What do you think about the E-5?

lurchlarson · 09-14-2010, 01:02 PM

Now that the E-5 has been officially announced, I was wondering what those that are Oly inclined (No bashers) think about it.

While on paper it seems rather blah, It remains to be seen what that new image processor can really do.

To me it seems like this will likely be Oly's last Pro-level DSLR. My guess is that their next Pro-body will be mirrorless.

Christopher M.W.T · 09-15-2010, 05:23 AM

It's funny how Pentax fans rant and rave on about FF yet Olympus seems to be sticking with 4/3....weird!

Unsinkable II · 09-15-2010, 06:24 AM

I agree... I think it's a courtesy camera for the Olympus faithful.

Olympus have lost the DSLR race, but they're near the front of the pack in the EVIL race...

audiobomber · 09-15-2010, 12:13 PM

Originally posted by lurchlarson

While on paper it seems rather blah, It remains to be seen what that new image processor can really do.

DPR seems to think the "new" sensor is the same one as the latest Pen. I can't see how 4/3 will ever match APS-C in noise and DR.

RBellavance · 09-15-2010, 12:33 PM

Originally posted by audiobomber

DPR seems to think the "new" sensor is the same one as the latest Pen. I can't see how 4/3 will ever match APS-C in noise and DR.

DPreview staff asked Olympus directly, and were told there was no DR improvement over the PEN: Re: Olympus E-5 professional DSLR announced and previewed: News Discussion Forum: Digital Photography Review

**rparmar** · 09-15-2010, 12:55 PM

It looks like a camera they were committed to delivering. It doesn't seem to do much other than keep their name in the market. The phrase "Too little, Too late" springs to mind.

deadwolfbones · 09-15-2010, 01:34 PM

Originally posted by Unsinkable II

I agree... I think it's a courtesy camera for the Olympus faithful.

Olympus have lost the DSLR race, but they're near the front of the pack in the EVIL race...

Yes indeed.

alexeyga · 09-15-2010, 01:42 PM

Hard to think anything constructive about a camera body with 2X crop factor and pre-yesterday's on-paper performance... 1700$... If Pentax's marketing dep. is really hard on grass... Oly's marketing got to be into mushrooms...

pxpaulx · 09-17-2010, 09:47 AM

Originally posted by Unsinkable II

I agree... I think it's a courtesy camera for the Olympus faithful.

Olympus have lost the DSLR race, but they're near the front of the pack in the EVIL race...

I think that statement sums it up quite well. Perhaps they really are working on a cross-over camera that will accommodate both 4/3 and m4/3 lenses (not sure how that would work!) - that would be quite interesting (I think the dpreview comments indicated this was in the works). Standard 4/3 still has a market with ultrafast compact zooms that aren't really rivaled by any other maker, but it is clear they are planning on a new direction for the 4/3 mount; the e-5 appears to be a stop-gap until then, nothing more.

pingflood · 09-17-2010, 01:48 PM

Originally posted by rparmar

It looks like a camera they were committed to delivering. It doesn't seem to do much other than keep their name in the market. The phrase "Too little, Too late" springs to mind.

Can't help but agree. That said, the E3 was and still is a really nice camera to shoot with; I can only imagine the E5 is more of the same. Not something if you are chasing the best performance, but a nice, solid, well thought out DSLR.

johnmflores · 09-17-2010, 02:04 PM

I hear that the Zukio zooms are without equal. I'm sure that the E-5 is a fine camera and capable of nice images, but it's ashamed that the zooms don't have a body worthy of them. If Oly is committed to EVIL, they should at least license their zoom formulas to Pentax for the next generation DA*...

er1kksen · 09-17-2010, 02:14 PM

Originally posted by pxpaulx

Perhaps they really are working on a cross-over camera that will accommodate both 4/3 and m4/3 lenses (not sure how that would work!) - that would be quite interesting (I think the dpreview comments indicated this was in the works).

Mumblings about a modular Oly camera have been going around for a while. I've always thought it was a good idea anyhow.

lurchlarson · 09-17-2010, 08:51 PM

I agree that this is probably a final nod to the Olympus faithful. However, the 1600 iso is really good for a 4/3 sensor. Something about the new image processing.

Does anyone know if the 4/3 to m4/3 adapter keeps the AF speed of the original sensor?

Also the Zuiko zooms are without equal. Sharp as a tack.

09-14-2010, 01:02 PM	#1
lurchlarson Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oregon, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 681	What do you think about the E-5? Now that the E-5 has been officially announced, I was wondering what those that are Oly inclined (No bashers) think about it. While on paper it seems rather blah, It remains to be seen what that new image processor can really do. To me it seems like this will likely be Oly's last Pro-level DSLR. My guess is that their next Pro-body will be mirrorless.

09-15-2010, 05:23 AM	#2
Christopher M.W.T Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,689	It's funny how Pentax fans rant and rave on about FF yet Olympus seems to be sticking with 4/3....weird!

09-15-2010, 06:24 AM	#3
Unsinkable II Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,352	I agree... I think it's a courtesy camera for the Olympus faithful. Olympus have lost the DSLR race, but they're near the front of the pack in the EVIL race...

09-15-2010, 12:13 PM	#4
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by lurchlarson While on paper it seems rather blah, It remains to be seen what that new image processor can really do. DPR seems to think the "new" sensor is the same one as the latest Pen. I can't see how 4/3 will ever match APS-C in noise and DR.

09-15-2010, 12:33 PM	#5
RBellavance Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Near Montréal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,716	Originally posted by audiobomber DPR seems to think the "new" sensor is the same one as the latest Pen. I can't see how 4/3 will ever match APS-C in noise and DR. DPreview staff asked Olympus directly, and were told there was no DR improvement over the PEN: Re: Olympus E-5 professional DSLR announced and previewed: News Discussion Forum: Digital Photography Review

09-15-2010, 12:55 PM	#6
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	It looks like a camera they were committed to delivering. It doesn't seem to do much other than keep their name in the market. The phrase "Too little, Too late" springs to mind.

09-15-2010, 01:34 PM	#7
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	Originally posted by Unsinkable II I agree... I think it's a courtesy camera for the Olympus faithful. Olympus have lost the DSLR race, but they're near the front of the pack in the EVIL race... Yes indeed.

09-15-2010, 01:42 PM	#8
alexeyga Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 838	Hard to think anything constructive about a camera body with 2X crop factor and pre-yesterday's on-paper performance... 1700$... If Pentax's marketing dep. is really hard on grass... Oly's marketing got to be into mushrooms...

09-17-2010, 09:47 AM	#9
pxpaulx Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 2,867	Originally posted by Unsinkable II I agree... I think it's a courtesy camera for the Olympus faithful. Olympus have lost the DSLR race, but they're near the front of the pack in the EVIL race... I think that statement sums it up quite well. Perhaps they really are working on a cross-over camera that will accommodate both 4/3 and m4/3 lenses (not sure how that would work!) - that would be quite interesting (I think the dpreview comments indicated this was in the works). Standard 4/3 still has a market with ultrafast compact zooms that aren't really rivaled by any other maker, but it is clear they are planning on a new direction for the 4/3 mount; the e-5 appears to be a stop-gap until then, nothing more.

09-17-2010, 01:48 PM	#10
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169	Originally posted by rparmar It looks like a camera they were committed to delivering. It doesn't seem to do much other than keep their name in the market. The phrase "Too little, Too late" springs to mind. Can't help but agree. That said, the E3 was and still is a really nice camera to shoot with; I can only imagine the E5 is more of the same. Not something if you are chasing the best performance, but a nice, solid, well thought out DSLR.

09-17-2010, 02:04 PM	#11
johnmflores Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somerville, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,361	I hear that the Zukio zooms are without equal. I'm sure that the E-5 is a fine camera and capable of nice images, but it's ashamed that the zooms don't have a body worthy of them. If Oly is committed to EVIL, they should at least license their zoom formulas to Pentax for the next generation DA*...

09-17-2010, 02:14 PM	#12
er1kksen Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Forestville, NY Photos: Albums Posts: 1,801	Originally posted by pxpaulx Perhaps they really are working on a cross-over camera that will accommodate both 4/3 and m4/3 lenses (not sure how that would work!) - that would be quite interesting (I think the dpreview comments indicated this was in the works). Mumblings about a modular Oly camera have been going around for a while. I've always thought it was a good idea anyhow.

09-17-2010, 08:51 PM	#13
lurchlarson Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oregon, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 681 Original Poster	I agree that this is probably a final nod to the Olympus faithful. However, the 1600 iso is really good for a 4/3 sensor. Something about the new image processing. Does anyone know if the 4/3 to m4/3 adapter keeps the AF speed of the original sensor? Also the Zuiko zooms are without equal. Sharp as a tack.