[ closed ] Olympus Announces its latest Micro4/3 camera and lenses - OM-D

[pluginbaby]

[video=youtube;xkGHn8PobjU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xkGHn8PobjU[/video]

 

[grantyale]

[video=youtube_share;3Kmcnsxc2g4]http://youtu.be/3Kmcnsxc2g4[/video]
a bit worry, does these appear in any way 'fast'?

AF for still image is fast because the sensor can read out (at lower resolution) 240fps.
For video recording, the camera only reads out 30fps or less.

Contrast detection AF heavily depend on number of samples at different distances to estimate the correct focus. That's the main progress in AF speed in recent years.

 

[K3N]

Olympus OM-D Microsite

 

[Fezqu]

Wah! Headache. Fuji x 1 pro or this? Fuji sensor seems to be better but, olympus have better lens line up.

 

[cannedpineapples]

Info about sensor... still not sure whether it's a Panny. This guy claims it's not.

オリンパスOM-D E-M5のセンサーはパナソニック製ではない - デジカメinfo

 

[NazgulKing]

There are maybe three other possibilities, but the trouble is that Olympus' claim of 40% better DR doesn't seem to tally with Sony's sensor performance. Here's Thom Hogan's take:

So about that sensor. After all the leaks and rumor build-up, surprisingly little was officially written by Olympus about the sensor. Privately they talk using odd metrics. 40% more dynamic range, for example. In engineering terms, that would imply 140%, which is only a half stop better than the current sensor. Yeah, 40% sounds better. (Fujifilm does the same thing: 200% is a one stop improvement, 400% is a two stop improvement in Fujifilm's extended dynamic range settings.) dpreview seems to think that it's the Panasonic sensor (used in the G3 and GX1). That's likely, as the sensor is a "Live MOS" sensor, which means Panasonic-supplied, but Olympus has chosen to not mask off quite as many pixels and use a different base ISO. Olympus has always been ahead of Panasonic in terms of JPEG quality extracted from the sensors, so if it is the Panasonic sensor, that's fine with me--it's a decent enough sensor.

Olympus Goes Hindu, Welcomes Back the OM | byThom sans Mirror | Thom Hogan

 

[NazgulKing]

You know the funniest part about the Olympus website for the camera is that there's not a single major boast about the sensor. That tells you a lot. All it says is:

16 MEGAPIXEL LIVE-MOS SENSOR & TRUEPIC VI IMAGE PROCESSOR
The new 16-megapixel Live-MOS sensor coupled with the newly developed TruePic VI Image Processor delivers increased ISO sensitivity up to a staggering 25,600 ISO level. Fast data readout for seamless continuous shooting and support for the FAST AF system. This new processor delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate color fidelity and reduced noise, all the way up to maximum 25,600 ISO.

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1583&page=features

And the word "live mos" comes to mind...

 

[cannedpineapples]

Wow, he's got lots of articles. Most of them slamming Oly USA's business dept.

 

[NazgulKing]

Wow, he's got lots of articles. Most of them slamming Oly USA's business dept.

He does a bit of Panasonic slamming too. The GH2 did take a bloody long time to get into the dealers' hands. Olympus isn't very well distributed in the US, which is a fact.

 

[Oly5050]

OLYMPUS | News Release: The OLYMPUS OM-D, a new generation system camera compliant with the Micro Four Thirds System standard

Here is a nice link to all the info about the camera from Olympus

 

[cannedpineapples]

OLYMPUS | News Release: The OLYMPUS OM-D, a new generation system camera compliant with the Micro Four Thirds System standard

Here is a nice link to all the info about the camera from Olympus

I'm done reading press releases and marketing talk. Give me real-world (not company-provided) image samples and give me reviews!

 

[Oly5050]

Any idea wheher the 2 grips can be purchased separately or as a set?

I would guess that it would be sold as a set.

As expected....sold in a set

Amazon.com: Olympus HLD-6 Battery Holder: Camera & Photo

 

[esoeij]

As expected....sold in a set

Amazon.com: Olympus HLD-6 Battery Holder: Camera & Photo

US$299 is a bit steep considering the body is 'only' US$999! One-third the price...

 

[Atarandas]

What I mean to say is that eventually mirrorless cameras are likely to replace DSLRs.

At present DSLRs still have superior battery life and AF speeds. But I think it's just a matter of time before mirrorless overtakes DSLRs in these aspects.

Aside from the obvious weight and bulk benefits, there is also no need to calibrate lenses.

My APS-C based NX10 has served me well for the last 2 years and I've taken some great photos with it - some that have won competitions. That's because I carry my cam with pancake 30mm everywhere in my bag. The camera is so light and small that I sometimes forget it's even there. I don't even need a padded expensive camera bag as the camera fits snugly inside an inner pocket and is protected well enough.

So not only have I saved costs in camera luggage. I shoot more and get more winning shots because I have the camera with me all the time. I also don't stand out as an obvious photographer with expensive steal-able gear. All the while I enjoy the benefits of a proper APS-C sensor.

About a year back I said, in the "How to choose a cam" sticky thread in the "Newbies" forum, that it is likely that mirrorless bodies will come equipped with more professional features in time to come. It's nice to see that this is now happening.

Exciting stuff actually!!!

At the same pace, DSLRs and non-mirrorless will improve and evolve alongside. There will still be some inherent advantages to use them.

In anycase, this OM-D, seems to be heading towards more serious usage. The past models focused more on style and simplicity.

 

[Fezqu]

At the same pace, DSLRs and non-mirrorless will improve and evolve alongside. There will still be some inherent advantages to use them.

In anycase, this OM-D, seems to be heading towards more serious usage. The past models focused more on style and simplicity.

I'm beginning to feel that APS-C dslr models is going down. Looking at nex 7 and fuji x pro 1. Of course there are some areas like AF that needs to catch up to dslr.

I think maybe dslr should move on to just APS-H and FF. anything smaller, mirror less camera will be able to handle.

 

[Oly5050]

I'm beginning to feel that APS-C dslr models is going down. Looking at nex 7 and fuji x pro 1. Of course there are some areas like AF that needs to catch up to dslr.

I think maybe dslr should move on to just APS-H and FF. anything smaller, mirror less camera will be able to handle.

I think you right abt the sensors. It's inevitable.

But AF, I think that from E5 on, the AF speed has been great. The EP3 AF was even faster than the E5 and now the OM-D AF is supp to be 3 times that of the EP3. All these 3 cameras at time of release had the fastest AF among digital interchangeable lens cameras. ILCs includes DSLRs. Now the AF speed is so fast that the difference to be honest, may not be appreciable by humans.

 

[Shahmatt]

At the same pace, DSLRs and non-mirrorless will improve and evolve alongside. There will still be some inherent advantages to use them.

In anycase, this OM-D, seems to be heading towards more serious usage. The past models focused more on style and simplicity.

The trouble is that mirrorless cameras are almost fully electronic. The physical components, with the exception of the shutter, are now all but removed. This means mirrorless cams are cheaper and easier to manufacture and likely to be more durable in the long run compared to cameras that house optical viewfinders with prisms or mirrors.

The potential for mirrorless cams to improve is limited largely to the rate at which processors increase in speed and camera software. We can all see how fast computer CPUs have improved over the last several years and software will improve also anyway. This probably means mirrorless cams will continue to show rapid improvements.

The traditional DSLR will always be hampered by the physical optical mirror (or prism) box. This will act as a limitation to progress. Eventually production yields ought to tend towards mirrorless and the DSLR should be phased out.

I think that when the phase-out happens it will be sudden, just like Nokia got whopped by the Apple iphone. Suddenly DSLRs will not be bought by anybody and mirrorless models will be the thing to get. It is possible that DSLRs will still linger amongst the larger formats, but once mirrorless takes off it will just be a matter of time before FF, medium format etc. gets incorporated into mirrorless bodies (Hasselblad watch out because Pentax will be faster on the mark).

On the other hand. All the above predictions may fall apart with this:

Lytro

 

[Fezqu]

The trouble is that mirrorless cameras are almost fully electronic. The physical components, with the exception of the shutter, are now all but removed. This means mirrorless cams are cheaper and easier to manufacture and likely to be more durable in the long run compared to cameras that house optical viewfinders with prisms or mirrors.

The potential for mirrorless cams to improve is limited largely to the rate at which processors increase in speed and camera software. We can all see how fast computer CPUs have improved over the last several years and software will improve also anyway. This probably means mirrorless cams will continue to show rapid improvements.

The traditional DSLR will always be hampered by the physical optical mirror (or prism) box. This will act as a limitation to progress. Eventually production yields ought to tend towards mirrorless and the DSLR should be phased out.

I think that when the phase-out happens it will be sudden, just like Nokia got whopped by the Apple iphone. Suddenly DSLRs will not be bought by anybody and mirrorless models will be the thing to get. It is possible that DSLRs will still linger amongst the larger formats, but once mirrorless takes off it will just be a matter of time before FF, medium format etc. gets incorporated into mirrorless bodies (Hasselblad watch out because Pentax will be faster on the mark).

On the other hand. All the above predictions may fall apart with this:

Lytro

I think DSLR is here to stay no matter what, can't imagine someone using a huge zoom or tele lens on a compact body. Unless, someday the manufacturer are able to come out with compact zoom and tele lenses.

 

[Evilmerlin]

For my case, Olympus has provided 1/3 of my requirement to switch fully to mirrorless. That 1/3 is the performance of the body. The other 2/3s are the 12-60 and 50-200. They produce that or something similar for the m4/3, it's goodbye my trusty E-30/12-60/50-200 and hello mirrorless full time.

I'm not a professional, just an amateur who enjoys the hobby, so if the OM-D can even live up to 75% of it's stated claims, it's more than enough for me.

And man, is that Hong Kong model hired Olympus hot or what?!

 

[wonglp]

For my case, Olympus has provided 1/3 of my requirement to switch fully to mirrorless. That 1/3 is the performance of the body. The other 2/3s are the 12-60 and 50-200. They produce that or something similar for the m4/3, it's goodbye my trusty E-30/12-60/50-200 and hello mirrorless full time.

I'm not a professional, just an amateur who enjoys the hobby, so if the OM-D can even live up to 75% of it's stated claims, it's more than enough for me.

And man, is that Hong Kong model hired Olympus hot or what?!

I'm amateur too, switched to Pen fully 2 years ago from E dslr with 14-54, 50/2, 7-0-300 with 70% with 14-54 on my camera since '07. m43 lenses were limited then and good lenses on 43 are mostly PDAF, functionality on pen was lacking behind E system.
But I found a new joy in photography, portability, EVF and adapting manual prime lenses, suddenly some of problems are no longer an issue. With the portability, I can bring a few more primes than I had with 43 dslr. The 43 lenses are great but after switching to Pen, I started learning and enjoying primes and the I prefer the results I get from primes. I dun use zooms except for 9-18, 100-300 these days. And 95% of my pictures are from primes now. And now with more primes on m43 range, i find myself using lesser manual lenses and just rely on the AF, i put them on my gxr instead for 1.5x crop. The IQ and portability from 12mm, 20mm, 25mm, 45mm are really what defines the m43 today, and glad I made the switch early to appreciate primes today. The rest of other mirrorless camps are still behind in lens range, except maybe pentax, but it's gonna be a heavier & bulkier system, and i have no pentax lenses.

Just sharing