43 Rumors

I do understand that in order for Olympus to finally get a decent alternative out here against the Fuji X100 it needs time. Time to get all the parts needed suited into the PEN style. Apart from time Olympus needs also money for it takes quite some R&D budget in order to create an decent alternative against the Fuji X100.

In order to get there time only has to pass by. But money won’t be heading towards Olympus while doing nothing. So instead Olympus tries to get a cashflow going by bringing next to EP3/EPL3 also the so called EPM3. There is nothing wrong while executing such plan. However, Olympus needs to realise that executing this plan, jumping aboard of this train it can have disadvantages. I.e. people which are not satisfied by the offerings Olympus had will jump aboard some others ship, for instance Panasonic or Sony/Samsung.

But once you look closely to what Olympus really tries to pull off. They better follow Panasonic suit. Why? Because instead of Olympus, Panasonic knows exactly howto get there in time and with the required money by having a plan known for diversity. They are having four seperate product lines. GF3 which fills the bottom against Sony C3 and such. Offering an alternative to the compact P&S who wants to upgrade.

Next to that Panasonic will (according to what I read through 43rumors) come with a succesor to the GF1. This will be an offering many of us would have wanted Olympus to come out with it instead of Panasonic. Why? IBIS + JPEG rendering. Anyhow, that will satisfy the most of us. I.e. an alternative towards the Fuji X100, the succesor to the Panasonic GF1 will be. Then you have Panasonic G3. The beginners entry for those who wants to mimic a dSLR design but have the benifits of m4/3. And at last: you have got the Panasonic GH3, the best you can get in a dSLR designed body.

I.e.:

GF3 – basic for seducing compact P&S owners
G.. – GF1 succesor and good alternative to Fuji X100
G3 – basic dSLR designed body
GH3 – a topped off dSLR designed body

Then take a look at Olympus…

EPM3 – basic for secucing compact P&S owners.
EPL3 – upgrade for whom owns a EPM3
EP3 – viable alternative towards GF1 succesor

What’s the problem with Olympus offering? 1) They share the same bodystyle/design. PEN and PEN it is, no alternative towards a G3/GH3. 2) Olympus eventually will release a decent alternative towards the Fuji X100 but not as quick as Panasonic/Sony/Samsung will be. In other words: Olympus will be too late to the party in order to profit from such high margin which will be on the Fuji X100/Panasonic alternative.

I see Panasonic plan working out in the future and let them profit from it. Because they picked a good plan from the early beginning. They knew diversity is what the whole m4/3 system will take it to a higher level. And they are willing to bring diversity to the m4/3 system. While Olympus acknowledge it, but reacts too slow to profit.

Meanwhile I will await the arrival of Panasonic decent alternative for the Fuji X100, rumored to be announced fall this year. (september/october)

Yes, everyone please stop being so negative. Remember. Olympus incorporates the advantages of M4/3. Small size, small lenses. Panasonic has much larger lenses. Because of a major design disadvantage. Panasonic does not have in body stabilization so lenses are larger/heavier. The key design m4/3 needs is fast autofocus. Olympus just beat Panasonic to this key feature, autofocus speed has always been a DLSR advantage. First step to becoming a pro camera. And if this is phase detection, all manual m4/3 lenses can have autofocus confirmation.

Olympus does NOT have to match Fuji x100. Why? Because Olympus already beats Fuji’s x100′s image quality. X100 image review at F2.0 was inferior and very blurry. Image Quality = plastic lens. Don’t believe it? Cuz x100 perception of quality is false. (test shots posted on this forum proved F2.0 was extremely low quality and blurry. (the web source review actually removed the X100 f2.0 image samples from his site since images were inferior)