Batcam too. Chicks dig the Batcam.

Agreed. Without the hump I could have tolerated the size but this negates the reason I went to m43

The concept is excellent! Too bad its still just a micro43 sensor, and yet you paid for the amount for pro dslr price. It doesnt really have ‘ground breaking’ technology that came out of intensive research, but rather a recycling and tweaking stuff that already exist. Yet, they priced it like how FUJI priced their XPro1 camera with its cutting-edge aps-c sensor.

If retro look is consistent the fl600 will look like the t32 OM-flash.

^Lovely.

Thanks for sharing that.

.

I just came.

Hmm. Doesn’t look as disproportional as I feared, but still…not sure why I wouldn’t go for a small DSLR at this point. Even without battery grip, pocketability doesn’t seem to be on the table anymore – especially given the hump in the middle with its clothing-catching hotshoe.

m43 is about the compromise between size and IQ. Not sure where on the compromise scale that this model lies. IQ average and larger than picket-sized. I think the X=Pro1 looks more attractive at this point.

The relative hight of the hump and hot shoe REALLY bothers me. Its like looking at a person with a MASSIVE nose. No matter how good looking they are generally and no matter how good they are at their job, you just cant get round that MASSIVE thing sticking out at you.

I want something that is sleek and subtle. If people see you shooting with this they are going to point and say what the hell is that massive thing sticking up!

Please for god sakes Olympus, make a last minute change to the design. I think I just couldn’t buy The EM-5 with that deformity. It needs to be reduced in hight by about 1/3rd, or at least 1/4th to look in proportion.

I understand your idea. This is a good concept that oly put, it’s just a bit overkill I would say. The price wise compare to the the sensor size which is just a tweaked of pana gx1 micro43 sensor.

I’ll be buying it without the grip, I wonder what the rumored FL-600R flash will look like, hopefully small and with good bounce options.

I like the camera. It looks nice and probably it has the most used features I like. But… the price is very important and I find that comparing with DSRL, the cameras that EVIL try to pull out, it is expensive.
In Europe you can find a Nikon D7000 for 925 euros and a Canon 600D for 600 euros; E-M5 will cost 1.100 euros.
In terms of image quality Canon and Nikon are much better, so… this mean that if I buy the Oly camera I will be paying much more… for less quality¡¡¡. For me the only advantage over the competition is the size -and to be weather sealed-, so I find the price too expensive. So here comes the question: How much do you think should be a reasonable price?
Regarding to the sensor, the camera could cost about 500 euros and if you want to add a plus for the size this could be… 150 euros. After you can add for weather sealed 200 euros. So I think that a right price should be 850 euros.
1.100 euros is too expensive for this camera.

Simple. Since it’s M4/3, let’s wait and see what are the improvements on the sensor to match its look.

The lens is added on in ‘photoshop’ yes, but this is (very) common in product photography, and the same in the official E-P3 images if you look closely.

Interesting. Indeed, there’s no power switch on my OM-40 :-p

Yes! Built-in flash is a toy. This design allows a flash on top without losing the EVF.

The camera itself could be the size of an E-P3 with a slight EVF hump, which would make it similar to a Panasonic G3. These renderings with the battery and grip add-on make it look massive. I’m still not completely convinced that these are actual pictures, I believe they are high quality 3D renderings of what it’s supposed to look like, and the front image is an obvious Photoshop.

This makes me think that Olympus is attempting to switch their line of pro DSLR from the 4/3 standard to the Micro 4/3 standard. This website will have to be renamed ‘Micro43rumors.com’ very soon.

No, it is for look likes a SLR

you must be ne here (jk )

True Berneck…this is still all guessing from the bleachers…but we do know most of the facts at this point, it would appear. I would LOVE to be pleasantly surprised though and have this camera somehow magically pull and EV or two of DR out of an existing sensor!!!!!!!

All of Olympus DSLRs except for the E-1 have a pop-up flash. Starting with the E-420/E-520 generation, the pop-up flash can also control the remote flashes (FL-36R, FL-50R, FL-300R, plus the Metz and Cactus flashes).

The E-300 and E-330 had no hump on the top, and you could use the camera with both the pop-up flash and a FL-36 (and the camera had different controls for both). In all of the other cameras, it was an either or situation, though I’ve never tried to put a stripped down flash cable to see if you could use the hot-shoe and pop-up flash at the same time, even though there was no menu option for controlling the power of ea.

The E-1, E-3, E-30, and E-5 all have an additional pc-sync connector on the left side. The pc-sync connection fires in all modes.

I don’t recall that any of the DSLRs’ pop-up flash could be angled for a weak ceiling bounce, like it could with the Panasonic L1/L10 DSLRs and E-PL1/E-PL2.

In terms of add-ons using the accessory port, obviously the VF-2 and VF-3 EVF’s would not be needed, but depending on whether they have a microphone connector, you might want the SEMA-1 for external microphone. The MAL-1 macro lights would also be interesting. Somebody out in the world probably wants to use the Penpal bluetooth attachment.

cost, yes (but consider the weather-sealing and the EVF)

weight and size, I dont think the difference is huge

art filters, E-M5 will probably have them also

Very likely just space enough for a tiltable viewfinder

Finally, Olympus !! Finally you got it. No PEN design, no f…ing, awkward, flimsy multicontroller. It seems that the view finder has an eye sensor, bravo.

However, generally, the body design of the GH2 still has the edge in ergonomics. The on/off switch is definitely in the wrong position. It belongs where one’s index finger naturally sits. I also don’t see switches for AF-Mode, measuring characteristics and so on.

To judge, what is better in hand, GH2 or OM-D, clearly we need to compare both cameras physically in hand.

Well done, Olympus. In the future, please, more of this, and much less PEN stuff.

Probably the LCD/EVF switch?

I know the SCP panel and the EP1 very well after around 10000 exposures. On top of that I have 50 years photo experience…..
The problem I mentioned above does not concern the functionality in SCP panel at all.

they’ll introduce a built-in flash on the E-M7 hehe

this is not a mistake, this is called obsolescence. who would buy an E-P4 then if the E-M5 has everything?

+1

I hope the shoe is detachable like the OM-1/-2′s was.
because I don’t like the high profile it has in this pics.
it looks Top much DSLR-ish, just like an E-620 or something uncool like that.

You bump your nose on the screen even more if the EVF is to the left. Put it on the right side!!

Finally we get to see the real thing after all the hype! Strange how the straight angular lines fed piecemeal to us now have been transformed into an EVF dome that looks more like an space age helmet or the dome at a nucleur facility. In reality to me it is simply Oly’s attempt to disguise the bulky housing of the existing VF2. In other words the E-D5 is more a collection of mainly existing body parts housed in a new body (with some new features like hoped for improved IBIS) which other than the EVF bulge looks very good to me. We should not be surprised of this approach given how quickly this model was produced with limited financial resources by Oly. I only hope that Pany in their new models incorporates the technology used in the small OLED high rez EVFs like that in NEX7 or Fuji XPro1. Looks more like a replacement for the E3 to me.

I too find the grip part too big for just being a grip.
If it is just a grip, I think it would have been better to design the body with an integral grip in stead.

PayPal me 5 bucks and I’ll send you the link.

the guy must be huge!

anyway, to early to tell, need to see some reviews and hold the thing in my hands.

but still, it seems from the pictures that these companies are afraid to simplify the design,
the back seems too precious with so many groves corners and curves around…
they could learn from leica, like fuji did

While I understand your preference, it’s in the minority for people looking at this price range. I did the E-P2 with a “real” flash and it got old, real fast. Pro flashes are for paying photo jobs, not walking around on vacation where it makes you look like a camera dork.

bulky, strange, akward and ugly compared to the E-P3. Maybe not the final version

Absolutely beautiful camera. Professional and elegant looking at the same time. I will be buying this for sure.

and LOL at the haters, you guys are never fucking happy. I don’t know why you expect m4/3 to solve all your problems, don’t like it move the fuck on and troll somewhere else.

-1
size and Weight popup flash is ridicules.
All supermini compact cameras have popup flash.

Build flash = RC support to shot external flash
No build flash = not RC support

Ah, clever, though I wonder why they did not use the E-P3′s aux. grip.

I do agree. Put the EVF on the left side, so you don’t bump your nose on the screen. There is no need to put it in the middle over the lens anymore.

Could have more buttons.

Love it, im buying one

New to 4/3rds, wanted to comment/ask if there could be two versions of same body style; one micro and one regular 4/3rds, just by changes the mount portion of the body? Because if I could use some of the 4/3rds legacy zooms natively without and adapter this would interest me, but not it is for the m4/3rds lens range.

The hotshoe thing looks tacked on. The original OM-1/2 had very small top prisms. Sleek. Is the LCD on back bigger? Does it articulate?

What is a “faux rangefinder” design? In my view, the natural shape is the (slightly rounded) brick shape, with as few humps as possible to avoid the camera getting entangled/stuck in something. — but at the same time giving as nice a grip s possible. Also, I prefer an EVF. If this is what is meant by “faux rangefinder”, then the whole idea of “faux rangefinder” is an utterly absurd one. A “faux dslr” however, is stupid at the outset *unles the hump has a function*. If the only function is to feed nostalgia, then it is simply stupid. Sorry to be blunt, but that’s it.

The E-4XX and 5XX series didn’t have flash and I can’t see a button to relase the flash on the E-M5. Maybe it’s opperated by touchscreen.

I`m an old OM-4 user, and I`ll buy this camera asap. Probably sell my E-3 as well.

Interest resurrected?

Wicked! Amazing looking camera!
it’s an OM alright!

To all those concerned bout a ‘Hump’, it’s an OM for Pete sake, it’s supposed to look like an OM, if it never had the ‘hump’ it’d no longer be an OM.

If you want RF styling, look elsewhere – as for myself, i’m currently knocking one off furiously at the thought

On a serious note, GREAT GREAT! Best looking, and sized SLR on the market – I hope performance wise it cracks up to be a winner – and we may well see some Pro’s shooting it for sports and wildlife too!

Till Feb. 7th

Obviously, it’s for looks like a “real” dslr.

Blah Blah Blah, stuck record. Sony sensor can be used in a cave crap.

http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microftmerit/merit2.html

Looks really good! The optional grip, and battery pack make it a comfortable camera for larger lenses with 4/3 mount. Without then, it’s perfect and small. These pictures give me high hopes for this camera, or the MMF-3 adapter, to have a PDAF trick.

Keep the news coming!

you are not the only one !!!
What Olympus / Pentax also failed is that the idea of mirrorless is SMALL. if it is just a little bit smaler than it makes no sense.
The ultimate mirrorless reference is the NEX 7 (except the lenses, but this will soon change too…)

Love the look. I think we may be surprised how small it is. These pictures (huge grips – blank background) make it look big.

I think the basic dimensions will be close to the E-P3 plus a hump.

+1

Would my GH1 body die, *knocks on wood*, I would buy the G3 or the GX1 … not only the price, but that ‘hump’ would prevent the camera from fitting my bags: the GH1, more the 14-140mm, 20mm and Raynox DCR-250 filter fit in a bridge sized bag (and all together cost less than this E-M5 giant).

If it had a new sensor that would me think twice… right now m43 sensors are really outdated, I hope GH3 comes with something really new.

Really hope there isn’t a built in flash. Use the space with a tiltable viewfinder, microphone ports, gps or whatever. Built in flash are a waste of space, of weight, and of money. Get a real flash if you need one.

Olympus had better tweaked the sensor REAL GOOD. Stunning design.. happy.

Please paste the link to the photo of that Polish man holding E-M5.

Please show me the link to thee photo of that Polish man holding E-M5

I agree. I’m going to wait for the reviews before I fully pass judgment, but I kind of feel like they overhyped this camera….

While this is a bit trivial, I was under the impression that the metalic parts had more of a mirror finish, not the matte finish in these photos.

Do you have a poll option for:
Love the front of the camera, congrats for the sensible choice of the tilty screen, hate the add on ginormous vertical grip. Like the central VF, but why is it so high? Nikon have shown with the V1 an EVF can be much more compact.

I’m a pro and I’ve used that one time. That’s what pocket wizards are for. Cords are 1980.

Hello,
I may be the only one but I am utterly disappointed by such a classic / conservative design, that does not mean that I am not interested in the camera in itself. I still happen to use the Olympus e-1, namely the nicest DSLR of the numerical area from Olympus with an unusual and risky L-shape and wonderful ergonomics ; I am just sorry to feel that Olympus is still thinking that the best way to convince people to get their top range model system camera is to bring people the illusion of this stupid «faux DSLR» look.

This whole situation is laughable. After all of the hype and the picture pieces fed to photographers by the OIy Marketing Dept…etc… To purchase this body with Grip and Battery compartment as shown above (no lens) we are talking what $1500-$1600??? The camera is built around a G3/GX1 sensor? I like the design and all of the options…but I would never spend that kind of money unless the camera had a Sony or Nikon etc. sensor in it with fuller dynamic range. Its a cool looking camera…but not one I would actually buy, I will save my money and wait for the base tech to improve..eventually there has to be a fuller DR sensor. Pick up a G3 body for $450 …the images will look the same.

Michael, there are two because the grip comes apart in two pieces, so you can use it without the bottome piece or with it. Om style.

The vertical grip looks having a movable part at the position for thumb. I guess it will erect when you turn the knob of this grip to unlocked position.

What’s the button in the shadows to the right of the VF window and left of the checkerboard button? It appears to have a bumpy circle on it. Looks too small for diopter…BTW, where’s the diopter adj?

I guess you’re one of those people who dont know how to use the Super Control Panel on the E-P1 (same SCP as their DSLRs). just pressing OK then Info will toggle it on if you dont like the E-P1 menu.

Thats the accessory port symbol.

http://www.cambridgecomputershop.co.uk/news&reviews/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/266bDCM116.lb_150711_gr.olympus_ep3_port-420-90.jpg

No, I mean this:

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/1893/em5back.jpg

Yes that hump looks ridiculous. I would have been OK with it if it wasn’t so large in proportion to the rest of the body.

This has been known for a couple of days now.

On the left of the back of the hump. Or it could be raised manually.

The two different locking is for auxiliary handgrip in front, and the other one for the actual battery vertical grip

There are two accessories on the body. A grip, and battery pack. You can do just the grip, or add the batt pack to. Maybe either or.

Just how many times do we have to endure this topic. It is on the top side of the camera! Zoom in and see for yourself.

If you look at the back shot, you can see that the back of the “prism” hump is not solid, but is separate from the body. Almost a certainty there is a flash under there.

The E-M5 mark is on the top plate of the camera.

Fantastic design. and wow, that pic of the polish guy with the cam really ads to the experience! Not…

+1000!

This camera will be beating all current oponents. Nex7, fuji x1pro, Pentax k01. Except in picture quality . Who cares, it looks good.

OmG! it awakens my erotic fantasies… Looks so gorgeous! I want it!
Olympus rocks!

It looks good but I’m not going to get excited until I’ve seen some results.

I suspect that the hump may be a “Transformer” thing, which you flip, turn, ot twist, and then the pop-up flash or other things comes out of the hump.

or in the hump!

lol

Impressed! But I’m not seeing evidence for a built-in flash; I do see evidence of a port cover below the hot shoe. Notice the grip nobs on the protrusion below the hot shoe from the rear. They are the similar to those on the port cover for the VF-2. A port makes sense to support advanced electronics such as GPS, external flash options, and even perhaps the VF-2 to allow waist-level viewing.

In any case, the E-M5 is a technological tour de force if the specs hold true. Settled … I’m selling my Nikon DSLR system and will own an E-M5 by Christmas! To think that the same native MFT lenses will work on everything from the diminutive PL3/PM1 as a P&S form factor all the way up the the E-M5. Later … I’m out for a “photo day” with two P2s, five lenses, a light meter, and accessories in a bag that weights only 5.5 pounds. MFT rocks!

Great! That vertical grip is what I’ve been waiting for.

Under the mode dial you can see the m4/3 simbol (look at the previous image.
I think that now we can say goodbye to the pop up flash.
Some one previously told that there will be a little flash (similar to epm1) included in the box (the flash will be weather sealed.

Now i can die happy.
I’m deffenely going to buy one, it seams just perfect.

PS: probably it has the same size of the old om1, and damn, it’s smaller than my ep1

You know what’s the best thing that grip means? SD card slot is most likely on the sides, not bottom.

Love it. Great size… Looks tiny with the Guy holding it

Tripod mount on the left and not in the centre?

How about Captain Kangaroo?

Can someone explain why I see no AE lock, no WB, no ISO, no focus mode dedicated buttons?

What am I missing?

I like it on the E-620 where it is on the back part of the selector. And I didn’t liked it on the E-510 where it is on the right part of the selector, on the top part of the body. You can’t switch it with big fingers.

I bet the silver one will make it retro enough, if that’s what you want.
I know Id go for silver.

Not my favorite design. I prefer a NEX7/Fuji XPro1/RF integrated EVF (i.e. on the left side), but if others buy this body, then it’s all good for the system.

based on the amazon page, we can put the sensor provider mystery to rest… it’s a panasonic livemos

under the mode dial is the m43 icon!
Still hoping for a detachable hump! :p

Judging from the earlier leaked pictures, there seem to be some connectors in the hump, since the part that is directly above the finder is slightly extended. Would be a shame if it really was just used for that.

That new grip should make useing some of the heavier OM like the 2lb 35-80 more comfortable. That particular lens has been wonderful on my e-p3…but I think it would be great on any camera.

There are TWO grips on it. The actual camera ends at the bottom of the LCD screen.

I also think that hump pops up, there’s some sort of mechanism under it as seen from the picture of the back…

Any news on the shutter? Is it silent?

/// double post, my bad.

If this camera has the image quality of the G3/GX1, is water resistant, is able to focus Lumix lenses as quickly as M.Zuiko lenses and if the new image stabilization system is indeed more effective, then Micro Four Thirds will have a very capable new body option.

From an ergonomics point of view, I’m a little worried that the eye cup is roughly in the same plane as the rear screen. With the EVF’s central placement, that should be a recipe for oily smears. Olympus should have adopted either the corner EVF of the NEX-7 or the screen that folds inward coupled with a protruding EVF like on the Lumix GH1/2 and G1/2/3 models.

Seriously who cares about the hump
My girlfriend has nice humps that I like to hump
And I wouldn’t dare to tell her that her humps are too big

This looks like my next camera! Screw 4/3 in moving to m4/3

But inside hump is empty?

i love it!
hope there is a small flash, hope in focusing peak, and i hope that the huge hump is not for a gps module.
This camera makes me dream…

Wouldn’t the on off button make more sense the other way round? What if your fingers slip downwards – and bam your turned your camera off

The lens looks like it is photoshopped. Are you sure this is FT5?

Yes, the screen is tiltable but no swiveling though.

i don’t like what i see. There is something “form not follows function” about the most caracteristic designfeature of the camera: the vf is much lower then the hump on the front. Without the batterygrip i am sure the hump is unbalanced high to the body. The upperplate hasn’t got the horizontal profile, which make the unbalanced look even worse.
Just an opinion ofcourse.

I like it, though it looks more like a cross between an OM 2000 and an OM4… Now will they bring out all those lenses in black???? Also perhaps some of their fast 4/3 lenses converted to M4/3/ This camera needs pro glass!

While I understand that the huge hump is to make it stay true to the original OM cameras, I find it extremely intrusive and I’m secretly hoping it is detachable. Don’t get me wrong – I love everything about this camera already.

With a silver E-P2 + VF-3 sitting next to me, man! It IS tiny without grip! I’m gonna save these image as my phone wall paper until I actually hold one on my hand!!

It actually looks perfect & it is an option only. I certainly would love to have this one with grip knowing it can also come off.

well I was never really that interested in oly but I must say WOW.. the only thing that disturbs me a little bit is hotshoe and small viewfinder but after big disappointment from panasonic if the video will be 1080/50p with better quality than stock gh2 or simmilar to hacked gh2 I will really hardly consider buying this little fellow over the gh2.. with battery grip it looks that it will nicely fit in your hands.. (I have the GH1 and I would prefer some kind of light battery grip because I don´t hold it with my all fingers..it´s a little bit small hehe) so oly… I´m giving you a chance.. better video..better iso performaance .. the 5axis stabilization is something interesting.. I´m crossing fingers .. in april i will buy you or the gh2!
one question.. will it have tilting screen? like panasonic or the ep-3?
and admin.. thank you

Then Yao Ming needs bigger pockets..

@ Admin (and others): Here is an image of it without the grip(s)

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii301/moviemonster6/back-no-grip.jpg

Actually I think this is not the real deal. I wouldn’t call it fake either, details are mostly right. But if you look closer, the rendering (cause thats what it is most probably) of the lighting is different on lens and body. So both seem to be coupled via photoshop. Also the perspective of lens and body are not right, making it look a bit awkward.
My take on this: Pic comes right from Oly Guys, but to give people no hint about the sensor a picture or rendering of the body alone with an open mount(revealing any details about the “revolutionary” sensor) was stitched with an rendering of the upcoming lens, thus hiding the sensor area and giving a good look on the cam as a whole.
oh and I really like the body, seems to be about the size of the ep3 which works fine. Definitly tempts me even more to buy it

Looks like proximity sensor.

OM-D is a new line/series. This is not a PEN. Model name is E-M5 which is on the top plate next to the Mode dial.

This is gorgeous!!! I want one already.