43 Rumors

There have been quite many news i these days and it’s time to highlight the most important aspects of all those Panasonic and Olympus statements. They clearly gave us some “signal” about what to expect in 2012:

1) The PRO market
Olympus: Olympus said that the Olympus E-M5 is NOT a professional camera while the Olympus E-5 is a professional camera. Don’t let’s discuss about when a camera can be defined as professional or not. What matters from a “rumor” point of view is that Olympus many times stated that they want to launch a professional Micro Four Thirds camera. And if they say the E.M5 is not THAT camera than we might can expect a launch of an even more advanced m43 camera by Photokina 2012.
Panasonic: Panasonic used big words and said a very high end model camera is going to be launched soon. Easy to guess that this will be the GH3. I don’t expect any revolution but rather a well thought evolution of the Panasonic GH2. The GH3 will certainly be weather sealed and probably sue a new global shutter sensor. In the past Panasonic said they want to focus on the electronic viewfinder development and here is on of the areas where we should see a major improvement.

2) The sensors future
Olympus: Olympus marketing is copying Nikon’s strategy. Also Nikon continually states that their new 36 megapixel sensor used for the Nikon D800 (Click here) is made by them although we can be 99% certain it has been factored and also largely developed by Sony. So I am pretty sure the E-M5 uses the same Panasonic GX1 sensor with some Olympus engineered “tweaks”. While I heard that Samsung and Sony offered to make m43 sensors I don’t expect anything really revolutionary coming within 2012.
Panasonic: Panasonic has been very honest in their latest interview. They want to deliver better image quality through offering new high quality lenses rather than promising new miracles on sensor technology.

3) The lenses
Olympus: Olympus said they want to focus on new prime and new affordable lenses.
Panasonic: Panasonic wants to deliver more high quality lenses.

4) More TidBits
Both companies are committed to the Micro Four Thirds standard and have no plan to offer a new system based on larger sensors. And Both companies will keep developing and improving the contrast autofocus technology which they say is more reliable and faster than phase detection.

That’s it! Let me know if you think there is something more I didn’t mention here!

I would like Olympus to produce lenses like the 12mm f2 that are NOT plastic, and are black or silver, a m43 mount of the great 12-60 zoom and at least 1 long telephoto around 120-150mm again NOT plastic but black m43 and metallic.

It’s nice that there will be a pro version by the end of the year, but on the other hand, we cannot keep buying bodies. If I would buy a Nikon D800 now, then at least I know it will be the best body in its own class and fitting a specific shooter profile for the next 3-4 years. If I buy an EM5 now, there will be an EM6 by the end of the year, a EM7 next year and and EM8 the following year, and each model will be aimed at the same shooter profile…

My wishful thinking
Statements from PanOly (and thoughts from admin)indicates even better cameras coming. My reflection is that a new sensor generation is under development. The OMD series with have a higher (than EM5) offering. Pana will, in some way, have higher end alternatives – with and without strong video capabilities.
Of course PanOly will always claim what they have now is “the best you can get”. At the same time they are as aware as we that sensor development for APS-C and FF has a pace that m43 currently cannot match.
m43 has many advantages over larger sensor mirrorless, smaller sensor really being the only downside. If they manage to keep up with the development pace, to me, a slightly less IQ is acceptable. DR can be a step more narrow, ISO 12600 can be grainy.

Nope!

If you can’t buy new bodies all the time, don’t do it? How is it better with no new bodies for a long time? ou can keep your current body with the current technology as long as you liek in either case. The only exeption is if you are more interested in “having the best” rather than the actual quality of the body.

Olympus should first launch a body between E-PL3 and E-M5, something to rival G3, NX11 and entry level DSLRs, a 500 EUR / 600 USD camera with EVF and proper grip.

On the lens front the most important things are focus peaking and enabling 4/3 lenses to focus properly on m4/3 bodies.

IMO, the naming scheme is also an indication against an up-coming pro Oly m43 camera. The E-M5 designation links to the OM camera series, pretendinging the M5 to be continuing where the OM4 stopped. And Oly never made a camera class above the OM cameras. So I doubt they will make one now. Most definitely not in the nearer future!