What's up with Oly?

alexeyga · 08-01-2010, 09:10 AM

Saw somebody shooting Olympus DSLR Yesterday which make me wonder, what's going on with Oly's DSLR division? Are they dumping it? Haven't been any news for a good while...

er1kksen · 08-03-2010, 04:05 PM

Oly's doing alright, don't you worry.

Their lower-end DSLRs may end up being marginalized in favor of m4/3 (though probably not completely until they can make a PEN camera that matches the performance operation-wise of the E-620, which there should be a successor to) but there are rumblings of some very interesting things going on in their upper-level DSLRs, which we should see around September. Regardless, they'll never fully drop 4/3 DSLRs (though they might become fully mirrorless as well, if the technology gets good enough) due to the small but significant wealth of Zuiko 4/3 glass out there, which tends to be fantastic stuff.

DigiFilm · 08-17-2010, 06:31 PM

There are only 3 Olympus dSLR models now in stock at B&H; The current flagship E-3, the E-30, and the E-620. Poster's in Flickr's E-System Community group contend that means standard 4/3rd's will not be abandoned, and a new flagship dSLR will be announced in September. Everyone will just have to wait as those who know don't tell, those who tell don't know.

Just as long as they don't stop making that fab Zuiko 4/3 glass before I can get the 5 HG lenses I would still like to add to my Oly kit.

nickthetasmaniac · 08-20-2010, 09:55 PM

Hmmm I don't think they'll entirely abandon the 4/3rds mount there's far too much very good, quite new glass out there at the moment... But I think that the E-5? released at Photokina (I think it will be released) will be the last 'pure' classic 4/3rds body. Rumor suggests, and it makes sense to me, that next year will see a modular camera that allows the full operation of both m4/3 and classic 4/3.

pxpaulx · 08-23-2010, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by nickthetasmaniac

Hmmm I don't think they'll entirely abandon the 4/3rds mount there's far too much very good, quite new glass out there at the moment... But I think that the E-5? released at Photokina (I think it will be released) will be the last 'pure' classic 4/3rds body. Rumor suggests, and it makes sense to me, that next year will see a modular camera that allows the full operation of both m4/3 and classic 4/3.

It is kind of a conundrum for Olympus. Panasonic is clearly done with standard 4/3. Oly on the other hand has (I think) a larger user base that would be extremely unhappy to see standard 4/3 disapear, not to mention some of the amazing fast zooms they have for 4/3 mount. A camera that is modular and combines both systems somehow would definitely make alot of sense. It would be interesting to see the finished product, that is for sure!

Pablom · 08-23-2010, 01:24 PM

Originally posted by nickthetasmaniac

Hmmm I don't think they'll entirely abandon the 4/3rds mount there's far too much very good, quite new glass out there at the moment... But I think that the E-5? released at Photokina (I think it will be released) will be the last 'pure' classic 4/3rds body. Rumor suggests, and it makes sense to me, that next year will see a modular camera that allows the full operation of both m4/3 and classic 4/3.

wouldn't that be solved with just an adapter?

er1kksen · 08-23-2010, 07:17 PM

Originally posted by Pablom

wouldn't that be solved with just an adapter?

Not unless they can figure out a way to make the normal 4/3 lenses work just as well with CDAF as phase-detect. Or use on-chip phase-detect like those new fujis, though their implementation is rather limited.

nickthetasmaniac · 08-24-2010, 07:19 PM

Originally posted by Pablom

wouldn't that be solved with just an adapter?

No.

As mentioned above, there already is an Olympus designed and made 4/3 - m4/3 adapter, but unfortunately very few of the top-end Zuiko Digital lenses are optimised for CDAF, which means very slow AF. Now this wouldn't necessarily be a deal-breaker for budget lenses, but for a $3000 35-100/f2 is certainly is.

That said, it seems almost certain that Olympus will release a 'classic' 4/3rds E-5 at Photokina, which makes me think that they probably do have a strategy in place to either continue both 4/3rds and m4/3rds, or somehow combine the two lines effectively.

lurchlarson · 08-26-2010, 08:04 AM

From what I've read. The New E-5 was ready last may (or even before that) but for some reason Olympus pulled it back at the last minute. It should definitely be announced next month.

From what I hear about the the specs. It looks like it'll be 12mp but better everything. The AF coupled with their SWD should make for instant focusing. It was already near instant on some of their lenses.

There are also rumblings that it may include the translucent mirror technology. We'll see how that changes things.

I'm a huge fan of Olympus. My wife shoots with an E-620 and that's a great little (and I do mean little) camera. That Zuiko glass is the sharpest glass I've ever seen. Period. Too bad the sensor in her camera doesn't do so hot above ISO400. In short, if Pentax died, there is a good chance I'd jump to Olympus.

juu · 08-29-2010, 03:35 AM

I think 4/3 is clearly doomed and is gonna be replaced by m4/3, it is just a matter of time.

There is no advantage to 4/3 whatsoever compared to APSC, and all existing glass can be used on m43 with an adapter.

However, Oly itself will be fine due to m43 sales.

nickthetasmaniac · 08-29-2010, 07:08 PM

Originally posted by juu

There is no advantage to 4/3 whatsoever compared to APSC, and all existing glass can be used on m43 with an adapter.

Now that's just a silly statement...

deadwolfbones · 08-29-2010, 07:27 PM

Originally posted by nickthetasmaniac

Now that's just a silly statement...

Dunno, seems accurate to me.

er1kksen · 08-29-2010, 07:32 PM

Well, there's the whole idea of using the excellent 4/3 glass in existence with fast phase-detect AF. Lenses like the 35-100 or 12-60 or 7-14 are pretty fantastic, but using them on m4/3 bodies is awkward and unsatisfying, and for some there are no good APS-C equivalents. So, 4/3 it is for some.

nickthetasmaniac · 08-29-2010, 08:56 PM

Originally posted by deadwolfbones

Dunno, seems accurate to me.

I've used top end gear with both APS and 4/3rds (K20D, DA 35mm Ltd, DA* 16-50 & DA* 50-135 and the E-3 with ZD 12-60 and ZD 50-200) and in every case but the DA Ltd, the IQ from the 4/3rds gear was either very similar or better. Especially in terms of corner-corner sharpness, fall-off and CA control. Definitely not noticeably worse, even in terms of high-ISO...

That's not to mention the very real advantage that the crop factor provides for tele-photo photography, allowing amazingly fast and relatively compact lenses like the 150/f2, 90-250/f2.8 and 300/f2.8 (300mm f2, 180-500mm f2.8 and 600mm f2.8 equivalent). Anyone who's seen a Zuiko 300/f2.8 lined up next to a Nikkor 600/f4 will know exactly what I mean...

I'm not saying that there aren't strengths and weaknesses inherent in both systems, but to say there's 'no advantage whatsoever' is just uninformed...

juu · 08-30-2010, 12:41 AM

OK, I was making a dramatic embellishment.

There are some advantages but in reality 4/3 is dying. m4/3 does the size aspect better, and the numerous APS-C systems do everything else better. And even if it doesn't, then the general perception is that it does, and that's what matters.

So unless you already have that Oly 4/3 glass there is very little to attract you to that system. That means there is only one conclusion to the 4/3 story.

08-01-2010, 09:10 AM	#1
alexeyga Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 838	What's up with Oly? Saw somebody shooting Olympus DSLR Yesterday which make me wonder, what's going on with Oly's DSLR division? Are they dumping it? Haven't been any news for a good while...

08-30-2010, 12:41 AM	#15
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680	OK, I was making a dramatic embellishment. There are some advantages but in reality 4/3 is dying. m4/3 does the size aspect better, and the numerous APS-C systems do everything else better. And even if it doesn't, then the general perception is that it does, and that's what matters. So unless you already have that Oly 4/3 glass there is very little to attract you to that system. That means there is only one conclusion to the 4/3 story. Last edited by juu; 08-30-2010 at 12:48 AM.

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08-03-2010, 04:05 PM	#2
er1kksen Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Forestville, NY Photos: Albums Posts: 1,801	Oly's doing alright, don't you worry. Their lower-end DSLRs may end up being marginalized in favor of m4/3 (though probably not completely until they can make a PEN camera that matches the performance operation-wise of the E-620, which there should be a successor to) but there are rumblings of some very interesting things going on in their upper-level DSLRs, which we should see around September. Regardless, they'll never fully drop 4/3 DSLRs (though they might become fully mirrorless as well, if the technology gets good enough) due to the small but significant wealth of Zuiko 4/3 glass out there, which tends to be fantastic stuff.

08-17-2010, 06:31 PM	#3
DigiFilm Forum Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Antonio, Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 59	There are only 3 Olympus dSLR models now in stock at B&H; The current flagship E-3, the E-30, and the E-620. Poster's in Flickr's E-System Community group contend that means standard 4/3rd's will not be abandoned, and a new flagship dSLR will be announced in September. Everyone will just have to wait as those who know don't tell, those who tell don't know. Just as long as they don't stop making that fab Zuiko 4/3 glass before I can get the 5 HG lenses I would still like to add to my Oly kit.

08-20-2010, 09:55 PM	#4
nickthetasmaniac Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,361	Hmmm I don't think they'll entirely abandon the 4/3rds mount there's far too much very good, quite new glass out there at the moment... But I think that the E-5? released at Photokina (I think it will be released) will be the last 'pure' classic 4/3rds body. Rumor suggests, and it makes sense to me, that next year will see a modular camera that allows the full operation of both m4/3 and classic 4/3.

08-23-2010, 12:56 PM	#5
pxpaulx Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 2,867	Originally posted by nickthetasmaniac Hmmm I don't think they'll entirely abandon the 4/3rds mount there's far too much very good, quite new glass out there at the moment... But I think that the E-5? released at Photokina (I think it will be released) will be the last 'pure' classic 4/3rds body. Rumor suggests, and it makes sense to me, that next year will see a modular camera that allows the full operation of both m4/3 and classic 4/3. It is kind of a conundrum for Olympus. Panasonic is clearly done with standard 4/3. Oly on the other hand has (I think) a larger user base that would be extremely unhappy to see standard 4/3 disapear, not to mention some of the amazing fast zooms they have for 4/3 mount. A camera that is modular and combines both systems somehow would definitely make alot of sense. It would be interesting to see the finished product, that is for sure!

08-23-2010, 01:24 PM	#6
Pablom Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Usa Posts: 1,940	Originally posted by nickthetasmaniac Hmmm I don't think they'll entirely abandon the 4/3rds mount there's far too much very good, quite new glass out there at the moment... But I think that the E-5? released at Photokina (I think it will be released) will be the last 'pure' classic 4/3rds body. Rumor suggests, and it makes sense to me, that next year will see a modular camera that allows the full operation of both m4/3 and classic 4/3. wouldn't that be solved with just an adapter?

08-23-2010, 07:17 PM	#7
er1kksen Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Forestville, NY Photos: Albums Posts: 1,801	Originally posted by Pablom wouldn't that be solved with just an adapter? Not unless they can figure out a way to make the normal 4/3 lenses work just as well with CDAF as phase-detect. Or use on-chip phase-detect like those new fujis, though their implementation is rather limited.

08-24-2010, 07:19 PM	#8
nickthetasmaniac Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,361	Originally posted by Pablom wouldn't that be solved with just an adapter? No. As mentioned above, there already is an Olympus designed and made 4/3 - m4/3 adapter, but unfortunately very few of the top-end Zuiko Digital lenses are optimised for CDAF, which means very slow AF. Now this wouldn't necessarily be a deal-breaker for budget lenses, but for a $3000 35-100/f2 is certainly is. That said, it seems almost certain that Olympus will release a 'classic' 4/3rds E-5 at Photokina, which makes me think that they probably do have a strategy in place to either continue both 4/3rds and m4/3rds, or somehow combine the two lines effectively.

08-26-2010, 08:04 AM	#9
lurchlarson Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oregon, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 681	From what I've read. The New E-5 was ready last may (or even before that) but for some reason Olympus pulled it back at the last minute. It should definitely be announced next month. From what I hear about the the specs. It looks like it'll be 12mp but better everything. The AF coupled with their SWD should make for instant focusing. It was already near instant on some of their lenses. There are also rumblings that it may include the translucent mirror technology. We'll see how that changes things. I'm a huge fan of Olympus. My wife shoots with an E-620 and that's a great little (and I do mean little) camera. That Zuiko glass is the sharpest glass I've ever seen. Period. Too bad the sensor in her camera doesn't do so hot above ISO400. In short, if Pentax died, there is a good chance I'd jump to Olympus.

08-29-2010, 03:35 AM	#10
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680	I think 4/3 is clearly doomed and is gonna be replaced by m4/3, it is just a matter of time. There is no advantage to 4/3 whatsoever compared to APSC, and all existing glass can be used on m43 with an adapter. However, Oly itself will be fine due to m43 sales.

08-29-2010, 07:08 PM	#11
nickthetasmaniac Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,361	Originally posted by juu There is no advantage to 4/3 whatsoever compared to APSC, and all existing glass can be used on m43 with an adapter. Now that's just a silly statement...

08-29-2010, 07:27 PM	#12
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	Originally posted by nickthetasmaniac Now that's just a silly statement... Dunno, seems accurate to me.

08-29-2010, 07:32 PM	#13
er1kksen Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Forestville, NY Photos: Albums Posts: 1,801	Well, there's the whole idea of using the excellent 4/3 glass in existence with fast phase-detect AF. Lenses like the 35-100 or 12-60 or 7-14 are pretty fantastic, but using them on m4/3 bodies is awkward and unsatisfying, and for some there are no good APS-C equivalents. So, 4/3 it is for some.

08-29-2010, 08:56 PM	#14
nickthetasmaniac Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,361	Originally posted by deadwolfbones Dunno, seems accurate to me. I've used top end gear with both APS and 4/3rds (K20D, DA 35mm Ltd, DA* 16-50 & DA* 50-135 and the E-3 with ZD 12-60 and ZD 50-200) and in every case but the DA Ltd, the IQ from the 4/3rds gear was either very similar or better. Especially in terms of corner-corner sharpness, fall-off and CA control. Definitely not noticeably worse, even in terms of high-ISO... That's not to mention the very real advantage that the crop factor provides for tele-photo photography, allowing amazingly fast and relatively compact lenses like the 150/f2, 90-250/f2.8 and 300/f2.8 (300mm f2, 180-500mm f2.8 and 600mm f2.8 equivalent). Anyone who's seen a Zuiko 300/f2.8 lined up next to a Nikkor 600/f4 will know exactly what I mean... I'm not saying that there aren't strengths and weaknesses inherent in both systems, but to say there's 'no advantage whatsoever' is just uninformed...